African black soap (also called African soap or black soap) is the latest skincare product to reach “holy grail” status, and for good reason. Touted as a solution for breakouts, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, and everything in between, black soap is the ultimate beauty buy for those on a budget.
And unlike the synthetic soaps you find at the drugstore, genuine African black soap is handmade from plant-based ingredients in Africa. If possible, buy fair-trade black soap. Each fair-trade purchase supports sustainable production, and, in some cases, it directly benefits communities in need.
The Menace of Fake African Black Soap
African black soap is traditionally all-natural soap made in West Africa. According to one study, traditional recipes used palm kernel oil and the filtrate of burnt cocoa pod ash. Traditional recipes are free from dyes, fragrances, and other additives that take away from the purity. However, in recent times there has been proliferation of fakes. Fake Black Soap is the mass-produced toxic version of African Black Soap. It’s usually mass-produced by large corporations around the globe. There is nothing natural about Fake Black Soap.
Many fake formulations will be clouded with red-flag chemicals like parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, and preservatives. So, make sure you read the ingredient label before you buy. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is criminalized and punishable under Law. A core feature of counterfeit goods is that there is always the malicious intent to deceive and mislead buyers into believing that the product is authentic when it is actually the exact opposite. They are passed off as the genuine product.
How To Spot Real African Black Soap Vs Fake
According to a research survey, the majority of African black soap users reported satisfactory results from using the soap. African black soap has several benefits and fakes deny buyers these benefits and further compound their woes with additional side effects. Consumers are reporting a number of symptoms from using counterfeit products, including eye infections, allergic reactions, skin rashes, swollen lips and chemical burns. In worst cases, the toxic ingredients in many fake skincare products have caused long-term health problems such as high blood pressure and infertility.
In order to protect yourself against this risk of buying a fake African black soap, here are a few tips:
Pricing: Sometimes it’s too good to be true, check the genuine African black soap manufacturers or authorized dealer website for the retail price, use your discretion to add any possible expenses such as import charges, then add profit. With this estimation, see if the price tallies. If way cheaper than that there is a huge red flag. Is it fake, is it stolen goods or the vendor is having a clear-out sale?
Packaging or Print quality: If the packaging of an African black soap looks a bit shoddy, the font looks pixelated, or any inconsistencies with the colors or image saturation (Too red or too blue) that’s another red flag. Check that the barcodes are consistent with the release notes on the producer’s product information page.
Product: The smell, the texture, the weight of an African black soap is another tip. Original African black soap has a rough texture that is already an exfoliant in itself, so you don’t have to scrub, it is also easily breakable. Some counterfeits are so explicit that the packaging looks just like the original, however, the proof is in the pudding. When you buy African black soap products, open them on the spot, smell them, check if anything is off. In the event it’s a fake product speak with the seller. Even if you can’t get a refund you are at least more knowledgeable and know where NOT to shop.
Probe (Research and Ask questions): There’s nothing wrong in asking friends to have a look before you make a purchase. Ask a retailer about their distribution channels, probe their product knowledge, ask if they can guarantee authenticity. Also Read: Ghana Black Soap: Uses, Beauty Benefits, Side Effects
