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If you have been selling the best and most efficacious ingredients, but you always welcome new skincare products, then Africa Imports would suggest you adding traditional African Black Soap into your product range. You might be dealing in chemically-laden concoctions till now. It's time to think wisely and replace them with organic and natural handmade soaps. It could bring new change into your skincare collection. Also, you will have better products for which you will never get complaints. There will be no side-effects or skin allergies. It would be great to have all-natural skincare products for your customers. It will help them to deal with various skincare problems through an organic arsenal.
African Black Soap is the most cherished product of Africa Imports. It is well-known for its ultra-healing properties. Some users have been like a silent ninja, while others find it a miracle worker. To gain some knowledge about African Black Soap and its wonders, read this article. We have shared everything that you need to know about using this natural soap and its benefits. We have also shared the safest way to use it. Gaining this knowledge is essential before incorporating this skin staple into your routine.
African Black Soap
African Black Soap is a plant derivative native to Nigeria and West Africa. It is a natural, hand-made soap that is most notable for various skin benefits. It is ideal for oily or acne skin types. Some of its variants have properties that are beneficial for severely dry skin. It is known to soothe skin diseases and irritations. People with dermatitis and psoriasis, skin discolorations, and rashes can use it. This soap has proved useful in several ways.
Nigerians and Ghanaians use black soap as a shampoo for hair. They find it a good cleanser. They believe that it also alleviates scalp irritation and itches. They use this soap as a skincare product during pregnancy. These people consider it as a safe ingredient to keep from getting skin dry, stretch marks, and other changes caused by the hormones. Traditional African Black soap is believed to be pure and gentle on sensitive skin. That is the reason why people in Africa use it on their babies.
History & Origin of African Black Soap
African Black Soap became prevalent first among Yoruba people in Nigeria. It also gained popularity among the Yoruba communities in Togo and Benin. They named it ose dudu, which means ose (soap) and dudu (black). Yoruba women used to play an essential role in agriculture. They were responsible for processing raw farm products into finished goods for trading. These women also used to trade black soap and made it prominent throughout.
In Ghana, it is popularly called alata samina. Yoruba women selling tomatoes and peppers introduced black soap to Ghana. These women were called Atlas (pepper traders). Thus, lata samina was used by the Ghanaians that meant the pepper traders’ soap.
Types of Black Soap
African Black Soap ingredients vary from one region to the other. The classical mixture consists of water, plantain skins, cocoa pod powder, and palm kernel oil. Some other soap blends may include the ashes of palm leaves or shea tree bark. They may also contain palm oil, coconut oil, shea butter, or tropical honey. All these natural ingredients have moisturizing properties. They are rich in antioxidants that give the soap skin-soothing properties.
Several supporting sources say that the ingredients (mentioned above) are first sun-dried. They are later burnt into ashes. The ashes are dissolved in water and then filtered. Ingredients like shea butter, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, or cocoa butter are heated and added to the filtered ashes. They are hand-stirred for 24 hours. Coconut oil is used as it helps in reducing inflammation on the skin. Once the ingredients are combined, the soap gets solidified and moves to the top. It is scooped out, and the mixture is preserved for two weeks until it is ready for use.
Village women in western Africa are still making black soap using traditional methods. There are more than 100 varieties of African black soaps. Their recipes are passed down in families from mother to daughter. Ingredients may differ by region, and each batch of black soap can be unique. Age-old formulations and production approaches make a big difference in the final outcome.
Benefits of Using African Black Soap For Skin Care
African black soap offers several benefits. It has several anti-bacterial properties. Let’s find out how it can prove beneficial in treating different skincare problems.
1. It is antibacterial: African black soap has natural antibacterial properties. This property makes it an excellent alternative to chemical and remove more bacteria as compared to chemical cleansers. Despite its strength, black soap is gentle to use on your face, hands, and body.
2. It is safe for all skin types: People who have dry or sensitive skin must choose African black soap. It offers natural oils to your skin, keeping it fresh and moist. People with oily or combination skin can use black soap. It balances your skin’s natural oil without stripping off necessary oils. It doesn't put excess oil on your skin.
3. It is moisturizing: Shea butter is a vital ingredient in black soap. It relieves itchiness and soothes dry skin. Cocoa butter and coconut oil also add moisture.
4. It won’t make your skin oily: Those who have combination skin, black soap makes it easy for them to choose the right soap. Shea butter may add moisture, and coconut oil. On the other hand, it may also prevent overactive oil glands from getting active.
5. It cleanses and exfoliates: African black soap cleans the skin of oil, dirt, and other impurities. The core of the soap contains fine grains of natural ash that act as a gentle exfoliant. It helps by removing dead skin cells when you wash your face with this soap. You will get cleaner and brighter skin that is all set for the next steps of your routine.
6. It helps treat acne: One of the benefits of African black soap is its ability to exfoliate. It removes oil, dirt, and bacteria from beneath the skin. These are some of the main forces that can cause pimples to turn up on your skin. African black soap helps you fight off acne and can be used as a preventative measure.
7. It helps soothe irritation: African black soap soothes itchiness and irritation caused due to eczema, contact dermatitis, and skin allergies. It may also clear rashes caused due to eczema and psoriasis. For maximum benefits, choose a soap with oatmeal added.
8. It is anti-inflammatory: Black soap is rich in vitamins A and E. Both these vitamins act as antioxidants. They help in fighting against free radicals and attacks on damaged skin tissues. This soap is ideal to be used by those who have inflammatory conditions like rosacea.
9. It helps fight acne: Black soap may also help fight acne. The shea content of the soap balances your skin’s natural oils and helps repair damaged cells. Its antimicrobial properties may even clear severe acne.
10. It may help reduce fine lines: Shea butter and coconut oil may help moderate collagen loss. They also boost new development. It can also plump up fine lines and wrinkles. The rough texture of the soap exfoliates dead skin cells. It makes fine lines more noticeable.
11. It helps protect against photoaging: Antioxidants found in shea butter protect your skin from photoaging. Sun exposure for long can cause sunspots (age spots). If you use black soap regularly, it may offer another barrier, preventing those spots.
12. It reduces dark spots and acne scars: African black soap is rich in both vitamins A and E. It has all the natural oils. It gives the ability to both avoid and treat discoloration. Vitamin E is rich in antioxidants. It helps in deflecting dark spots from forming in the first place. Vitamin A helps in reducing the uneven skin tone by stimulating cell turnover.
13. It soothes skin: With a combination of several kinds of butter oils, African black soap supplements its exfoliating properties with skin nourishing. Shea butter is present as an important ingredient. It mimics your skin’s natural oils, giving it a non-comedogenic, hydrating effect. Vitamin E repairs the skin’s lipid barrier. It offers conditioning profits that will even quench the driest complexion.
Can Everyone Use African Black Soap?
Though everyone can use African Black soaps, but the frequency of using this soap may vary depending upon your skin type. Black soaps with shea butter or other moisturizing ingredients are ideal to be used for dry skin. People with combination skin means the only oily in the T-Zone can also use this soap. On the other hand, if you have dry skin, this soap may make your skin more dry and irritate with its roughness. Thus, it is necessary to hydrate your skin after using the soap. It is necessary for those who have dry skin. they must use a revitalizing moisturizer.