Best African Black Soap: Bar and Liquid Picks

African black soap ranges from rough, handmade bars to smooth commercial versions. Our top two picks are unscented and come from a fair trade brand, followed by two widely sold store brands. We chose them from published ingredients and have not tested them ourselves.

How we chose

• Unscented, to reduce the risk of irritation.
• Published full ingredient lists.
• A bar and a liquid, so you can choose your format.

Best affordable bar

Note: this is a milled bar, smoother than traditional handmade black soap, and it contains oat meal and charcoal for mild texture.

Best liquid

A modern liquid version made with potassium salts of shea and palm kernel oils plus a mild surfactant. Convenient for face, body and shaving.

Easiest to find in stores

A smooth, milled black soap bar sold in many U.S. pharmacies and supermarkets. It is scented with an essential oil blend and contains charcoal and iron oxides for color, so it is a modern take rather than traditional raw black soap.

Another budget option

Similar in style to the SheaMoisture bar, with colloidal oatmeal and shea butter. It contains added fragrance, so choose an unscented option if your skin is sensitive.

Using black soap gently

• Start a few times a week, not daily.
• Use a small amount and moisturize after washing.
• Patch test first if your skin is sensitive.
• Do not combine with strong exfoliating acids.

Background: what is African black soap.

Raw vs milled black soap

• Raw (traditional): soft, crumbly, uneven, usually brown. Made by hand from plant ash and oils. Often sold in blocks wrapped in plastic or paper.
• Milled (commercial): smooth, uniform bars, sometimes darkened with charcoal or colorants. Easier to use, but less like the traditional product.

Neither is wrong; it depends on whether you want tradition or convenience.

How we chose

• We list unscented options first because they suit the widest range of skin.
• We include both a fair trade brand and widely available supermarket brands.
• Every pick has a published ingredient list. We have not tested these soaps ourselves.