#alaffia

Which skin and hair care ingredients are Afrocentric?

The following ingredients are all from different parts of Africa or were used traditionally in Africana cultures. They are all good for both skin and hair care, and they all contain good juju - physical and spiritual properties that are healing, rejuvenating, and nourishing for the body.

Ghassoul Clay

Origins: Natural mineral clay mined from the Atlas Mountains in Morroco that has been used in North Africa to create skin and hair treatments for centuries.

Benefits: Increases hair shine, reduces acne, exfoliates dead cells

Use It to Make: Exfoliating facial mask, face and body soap, facial cleanser, hair mask, deep conditioner

How-to-Use Guide: [LINK]

Yejide’s Product Recommendation: Zadia’s Morocco

Shea Butter

Origins: Fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree, which grows in the dry savannah belt of West Africa from Senegal to Sudan and the Ethiopian highlands. It’s used both for cosmetics and in cooking!

Benefits: Anti-aging, anti-inflammation, soothes itchy or irritated skin

Use It to Make: Skin moisturizer, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, soap

How-to-Use Guide: [LINK]

Yejide’s Product Recommendation: SheaMoisture

Cocoa Butter

Origins: Fat extracted from cocoa beans. It is used for skin care and also to create chocolate. Nearly 70% of the cocoa world crop today is grown in West Africa.

Benefits: Reduces stretch marks, anti-aging, moisturizing

Use It to Make: skin moisturizer, chapstick, shaving cream

How-to-Use Guide: [LINK]

Yejide’s Product Recommendation: SheaMoisture

Raw Honey

Origins: Honey was used in Kemet (Ancient Egypt) to treat stomach and skin wounds and other issues.

Benefits: Antibacterial, anti-fungal, reduces acne, pore unclogging

Use It to Make: Facial mask, acne treatment, bath, facial cleanser

How-to-Use Guide: [LINK]

Yejide’s Product Recommendation: beelove

Black Castor Oil

Origins: Oil from roasted castor seeds using a traditional Jamaican method of extracting them to create black castor oil. Castor seeds are from East Africa and have been used as a traditional medicine by multiple cultures including Kemet (Ancient Egypt).

Benefits: Hair / eyelash / eyebrow growth, healthy scalp, mild pain relief

Use It to Make: Hair moisturizer, acne treatment, pain relief rub

How-to-Use Guide: [LINK]

Yejide’s Product Recommendation: Sunny Isle

Coconut Oil

Origins: Oil extracted from coconut meat. Coconuts grow in various regions of Africa and in the Caribbean, where they are popular for both cuisine and cosmetics.

Benefits: Moisturizer, fights dandruff, anti-frizz, anti-aging

Use It to Make: Lip gel, skin softener, hair wash, deep-conditioner 

How-to-Use Guide: [LINK]

Yejide’s Product Recommendation: Alaffia

Argan Oil

Origins: Oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, which is native to Morocco. It is used in both Moroccan cuisines and cosmetics.

Benefits: Anti-aging, heat styling protection, combats dandruff

Use It to Make: Skin toner, exfoliator, nighttime moisturizer, conditioner

How-to-Use Guide: [LINK]

Yejide’s Product Recommendation: Zakia’s Morocco

Which hair and skin care brands are black-owned?

There’s many more black-owned brands out there, but here’s a starter list! I’ve specifically highlighted these particular brands based on how natural and high quality the ingredients are in their products. These are some real goodies for your hair and skin. 

Some of these companies also have a social impact - whether it’s supporting black communities around the world, empowering women, or protecting animals and the environment with cruelty-free or vegan products!

Hair & Skin Care

BLK + GRN - Here you’ll find a selection of hair and skin products (alongside jewelry, cosmetics, and other goodies) from black-owned brands at this all-natural online marketplace curated by “Black women's health experts who know what an all-natural product truly looks like."

ILERA Apothecary - Sister duo Chinonye and Nneji Akunne went on a mission to create this premium organic and vegan skincare brand. You can find everything you’d want to put in your bathroom cabinet from fragrant body butters to beard oil to aluminum free deodorant!

beelove - Get your honey and honey-infused products for skin and hair care from this black-owned company in Chicago that provides job opportunities specifically for folks returning to society from incarceration. You'll find an amazing selection of lip balms, lotion, sugar scrubs, and bath/shower products. Don't forget that their pure, all-natural Chicagoland honey can also be used on your skin and hair all by itself!

ASIM Supreme - Started by entrepreneur Akil Jabbar, this hair and skin care product line has top-quality natural ingredients - many of which are even exported from the African countries where they are naturally grown and produced. Here you can meet all your natural skin and hair care needs for shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil, black castor oil, aloe vera oil, grapeseed oil, and more!

Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil - This company supports rural farmers in Jamaica and preserves traditional Jamaican methods for extracting castor oil and coconut oil by using them to create excellent skin care products. Black Castor Oil can be used for many purposes including moisturizer, hair and eyelash growth, acne treatment, and even a pain relief rub!

Alaffia - By shopping at Alaffia, not only do you get quality natural ingredients, you are also helping encourage gender equality and alleviate poverty in Togo. Proceeds help fund Alaffia’s “Empowerment Projects” such as “Education-Based Projects, Maternal Health, FGM Eradication, Eyeglasses, and Reforestation.”

Natural Cosmetics

Blac Minerals Cosmetics - Merced Boyce wanted to create natural makeup for women of color that is "powered by healthy, skin-loving ingredients." Blac Minerals products are free of animal testing, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, petroleum, and other nasty chemicals. Check out the mineral foundations and lip glosses, which come in lots of shades!

Laws of Nature Cosmetics - Jasmine Rose, the founder of this all-natural makeup line, will personally email you her recommendation for which foundation shade best matches your skin tone if you fill out the Foundation Quiz! You can get powder, gel, or foundation sticks that are vegan, antioxidant-rich products free of parabens, silicone, and alcohol.

LUV + CO. - Join the #luvtribe and check out this incredible line from Dr. Melodie Ray Davis-Bundrage, which focuses on natural and organic foundation formulas specifically for women of color. These products are free of toxins, parabens, and carcinogens. Beyond foundation, there's also lipsticks, nail polish, and more!