The gorgeous women in Africa have gone to great lengths to protect their skin. As a Nigerian, I have used many African beauty ingredients with the knowledge passed from generations.
African beauty rituals go back centuries before modern beauty products were introduced into society. So it is no wonder why many people believe that African women are some of the most beautiful on earth!
African Beauty Ingredients
Baobab oil
A natural oil extracted from the Baobab tree. It contains vitamins A, E and F, which are all great for fighting age spots. In addition, it is used to keep skin moisturized and glowing. Baobab oil can be added to your face and body creams to boost the moisturizing power.
Baobab oil can be found at African grocery stores or online retailers like Amazon.
Shea butter
One of the most popular African beauty ingredients is Shea butter. It has been used for centuries to protect against the harsh sun and help prevent skin from drying out. Shea butter can be found in all sorts of beauty products like eyeliners, lip balms, and moisturizers!
African women have used this ingredient for centuries to maintain their skin. It is a great product that you can find at African grocery stores or online retailers like Amazon.
Coconut oil
This oil is often used as a moisturizer and to fight wrinkles. You can even use it in your hair! It contains fatty acids that help moisturize your hair and scalp. It is also rich in antioxidants which help fight harmful free radicals.
Coconut oil is used in many products like soaps, shampoos and beauty creams! Coconut oil can be used as a moisturizer to keep skin hydrated and looking healthy. It can also be used in hair care as a leave-in conditioner, anti-frizz cream, and to add shine.
Mongongo oil
This is a natural oil that is extracted from the kernels of mongongo nuts. It has been used for centuries by African women to help fight wrinkles and protect skin from harmful UV rays.
Mongongo Oil contains Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect skin cells from free radical damage. It is also rich in fatty acids and can be used as a natural moisturizer on both the hair and skin.
Mongongo oil is excellent for anti-ageing purposes! It can be added to skin creams and hair serums to help protect against wrinkles. It also helps with dry scalp, split ends and breakage!
African black soap
This natural soap is excellent for people with oily skin since it helps prevent acne. However, it is also known to remove excess oil and dirt, which can cause breakouts!
African black soap is made from palm tree ash, coconut oil and plantain leaves. It contains natural ingredients that help with acne control!
To use this soap, make sure the skin is wet before applying it. Then, rub in circular motions to help cleanse the skin and fight acne! In addition, African black soap is rich in antioxidants which help fight ageing.
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Honey
This is an African beauty ingredient that helps moisturize skin. In addition, it is rich in many vitamins and minerals that can help protect the skin from free radical damage!
Honey contains natural sugars that help fight ageing and can be found in many products like eye creams, moisturizers and lip balms. It also contains antioxidants that can help reduce dark spots and skin blemishes.
Honey is excellent for people with sensitive skin since it reduces inflammation. In addition, honey is perfect for moisturizing and protecting skin from harsh UV rays!
Rhassoul clay
This natural clay is found in the Atlas mountains of Morocco. It helps remove dead skin cells and absorbs excess oil from pores to help prevent breakouts.
Rhassoul clay is rich in minerals like silica and magnesium, which help fight wrinkles! It also helps with acne control since it absorbs oil from the skin. Rhassoul clay is excellent for oily, acne-prone skin! It can be added to face masks or used as a wash to help remove excess oil.
Argan oil
This natural oil has been used for centuries by African women. It contains Vitamin E, which is an excellent antioxidant for the skin!
Argan oil is rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E, which helps moisturize skin! It is also great for anti-ageing purposes since it can reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Argan oil is excellent to add to skin creams and serums since it helps with anti-ageing and moisturizing! It can also be used in homemade shampoos to protect against dry scalp and split ends.
Black seed oil
Black seed oil is known as the “cure-all” oil since it has many health benefits. It is rich in Vitamin E, which helps protect skin cells from free radicals! It can also be used to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.
Black seed oil is excellent for people with acne-prone skin since it helps prevent breakouts! In addition, black seed oil can be added to face creams, moisturizers and serums to help reduce wrinkles, dark spots and blemishes.
