At different points in life, we all face some skin related problems. These problems are
generally acne, overtly dry skin, oily
skin, blackheads, whiteheads etc. The first thing in
our skin care routine is cleansing. This aspect of skin care is easier said than done. It is so because it
requires the correct soap/cleanser, consistency in approach and regular
reviews.
Generally the cleansers are available locally in stores in plenty. But the common features of all these
soaps are that they may
contain lots of chemical additives, can be very harsh for the skin, etc. This approach to skin care with
general soaps is very rudimentary. The approach to
skin care should be such that it becomes an integral part of our overall health care. We should not
compromise on it. Keeping all these issues in mind, I decided to hunt for a cleanser
which is natural, does not dry the skin,
and with the least of chemical preservatives. Finally, I
What is a black soap?
Black soap is
an all natural cleanser which has many more other benefits in addition to
cleansing. It originated in Africa, but
over a period of time different tribes
have adopted their own specific ways of preparing it. These tribes have their
own blend of raw material and oils and
they use their own specific saponification techniques. Hence there is so much of the variation in the
colors, looks and feel of the black soaps.
Why Black Soap is Different?
The black soap
is different from other soaps because of its different Lye. In the case of almost all the normal soaps, the lye used for saponification process is sodium hydroxide but in black soap the Lye used is potassium carbonate. This particular Lye is derived from plant ashes and
is considered to be very gentle on the skin compared to sodium hydroxide. The
process of preparation of black soap is very traditional and time consuming.
The recipe of the soap making is generally handed over from one generation to the other generation.
Medicinal Properties
Black soap inherently contains vitamin A, C and E from the natural sources. People
who are sensitive to caffeine should use it with caution as cocoa pods are one of the ingredients used in black soap.
Where to Get It?
It is available at online stores in various
varieti es. It varies from authentic black African soap with a natural scent of
ingredients to little modified versions with different kinds of scents. The non traditional varieties contain added ingredients also.
Special Qualities of a Black Soap
It is suitable for oily and acne prone skin because
- It deep cleanses the skin.
- Unclogs the pores.
- Rehydrates the skin without stimulating more oil secretion.
- Has very mild exfoliating properties.
It is good for
dry skin because
- It provides the proper moisture balance of the skin apart from cleaning.
- Shea butter and coconut oil helps to smooth out the wrinkles.
- It hydrates the skin.
- Has skin calming and anti inflammatory properties.
General Qualities of a Black Soap
- It evens the skin tone and reduces the sun damage.
- It is very gentle and can be used for babies
- For the aged people also its effects are very soothing as it does not irritate the skin.
- Works as a gentle cleanser for hair.
I have used it
for some time and I am impressed by the
results. I ordered mine from Amazon and
it took almost two (2) weeks to arrive because it was not available in India at that time. Also, it
is not readily available in local markets in countries other than its origin
countries. If it is available in your
country you should first smell and feel
it for suitability before making a
purchase.
So next time
when you have to buy a cleanser or face wash, give it a try and I am sure it
will not disappoint you
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