- I took this review for dudu african soap on amazon it may be useful someone chime in on if they think so
- Amazon.com: zachwithanh's review of Dudu-Osun African Black Soap (100% Pure) 1...
I'll start off by saying that this is possibly the BEST cleanser I have ever used. As an acne-sufferer, this stuff is a miracle. No exaggeration at all. Adding this soap to my skin care regimen has made all the difference. For all you other acne-sufferers out there, this soap is a very worthwhile purchase. That being said, please keep reading because using this alone was not the only thing that cleared my skin and evened my complexion.
I am now a 23 year old, light complected, white male. I never suffered from acne throughout puberty or high school, and thought I would be blessed with clear skin. But shortly after I graduated, went to college, and moved to a new city, my skin went haywire. Not only did my face break out seemingly overnight, but I also had breakouts on my back and shoulders that turned into severe cystic acne in a matter of days. And because I am so light complected, it was so much more noticeable and was devastating to my self-esteem. I spent literally hundreds of dollars on over-the-counter acne creams, cleansers, exfoliates, masks, pills, etc. Name a product, and I guarantee I have tried it. Nothing has ever worked well for me up until now. I've recently improved my diet (cut back on refined sugar, dairy, and gluten) in an attempt to clear my skin. After all, acne is as much of an internal problem as it is an external one. I showed some slight improvement from the diet, but nothing noticeable. Then I started supplementing with vitamins. Vitamins A, C, D, E, and Niacin (B3). These vitamins DRASTICALLY helped my skin, and after roughly two months, my skin looked 75% better. Still though, my skin needed improvement and I was still self conscious from regular breakouts and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that was left behind after a pimple went away. Now, here is the part where my life changed:
After doing tons of research online and from asking my dermatologist, I learned that too many chemicals and medications can be incredibly bad for your skin, which irritate the skin and then inevitably make your acne worse. I'm talking about benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in particular, undoubtedly the two acne-fighting ingredients you will find in almost any over-the-counter acne treatment product. Solution? GO NATURAL. Avoid overusing medicated creams and cleansers. Avoid artificial chemicals, dyes, fragrances, or other irritating ingredients. Your skin will thank you for it. My skin thanks me for it. Which brings me to this African black soap.
It's natural (aside from the vague word "fragrance" listed in the ingredients), and it has made all the difference. But like other reviewers, you MUST use it correctly. First off, it lathers extremely well. I wash my face in the shower once in the morning and once before bed with this stuff and only rub the soap through wet hands for a couple passes and start washing. It lathers SO WELL. Which is definitely a good thing because it means it is easy to be gentle with it. But you must wash with your bare hands. This soap can be drying and exfoliating, so using a wash cloth, brush, or anything other than your hands will cause irritation and not be beneficial. I can't say it enough. USE THE LATHER FROM THE SOAP WITH YOUR BARE HANDS!! After I rinse it off, my skin feels soft and tight and most importantly: clean!
I have been using this for only a week now. Yes, one week. And have already noticed the most drastic improvement in my skin ever. My skin is glowing, and the few pimples and blackheads that I had on my face are gone. Even the red spots left behind are starting to fade (even the severe ones left on my shoulders and back)!
Like I said earlier though, using African black soap alone is probably not going to clear your skin, so my best advice is to start using more natural products or homeopathic remedies. Here are products that I use on a daily basis (along with cleansing with African black soap) and my skin has NEVER looked this great.
After cleansing, gently PAT your face dry with a clean, soft towel (don't rub dry). After completely dry, tone with an apple cider vinegar toner (1 part water, 1 part apple cider vinegar). I use one half cup of apple cider vinegar, and one half cup of filtered water, store it in a jar, soak some onto a cotton ball and gently rub it on my face (and shoulders). This is beneficial because African black soap can be drying. Any soap strips away the natural acidity of your skin and can allow free-radicals to damage your skin. Apple cider vinegar returns the acidity to your skin and also has antibacterial properties. Be sure to purchase an organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (with "the mother" in it). I use Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
After about 30-40 minutes after toning with the ACV, I make a pass over my skin with witch hazel. Same deal: soak some onto a cotton ball and gently rub across my face and shoulders. Other reviewers have stated that it is necessary to moisturize after cleansing with black soap, but I do not. I don't feel the need to because the ACV truly returns my skin to a good state. I don't have extremely dry skin, however, so if you do, perhaps moisturizing after toning with ACV is the best way to go.
Finally, on your path to getting clear skin, I would definitely recommend supplementing with certain vitamins and encourage you to do research into them. I take A, C, D, E, and Niacin (or vitamin b3) everyday and like I said before, it has really helped. Of course, you should talk to your doctor about supplementing with any vitamins and research how much of each you really need or should take. Niacin has probably helped my skin more than anything. It increases blood flow to the surface of the skin and is an essential component in detox and cleansing programs. Be sure to buy pure Niacin (NOT no-flush, flush-free, or time-released varieties). I buy Solaray Niacin from Amazon, and take 500mg a day at bedtime.
I will definitely keep you guys updated on how my skin does with this black soap, but so far so good! I will also post other product links to the products I mentioned that I have really helped me achieve clear skin. I could not be happier with this African black soap. Highly recommended purchase!
UPDATE: 2 MONTHS OF USE
It's been 2 months since I first started using this African black soap, and I still could not be happier. My back acne has completely (and yes, I mean COMPLETELY) cleared up and I'm absolutely convinced this soap is the main reason why. Even better is the fact that the postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (that is a result of severe cystic acne) on my back is clearing up so nicely. My back and shoulders have not been this clear in years. Seriously, after struggling for years to clear my skin, it is such a good feeling when you find a product that clears everything up in a matter of ~8 weeks. Major self-esteem boost! My face is also so much better and I very rarely get breakouts or pimples anymore. When I do, they tend to go away in a matter of a couple days, so I am no longer worried when I see a pimple in the mirror in the morning because I know it's not going to stick around. I'm pretty sure this is because the black soap is slightly exfoliating and deep cleans the skin in a relatively gentle way and keeps sebum production under control. This black soap has also faded post-acne marks on my cheeks and forehead and has evened out my skin tone. My skin looks awesome right now, and I could not be more satisfied. One bar of this soap typically lasts 3-4 weeks for me. I am sold and will definitely continue purchasing!
UPDATE! 6 MONTHS LATER
Nothing really new to add. Just want to say that I will never use another cleanser for my skin. I can't remember the last time I've been able to look in the mirror and not see any blemishes. My face is 100% clear of blemishes, and my complexion is even and skin is like silk. I wash my face with this when I wake up in the morning, and again before I go to bed at night. The only other thing I still do is apply a thin layer of apple cider vinegar over my face (1:1 ratio of filtered water to ACV) after cleansing and drying to restore pH and keep my skin from getting dry. Like I said in my original review, my primary problem was severe acne on my back and shoulders. I couldn't be happier to say that I have had no new acne on my back in 4 months. It is a fantastic feeling to be able to take off my shirt to go swimming or whatever and not be embarrassed. My back is absolutely, 100% clear, and like my face, the skin tone is even and no more hyperpigmentation. I've never been this enthusiastic about a product before, and I'm convinced that nothing is better for your skin than natural products. I've ditched all those medicated creams and gels and won't look back.
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