Chicago-based Ghanian American Abena Boamah grew up using ultra-moisturizing raw shea butter on her skin, but it would be many years before she turned a reformulated version into a career for herself. First, she became an algebra teacher, pursuing various hobbies and interests in her free time, including charity work, photography and skin care. She went down a rabbit hole learning about shea butter — the ingredients, processes and the people who produce it, many of whom are i