What is African black soap?
With natural antibacterial and exfoliating properties, African black soap acts gently to improve skin texture and tone. The soap also reduces inflammation and may help treat some signs of aging like dark spots or wrinkles. You can use African black soap on your face, hands, body - even your hair.
Where Does African Black Soap Come From and How Is It Made?
"As a young girl, my Nigerian parents actually introduced me to black soap," Dr. Robinson says. "It has its origins in Nigeria and is used to address skin concerns like irritation, discoloration, acne, eczema, and more."
"It's traditionally created by blending the ashes of dried plantain skin with palm oil, cocoa pods, shea nut butter, coconut oil, and other ingredients," she says. "The palm oil and shea nut butter are then exposed to high heat or sometimes an alkali environment until they form solids. This process, called saponification, creates fatty salts, fatty alcohols, glycerin, and other ingredients that cleanse and moisturize the skin. These soaps are traditionally made by hand, and multiple varieties of this formula now exist."
Popular Black Soap Ingredients
What's a superstar without her backup dancers? Often made with heavy hitter additions such as coconut oil, shea nut butter, and palm oil, African black soap is jam-packed with luscious ingredients that will lead to soft, glowing skin.
Shea butter, (which is extracted from the nut of the African Shea tree), provides powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. According to this research, it also acts as an emollient and skin moisturizer-it even has sun screening properties.
According to Harvard University's School of Public Health, coconut oil is made up of saturated fatty acids that work together to effectively moisturize skin and hair. Studies have also shown that coconut oil may exhibit antiviral and antifungal activity.
Palm oil (made from the fruit of the oil palm tree) is packed with potent antioxidant properties that help the skin to retain moisture, prevent skin aging, and treat acne.
what is african black soap good for
How to use African black soap
- Cut or pull a small portion of soap off the bar or dissolve it in water, so it's smoother and gentler to use.
- Lather the soap into your hands before applying to your face, body or hair.
- Massage it into your skin with your hands or a washcloth for about 90 seconds in circular motions.
- Rinse off completely.
- Apply moisturizer and hair conditioner.
