8 Best Soaps For Black Skin 2023 That Won't Have You Feeling Dry - That Sister (2023)

How do you pick your soap?

Most of us don’t think twice about the soap we use, but we should.

Based on skin type and skin disorders, there are a few important things to look for when choosing soaps.

Even so, while the soap you use will be highly dependent on your particular skin, there are a few options out there that make them beneficial to the larger population.

If you’re trying to have better looking and feeling skin, here are some amazing soaps to try for Black skin.

Dove Body Wash – Sensitive Skin

Now, Dove is one brand that is known for their supreme skin care products, and if you’ve yet to dabble in them, start with the Dove Body Wash for Sensitive Skin.

This product boasts a lot of benefits that we can’t skip over.

One, this sensitive skin formula is mild and also hypoallergenic.

Even though this is a gentle body wash, it’s still going to rid your body of pesky bacteria.

Plus, an added bonus is that this product is both sulfate and paraben free.

And if that wasn’t all, Dove is recommended by tons of dermatologists as one of the best body wash brands.

SheaMoisture African Black Soap

SheaMoisture is a staple within the Black community, and their long list of amazing products continues with their African Black Soap.

There are quite a few benefits to this soap.

One, it mostly works to cleanse and clarify the skin.

In addition to that, the inclusion of Shea Butter, oats, and aloe help moisturize and comfort irritated skin.

This soap is also great for those with oily skin because the soap helps absorb some of the excess oil.

Specifically, SheaMoisture mentions that this soap is particularly good for those who experience eczema and psoriasis symptoms.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Was With Salicylic Acid

If you have acne prone skin, try the Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash With Salicylic Acid.

While many tend to believe that acne only appears on the face, body acne does exist.

The most important ingredient in this body wash is the salicylic acid.

This is the acne-fighting ingredient.

The salicylic acid in this product will help prevent acne on your chest and back.

Lastly, the Neutrogena body wash can help soothe the skin and it won’t clog your pores which could lead to even more acne.

OGX Extra Creamy + Coconut Miracle Oil Ultra Moisture Body Wash

For those with dry skin, you might want to try the OGX Extra Creamy + Coconut Miracle Oil Ultra Moisture Body Wash.

This product includes ingredients like coconut oil which is going to help restore moisture in the skin.

While this product works great on the body, be mindful of using it on the face since contact with eyes can cause irritation.

Even so, this sulfate-free OGX body wash is going to keep your skin healthy and clean.

Tropical Natural Dudu-Osun African Black Soap

The Tropical Naturals Dudu-Osun African Black Soap is another option for those with oily skin.

The magic comes in the ingredient “dudu osun.”

Not only is it known for helping to restore damaged skin, but it also works to help skin conditions like eczema, acne, and hyperpigmentation.

This product is naturally scented with citrus juices and honey and while this Tropical Naturals product is said to work on all skin types, it might be especially beneficial for those with oily skin.

Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash With Oat

If you have dry, sensitive skin, the Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash is a must try.

Although it’s a gentle cleanser, it works well to rid the body of bacteria and oil.

Naturally scented with chamomile, this body wash is made with oat which when used in skincare products works well to soothe itchy and irritated skin.

The emollients in this product also work to give you smoother and softer skin after use.

Also being dye-free and hypoallergenic, Aveeno made this product specifically to help cleanse and moisturize sensitive skin.

Dr. Wood Raw Black Body Bar

People with dry skin are going to want to try the Dr. Wood Raw Black Body Bar for a few reasons.

One common side effect to dry skin is that it leaves a layer of dead skin on the surface.

This particular bar soap also acts as a gentle exfoliant which is going to help buff that extra layer off and leave the skin feeling softer and looking livelier.

And while this bar works great for dry skin, the ingredients make it great for all skin types as well.

The Dr. Wood body bar contains Shea butter, cocoa butter, and essential oils like Vitamin A and E.

