My first experience with African black soap was at a farmer’s market last summer. I bought a bar on a whim. I’m not sure why because bar soap is one of my pet peeves. I just prefer pump soap. Extra points if it’s a foaming pump.

The bar got lost in our van because it’s a 15 passenger van and that’s what things do in it.

I eventually rescued it and searched “African black soap benefits.” Go ahead. You try. Basically it’s going to solve all the world’s problems.

For starters, our 12-year-old daughter agreed to wash her face with it. She never washes her face (ewww), and she hates all my natural solutions. I told you…this stuff is magical. First miracle aside, it actually did clear her face up.

I generally scrub my entire body (face included) with a coconut oil sugar scrub. But sometimes, you just want a sudsy, soapy clean.

This is a great way to turn that bar of African black soap magic into an easy to dispense and use shower gel. It also makes a great face wash because who needs another product in the shower?

[bctt tweet=”DIY African black soap shower gel and face wash. #magical” username=”corkboardblog”]

What You’ll Need

Kitchen scale

2 oz. African Black Soap

6 oz. water

small saucepan

whisk

wire strainer

glass measuring cup

1 tsp guar gum

1 tsp vegetable glycerin

1 tsp liquid oil, optional*

15 drops essential oil, optional**

pump bottle (use #1 or #2 plastic or glass if adding essential oils)

Instructions

1. Crumble the soap or cut into pieces using a sharp knife.
   
2. Add the water and soap to a saucepan.
3. Stir gently over low to medium heat until the soap is dissolved.
4. Strain into a glass measuring cup.
5. Let cool.
6. Mix in guar gum, glycerin, oil, and essential oils.
   
   
7. Immediately pour into pump bottle.

The mixture will thicken over time. I love the consistency and the rich lather. This photo honestly doesn’t do it justice. I tried to make a video tutorial that is better at showing the steps and the consistency, but it ended up being a huge time suck and generally a #fail. #videoproduceriamnot

*Liquid oil will up the moisturizing benefits. Fractionated coconut oil or almond oil are great choices. If you have acne-prone skin, try jojoba.

**Essential oils can scent the soap to your liking but can also provide additional skin support. I used doTERRA’s Frankincense (10 drops) and Roman Chamomile (5 drops) in mine.

I’d love to hook you up with the best quality oils at the best price, so let’s connect if you want to learn more!

Do you have a favorite all-in-one body and face soap?

Hair Care.

I use a simple solution of water, apple cider vinegar, and essential oils. My hair has always been greasy and oily. When I first started using a vinegar rinse instead of shampoo, I had a 10 to 14 day adjustment where it was a hot mess and stayed in a hat or ponytail. I almost threw in the towel—no pun intended. I’m glad I didn’t. Now, my hair is almost never greasy, only needs to be washed 3 to 4 times a week, and is more shiny and manageable.

How to: Start with about a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water. (See? Much cheaper than shampoo.) Depending on the hardness of your water and your hair, you may need to adjust the ratio. Squirt, pour, or spray the solution onto wet hair. Let sit for about 2 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

Suggested essential oils: Geranium, Melaleuca, Lavendar, Rosemary, Clary Sage

Skin Care.

If you need something that bubbles and feels like soap, I’m a huge fan of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. A little bit goes a long way, and you can add essential oils for scent and skin health. However, I’ve been loving just a sugar scrub in my shower routine. Just mix some melted coconut oil and plain, white sugar together, add your favorite essential and voila! Even with the dry, mid-Atlantic winter, my skin has been soft and silky without additional moisturizers.

Suggested essential oils: Geranium and Lavender for all skin types, Citrus oils for oily skin, Ylang Ylang or Cedarwood for dry skin, and Peppermint for invigoration.

Face care.

Depending on my mood and how much time I have, I either just splash with warm water OR I add a drop of essential oil to a dab of coconut oil and massage all over my face. I had oily skin for my entire post pubescent life. Counterintuitively, this routine has actually balanced my skin and reduced the oiliness. I don’t wear make up, so I’m pretty low maintenance. If you need a natural way to remove make up try using coconut oil and steaming off the excess with a hot washcloth or using almond milk.

Suggested essential oils: Grapefruit or Lavender for dry skin, Bergamot or Melaleuca for oily skin. I can also hook you up with a proprietary blend for faces that suffer with acne and an anti-aging blend.

We’ve chosen a specific brand of essential oils because of the company’s commitment to safety, sustainability, quality, and support. We believe life (including essential oils) is best done in community and this company has a similar mindset. Unfortunately, to protect myself from scrutiny from the FDA, I’ve chosen to not disclose the brand on my website. It’s crazy world we live in! If you want to learn more about who we chose and why, send me a message here. You can also sign up for my newsletter where I send out wellness tips, event invites, and ways to get FREE oils.

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