What is African Black Soap?
African Black Soap (also known as “Black Soap”) is an all natural soap originating from countries in western Africa, including Ghana and Nigeria. Despite the color specified in the title (black) Authentic African Black Soap is actually more of a dark brown color with texture. Here is an example of what it looks like:
Authentic Black Soap is free of chemicals including parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, and preservatives. The ingredients in the soap include Unrefined Shea Butter, Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Pods, Plantain Leaves and Coconut Oil. All of these ingredients have specific beneficial properties which combine to make a nutrient rich, powerful soap that benefits the skin.
Black Soap has become widely known as beneficial for reducing acne breakouts, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, and fine lines. It is also unique in that it is made with completely natural ingredients with no preservatives or chemicals of any kind.
Because black soap is handmade from plant-based ingredients in Africa each fair-trade purchase supports sustainable production and directly benefits African communities in need.
Want to know more about it? Read on to find out the benefits and attributes this soap has which makes it a must-have for every skin care routine.
African Black Soap Benefits & Attributes
Antibacterial
African black soap has natural antibacterial properties that are an excellent alternative to chemical cleansers. In fact, in many cases it actually removes more bacteria than chemical cleansers do. Despite the power this soap has to deeply clean and remove bacteria it is also gentle enough to use on your face, hands, and body.
Safe for All Skin Types
Authentic African Black Soap is unscented and free of chemicals making it a safe option for dry or sensitive skin. It is also beneficial for those with oily or combination skin as it naturally helps balance oil production without stripping away necessary skin oils or adding excess oils leading to break outs.
Moisturizing
Unrefined Shea butter is a key ingredient in African Black Soap and is a magnificent moisturizer in addition to many other healing properties. This soap also contains Cocoa Pods and Coconut Oil which help moisturize and relieve irritated or itchy skin.
No Greasy Residue
Due to the balance of ingredients in this soap it gently cleans the skin, helps to moisturize and prevents it from needing to create an abundance of oil to compensate for dried out skin. Because of this you will find after using African Black Soap that your skin feels clean, smooth and moisturized without having a greasy residue.
Anti-Inflammatory
Black soap is rich in vitamins A and E. These vitamins are both antioxidants, which help combat free radicals and attacks on otherwise healthy skin tissues. This can be helpful for people who have inflammatory conditions like rosacea.
Soothes Irritated skin
African black soap can help soothe itchiness and irritation caused by eczema, contact dermatitis, and skin allergies. It has also been known to help clear up rashes related to eczema and psoriasis.
Fights Acne
Black soap is known to help fight acne. In addition to balancing your skin’s natural oils, the soap’s shea content can help repair damaged cells. Its antimicrobial properties can help kill bacteria causing acne or other skin blemishes.
Helps Reduce Fine Lines
The Shea Butter and Coconut Oil in the soap can help reduce collagen loss and encourage new development. In turn, this can help plump up fine lines and wrinkles. The rough texture of the soap can also exfoliate dead skin cells that make fine lines more noticeable.
Improves Skin Texture
Part of the benefits of using Authentic African Black Soap is in its texture. Because it is unprocessed, the raw ingredients that make up the soap leave the product far less smooth than the average soap bar. This makes it a natural exfoliant, which can help improve skin texture.
Helps prevent razor burn
Exfoliation is another key factor in keeping your skin smooth after shaving, waxing, or other methods of hair removal. Exfoliating will help remove dead skin cells before they can clog your hair follicles. The moisture in African black soap can also help prevent the lumps and bumps that result from razor burn.
Reduces Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is often caused by sun damage and scars from blemishes. When black soap is used regularly it has been known to help reduce this.
Anti-fungal
How to use African black soap
Real, unprocessed African black soap has a rough texture. Although the natural texture is ideal for removing dead skin during exfoliation, you’ll want to smooth it out before using it as a regular cleanser or on delicate areas of the body such as your face. To do this, simply pull a small chunk of soap off of the bar and rub in between your hands with water.
If you prefer a liquid cleanser, you can make a liquid black soap as seen in this simple tutorial:
For exfoliation you can apply the bar directly to your skin, however ensure you are gentle! The rough texture is already an exfoliant in itself, so you don’t have to scrub or use much pressure. You may also consider rubbing the bar on a soft washcloth first for gentle cleansing or use on rashes.
With whatever method you choose, make sure that you thoroughly rinse the soap off with lukewarm water after use.
After washing apply your favorite moisturizer to your skin (I recommend Unrefined Shea Butter Or 100% Pure Mango Butter). This will help lock in the soap’s natural hydrating effects.
Looking for Authentic African Black Soap? You can buy a sample to try here or a full 1lb bar here
Do you already use black soap? What are your favorite qualities about it? Please leave a comment below with any feedback or questions you may have.