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar

Another brand that is commonly recommended by dermatologists, you might want to try the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar.

Why? This product was developed with dermatologists.

Made for those with normal to dry skin, this soap is non-comedogenic and made with hyaluronic acid, two things one should look for when picking a soap.

The ceramides are going to help restore the skin’s natural barrier while hyaluronic acid works to control oil and help the skin retain its moisture.

There is another thing that makes this product special.

CeraVe patented their MVE Delivery Technology.

While most products just moisturize your skin while you use this, this particular technology that is infused with the bar soap releases hydration throughout the day.

So if you have dry skin, using this soap will help keep your skin hydrated from morning to night.

Lastly, CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleansing Bar is also accepted by the National Eczema Association as a product that helps relieve the symptoms of the condition.

Do Black People Really Need Their Own Soap?

This is something we’d have to address because we are, in fact, posting about the best soaps for Black or brown skin.

What some might wonder upon a headline like this is whether Black people actually need their own special brand of soap – and the answer would be no.

Let me myth bust a common misconception.

The first soap on this list is the SheaMoisture African Black Soap.

Now, many people, Black and nonblack, hear this and immediately assume that this soap is for Black people simply because it’s called “black soap.”

That’s false.

It’s called “black soap” because of its coloring.

Black soap, as was mentioned previously, has a ton of skincare benefits that include balancing oil production, fading scars, and evening out complexing.

When it comes down to the right soap for you, it is more important to identify your skin type and then find the products that work best for you.

Understanding Your Skin Type For Soaps

When examining your skin, the skin types are broken into five categories.

They are: oily, dry, combination, sensitive, or normal.

While you might assume that you’ll only fall into one of five categories, chances are two will overlap.

But let’s dive a bit into the different skin types.

First, we have oily skin.

Now, while you won’t commonly see oily skin on your body, this is very common on the face.

What the skin is doing when one has oily skin is it’s secreting natural oils to help keep the skin moisturized.

The important thing to recognize is that on this occasion, moisturized and hydrated are not the same thing.

Oily skin can still be dry.

If anything, some people with dry skin might come to realize that the reason their skin is extra oily is because their skin is trying to compensate for the fact that it’s dry.

To determine if you have oily skin, all you have to do is watch your face for a few hours after washing it and doing your normal skincare routine.

If you notice an oily film appearing on the forehead, nose, and cheeks, you have oily skin.

The second skin type you can have is dry skin.

While some people just have dry skin, for others, it is caused by the way they live their lives.

Dry skin often looks dull because there is usually an extra layer of dead skin just sitting on the surface.

And it’s caused by a number of things.

One, not drinking enough water can lead to dry skin.

Many people go off of the recommended 8 glasses (64 oz.) a day, but it’s really dependent on your body weight.

According to experts, there is a formula to help calculate how much water to drink every day.

Two, sun damage can also lead to dry skin.

Three, and probably the biggest culprit of dry skin, is hot showers.

While it feels great, hot showers easily add to the dehydration of our skin.

The third skin type is combination skin.

This is what you’d expect it to be.

Normally in reference to the face, this means that your skin type literally changes or it’s different in areas..

Commonly, one might have dry skin in the winter and oily skin in the summer.

This could be combination skin.

Others often believe it to also mean that one could have an oily skin on the forehead and nose but dry skin on their cheeks.

While this problem wouldn’t be solved by your soap, it would by all the other skincare products you use.

Some believe that you have to apply the products to your entire face, but one can definitely cater it to the specific problems in target areas.

The fourth skin type is sensitive skin.

Now, this one has to be particularly careful because of the way the skin reacts with certain products.

People with sensitive skin tend to react to products that someone with normal skin wouldn’t experience.

Certain products, or the chemicals within them, can lead to inflammation, acne, dermatitis, or more.

Because of this, those with sensitive skin often have to do a patch test to make sure they’re entire body doesn’t break out into a reaction.

Last, but not least, the fifth skin type is “normal.”

