The GAIA Health Blog

“Africa’s ancient beauty secrets are finally coming into the forefront”…….

…..says Afya  a premium organic skincare brand inspired by the healing traditions of Africa’s myriad tribes, whose stories are elegantly told through the eco-friendly packaging and design.

It goes on to say on the Afyaorganics.com website,

“Even though the continent produces some of the world’s most beneficial & unrivaled organic and natural ingredients for natural skin and hair care, its own ancient tribal traditions have been largely ignored………. Until now.”

West Africa

Neem Oil is a West African secret. Orange oil is made from the pressed skin of ripe oranges. Orange essential oil is a natural mood-lifter and an excellent addition to shea butter.

According to Afyaorganics.com , the most well known beauty secret from West Africa is the popular Shea Butter. Shea butter originates from the Karite Nut tree, in West and Central Africa. Because of its softening, anti-drying and protective effects, shea butter is a choice ingredient in soap, shampoos, lip balms, sun care products, hand creams, body massage products and anti-wrinkle creams.

[below] …a little “Girl Talk” about their Top 10 uses for Shea Butter

Note: You can get   Shea Butter on Amazon
Also: You can get Shea Butter, and other great Shea products, at a Cali Company,  OutOfAfricaShea.com

Egypt

According to Afyaorganics.com One beauty treatment since the days of Cleopatra was well known for was her milk and honey bath. Some of the enzymes in milk help skin regenerate fresh skin cells.

Ancient Egyptian women applied honey to their skin, along with oils, as part of their bathing ritual. Honey works to give the skin a beautiful glow and to plump up fine lines. Cleopatra also recognized the benefits of adding Dead Sea Salt (1-2 cups) into her bath, which is now known to combat stress and ageing.

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One Egyptian product so amazing…….

……..that it was said to be in King Tutankhamen’s tomb, and is getting EXTREMELY rave reviews recently in America by women, for skin, hair, and nails, and even for dropping bodyfat when taken internally, is Black Seed Oil.

(I personally think Black Seeds is one of top 5 superfoods you could ever put in your body)

Morocco and North Africa

Afyaorganics.com says  Moroccan black soap, also known as beldi soap or savon noir has exfoliating, nourishing, and moisturizing properties make it a favorite skin-enhancing beauty product.

Other Moroccan beauty secrets include The Kessa Glove, which scrubs out dead and dull skin, Rhassoul (Ghassoul), is a mineral-rich clay for the skin and hair. Argan Oil  is gaining rave reviews in the West as one of the best cosmetic oils on the planet. The Alum Stone works as a deodorant, Moroccan Mint Tea has amazing health and beauty benefits (though there are “possible” cautions to excessive mint tea use).

(below) Rose Honey Face Scrub with Argan Oil   One of several great products from Kenza International Beauty, a New York based company bringing some great holistic products to the American public, Their Rose, Argan, and Honey Face Scrub, is a Moroccan Spa in a Jar!!! You can let your skin glow with this luxurious Moroccan inspired face scrub. Gently exfoliates skin leaving it silky smooth, moisturized and glowing all day (click photo below to purchase).

Central Africa

Congo produces a large percentage of the world’s sugar, says Afyaorganics.com. What’s not well known is that sugar cane is also super popular in the beauty department, especially as an exfoliator. The alpha hydroxy acids found in sugar cane fight acne, reduce blemishes, prevent ageing and help in keeping the skin hydrated.

One of the most effective alpha hydroxy acids is glycolic acid and sugarcane, is one of its few natural sources. Just apply sugar cane juice to your skin and let it dry. Use it regularly to see the effect. Want to rock velvet smooth skin? Try a 100% raw cane sugar scrub.

Southeast Africa

Afyaorganics.com says a Singo Scrub, a natural scrub traditionally used when a Zanzibar girl is preparing for her marriage. The bride to be undergoes a daily singo, the scrub exfoliating her skin, leaving her fragrant and glowing, with skin as soft as silk.

Singo is prepared from fresh jasmine, ylang ylang flowers, rose petals, mpatchori (not the famous patchouli but a sweet smelling herb growing mainly on Unguja), mpompia (geranium), mrehani (sweet basil) and liwa (sandalwood) ground together in a “Kinu” blender with a little Rose Water.

Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan

Sudanese Women have a beauty ritual that they swear by, called ‘Dukhan’, for their beauty regiment. Dukhan means ‘smoke’ in Arabic, it gives their skin slight tan, while reportedly relieving joint problems and arthritis.

Ethiopian Women, according to Afyaorganics.com, use Qasil to sooth and moisten dry skin, smoothen wrinkles, and remove dry blackish spots including some pimples and other skin conditions. It will also help to relieve clogging of the pores of your skin due to heat and dust leaving the skin refreshed and restored.

Somali Women use Huruud (turmeric) and Qasil mixed with water on her face, and henna sitting in her hair. In Somalia, pureed dates and ghee is scrubbed all over the body with a loofa and will leave the skin glistening and it’ll leave your hair exceptionally hydrated. Leave it on the face for 30 minutes and you’ll notice softer, cleaner skin.

I found a Qasil Facial Mask product on Amazon, though it is often out of stock on Amazon.

Here is another Qasil Face Mask product on Amazon by Qasil Organics

Africa comes to America!!!

