Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Cleansing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Exfoliation
- Anti-blemish
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 4
Key actives
Cleansing
What does the product description say?
African Black Soap Clarifying Facial Wash & Scrub
Source: From product name
This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cetyl alcohol, coconut acid, decyl glucoside, glyceryl laurate, glyceryl undecylenate, myristic acid, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, stearic acid) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.
Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: decyl glucoside, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
Helps water and oil mix together and has an anti-microbial effect helping to preserve product formulations
Helps oil and water mix together and helps preserve the product formulation
Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
African Black Soap Clarifying Facial Wash & Scrub
Source: From product name
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
African Black Soap Clarifying Facial Wash & Scrub
Source: From product name
This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Cleansing | |
| Exfoliation | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 33/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 SheaMoisture African Black Soap Clarifying Facial Wash & Scrub | Current | $10.99 | |
 Community Sixty-Six Detoxifying AHA/BHA Gel Cleanser | 81% | - | |
Marcelle ULTRA GENTLE CLEANSING GEL | 78% | - | |
 CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser | 78% | $10.00 | |
 Carbon Theory SALICYLIC ACID EXFOLIATING GEL CLEANSER | 77% | - | |
 Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Cream Cleanser | 77% | $10.99 |
Key Actives
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
Helps oil and water mix together and helps preserve the product formulation
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent
An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
Helps water and oil mix together and has an anti-microbial effect helping to preserve product formulations
Potential irritants
Helps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Helps water and oil mix together and has an anti-microbial effect helping to preserve product formulations
Helps oil and water mix together and helps preserve the product formulation
Comedogenic ingredients
Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic
All ingredients
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating
Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps water and oil mix together and has an anti-microbial effect helping to preserve product formulations
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
Helps oil and water mix together and helps preserve the product formulation
An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear
Ingredient list view
Water, Cetyl alcohol, Glycerin, Myristyl alcohol, Stearic acid, Myristic acid, Jojoba esters, Caprylyl glycol, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, Potassium hydroxide, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Tamarindus indica fruit extract, Cocos nucifera oil, Elaeis guineensis kernel oil, Theobroma cacao extract, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Mangifera indica seed oil, Nigella sativa seed extract, Salix alba bark extract, Unknown, Chamomilla recutita oil, Coconut acid, Salicylic acid, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Decyl glucoside, Glyceryl laurate, Sodium chloride, Sodium phytate, Sodium benzoate, Glyceryl undecylenate, Iron oxides, Ci 77499
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Cosmetic allergy from myristyl alcohol
- Contact Sensitization to Emulsifying Agents: An Underrated Issue?
- Patch testing with myristyl alcohol
- The fatty acid profile of the skin surface lipid layer in papulopustular rosacea
- Safety Assessment of Alkyl Taurate Amides and Taurate Salts as Used in Cosmetics
- Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extract
- An evaluation of the effect of a topical product containing salicin on the visible signs of human skin aging
- Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
- Beta Hydroxy Acids
- A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparations
- Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Study
- α-(-)-Bisabolol Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Ameliorates Skin Inflammation
- Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Ecofriendly surfactant is allergen of the year