Have you been shopping lately and noticed soap in a dark brown or black color? It’s not moldy and its dark color doesn’t mean it’s dirty either. As a matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite.
So what exactly is in this mysterious black soap and where does it come from? We’re going to go over everything you need to know about African black soap. From where it comes from to its benefits, you’re going to be an expert by the time you’re done here.
We’re also going to give you our best African black soap picks to make your decision easier.
- Comes with three bricks
- Good makeup remover
- Good for hair, body, and face
- Safe for all ages
- Range of scents
- Keeps skin soft
- Great for psoriasis
- One brick will last months
- Two-month guarantee
- Good for oily skin
- Mom-owned business
- Certified organic
- Certified organic and natural
- Good for sensitive skin
- Helps control breakouts and detoxifies
The Best African Black Soaps of 2023
Here are our favorite African Black soaps to consider.
1. Our Earth’s Secrets Premium Soap
Traditional and Effective
This soap brand is made in Ghana and uses traditional African recipes and techniques. Aside from the main African black soap ingredients, this soap also contains natural sodium too.
Because it’s raw, it’s recommended to lather the soap before applying it to your skin. The soap may contain some small pieces of husk which can scratch you otherwise.
With this choice, you’ll get three 1 pound bricks of the soap. This is nice because a little goes a long way and it’ll last you a while before you need to purchase again.
The product doesn’t contain any added fragrances either. It’s recommended for regular use in clearing acne and dark spots and is a good makeup remover too.
Pros
- Comes with three bricks.
- Good makeup remover.
- Good for hair, body, and face.
Cons
- Soap may be a little sticky.
2. Allafia Authentic African Black Soap
Best All-In-One African Black Soap
The Allafia Authentic African Black Soap is a face cleanser, body wash, hand soap, shampoo, and shaving cream. For a budget-friendly price, you’re getting five products for the price of one.
It’s crafted from a centuries-old recipe using shea butter and West African palm oil. It comes in a range of scents, which are fragranced using essential oils. If using on your baby’s skin, check if the chosen essential oil is safe for them.
For example, the Wild Lavender option is totally safe, but many parents might choose to go with the unscented option.
With this soap, your whole body will feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and deeply cleansed. It’s safe for the whole family: babies, adults, and teenagers.
Pros
- Five purposes in one product.
- Safe for babies, children, teenagers, and adults.
- Comes in a range of scents.
- Keeps skin soft, even in winter climates.
Cons
- It does not lather.
- It’s a thin consistency so the bottle doesn’t last long.
3. Wonderfully Natural African Black Soap
Popular Among Influencers
This is one I’ve seen the most of on YouTube. This bar of African black soap is available in a 1 pound block and is completely organic. The company is African owned and is fair-trade friendly as well.
The company also offers a 60-day 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. If you receive the product and aren’t impressed, they will refund your money.
This soap is good for removing dark marks and pesky acne spots on your face and people have sworn by it for their psoriasis.
Pros
- Great for psoriasis.
- One brick will last months.
- Two-month guarantee.
Cons
- Product can be drying for sensitive skin.
4. Shea Terra Organics African Soap Bar
Great for Added Scent
If you’re looking for a smaller size than the others on our list, this is a good one to consider. It comes in a 4.5-ounce bar so you can try it out without feeling like you’ve wasted it. This one is formulated to help settle and prevent acne.
It’s easy to use — the company recommends lathering and then letting it sit for five to 10 minutes before rinsing off. It’s USDA certified organic, so it’s safe for both you and the kids as well.
The soap is also cruelty-free, so animal lovers out there don’t need to worry. It doesn’t contain drying alcohol, parabens, dyes, or synthetic fragrance either.
Unlike the other soaps, this one contains olive oil. Furthermore, you can choose products with added all-natural scents, including lemongrass and menthe.
Pros
- Other scents available.
- Good for oily skin.
- Mom-owned business.
- Certified organic.
Cons
- May find small pieces of husk inside.
5. SheaMoisture Bath & Face Skincare Kit
The Whole Shebang
Sometimes you don’t want to mix a million products to get a clean, glowing look. If this sounds like something you struggle with, this whole facial system uses African black soap in its products.
The system comes with a body wash, a body bar, and a facial bar soap. The body bar can be used on your face too. The company makes a toner as well, but it needs to be purchased separately.
This product helps control breakouts and detoxifies the skin as well. It’s made completely of certified organic and natural ingredients which are nice for people with sensitive skin. It doesn’t contain any sulfates or parabens and the company is cruelty-free too.
Pros
- A great natural alternative to other systems.
- Contains tea tree oil for purification.
- Good for sensitive skin.
Cons
- Toner to be purchased separately.
African Black Soap and How It’s Made
Traditionally, this soap comes from West Africa, usually Ghana (1). The dark color comes from the ash belonging to various plants and tree barks. It could come from plantains, shea trees, cocoa pods, palm leaves, and more.
The ingredients are sun-dried and then added to a kettle to roast. Water and oils like palm or coconut oil are added in to bind everything together. After it sits for around two weeks, it’s ready to be used.
Because this soap is typically made by villagers in Africa, it is usually “Fair Trade Certified.” Fairtrade certified goods are guaranteed to fairly compensate all people involved in making a product (2).
This is nice because you know your money isn’t just going into the pocket of a big-time CEO.
Ingredients and Benefits
African black soap is a great organic alternative to other soaps on the market. They don’t typically have any added preservatives or coloring to make it last longer as other bar soaps do.
It doesn’t have any harsh ingredients either. Most big brand soaps have fragrance, parabens, sulfates, and triclosan added in. The ingredients in African black soap are all-natural so your body gets plenty of benefits from it.