Allow us to introduce you to a world of soaps unlike any other that will transform your skin, catapulting it for the better. Gradually rising on the trend scale, the African black soap is a traditional, plant-based soap from West Africa. Originating in Nigeria, for centuries this interesting soap has been a part of traditional practice throughout the region to ensure clear, smooth skin. Today, benefits of african black soap have spread their wings far and wide all over the globe.

Dr. Vanita Rattan, Cosmetic Formulator for Skin of Color, says, “The African black soap seems to have these incredible, mythological benefits that include sebum reduction, reducing breakouts, fading scars, brightening the skin. It does a lot of other things. It is made without sulfates, fragrances, and parabens, and out of those three, the one that I am most happy about is fragrances. The fragrance is the number one cause of contact dermatitis in the world.” 

This soap is traditionally made from the ashes of African native products including plantain skin, cocoa pods, palm leaves, and palm oil originating from leaves or kernels.

Our contributor Dr. Anna Chacon, a board certified dermatologist says, “African black soaps often contain natural moisturizers like shea butter, providing hydration without stripping the skin of its natural oils, unlike some regular soaps.”

The formulations of these soaps could range from honey, and shea butter, to cocoa butter for extra moisturizing and softening the skin. 

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  Best for Acne Prone Skin

  O Naturals Organic African Black Bathing Bar

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Ideal for dry, oily, acne-prone skin, the O Naturals Organic African Black Bathing Bar effectively removes buildup and dramatically helps improve skin texture. The luxurious black African soap is French triple milled and contains shea butter which makes the soap glide smoothly on your skin. It creates a rich lather that can only be achieved with high-quality soaps. The best part is, it can be used on the face too. The African soap bar is further infused with olive oil, dead sea mud, and lavender to make it truly unique and gentle for delicate skin.

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Best Natural Ingredients

Our Earth's Secrets Raw African Black Soap

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The Our Earth's Secrets Raw African bathing soap is a 100% natural, premium raw African black soap imported from Ghana. It is supplemented by palm kernel oil, coconut oil, stearin oil, cocoa pod husk, unrefined shea butter, plantain skin ash, and natural vitamin E to nourish the skin, even skin complexion, and clear acne scars. The palm kernel oil present in it allows the black soap to lather really well. Pro tip: Since this is a raw black soap for face, refrain from rubbing the soap directly on the face or even to the skin. Instead, lather the soap in your hand or on a washcloth and only then apply it to the face, body, or hair.

3

Best Bar

Shea Moisture Face and Body Bar

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Everyone’s fan favorite drug store brand, Shea Moisture brings to you their very own face and body bar. This African black soap for face is a facial cleanser designed to clear oily, blemish-prone skin. The facial cleanser is blended with tamarind extract and tea tree oil to gently exfoliate delicate skin, purify and mattify oily skin and clarify it. In fact, it is one of Shea Moisture’s best facial cleansers for oily skin and blemish-prone skin. You can apply the face wash directly onto damp skin and gently massage it into the face and neck using circular motions. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.

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Best Liquid Formula

Alaffia All in One Citrus Ginger Authentic African Black Soap

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The Alaffia All-in-One Citrus Ginger Authentic African bathing bar is detoxifying, clarifies, and quaintly clears skin while also promoting radiant, healthy-appearing hair and skin. The black soap bar can help combat acne while also smoothing out skin texture. The calming wild lavender seamlessly amalgamated with moisturizing shea butter leaves the skin, scalp, and hair feeling soft with a supple effect. Especially for the hair, the African soap promotes healthy growth and minimizes dandruff, resulting in a clean scalp. The soap’s lather is creamy and has the ideal texture for shaving by acting as a moisture barrier between the skin and the razor.

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Best for All Skin Types

Incredible By Nature African Bathing Soap

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Dubbed the “Perfect Skin Secret,” the Incredible By Nature African Bathing soap bar is a cleanser that is meticulously curated for every skin type. The solid soap bar is fragrance-free and contains unrefined shea butter to moisturize and hydrate delicate skin. It doesn’t just stop at shea butter, the African soap bar also contains cocoa pods and cocoa butter to further enhance soft, supple, and firm skin. Shea butter and cocoa butter contain essential vitamins A and E which are crucial for skin health. Even if you’re someone who has irritated skin, this soap will make sure you have a stress-free cleansing ritual. The black soap benefits for skin also include it being vegan, fair trade, and cruelty-free, thua ensuring guilt-free shopping!

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SheaMoisture African Black Soap for Eczema

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This SheaMoisture African bar soap (black) is exclusively tailored to those suffering from eczema. It is a homeopathic remedy whose nutrient-rich ingredients deliver a gentle cleansing experience to help soothe the milder symptoms of eczema and itching. However, please note that it only provides temporary eczema relief. One must seek prescription medication to permanently treat the condition of eczema and its harsher symptoms. The bar is also completely void of sulfates to protect the skin from redness and irritation. This african black soap for acne is most importantly gentle enough for regular use.

