Beauty Discovery: African Black Soap

A few months back, I had watched a YouTube video raving about the benefits of black soap. Obviously having no idea what this was, I did a little research of my own and found that black soap originated in Africa from natural ingredients  as a way to cure common skin problems/conditions like acne, oily skin, eczema, and even psoriasis. 

If you have followed me for awhile, you know that about a year ago, my normally clear skin, suddenly started breaking out. I couldn't figure out what was causing it, no matter what I tried.
After seeing the YouTube video on black soap, I found out that Target carries a form of black soap.
A year ago, the only black soap product that had was a body wash (image below). When I tried this product, my Shea Moisture, it seemed to help my skin, but the product itself smelled HORRIBLE. It was hard to rub my face with something that smelled as close to tar & African-American hair grease as I had ever come in counter with. Along with the smell, the product produced these huge bubble that were very impractical for washing your face.
I finally realized that while the product was still a form of black soap, it was meant to be used as a body wash & only a body wash.

In a recent trip to Target, however, I stumbled upon a whole LINE of black soap products by Shea Moisture. Including a mask, scrub, face wash & even a facial bar.

Since the last black soap attempt was such a fail, I decided to only buy the black soap bar. The product was only a couple of dollars & I ended up buying the bar as well as a travel soap holder for under $5.00!

Of course I had to give the product a stiff first, and I am happy to say it smells WAY better than the body wash. It even has a hint of a fruity/clean smell that I can only describe as the smell of a car wash. 

Every one of the black soap products contains only 11 all natural ingredients: African Black Soap Base, African Shea Butter, Oats, Aloe, Plantain Extract, Vitamin E, Essential Oil Blend, Vegetable Glycerin, Palm Ash, Rosemary Extract, & Iron Oxides. 

Each Shea Moisture package also has the company's story on it.

For just a couple of dollars, I'm very interested to see if this product performs the miracles its supposed to. 

Stay tuned & I'll keep you posted!

Product Rave: Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream

Being the beauty nerd that I am, a few months back I did my research on the best rated drugstore skincare products. If you have been following my blog for awhile, you know that skincare is my weakness. Anything that promises brighter skin, or less oil, or smaller pores, or anything else that seems unobtainable, I must have it. Immediately.

One of the most raved-about skincare finds at the drugstore, was one found at Walgreens: Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream.

Now, I don't know about you, but those chemical-sounding words make me a little cautious to rub something all over my face & hope for the best.. So like any good beauty nerd, I did more research.
I found that while the name may be a bit intimidating, the chemicals themselves actually do wonders for the skin.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid is a chemical exfoliant, that when applied to the face in a cream form diminishes fine lines and wrinkles, helps with uneven skin tone, and hyper-pigmentation.

I knew I had to run out & scoop up the product myself.

The product itself is a fragrance free, white cream that I apply in a thin layer over my face before I go to sleep at night. Following my regular skincare routine, of course. 

The results have been amazing! I'm assuming the product just eats off my dead skin cells while I sleep, because every morning when I wake up to wash my face my skin is so incredibly soft.

Weird old-lady wrinkles on my forehead? Nearly gone.

Skin appearance? Amazingly soft & glowy.

Dry skin? Gone.
Skin tone? Even.

It's like magic in a little plastic tub for for $6 at Walgreens.

Go try it!

Seriously.
NOW.



To read the rave reviews for yourself:

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-alpha-hydroxy-face-cream/ID=prod5822041-product