Choosing skin care products can be daunting, especially when your skin is demanding many different needs such as blemish-free skin, hyperpigmentation, excess oil production, extreme dryness, etc. A few months ago I had the opportunity to test out three products from Nubian Heritage’s African Black Soap product line, the African Black Soap Mud Mask, the African Black Soap Facial Cleanser and Scrub, and the African Black Soap Facial Toner. Instead of doing a traditional review I prefer to educate you on the first five ingredients of each product and then leave my opinion of the product line at the very end.
Nubian Heritage African Black Soap Product skincare collection rating: 3 out of 5
Read the ENTIRETY of the review to learn why.
Step One: African Black Soap Mud Mask
Water– Water is used as a solvent or carrier to deliver the active ingredients that are in the product.
Kaolin– A natural clay mineral that extracts excess oil and stale sebum on the skin and within the pores. It pulls out impurities and prevents skin from clogging. Great for treating painful and pus-filled acne.
Bentonite– This is one of my favorite natural ingredients to use both internally and externally. Over time, bentonite clay gets rids of blackheads and whiteheads caused by an overproduction of sebum. Bentonite clay reduces the size of pores, draws out toxins, and leaves skin feeling tighter and fresh.
Glycerin– Glycerin works as a great skin moisturizer by retaining and trapping moisture to nourish skin. It removes impurities from the skin by unclogging pores and assists in skin appearing and feeling softer and more supple.
Shea Butter– This is another one of my favorite all natural beauty ingredients to use for just about any beauty concern. Shea Butter contains a high concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids. It reduces inflammation, aids in the natural collagen production and assists in maintaining soft, wrinkle-free skin.
Step 2: African Black Soap Facial Cleanser and Scrub
Water– Water is used as a solvent or carrier to deliver the active ingredients that are in the product.
Decyl Glucoside: This is a natural ingredient that derives from both corn and coconut. It has amazing foaming power and has the ability to lather while retaining the skin’s moisture balance. Decyl Glucoside does an excellent job of removing dirt and excess oil without causing inflammation and irritation.
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate: Is a fatty acid that’s derived from Coconut oil. It has the ability to assist water in mixing with oil and dirt that’s in the skin to allow other added ingredients to penetrate deeply into the surface of the skin.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate: Has high moisturizing capabilities and can seep deeply into the skin’s surface. Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate has potent antimicrobial properties that are wonderful for fighting acne.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Is a chemical that’s most commonly used as a thickener and foaming agent. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, the chemical might irritate the mucous membranes or cause skin irritations. Another downside of this ingredient is that it has the ability to trigger skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and contact dermatitis. Besides from its possible negatives side effects, it allows water to easily wash away stubborn oil and impurities from the skin and assists with maintaining a proper moisture balance.
Step 3: African Black Soap Facial Toner
Water-Water is used as a solvent or carrier to deliver the active ingredients that are in the product.
Isopropyl Alcohol– After discovering what this ingredient was I was extremely surprised that Nubian Heritage would put such a harmful ingredient in their product line. Isopropyl Alcohol is a popular ingredient, but unfortunately, it’s found in many household products and has potential health hazards. This ingredient is favored amongst medical professionals to disinfect and sanitize equipment. Pure isopropyl alcohol is considered to be a toxic substance to humans and has the ability to absorb through the skin. With overtime use of this ingredient, it has the capability to weaken the skin by causing erosion of the skin’s surface. Although there are good and safe alcohols to use, known as fatty alcohols, isopropyl alcohol is an alcohol to avoid.
Glycerin-The glycerin that is found in the skin toner assists in maintaining the skin’s oil and moisture balance as well as keeping a neutral PH of the skin.
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel)– Is an extract from the Hamamelis Virginiana tree. It has amazing anti-inflammatory properties that have been known to soothe diaper rashes, razor burns, acne scars, and bug bites. This ingredient is great for locking moisture into the skin and is great for treating sun-damaged skin.
Gluconolactone– is an acid that’s gentle on most skin types and works best for people with sensitive skin. Gluconolactone pulls moisture out of the air, similar to glycerin, and allows it to be absorbed by the skin.
My Thoughts!
I used the product for 1 week, prior to researching the ingredients, and noticed an improvement in my skin’s overall appearance. My skin looked more vibrant, clear, and radiant. I also saw a decrease in pore size. I used the mud mask 3 times during the week, the cleansing scrub every night, and the toner twice a day (morning and night). As stated before, I tend to keep my skincare as natural as possible. After researching the ingredients of each product, I was a bit surprised with the first ingredient listed in the African Black Soap Facial Toner. This was a HUGE red flag for me. Because of the harmful ingredient in the facial toner, isopropyl alcohol, I would not be able to recommend Nubian Heritage’s entire African Black Soap skincare line. The mud mask and the facial cleanser worked wonderfully and those two products would be the only two that I would repurchase and reccomend.
