Did you know that shea butter is the only natural nut butter that penetrates all seven layers of the skin, yet hydrates from the subcutaneous tissue up? It plants vitamins A and E, even in hard-to-reach places while protecting the skin with a natural SPF 20 sunblock. It’s no wonder that this multi-functional nut butter serves as the primary ingredient for Yamerra's skin care, a healthy organic, skincare line of hair and body butters, replenishing facial serums and cleansers. In combination with plant, herb, and fruit-based oils, shea butter becomes a more active miracle worker for the skin and hair; invigorating enough to grant hours of hydration, yet gentle enough to use on a 3-year-old.

In August 2007, Maryam Moma created the brand in search of the perfect product for her very own skin. Shea Butter was the answer, which she later blended with other organic ingredients. Growing up in the United Republic of Tanzania within a predominately feminine household, Moma looked to her past for inspiration, where beautiful women didn't use mass-produced toiletries. Chemically-free beauty regimes were pure and natural, applying simple ingredients topically for real results, using fresh green lime to remove dead skin cells, olive oil to moisturize with and fresh hydrating yogurt masks. Moma decided to continue the trend with the invention of her own skin-care line, Yamerra.

Yamerra offers eight classic light-weight hair and body butters, that double as an all-over body moisturizer and a leave-in hair conditioner. Yamerra's body care products are all produced blending organic shea butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and other natural ingredients that are essential to the product's fruity and floral scents. Each butter has a specific healing purpose: Jasmine Sage alleviates muscle aches while Lemongrass soothes itching. Because Moma uses organic and natural ingredients, her products create a personalized fragrance when blending with your body’s own natural oils. Luxury shea butter body soaps are also available in like scents, along with a timeless refreshing facial serums that protects and tightens the skin, as well as an edited skin care line developed especially for men, where once again products lend themselves to multi-uses, either as a heavy-duty or after shave moisturizer with the added anti-aging properties.

Yamerra’s Rejuvenating Green Tea Hair and Body Oil answers all skin and hair cries for help. This deeply enriching product is formulated with skin-strengthening Moringa, antiseptic rosemary oil, shea butter, sunflower, and avocado oils to generously feed skin with vitamins C, D, and A. Use it for an at-home hot oil hair treatment, treat frizzy and damaged ends, or soften skin and encourage its natural glow.

Moma collaborates with a licensed cosmetologist to create all of her products, made in a facility outside of Philadelphia. Though packaged in plastic containers, customers do receive a 10% discount on their refills when sending them back.

What’s next for Yamerra? Ready for release is Yamerra's gentle exfoliating sugar scrub in Honey Vanilla, one of their most popular scents. Moma is also developing more Shea soaps, and is looking to customers for their personal opinions on future scent preferences. In the meantime you can shop Yamerra online, or in person at the Real Designer Market on Saturdays in NoLIta. In addition to the Saturday NoLIta market, Yamerra is exclusively sold at 13 different boutiques around the world. Maybe you can even make a toast to healthy skin at one of their local retailers during Yamerra's bi-annual champagne and massage parties. Yamerra is well-made, trustworthy and healthy, ensuring the betterment of your body and mind. They’re natural, comfortable, and lovable. “It’s all about self-love and acceptance,” Moma professes. The phrase “loving the skin you’re in” never rang more true.