At its core, African Black soap is, well, soap, which makes it effective for cleansing your skin of dirt, oil, and impurities. The fine grains of the natural ash act as a gentle exfoliant, which helps to slough away any dead skin cells as you wash your body and face. The result? Cleaner, brighter, healthier skin.

One of the most effective benefits of African black soap is its ability to exfoliate and remove dirt, oil, and bacteria from beneath the skin. As we know, these are some of the same forces that can cause acne to show up on your skin. Not only does African black soap help to fight off acne once you see it, but it also can be used as a preventative measure.

Thanks to its combination of natural oils, African black soap is rich in vitamins A and E, giving it the ability to both prevent and treat skin discoloration. It supplements its exfoliating properties with skin-nourishing ones. Shea butter mimics your skin’s natural oils to give it a hydrating effect. Vitamin E works to repair your skin’s lipid barrier leaving even the driest complexion feeling quenched.

In addition to its skin-soothing properties, African black soap also has anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. So if you’re dealing with anything from dandruff to athlete’s foot, it might just be exactly what you need!