Do you want to jump into the latest beauty craze and try out African black soap? Before lathering up, you probably have some questions about what it is and how it can benefit you. No, this odd-looking soap isn’t moldy, and its dark color doesn’t mean it’s dirty. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
We’ve studied and tested this trendy product to learn the science behind it, understand its origins, and ensure its value. We’ll explain where it comes from, how it’s made, and how it can benefit you.
We’ve also taken the time to compare the top brands and bring you our honest reviews of our five favorite products. We chose these products because they are produced fairly, don’t contain any harmful ingredients, and offer good value for the money.
Keep reading to find the best African soap for your skin.
- Comes with three bricks
- Good makeup remover
- Good for hair, body, and face
- Great for psoriasis
- One brick will last months
- Two-month guarantee
- Certified organic and natural
- Good for sensitive skin
- Helps control breakouts and detoxifies
What to Look For
When shopping for this highly beneficial soap, there are some factors you’ll want to consider.
Ingredients
The best African black soaps are made with all-natural ingredients. You don’t want added synthetic fragrances, preservatives, sulfates, or other harmful ingredients taking away from the benefits of the soap.
Scent
This soap has an earthy, natural scent that not everyone appreciates. If you’re looking for a scented version of the soap, look for one made with skin-friendly essential oils or a mild, unscented version.
Color
Look for a dark brown or black soap befitting its name. There’s no reason your soap should have artificial coloring added to it.
Texture
African black soap should not be smooth or oily. The texture is somewhat rough and crumbly and may contain small abrasive particles like husks or other impurities in it. This is why we recommend you always lather the soap with some water in your hands first before applying it to your body.
Production
Hand-crafted African black soap is likely to be more authentic than soap created by large companies, who may skip steps in the production process to mass produce their soaps. Authentic African black soap uses a lengthy process of sun-drying the ingredients to get the soap’s unique texture.
Because African villagers typically make this soap, it is usually “Fair Trade Certified.” Companies that produce fair-trade certified goods guarantee that everyone involved in making a product is fairly compensated for their efforts (1).
How It’s Made
Traditionally, this soap comes from West Africa, usually Ghana (2). 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 to bind everything together. After it sits for around two weeks, it’s ready to be used.
Ingredients and Benefits
African black soap is a great organic alternative to other soaps on the market. It doesn’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.
Palm Oil
Despite being a saturated fat, palm oil can be good for you. It’s high in antioxidants and has both forms of vitamin E, which are good for acne and eczema. It also has carotene, which reduces cell damage caused by pollution and toxic substances.
Palm oil and palm kernel oil can be confused with each other quite frequently. Palm oil, however, comes from the flesh of the palm fruit. Palm kernel oil comes from the seed.
Palm Kernel Oil
This oil is used to thicken the soap and is high in lauric acid. Lauric acid is used for treating a number of infections, including some flu strains, cold sores, and various other things (3).
This is nice because you know you’re getting at the grime, dirt, and unseen germs on your skin when you use it.
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean. While it’s typically used in baking, it also benefits your skin (4). Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which are known for their ability to hydrate the skin and improve elasticity.
Cocoa butter is commonly used to smooth out fine lines, wrinkles, and other pesky skin marks. It can also help heal rashes caused by eczema and dermatitis.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is similar in consistency to cocoa butter. It’s commonly used to help heal burns, scars, and other skin issues like psoriasis and dermatitis. Like cocoa butter, it is highly moisturizing and can reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Shea butter also has cinnamic acid in it. Cinnamic acid is an antioxidant with antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties (5).
Product Reviews
Here are our favorite African Black soaps to consider.
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.
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 that can scratch you otherwise.
With this choice, you’ll get three 1-pound bricks of soap. 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.
Pros
- Comes with three bricks.
- Good makeup remover.
- Good for hair, body, and face.
Cons
- Soap may be a little sticky.
Our Ratings
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 in one.
It’s crafted from a centuries-old recipe using shea butter and West African palm oil.
It’s safe for the whole family: babies, adults, and teenagers. It comes in a range of scents, which are fragranced using essential oils. However, if using it on your baby’s skin, check if the chosen essential oil is safe for them.
For example, the wild lavender option (our favorite scent!) is totally safe, but parents might choose the unscented option.
With this soap, your whole body will feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and deeply cleansed.
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.
Our Ratings
Wonderfully Natural African Black Soap
Popular Among Influencers
This is one I’ve seen the most online. 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% 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.
Our Ratings
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 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 you and your kids.
The soap is also cruelty-free, so animal lovers don’t need to worry. It doesn’t contain drying alcohol, parabens, dyes, or synthetic fragrances.
Unlike the other soaps, this one contains olive oil. Furthermore, you can choose products with added all-natural scents, including lemongrass and menthe.
Pros
- Multiple scents available.
- Good for oily skin.
- Mom-owned business.
- Certified organic.
Cons
- You may find small pieces of husk inside.
Our Ratings
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, check out this whole facial system, which 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 also makes a toner, but you’ll need to purchase it separately.
This product helps control breakouts and detoxifies the skin. It’s made of certified organic and natural ingredients, which is nice for people with sensitive skin. It doesn’t contain any sulfates or parabens, and the company is cruelty-free.
Pros
- A great natural alternative to other systems.
- Contains tea tree oil for purification.
- Good for sensitive skin.
Cons
- Some users felt it had an artificial scent.
- Can be hard to get a good lather.
