There’s a reason African women are known for their stunningly healthy and beautiful skin. Africa is home to some of the world’s best natural skin care ingredients. The continent is home to everything from Argan oil to Shea butter. Almost everywhere you go in Africa you’ll find incredible beauty products and women with glowing, gorgeous skin. Here’s a rundown of some of our favorite products and where they originate.
West Africa
This region is home to Shea butter. A product of the Karite nut tree, it’s prized for it’s moisturizing and protective properties and can be found in soap, hand cream, sunscreen, anti-aging creams and more. Shea butter is also incredibly soothing on chapped skin and lips, which is why most lip balms contain this rich ingredient.
Egypt
Egypt is the land of milk and honey. First made famous by Cleopatra, milk and honey baths are tremendously beneficial to skin. Honey reduces fine lines and wrinkles and milk helps skin regenerate. Both ingredients are also known for relieving painful, reddened, or inflamed skin which can be caused by sunbathing or potentially toxic skin treatments like spray tanning. Egypt is also the home of the Dead Sea Salt, which is prized for its stress reducing properties.
Morocco
Morocco is home to several incredible skin products including Moroccan black soap, which is known for its exfoliating and moisturizing properties, Rhassoul, a clay rich in minerals that makes the skin silky smooth, and the famous Argan oil, perhaps one of the most popular beauty products ever.
Central Africa
This area is responsible for the production of most of the world’s sugar, and it’s put to good use in the sugar scrubs everyone loves. These scrubs gently and naturally exfoliate the skin on the face, knees, and elbows and even lips. They can also be used on sensitive skin.
Southeast Africa
In Zanzibar, you’ll find Singo Scrub, a traditional part of local marriage customs. When a girl is preparing to be married, she has a daily scrub to leave her skin glowing and soft. It’s all natural, made with jasmine, ylang-ylang flowers, geranium, sweet basil, rose petals and sandalwood. They are ground together and blended with rose water.
Ethiopia and Somalia
The leaves of the Qasil tree are a favorite skincare product in Ethiopia as it can help improve skin quality. It’s soothing and moisturizing to dry skin and can help heal skin irritations and pores clogged from dust and heat. In Somalia, women mix Qasil with turmeric or henna. They also use pureed dates as a scrub and hair treatment.
Everywhere in Africa, you will find wonderful products to nourish, heal and protect the skin, Some have become prized around the world while others are still Africa’s secret treasures, but they all leave the women who use them looking fresh, flawless and the picture of health.
Cover Photo credit: Blush Media
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