African Black Soap

Black soap has been used for centuries in West Africa, and today it’s becoming popular around the wold for its skin-supporting benefits. Women in West Africa still make it the traditional way-from locally harvested plantain skins, cocoa pods, palm tree leaves, and shea tree bark that they sun-dry and then burn to ash, which is how the soap gets its black color. They add the ash to coconut oil, palm oil, and shea butter, combine it with water, and boil it until it dissolves. They hand-stir for 24 hours, and when the vitamin-rich soap solidifies, they scoop it out and set it out to cure. The extensive cooking and curing process makes authentic African black soap mild and gentle.

The soap detoxifies and purifies the skin, but it does much more due to its powerful constituents. It works equally well on dry, oily, sensitive, and distressed skin, thanks to its bevy of wholesome ingredients:

• Plantain skins have a high concentration of vitamin A, which increases collagen production; vitamin E, which is healing and helps moisturize skin; and iron, which boosts the benefits of both vitamins A and E.
• Cocoa powder softens and firms skin, and its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties fight free radicals, repair damaged skin, and renew skin cells.
• Cocoa butter is a natural moisturizer packed with vitamins A and E that fights the signs of aging and eases rashes, eczema, and psoriasis.
• Shea butter also has vitamins A and E to strengthen skin, repair damage, and diminish wrinkles. It can heal burns, sores, and scars, and treat psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
• Palm oil is rich in antioxidants and two forms of vitamin E-tocopherol and tocotrienol-that help heal acne and eczema.
• Palm kernel oil, extracted from the fruit seeds of the African palm tree, is high in lauric acid, giving it antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help heal acne.
• Coconut oil has fatty acids that reinforce the skin’s lipid barrier and lock in moisture. It helps repair skin damage, dry skin, and eczema, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. It has cleansing and antibacterial properties, and when combined with other ingredients, works as a natural deodorant.

Banish blemishes and rejuvenate aging skin with Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Deep-Pore Facial Wash. This molasses-like cleanser exfoliates, evens skin tone, firms skin, fights acne, and is excellent for washing away makeup. South African rose hip oil contains vitamins and essential fatty acids that calm, smooth, and protect skin.

Multitask with Alaffia Authentic African Black Soap in Tangerine Citrus, the full-body cleanser that is ideal for face, hands, body, shaving, and shampooing, and is gentle enough to use on babies. This rich soap leaves you scented with
a fresh blend of citrus essential oils.

Get soothing odor protection without synthetic chemicals with Nubian Heritage African Black Soap 24 Hour All Natural Deodorant with Aloe & Vitamin E. Silica and corn starch keep you dry, while shea butter, aloe, and vitamin E protect and moisturize delicate underarm skin, and African black soap calms irritation. No aluminum, propylene glycol,
parabens, triclosan,
or silicone.

Lather up with creamy suds and give your skin a healthy glow with Out of Africa Pure Shea Butter Bar Soap, African Black. Unrefined and 100% pure and shea butter in this African black soap moisturizes all skin types, leaving skin soft and smooth.