Neem
This natural ingredient is found in India and Africa. It helps reduce inflammation of the skin while fighting acne-causing bacteria! In addition, neem works excellent as an anti-ageing agent since it contains omega fatty acids, which help moisturize skin! It also can be used to treat dry scalp, split ends and breakage.
To use neem on the skin, make sure to dilute it with water or coconut oil. It is excellent for people who have acne-prone skin since it helps prevent breakouts!
Palm kernel oil
This is an African beauty ingredient that has been used in Africa and India for centuries. In addition, it contains Vitamin E, which is great for moisturizing skin!
Palm kernel oil also helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines. People of all skin types can use it since it does not have any adverse side effects or irritants.
To use palm kernel oil on the face, apply a few drops to clean, dry skin at night before bedtime. It is also great to add to homemade shampoos and conditioners!
Lavender
This has been used for centuries by African women to help moisturize and soothe the skin.
Lavender oil is excellent for calming irritated or inflamed skin! It also helps protect the body from harmful UV rays since it contains antioxidants like cineole, camphor and pinene, which all have anti-inflammatory properties.
Lavender oil is excellent for people with all skin types since it helps treat dry, damaged and sensitive skin.
To use lavender-infused oil on the face, apply a few drops to cleansed, damp or dry skin morning and night before bedtime. It can also be used as a hair treatment by adding a small amount of lavender oil to shampoo or conditioner.
Peanut oil
This nut oil helps prevent dry skin and wrinkles! It also helps with anti-ageing since it contains Vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the cells from free radicals. In addition, peanut oil can be added to hair treatments like shampoos and conditioners to protect against dry scalp and split ends.
Peanut oil is great for people with all skin types since it helps treat acne, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis by reducing inflammation while moisturizing the skin! It also protects the body from harmful UV rays, which can cause cell damage that leads to wrinkles and fine lines.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a natural ingredient that has been used to treat skin disorders for centuries! It is rich in Vitamin E, which helps protect the cells from free radicals and antioxidants like caffeic acid, ferulic acid and vanillic acid, which all help control acne.
Aloe vera contains enzymes that can reduce inflammation on the face while helping with dark spots and blemishes! People with all skin types can use it since it helps treat acne, dry scalp and split ends.
Aloe vera is excellent for reducing wrinkles and fine lines in addition to treating sunburns or insect bites that cause inflammation of the skin! To use aloe on the face, apply a thick layer over the skin or use aloe vera gel on cleansed, damp skin daily after the shower.
Olive oil
This beauty ingredient has been used for centuries by African women to help moisturize the skin! It is rich in antioxidants like Vitamin E, which helps protect cells from free radicals. In addition, olive oil can be added to hair treatments like shampoos and conditioners, which helps with dry scalp, split ends and breakage.
It can be added to hair treatments like shampoos and conditioners that help dry scalp, breakage, and split ends.
Avocado oil
This green oil is a natural ingredient that has been used in Africa and Asia for thousands of years. It is rich in Vitamin A, which helps with anti-ageing by promoting healthy cell growth. In addition, avocado oil is great for moisturizing skin, hair treatments and helps treat acne!
Avocado oil can be added to cleansed, damp or dry skin morning and night before bedtime to treat acne. It is great for people with all skin types since it helps modify sebum production and reduces inflammation.
Moringa
Moringa has been used for centuries by African women to help prevent dry skin and wrinkles! It is rich in Vitamin A, which helps promote healthy cell growth. In addition, moringa contains antioxidants like quercetin, kaempferol and rhamnetin, which can reduce inflammation on the face while helping with dark spots and blemishes.
To use moringa on the face, apply a thick layer over cleansed, damp or dry skin morning and night before bedtime. It can also be used as a hair treatment by adding a few tablespoons of moringa powder to shampoo or conditioner.
Cocoa butter
This natural butter is extracted from the cocoa bean and used for centuries by African women to help prevent dry skin!
It also helps with anti-ageing purposes since it contains antioxidants that can reduce inflammation on the face.
