African Black Soap has been used for centuries by women in West Africa, especially Ghana, and is quite different from the standard soap you’ll find on supermarket store shelves. It is vegetable based, and will cleanse your hair and skin in a soothing manner. In Africa is it known by names such as Alata Simena, Anago or Sabulun Salo, and after trying it once you’ll never go back to traditional soap.

How African Black Soap Is Made

The exact ingredients used in this soap will vary from one region to another, but the formulations are similar, with aloe, honey and oats being key components. Other ingredients include cocoa pods, the leaves of palm or Shea trees, and plantain skins. Once the necessary ingredients are gathered, it will be dried and roasted at a temperature which is consistent, until it becomes ash. Then the ash will be combined with water, fat and oils such as coconut, cocoa or palm kernel. The mixture will then be heated and stirred by hand for approximately twenty four hours until it solidifies after which it will be scooped out and allowed to cure for about two weeks.

What Makes African Black Soap Different From Standard Soaps?

The answer to this question lies in the ingredients which comprise it. Plantains for instance are an outstanding source of protein, as well as folic acid, vitamin C, antioxidants and riboflavin. Cocoa is also rich in antioxidants while providing excellent anti-inflammatory attributes. The coconut oil will moisturize your skin, and will promote its production of collagen, while the palm kernel oil has important fatty acids. Perhaps the most beneficial ingredients are palm oil and Shea butter.

Palm oil which is unrefined is rich in vitamin E, as well as antioxidants and beta carotene. Shea is famous for the incredible benefits it brings to the skin, as well as its ability to repair skin tissues which have become damaged. Unlike most traditional soaps, it is not harsh on the skin nor is it manufactured with any synthetic ingredients. This makes it ideal for every skin type, whether it is dry, oily or a bit of both.

African Black Soap Provides Exfoliation While Combating Acne

Many people suffer from acne, and most standard soaps are not effective in treating it at all. Liquid Black Soap, by contrast, it non-processed, organic and completely raw, which means that it is much better at preventing and alleviating acne. The soap has a grainy quality to it, which makes it a fabulous exfoliator. The main ingredient however that allows it to fight acne is its lauric acid. This, in conjunction with capric acid and vitamin E, will work to bring balance to the pH levels of your skin while removing inflammation and irritation. Other important ingredients in this soap which will assist in acne prevention and removal include oleic acid and vitamin A.