Unlike the synthetic soaps, authentic African black soap is handmade from plant-based ingredients.
1. It’s antibacterial
Natural antibacterial properties make African black soap an excellent alternative to chemical-laden cleansers. In fact, it may actually remove more bacteria than chemical cleansers do.
Despite its strength, black soap is gentle enough to use on your face, hands, and body.
2. It’s safe for all skin types
African black soap can help balance your skin’s natural oil production without stripping necessary oils or adding excess oil to your skin.
3. It’s moisturizing
Shea butter is a crucial ingredient in black soap.
While shea can help relieve itchiness and soothe dry skin, cocoa and coconut oil add moisture.
4. It won’t make your skin oily
If you have combination skin, this makes choosing the right soap that much easier.
Shea may add moisture, but coconut oil may help prevent overactive oil glands.
5. It helps soothe irritation
African black soap may also soothe itchiness and irritation caused by eczema, contact dermatitis, and skin allergies. It may even help clear rashes related to eczema and psoriasis.
To maximize these benefits, find a soap with oatmeal added.
6. It’s anti-inflammatory
Black soap is rich in vitamins A and E.
These vitamins are both antioxidants, which help combat free radicals and attacks on otherwise healthy skin tissues.
This may be helpful for people who have inflammatory conditions like rosacea.
7. It helps fight acne
On that note, black soap may also help fight acne.
In addition to balancing your skin’s natural oils, the soap’s shea content may help repair damaged cells.
Its antimicrobial properties may even clear severe acne.
8. It may help reduce fine lines
Shea butter and coconut oil may help reduce collagen loss and encourage new development.
In turn, this can help plump up fine lines and wrinkles.
The rough texture of the soap can also exfoliate dead skin cells that make fine lines more noticeable.
9. It helps protect against photoaging
Antioxidants found in shea butter can help protect your skin from photoaging.
Over time, sun exposure can cause sunspots (age spots), but black soap may offer another barrier.
10. It helps improve skin texture
African black soap is chock-full of natural ingredients, but part of its benefits come from its form.
When left unprocessed, the raw ingredients that make up black soap leave the product far less smooth than the average drugstore soap bar.
This makes it a natural exfoliant, which may help improve skin texture.
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