Cocoa butter is also rich in Vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the cells from free radicals. It can be added to cleansed, damp or dry skin morning and night before bedtime.
Cocoa butter can also be added to hair treatments like shampoos and conditioners, which helps with dry scalp, breakage and split ends.
Turmeric
Turmeric has been used for centuries by African women to help treat acne, eczema and dermatitis! It is rich in antioxidants like curcumin which helps prevent free radical damage.
Turmeric can be added to cleansed, damp or dry skin morning and night before bedtime to treat acne! It is great for people with all skin types since it reduces inflammation while moisturizing the body’s cells.
You will get healthier hair that is stronger and thicker when you add turmeric to your daily shampoo or conditioner.
Castor oil
It is rich in Vitamin E, which helps improve the appearance of scars and blemishes. Castor oil is great for reducing wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots on the face!
This oil is thick and can be used to keep hair moisturized and hydrated for long periods. Castor oil can be mixed with olive, avocado or moringa oils to create a hair treatment that will condition and moisturize dry scalp while preventing hair breakage.
Rose water
This is an African beauty ingredient that has been used for centuries by women to help prevent acne! It is rich in Vitamin C, which helps with anti-ageing purposes by promoting healthy cell growth. It also contains antioxidants like gallic acid, anthocyanin and phenolic acid that help reduce inflammation on the face while helping dark spots and blemishes.
Rosewater is great for moisturizing skin, hair treatments, or adding to cleansed, damp or dry skin morning and night before bedtime.
Quasil powder
Somalian women commonly use this powder as a facial mask. It is rich in Vitamin E, which helps protect cells from free radicals that can cause ageing and blemishes on the skin.
It is bright green and contains antioxidants like beta-carotene that reduce inflammation on the face while helping dark spots and blemishes.
Quasil powder can be mixed with water to form a paste and applied as a facial mask. It can be left on for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Coconut milk
It has been used for centuries by African women to help prevent acne! In addition, it helps treat dry scalp, breakage and split ends.
Coconut milk is also rich in Vitamin B, which can promote healthy cell growth while helping with anti-ageing since it contains antioxidants like catechins that reduce inflammation on the face.
Coconut milk can be added to cleansed, damp or dry skin morning and night before bedtime.
Ancient African Beauty Rituals
Ancient African beauty rituals have been passed down from generation to generation and have helped women for centuries! The ingredients in these beauty rituals can be used daily or even a few times a week to help hydrate, moisturize and protect the skin!
Using clay on the skin
This is a great way to help detoxify the body, tighten pores and provide nutrients. Clays such as Rhassoul and red clay is used to detoxify the skin and tighten pores.
Henna beauty treatment
This African beauty ingredient is rich in antioxidants like anthocyanins, gallic acid and phenolic acids, which help reduce inflammation on the face while promoting healthy cell growth. It is used to beautify the skin!
Chebe powder for hair growth
Chebe is made from plant seeds and is rich in protein, which helps with hair growth, strength, and nutrients!
It is a great way to help strengthen the hair follicles and promote hair growth. Chadian women use this powder and oils for hair treatments!
Otjize paste
This is a mixture of butter and red clay that is mixed with ochre to create a paste. African women have used it for centuries! It is used for skin treatments to help reduce acne and blemishes.
Otjize paste can also be applied on the skin, scalp, nails and hair to help promote healthy skin, growth and shine!
Quasil powder
This powder is made from the Gob tree. It is rich in zinc which helps with acne and dark spots! It can be mixed into cleansed, damp or dry skin morning and night.
Together with turmeric, It is used as a face mask by Somalian women to help reduce acne and blemishes.
Conclusion
The best part about these natural ingredients is that they are efficient and can be found at a local store! African beauty ingredients can be found in a lot of beauty supply stores.
They are safe to use and have excellent results! They can also be used on the skin, scalp, nails and hair!
There are so many DIY recipes that can be found on the internet that use these ingredients to help promote healthy skin, hair and nails.
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