I purchased this Shea Terra African Black Soap as I have used African Black Soap in products before and enjoyed it. I also liked that the ingredients were organic. However this soap just did not work out for me. First of all, I feel that it is kind of deceiving to call this "authentic" African black soap. This does contain African black soap. However the first ingredient is coconut cream oil and it also contains other ingredients. Authentic African black soap also looks (and feels) extremely different when purchased raw . I feel like they should have said, "CONTAINS" African black soap. This didn't really bother me because I was happy that it contained coconut cream oil and shea butter as I was hoping this would cut the harshness of the soap a bit. However I feel this might deceive those who are looking for raw African black soap. The soap itself was just WAY too drying and harsh. My skin felt completely tight, dry, flaky, and itchy after using this soap. It was almost bordering on unbearable, even when applied lotion after. It also just really irritated the sensitive parts of my skin. The soap is also a weird texture and easily falls apart into brown clumps. It didn't last as long because of this and I felt I was losing money. It just gets everywhere when you put water on it. Overall I do not recommend this soap, especially for those with dry or sensitive skin. Scent Couldn't detect much of a scent.

meg24209

USA

Shea Terra Authentic African Black Soap (I'm not convinced it's totally authentic, but it's still nice) is a pretty interesting bar of soap. I don't use it like a normal cleanser - it's not at it's best when you just lather up and wash your face or body. I use it like a mask, which is a recommended usage: lather up the soap, spread the lather across your face, and let dry. When dry, rinse off for a clean, tight feeling. You can do this on your face at the sink, and you can also try it on parts of your body where you have oily or breakout-prone skin. (It's a little harder to keep your body dry in the shower to let the mask set, but it still works decently well.) The mask strategy protects your skin from the gritty particles in this soap, which can be harsh when applied directly. It can be a drying process, so I recommend using a cream or moisturizer after you've applied this soap, especially to your face.

anylit

Berkeley, CA

I first tried the African Black Soap when an African man showed it to me and told me that it literally turned around his problem with razor bumps and acne. He explained to me how well it worked on his skin and how he didn't have much expectation and it really worked for him. I purchased my first bar for my husband and son both of who have different needs for skin soaps. It is made from the natural process of making shea butter and is a very interesting soap. A bar lasts a REALLY long time too- our first bar lasted over a year with constant use. Keep in mind that this is not for dry skin as it leaves skin astringent feeling. When using shea butter on it afterward, however, it does make the skin look nice and clear. **INGREDIENTS** *USDA certified organic, virgin coconut cream oil, African black soap (cocoa pod ash, plaintain peel ash, palm oil, camwood), 24% USDA certified organic shea butter, certified organic, extra virgin olive oil, spring water, sodium hydroxide* **PRODUCT INFORMATION** Here is some interesting information about African Black Soap from the company: *Accept no imitations.* *No natural product performs better to improve and decrease aging of the skin. This ancient formula produces firm, blemish free skin that looks fresher and younger than ever. It works like micro-dermabrasion without the side effects.* *Authentic African Black Soap is still made today by the people of the Yoruban tribe located in Nigeria. It is believed that this tribe brought their herbal wisdom with them from their original Egyptian homeland. Secret black soap formulas are carefully guarded as they are passed down through generation. The soap is based on the ancient art of ash treatment finding a revival of interest today.* *As difficult as it is to obtain genuine African black soap it is no wonder so many imitations exist, even in Africa itself. In the US some companies add black dye to regular glycerin or triple milled soaps. These soaps do not possess the medicinal qualities of Authentic African Black Soap. Genuine African black soap is originally black although brown variations exist in neighboring countries and tribes. Even brown soaps with white specks can be found, but this is made using modern soap making methods combined with wood ash.* *Shea Terra Organics incorporates the black soap ash into healing oils and cures them into hard bars of soap. Due to the way black soap is made, the soap itself is slightly abrasive which makes for an excellent body scrub. The soap works superbly for those back and shoulder acne* Effectiveness African Black Soap is an unusual soap. It is very hard and milled well so the bar will last a long time. The best way to use it is to suds up the soap and then apply it well to the face or skin where there is acne such as the upper back or chest. Once it is applied, you use it to gently scrub the skin and then wash off. It leaves the skin rather astringent, but it does clear up acne and razor bumps after using for a week or more. My husband uses shea butter on his face all of the time as it helps his shaving with electric razor, and the soap clears up his skin on particularly greasy or dirty days. My son has results when using it on cystic acne areas such as shoulders and face. Scent There does not seem to be any scent at all with the African Black Soap. That is good news for anyone allergic to fragrances.

Caprig

Podunk, NY

This is a great product and I recommend everyone to try it and see for yourself the amazing results you will get using this product over using a none 100% natural product. There are no artificial ingredients, fragrances, and coloring in the soap. Do NOT use this hard milled bar of soap directly on your face. Lather soap in your hands and apply the lather to your face. I use it as a mask and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it off. I only used it once a day; in the evening before apply my Rosacea medication. My face and neck skin felt very smooth and a little dry after cleansing. Effectiveness Very effective for me. Scent I did not notice any scent so if there is one it must be very mild.

Krava

Palm Harbor, FL