I used to purchase different beauty products from health stores, pharmacies and multi-level marketing companies. They were all very expensive products that claimed they had “all natural ingredients”. I became really curious and took the time to Google some of the ingredients listed. To my surprise they contained additives that had chemicals altering the goodness of what they originally started out with – my thoughts – these companies really know how to market products. Not only was I paying a high price but it turned out that the products were not as “natural” or “organic” as the label stated.
Then I met someone at a local health show who introduced me to black soap. He said it was pure soap from western Africa and did not contain any additives. At first I was reluctant, again my curiosity set in, it helped because it had a low price tag ($20.00) – a fraction of the cost of what I spent on the other so-called “natural” products. I started with the shampoo – which I now use on everything, face, body and hair. Despite our 42 billion dollar health and beauty industry that claims you need a different product for every piece of your body. Not so.
I Googled black soap and this is what I found.
Black soap is made from the ash of palm trees leaves, tree bark, cocoa pods, plantain leaves, and shea tree bark. The leaves and bark are sun-dried and then roasted in a kettle, pot or a vat. Water and various oils – palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil – even Shea butter and cocoa pod powder are added and stirred for a day. The “soap” is left to set for two weeks to cure.
The ash itself was often used to heal cuts. Black soap that is actually made and shipped in from Africa tend to be the purest, while black soaps manufactured in Europe and the States tend to have added artificial ingredient – this is where the costs builds in our retail world. Black soap should range in colour from beige to dark brown. It should not be black – if so, there are colour additives to match the name – don’t fall for that marketing scheme.
The plantain skins give the soap Vitamin A & E and iron. Because the soap has the highest Shea butter content of any soap, it also contains a pure content of low UV protection (15 SPF). The soap is also good for sensitive skin and recommended for babies and the elderly. The African black soap is used by some of the native tribes in Africa to clean babies after birth so it is proven how really safe it is.
Keeping the pure ingredients pure and arriving on my doorstep still in a pure state has been quite a time- consuming but successful task. While the main ingredients may vary with the production of these soaps they are still kept simple and constant. No fancy labels and just pure ingredients.
There are many claims on the benefits of using African Black Soap. It is said that it helps relieve rashes, scalp irritations, softens rough skin, oily skin, dry skin, acne, blemishes and other different sensitive skin problems. This soap gives your face a deep cleanse by removing dirt MY BAR Disposable Pods and bacteria while drawing out environmental toxins that sit in facial pores. The soap makes your face actual feel clean – remember to hydrate your skin. Please see my article on the benefits of Shea butter moisturizer.
In closing, my little adventure has turned me into a huge believer of black soap and Shea butter products. At a fraction of the price to anyone out there as curious as me – try the black soap and Shea butter – you won’t be disappointed.