African Black Soap

What is it?

African black soap is a traditional soap made by combining alkali derived from the ash of plant matter (such as plantain skins or cocoa pods) with vegetable oils, without added synthetic cosmetic ingredients -- long used across West Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ghana, as a gentle cleanser.

What does it do?

A 2021 dermatology review found real evidence that traditional African black soap has antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcal and some Streptococcal organisms, and describes it as gentle and superfatted; the same review notes that many other popularly claimed benefits -- such as anti-acne, exfoliating and scar-fading effects -- remain anecdotal rather than clinically established.

Real products containing this

• African Black Soap Cleanser — Mbiri Natural Skincare

Sources