

I don't know about you, but one of my goals is to get my skincare game all the way together. I'm trying to be out here with clear skin and looking fully moisturized, okurrr! So, I've been doing some research and African black soap may be the one thing that is missing from my routine.
Clearly I've been living under a rock because black soap has been the GOAT of the skincare game for a long time. It's known to heal breakouts, purify the skin, fade dark spots, and so much more. When it comes to finding the right soap, it can be tricky. Depending on your skin type, you need to be mindful of how frequently you're using it to clean your face. For those who suffer from dry skin, it can be a bit too harsh to use on a daily basis—at first. So, ease yourself into it and figure out whether this is something to add daily or weekly into your routine. I can't lie, I'm a newbie when it comes to black soap; but if we have the gems, you know we're going to share them with you.
With that being said, here are some African black soaps you may want to add to your skincare routine:
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, xoNecole may earn a small commission.
SheaMoisture African Black Soap Bar
Image via Shea Moisture
For the results and definitely the price, SheaMoisture's African black soap is well worth a try. In addition to the black soap, it's also formulated with organic shea butter, oats, and aloe to cleanse, moisturize, and comfort irritated skin, while also making it easy to squeeze into your routine. The soap bar is only $3.99 and may be best for those who have extremely sensitive skin and want to save some coins.
The Purity Cosmetics Black Soap
Image via Purity Cosmetics
The Purity Cosmetics is a local black owned skin and hair retailer that offers two types of black soap — the original black soap bar and the flavored black soap. Both soaps are made with coconut pod powder, plantain peel powder, organic shea butter, palm kernel oil and coconut oil to help tone the skin and improve its texture. The flavored options range from lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, and much more. Btw, both are only $3.99, tell me that's not a steal!
Tropical Naturals Dudu-Osun Black Soap Bar
Image via Tropical Natural
Tropical Naturals Dudu-Osun Black Soap is an OG when it comes to black soap. We know at least one person in the family who has tried this. The soap is great for all skin types and is handmade from pure natural ingredients and herbs from the tropical rainforest. It's made with pure honey shea butter, palm kernel oil, cocoa pod ash, aloe vera, and more. You can find this at most major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and more.
TGIN African Black Soap
Image by TGIN
TGIN's African Black Soap is a new one but definitely worth a try. TGIN is popular for their haircare products, but may be making a mark with skincare too. Their black soap is made with activated charcoal and shea butter that will detoxify and rejuvenate your skin. The natural cleansing bar draws out dirt and impurities trapped deep inside of the pores that cause bumps, breakouts and all of that unwanted acne. The bar only retails for $4.99.
Wonderfully Natural Organic African Black Soap
Image via Wonderfully Natural
This is the most expensive on the list and sells for $14.99, but Wonderfully Natural Organic African Black Soap is another OG in the black soap game. It's made with shea butter and other natural moisturizing ingredients that heal and repair damaged sensitive skin, lock in moisture, and protect skin cells. It also fights acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rashes.
Bonus: Black Soaps At Your Local African Shops
If you live near a shop that sells African goods, do yourself a favor: Go in and get some black soap. There's nothing like going straight to the source. Most times the mom and pop shops have the goods imported from Africa or soaps handmade with natural ingredients. It may cost more, but it's definitely worth the investment. So if you're someone who tends to value natural ingredients and handmade soaps, definitely hit up the mom and pop shops.
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Featured Image via Shutterstock
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Freelance writer, content creator, and traveler. She enjoys the beauty of simplicity, a peaceful life, and a big curly fro. Connect with Krissy on social media @iamkrissylewis or check out her blog at www.krissylewis.com.
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
A Celebration Of Black Voices: What You Missed At The 3rd Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival
Over the weekend, iHeart Radio held its third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival in Atlanta, attracting a star-studded lineup of personalities and shows. Charlamagne tha God, founder of the Black Effect podcast network was in attendance along with other notable personalities like Mandii B and Weezy WTF, the hosts of the popular Decisions, Decisions podcast, who also served as the festival's hosts.
Sarah Jakes Roberts, the esteemed pastor and host of Woman Evolve podcast, singers and co-hosts of the R&B Money podcast, Tank and J. Valentine, former NFL star and Funky Friday host Cam Newton and many more further rounded out the festivals' lineup.
The festival hosted panels that focused on mental health and the future of podcasting as well as many live shows. Good Moms, Bad Choices hosts, Erica and Milah, welcomed Dreka Gates and held a live dating show that was nothing short of hilarious. Naked Sports host Cari Champion sat down with Iman Shumpert and they discussed sports and dating.
Tank and J. Valentine surprised the audience with Jacquees, Cam had a live conversation with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams, and Sarah closed out the festival with reality star Toya Johnson. Check out photos from the festival below:
(L-R) Shawn Bethea, Jay Barnett, Devi Brown, Charlamagne tha God and Amber Grimes
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Jamilah Mapp, Dreka Gates and Erica Dickerson
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Mandii B and Weezy WTF
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Porsha Williams and Cam Newton
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Iman Shumpert and Cari Champion
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Tank, Jacquees and J. Valentine
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
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Feature image by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network