Africa’s best-kept beauty secret

There is no one-size-fits-all African Black Soap! I was born and bred in Ghana, West Africa where African Black Soap is widely used – I am biased and my favourite is ‘alata semina’ a soft, crumbly brownish coloured soap made by groups of women from villages and towns across the southern forest belt of Ghana. They use local sources of ingredients mainly from cocoa, oil palm, plantain and coconut trees. The ashes from cocoa pods and plantain skins are mixed and added to palm and coconut oils to make this natural soap.

The soap mixture is heated and stirred for about a day and then cured at room temperature for several more days before being released onto the market. Almost always the ingredients are sourced from local small-scale growers who use traditional methods of cultivation and the soap is considered to be natural, organic and vegan. Does African Black Soap Contain Shea Butter?

Traditionally shea butter was not included as an ingredient in African Black Soap as it was grown and processed 200 to 300 miles away from northern Ghana – in times past it would take several days to make such a journey.  Some soaps on the market add various other ingredients, like shea butter, but these are not true to tradition.

Bar soaps clean – this soap cleans and exfoliates at the same time. The main reason that Africa Black Soap is so good at cleansing the skin is probably due to the ash, from the cocoa pods and plantain skins, which gently exfoliates the skin, clearing clogged pores of excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells. Removal of dead dry skin uncovers and reveals newer & healthier glowing skin. It’s also great at removing make-up but please make sure you don’t get it in your eyes!

Don’t forget – this natural soap is a real powerhouse – it is gentle but strong.  For first time use, test on a small area of skin to check for any allergic reaction. You may experience a tingling sensation –this is common and will stop after using the soap for about a week.

• 10 seconds: Make a lather in your hands by rubbing the soap with water – rub hands together into a good lather and apply to the skin.

• 20 seconds: Rub on the skin, in a small circular motion for about 20 seconds.

• 25 seconds: Rinse and pat dry.  Rinse & follow with a natural moisturizer. The liquid black soap works great in conjunction with skin cleansing devices.

If you do overdo it – the soap can pack a mean punch – it feels like a harsh scrub. Typically use it about 3 times a week. If your skin suffers from acne or eczema or other problems after applying the lather to your skin, consider leaving it on the skin for about 2 minutes before rinsing off.

African Black Soap, like all soaps, will dry out your skin, and I feel it’s absolutely essential to use a natural, unrefined shea-based moisturiser after use. Why else would you find African Black Soap and Shea Butter in the same country? I apply Orobaa’s Nurture (Face Moisturiser) to my face and neck or Harmony (Day Cream) or Excellence (Night Cream) to my body. My husband uses Orobaa’s Authentic African Black Soap to treat his eczema on his ankles and then uses Orobaa’s Harmony – the Body Moisturiser to hydrate his ankles!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post and look forward to hearing about your experiences from using Orobaa’s Authentic Black Soap in the near future. Contact us for more information.