Cosmetic And Household Black Soap - Various Uses And Virtues

2023 Author: Lynn Laird | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 21:10

Those who follow the latest beauty trends probably already know the benefits that a homemade soap takes with them. But have you ever heard of black soap? Do you know its shapes and their respective compositions? Are you aware of their instructions for use and the benefits they can offer you? So, in the current article, we will try to shed some light on the nature of this more or less mysterious dark substance.

The different types of black soap

The first thing that we must mention at all costs when talking about black soap is that there are in fact 2 quite different kinds. The first type is a so-called household product, while the second is essentially cosmetic. Both are obtained by saponification, yet this is one of the few things they have in common. Their compositions as well as their uses differ greatly, so we must not confuse them in order to benefit from them.

To start, household black soap is most often liquid and sometimes in the form of a paste. As its name suggests, it is used to maintain the interior of the house, but it is also used in the garden. It is made from linseed oil, potassium hydroxide and water. This 100% natural composition is also one of the main reasons for preferring it as a cleaning agent and insecticide to chemicals with similar functions available on the market.

A major ally in home maintenance

At home, household black soap mainly adopts the role of powerful and completely environmentally friendly detergent product. It can, for example, be used to clean all floors regardless of their various coating materials. Dilute a capful of the liquid in half a bucket of hot water, soak the mop in it, wring out well, and simply wipe the floor. You don't even have to rinse off because, as you remember, this is an absolutely green product.

To restore the tile joints to their original shine, which is not at all an easy task, rub them with a cloth dampened with a small amount of black soap, this time - without diluting it. You can also use a quackgrass brush. Even every housewife's nightmare of degreasing the oven, hobs, barbecue etc. hardly stands a chance against our super detergent. As they say, it's an iron fist in a velvet glove!

A biodegradable and inexpensive homemade stain remover

But the good news isn't over yet because that's not all household black soap has to offer when it comes to home maintenance! Polishing kitchen countertops, cleaning mirrors and windows, shining stainless steel objects and even maintaining the leather sofa? These are just a few of its additional effective uses in tackling daily grime and tedious chores!

Then, we must certainly mention that for clothes too, it is an unparalleled stain resistant device! Easily remove a stubborn stain (particularly grease) by covering the inside of the fabric with a little black soapy paste. Rub lightly with your hands to create a lather and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Finally, machine wash using the usual cycle and watch your laundry shine clean. Here is a biodegradable detergent that will not cost you the eyes of the head!

Black soap and aphids do not go hand in hand

In the garden, black soap is known above all as a very effective natural anti-phlegm. It goes without saying that this reputation is not attributed to it by chance. Concoct your own homemade insecticide and you too will be convinced in its supreme qualities while remaining respectful of the environment. For this purpose, please observe the ratio 3 tablespoons of liquid black soap for each liter of hot water.

Keep in mind that you will need to halve the amount if you are using the dough variant. The reason is that the pasty form is more concentrated than the respective liquid. By the way, it is exactly for this reason that this product is also very economical. Shake to mix well, let cool, transfer to a spray bottle and voila! Farewell, aphids (but also cochineals and red spiders), hello lush vegetation!

Black soap in beauty

Don't worry, black soap as a cosmetic product is no less prolific in miraculous beneficial uses! In terms of appearance, it is a substance most often pasty and in some cases solid, rarely oily or liquid. It has its origins in Africa, in southern Morocco in particular, and has been widely used in hammams in countries in the Middle East.

This fascinating paste is mainly composed of black olive oil always combined with potash which gives potassium soap, in our case, olive oil. It also contains water and sometimes - glycerin, vitamin E, mixtures of various essential oils, among others. This composition is not only the reason for its multiple virtues but it also explains its specific and easily recognizable color in several countries around the world. Truth be told, black soap isn't quite black, is it? Indeed, its color can vary, especially when it contains additives, but it tends rather to dark brown with amber or greenish reflections. In any case, we are not going to go into too many technical details.

As just mentioned, the merits of this versatile beauty product mainly lie in its 100% natural composition. Certainly, when the black soap is of good quality, it does not contain dyes and it is without perfume, nor added preservatives. But what exactly are its almost miraculous properties and how can they be harnessed in the context of physical well-being? Well, that will be exactly the subject of the second part of our current sheet. So, it's up to you to find the answers by consulting the paragraphs to follow!

Black soap for face and body

The most obvious use of soap, whether black, white or whatever, is of course to remove impurities from the skin. In this regard, black toilet soap can be applied both on the face and on the body, even on the scalp (except for very oily hair). The reason is that, unlike the majority of traditional soaps which dry out our skin too much, this one does not conflict with the rather acidic pH (between 5 and 5.5) of our delicate skin.

So once or twice a week, you can quietly enjoy a gentle, non-comedogenic face wash that you have made at home yourself. To do this, dilute 1.5 tablespoons of black soap paste in a bowl of hot water and once the mixture becomes lukewarm, wash your face after taking your daily shower. Finally, rinse with cool water. How it works ? The mist opens your pores, soapy water is the instrument to unclog them without compromising the hydrolipidic layer protecting your thin skin and the final rinse tightens them. Indeed, a brilliant process in its simplicity!

Purifying and moisturizing properties

By the way, the same recipe and the same “SPA treatment” apply perfectly to the daily hygiene of the body. Diluted black soap is therefore a sort of 2-in-1 cleansing foam with unmistakable sanitizing, antibacterial and emollient properties. Yes, it turns out to be a very powerful hydration resource thanks to its main ingredient - finely crushed black olives. It is also suitable even for acne-prone skin!

Black soap body scrub recipe

Did you know that black soap can also be used in the composition of your homemade body scrub? Thus, you can pamper yourself by offering yourself an unparalleled hammam experience while enjoying the virtues of the magnificent Moroccan paste! Here is a basic homemade exfoliant recipe that you can try to replicate in your next shower because the ingredients are quite ordinary and you probably already have them at home:

2 cups of sea salt

1/2 cup of melted coconut oil

2 tablespoons of soft black soap a

few drops of essential oils of your choice (optional)

Melt the coconut oil in a double boiler or simply run the pot under hot water. In a large bowl, dissolve the soft black soap in the coconut oil, stirring them vigorously together. Add sea salt and essential oils if you use them and mix the ingredients well. Transfer to a mechanical closing jar, at best airtight, and keep in the fridge.

Skin rejuvenation and wrinkle prevention

According to several sources, black soap is on top of the market a valuable anti-wrinkle means that should in no way be neglected in its attempts to suspend the course of time. When you think about it, this information only makes sense due to the high vitamin E content that the majority of vegetable oil-based soaps can boast of. And as everyone knows, it's the top vitamin for reducing wrinkles!

Detoxifying and whitening agent

As the last benefit of black soap and especially that of the African type, most often sold in block form, we must state its ability to fight against pigment spots. The same goes for other skin imperfections that appear under the effect of UV rays. As long as it is used regularly, good results will not be long in coming. Girls who have tried it in order to lighten up hyperpigmentation swear by it!