What is African Black Soap

Every nation has its beauty and health secrets that have been passed on from one generation to another and are also known throughout the globe as part of their culture. Similarly, when it comes to Africa especially the western African nations, African black soap that they have been making ingeniously, all by hand, over hundreds of years. to serve a multitude of beauty and health benefits is a beauty product that stands out above all. And now due to globalization, this African beauty secret is accessible to the world, to not only experience but relish the advantages of this vegan and organic product that was once out of reach for all of us but native western Africans.

What is African Black Soap?

African black soap is a traditional soap that is made in the Western countries of the African continent. There are a lot of different ingredients that are natural and grown in Africa, that go into the production of this soap. Some of these ingredients that are common throughout different variants are palm oil and the ash of cocoa pods or plantain. The original African black soap is handmade and is free of chemicals, dyes, and other additives. It's this nature in property of being truly organic products that are free of any man-made ingredient, making it one of the most sought-after beauty products.

Where does African Black Soap Come From?

For centuries people of western African nations such as Ghana and Nigeria have been using the African black soap as a part of their daily skincare and cleanliness regime. This soap does not only carry skincare benefits along with its cleansing properties but is also a great all-natural alternative for shampoos. It is believed that the Yoruba people residing in Nigeria and some parts of Togo and Benin, were the first ones to bring this product to Ghana and introduce it to the public. History relates that it was the woman traders of the Yoruba tribe that introduced this gift of nature to the people of Ghana and that is from where they picked up the craft and developed it further.

The ingredients in terms of the origin of the black soap, all come from plants and trees grown in Africa. The main ingredients include palm oil, ash of burnt cocoa pods, and in some cases plantain. This is the basic and purest form of African black soap. But now with over more than 100 versions of the African black soap in existence, other versions are also equally liked by both the African users as well as the world. The others are still all-natural versions as they include ingredients such as Shea butter, coconut oil, lavender, honey, aloe vera, etc. to increase the effectiveness of the product by enhancing its already in-built beauty and skincare imparting properties.

As the recipe for the soap is passed on from one generation to the next, changes and additions are seen throughout the history of the African black soap some also due to the requirements of the region and its climate, but what remains at the truest sense of this product is that all the ingredients that are used in the production of this soap are grown locally in Africa, they are organic and vegan, and the production process is all hands-on without the use of any man-made production setup or machinery.

Benefits of African Black Soap

Let us now look at the benefits and advantages of Black Soap that we can attain by using African black soap. But before we go into listing them and their details, what we must know at this point is that we can only enjoy these beauty and health benefits, if and only the African black soap that we are using is pure, made in Africa with organic and local ingredients and of course an added benefit and added quality would be that it is certified fair trade and those who are making this product for us are receiving their due for their efforts. To ensure this we recommend that you purchase your African black soap whether the traditional one or other varieties including variants such as honey and turmeric, only from Baraka, as they not only guarantee the purity, quality, and authenticity of the African black soap but all their products are certified fair trade and help build self-sustainable communities in West Africa.

FRAGRANCE-FREE AND SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN-TYPES

The first and foremost advantage of the African black soap is that not only is it fragrance-free in its natural form, but it is also suitable for all skin types, which makes it a go-to skin-care beauty bar for everyone. Additionally, it is non-comedogenic means it does not clog pores which of course makes it very suitable for sensitive skin types as well.

ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

Just like any good cleansing bar, the African black soap is very effective in removing bacteria from the skin but what makes it stand apart according to the research conducted at the University of Calabar, is that it also helps get rid of a certain type of bacteria that other non-medicated and even medicated bar soaps cannot do. Therefore, it is a very good choice for protecting your skin from harm-causing bacteria.

HELPS CURE ACNE

Owing to its antibacterial and non-comedogenic properties, the African black soap has time and time and time again proven to be very effective against acne that is caused by bacteria or clogged pores. Users gush about its ability to cure their acne and in certain circles, it is also attributed as the reason behind the flawless and acne-free skin of the African women who are making this miracle product.

REDUCES SIGNS OF AGING

Due to the high amounts of antioxidants present in the African black soap, its use helps fight free radicals and sun damage caused to the skin. It's these properties not only help reduce the signs of aging such as dark spots and fine lines but also improve the overall texture of the skin by getting rid of harmful oxidants and stopping oxidative damage.

NATURAL MOISTURIZING PROPERTIES

African black soaps that have the added advantage of Shea butter are known for their moisturizing benefits. The high amounts of Vitamin A, E, and fatty acids in Shea butter, which are then enriched into the African black soap not only help in moisturizing the skin but also play their role in repairing the moisture barrier thus making the skin plumper and naturally radiant.

HELPS SOOTHES INFLAMMATION

Over time users of the African black soap have also reported its anti-inflammation qualities as it has proven beneficial in soothing inflamed skin especially in the cases of eczema and even redness caused by acne. It also provides relief from skin irritation and rashes that might be caused by an allergic reaction to a plant or an insect bite.

The Next Step

Now that you are aware of all the advantages of black soap and how it came into being, as well as its composition you must be looking forward to getting your hands on this gift of nature and enjoying its dozens of benefits without any side effects but before you do that we recommend just like with any other skincare product that you consult your skincare aesthetician and do a patch test before using this natural, organic and vegan product.