7

Sky Organics African Black Bathing Bar

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The Sky Organics African Black Bathing Bar is carefully crafted with skin-enriching ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and vitamin E that help nourish, hydrate, and moisturize skin. The bar is also infused with purifying cocoa pod ash that contains cleansing and soothing properties for the skin, which leaves a feeling of refreshed suppleness. Also when needed, this soap can be used as a face wash on skin that has blemishes and acne. For best results, do not apply directly onto the skin. Instead, apply to a damp washcloth and work into a lather. Then, gently massage onto wet skin. Be careful to avoid the eyes.

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Best for Both Hair and Skin

Alaffia Skin Care Authentic African Black Soap

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The Alaffia Authentic African soap (Black) is an all-in-one facial cleanser, body, and hair wash, and a bar of natural soap that caters to all. It leaves skin and hair looking brighter and softer and also remedies itchiness. Equipped with the moisturizing benefits of shea butter, it effectively purifies and gently cleanses delicate skin while also promoting healthy hair and minimizing dandruff particles. The liquid black soap is unscented and free of all fragrances in order to avoid aggravating the skin and scalp. As a bonus, it is also a great product to clear skin acne.

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Sheanefit Raw African Black Soap Bar

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The Sheanefit raw African soap bar is specifically made to suit every skin type. The multipurpose bar serves all three - the face, the body, and the hair. It is hand curated from the ash of African plants such as plantain, cocoa pods, palm tree leaves, and dried peels, resulting in its luxurious, dark color. The bar has immaculate cleansing and exfoliating properties. It significantly remedies oily and acne-prone skin while also hydrating and moisturizing dry and sensitive skin. It also makes for a great makeup cleanser as it effectively clears all product buildup.

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Best Body Paste

African Black Cleansing Paste

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This unique cleansing paste with the goodness of African Black Soap is imported specially from Ghana using a traditional recipe handed down for centuries. It is made entirely of natural ingredients including extra virgin coconut oil, raw cocoa pods, palm kernel oil, plantain skin ashes, unrefined shea butter, natural Vitamin E, purified water, and many more natural ingredients. It can be used on all skin types such as dry, rough, oily, and moderate to curb skin irritations and scars caused by acne and remedy common discomforts that are associated with psoriasis and eczema.

With its rising popularity, the presence of black soap is abundant in the beauty market with many brands launching variations of their own. But before you give in to the trend, you need to know how to choose the right one for yourself. 

Best for Your Skin 

Now that you have gone through the above products, you know that the African soap benefits are catered to all skin types. However, different skin types react in different ways to this soap. It is vital you use the one tailored to your skin kind for optimal results. If you have dry skin, follow up ith an added step after using the soap. Use a hydrating serum or cream. For oily-skinned beauties, a little slathering of coconut oil is necessary to moisturize the skin after.

Rule of Three

When choosing your go-to product, it is also important to keep in mind three things – the smell, the color, and most importantly, the consistency. Authentic African soap would never include any artificial fragrances. They are also actually not really black. To achieve a perfect black look, many corporations often add activated charcoal to their recipe (although activated charcoal too has its own set of benefits). Real black soap is, in fact, often brown and multicolored. Speaking of consistency, real the soap is never going to be smooth and uniform when you cut a section out. It will always have a rugged texture.

Since most African soaps are raw, they can be quite strong. It is best to cut a smaller piece of the bar before use. First, lather it with a sponge, washcloth, loofah, or similar device by gently soaking it in water. Once you get a rich lather, apply it to any part of the body or scalp and rinse and repeat as desired. For liquid and paste variations of the African soap, use the same procedure.

When introducing it to your skincare routine, use it at an interval of one to two days based on how your skin reacts to it. 

The African Black Soap is just getting started! You can use this soap bar in more than one way-

• Body Wash

Simply let the soap sit in purified water and let it gradually dissolve and liquefy. Voila! Your body wash is ready. 

• Body Scrub

Fragment a section of the black African soap and mix it with brown or white sugar. Scrub away all the grime and pollution from your body using this cleansing bar.

• Face Mask

Cut the black soap into tiny chunks and dissolve them in mildly hot water. Once the solution is well incorporated, add one teaspoon of honey, two teaspoons of baking soda, and a few drops of tea tree essential oil. Wait for the concoction to return to room temperature. Gently apply it onto your face and neck creating a thin layer and wait for it to dry. Rise with lukewarm water.

• Hair Wash

Lather the soap onto a damp washcloth and massage it onto your scalp, similar to how you would apply shampoo. Rinse thoroughly after.

• Raw Soap

Cut the soap into tiny sections, being careful not to leave any sharp edges. Rub between your palms and apply directly onto the face.

The antibacterial and nourishing properties of black soap for acne are deeply rooted in African tradition and handed down for many centuries. A tradition that values nothing but the best for its people. The natural oils present in the soap nourishes your skin, lock in moisture, and ensure suppleness. The soap’s antiseptic properties also aid in treating acne and reduce the risk of breakouts. Its benefits are tailored to all skin types. Now you can experience the cultural benefits too! Find your holy grail product in the list above and let us know which one is your favorite.

Contributor: 

Dr. Vanita Rattan, Cosmetic Formulator for Skin of Color

Dr. Anna Chacon, Dermatologist - MyPsoriasisTeam