Now, this can vary from person to person because each person’s “normal” can be different.

Even so, normal skin is most commonly described as skin that won’t have a negative reaction to problems.

It can also be described as skin that is neither dry nor oily.

Let’s just say that “normal” skin is definitely the most vague of skin types.

With that said, your skin is definitely going to fall in one of these categories.

And while knowing and understanding your skin type is important, it’s equally important to recognize the skin disorders in Black skin that might lead you towards a particular product.

What Skin Disorders Are Most Common In Black Skin?

There are times when we look at our skin, and while we recognize a problem or issue, we don’t know exactly what it is.

In order to know how to choose the best soap for you, it’s important to know what skin disorders are the most common in brown skin and which of them you might be dealing with.

According to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, some of the common African American skin conditions are acne, hyperpigmentation, eczema, and melasma.

While acne normally starts during puberty, it can reappear in women during their adulthood.

And we often hope that acne will clear up and heal on its own, but it often leads to the second problem, hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when an excess of melanin is produced after the skin has been inflamed.

Another common skin disorder in Black people is eczema.

While the cause of eczema isn’t really known, the skin condition appears as an itchy and inflamed rash.

The skin oftens becomes dry and flaky as well.

And the last common skin disorder in Black people that we’re going to discuss is melasma.

More common in women than men, it appears as brown patches on the face.

Now, examine your skin.

Do you have any of these conditions?

Chances are you’re at least dealing with some hyperpigmentation and maybe the occasion acne breakout.

Once you’re able to determine your skin type and identify any skin disorders you might have, you can then choose the best soap for you.

How To Choose The Best Soaps For Black Skin

No soap is one size fits all.

Once you’re able to identify how your skin works, you can then start looking for the best soaps for you.

If you have oily skin, you’re going to want to look for keywords like “non-comedogenic” and hyaluronic acid.

When you have oily skin, it can easily clog the pores, but non-comedogenic means that the product won’t clog your pores and potentially lead to breakouts.

Second, hyaluronic acid is a great ingredient to look for in soaps and cleansers.

For those with oily skin, it helps stop your oil glands from producing too much oil and helps it regulate the amount that it’s producing.

People with dry skin and sensitive skin are going to look for a completely different set of ingredients, but both skin categories often go hand-in-hand.

You’ll want to prioritize soaps with plant oils that will help keep your skin moisturized.

The most common ones you’ll find in soaps are aloe vera, jojoba oil, and olive oil.

One similarity that dry skin and oily skin do share is that they both benefit from hyaluronic acid.

Even while these are a great barometer for finding soaps that help your skin type, it’s also important to stay away from the wrong ingredients.

What Ingredients To Avoid In Soaps

As I mentioned, all soaps aren’t created equal, so there are definitely a few ingredients you should be avoiding in soaps.

First, you’re going to want to avoid parabens.

These are commonly used in soap to preserve them.

While some of the studies on parabens are inconclusive, there’s one thing that’s been noted – parabens can penetrate the skin and remain in the body for an undisclosed amount of time.

And before you wonder how you’d identify them, the FDA says the most common parabens are methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, so all you need to do is look for the keyword “paraben.”

Another ingredient you want to avoid are fragrances.

While many of these contain irritants and allergens, phthalates are a chemical that are found in these fragrances and have been linked to kidney, liver, and lung damage.

Another chemical ingredient to be aware of is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

This chemical is what makes soap lather, and while we often associate that with how clean it will make us, SLS can also be an irritant to the skin, eyes, and lungs.

Best Soaps For Black Skin Conclusion

Most people don’t think much goes into soap, but it’s a bit more complicated than most think.

If you want to find a soap that’s going to benefit your skin, then you first need to identify your skin type, recognize any conditions you might have, and look for the right ingredients in these products.

These soaps are known to work great on brown skin, but let us know from your experience.

If there are any soaps that work well on your skin, drop their name in the comments!