The African black soap has gained popularity for having skin nourishing benefits due to a potential abundance of antioxidants. African black soap or black soap (also known by various local names such as sabulun salo, ose dudu and ncha nkota), is a kind of soap originating from West Africa. 

Black soap is the ultimate beauty buy for those on a budget and unlike the synthetic soaps you find at the drugstore, authentic black soap is handmade from plant-based ingredients in Africa. It is made from the ash of locally harvested African plants and dried peels, which gives the soap its characteristic dark colour. In West Africa, especially Ghana, black soap is often made by women using traditional recipes and is often exported through fair trade groups.

Looking for a one-size-fits-all approach to flawless skin? Sign up to the African black soap! This latest skincare “holy grail” has proved to be a solution for breakouts, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, and everything in between. 

Although African in origin, black soap is suitable for all ethnicities. In North America, black soap has become a popular toiletry due to its benefits on oily and acne-prone skin and works especially well lifting dead dry skin to reveal newer & healthier glowing skin. It is gentle enough to use morning and night and does a great job of unclogging pores.

 We’ve heard some misconceptions about the African black soap, read on to debunk some myths about this skincare favorite and how you can add it to your routine.

Myth 1: Use Everyday For Better Results.

African Black bar soap is not a soap that should be used every day. The ingredients are too harsh for daily use and can cause the skin to become sensitive, irritated, or dry if overused. It is best to use the African black soap bar up to three times per week and to follow it up with a good moisturizer.

Myth 2: African Black Soap Will 'Darken' Your Complexion.

Contrarily, African black soap has properties that help brighten the skin whilst maintaining its natural beauty. It works by removing dead cells on the skin surface and allows vitamin A, E, and other important nutrients in. This way the skin tone and texture is improved.

Myth 3: African Black Soap Must Be Black.

Authentic African Black Soap is NOT jet black but has more of a brown looking color. In the making of African Black Soap, the plantain leaves, cocoa pods and other plant-based material are sun-dried and then burned into ash. The longer the ingredients are roasted, the darker the soap will be, but the darkest shade is a deep shade of brown. Non-authentic Black Soap has unnatural black dyes added to intensify the black color. These black dyes can dry out your skin, sting or burn, irritate and overall, do not have the same skin benefits as the authentic Black Soap.

Myth 4: Only People With Oily or Acne-Prone Skin Can Use African Black Soap.

Not only is black soap a facial cleanser, but it also cleans just about anything. Some people use it for doing housework. Safe for most skin types, African black soap is unscented and safe for anyone who wants to improve their skin.

Myth 5: African Black Soap Is Only For Black People.

It's called black soap because of the color of the soap. Not because it's made for black people only. 

One More Myth! African Black Soap Is Drying. 

It is thought to occur in some people because the soap is drawing impurities out of your skin. Once the PH level of your skin balances out, the tight, dry feeling will go away. Some people also find that African Black soap makes their skin tingle, but like the tight, dry feeling, this should resolve itself in a week. 

How To Use African Black Soap.

Those with sensitive or eczema-prone skin should use caution when considering African black soap because the vitamin A and exfoliating properties could trigger irritation. To avoid the aforementioned irritations, you'll need to learn how to use African black soap safely to ease into using it daily. 

Use it about two to three times a week alongside a gentler cleanser. As a deep cleanser and exfoliator, be cautious and pay attention to your skin's response. The cleanser can be used as part of either a morning or night routine. 

Takeaways.

African black soap is packed with essential nutrients and ingredients like Vitamin E, A,  Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Theobroma cacao pods ash, designed to enhance your skin’s natural complexion and help you glow from the inside out. The fewer chemicals that are found in skincare products, the better! If you begin experiencing any unusual rashes or irritation, discontinue use and see your doctor or dermatologist. They can help determine what’s causing your symptoms and whether you should permanently stop using black soap.

Product Recommendation and Where to Buy Original African Black Soap.

The Nashé Beauty Exfoliating African Black Soap is cold pressed and does not contain palm ash. It is beyond regular black soap as it has been designed to honor centuries old traditions in soap making with a modern twist to solve the skincare problems of today.

Authentic African Black soap is not black in color, it looks marbled- brown and the presence of plant ash makes its soft soap and a great exfoliator.

Have you used African black soap before? Let me know what you think about it in the comment section.