Below is just a sampling of more of the many African Inspired beauty and body care products now available in he USA.

There are hundreds and hundreds more, it doesn’t hurt to do a little searching on the web and find one or two, at some point you will find some formulas that your skin and/or hair will swear by!!!

(below) Watermelon, Baobab & Banana Conditioning Masque  a product of Bella Lucce Global Inspired Beauty, its a medley of indigenous African fruits (baobab, mango, watermelon and banana) infuses the skin with natural vitamins and minerals as yogurt fortifies the tissue with lactic acids. A dash of rose clay helps draw out toxins while honey soothes and conditions. So revered as a natural medicine that it’s known as “village pharmacy”, power-packed neem powder provides the crowning touch to this nourishing, 100% natural masque for face and body. available [sometimes] on Amazon , Unfourtunately but I think as of 2019, BellaLucce is no longer in business, though I’ll leave BellaLuce products here for a while as good examples of African Inspired Skincare products

(below) African Black Soap  NOTE: TRADITIONAL BLACK AFRICAN SOAP IS BROWNISH-BLACK,  NEVER FULLY BLACK!! It’s created from the ash of organic materials such as plantain skin. Then is added water and various oils. People love this soap because it can be used anywhere on the body from head to toe and is often said to have a healing effect. It is commonly used to relieve acne, clear blemishes, bumps, and many other skin issues.  Note: Just bought my first block of African Black Soap on Amazon, from best I can tell, this is the real deal. As a Black Male, I’m looking forward to using body care formulas naturally designed for Melinated Skin, so we’ll see how I like it…      INTERESTING article from a girl who tried Black Soap on her hair here

(below) Ghassoul (pronounced “Rhassoul”) from North Africa, is renowned for its ability to absorb impurities from the hair and skin. The clay can be used as a detoxifying hair and skin cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, detangler, curl smoother, and facial and body mask. Rhassoul clay leaves hair bouncy and voluminous. It reduces hair and skin dryness and improves skin clarity and elasticity.  Plenty of Rhassoul Clay brands on Amazon

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(below) Baobab Oil  I personally eat the African native Baobab Fruit in powder form in my smoothies, it is known as one of the most nutritious superfoods in the world, and remember the skin eats what you put on it just like the mouth eats what you put in it. Use Baobab Oil as a skin massage, especially dry skin patches and acne, treating stretch marks, a few drops in bath water, post shower skin rub, a few drops added to enhance body lotion, face creams, and as a hair conditioner. Baobab Oil is Available on Amazon. [photo source]

(below) Avocado and Ootanga Body Scrub a product of Bella Lucce Global Inspired Beauty. Grown throughout South Africa, avocados are as much of a treat for the skin as they are the palette. Rich in vitamins and fatty acids, avocado oil locks in moisture to promote soft, supple skin. Blended with watermelon seed oil (known in Africa as “Ootanga”) from Namibia and pure cane sugar, this creamy body scrub exfoliates expired cells to reveal the radiant skin beneath. Nilotica shea butter and mongongo oil enrich, nourish and restore. Unfourtunately, I think as of 2019, BellaLucce is no longer in business, though I’ll leave BellaLuce products here for a while as good examples of African Inspired Skincare products.

(2 photos below) Marula Oil  Today’s scientific research reveals and confirms the secrets of South African Marula Oil. This multipurpose oil contains powerful antioxidants, high concentrations of nutrients and essential fatty acids that protect against environmental aggressors, help reverse photo-damage, boost cellular activity, hydrate at the deepest levels and repair the skin.
Marula Oil has natural variations of colors ranging from a clear pale to golden-brown with a pleasant nutty-sweet aroma  
Maura Oil is available on Amazon. [above photo source]

[above photo source and good article on what is Marula Oil]

Note: The “Carol’s Daughter” brand of Marula products featured in the video below are available on the Carol’s Daughter Site

(below) Tamanu Whipped Shea Butter The nuts of the West African karite tree are hand-pressed to yield a creamy shea butter that’s been a favorite tool in the arsenal of indigenous women for centuries. Boasting more than 85% pure shea, they created a velvety whipped texture by drizzling in tamanu oil, a favorite among African juju healers. Blended with a dose of yangu seed oil (whose seeds are believed by African Xhosa warriors to hold magical powers), this positively addictive moisturizer is an excellent belly balm for expectant moms, sunburn soother and dry skin slayer. Unfourtunately I think as of 2019, BellaLucce is no longer in business, though I’ll leave BellaLuce products here for a while as good examples of African Inspired Skincare products

(below) Rooibos Tea (a.k.a. African Red Tea) Rooibos Tea or African Red Tea has many known benefits,. Rooibos contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc, which are both great for the skin. Drinking this tea has been known to help with acne, pimples, sunburns and a number of other skin issues.  Rooibos has the ability to decrease the signs of aging.  Some women drink the tea using Quality Rooibos Tea Bags, and then put the tea bags over their eyes to combat dark circles, bags, and “crows feet”. Rooibos is often added to many Rooibos infused DIY Skin care formulas.,  also, Many brands of Rooibos are available on Amazon Click photo below or click here for my Rooibos Article

(below) Argan Oil   two types of Moroccan Argan oil, that being Culinary Argan Oil for eating, and Cosmetic Argan Oil for the skin and hair. Though not the focus of this article, Culinary Argan Oil eaten regularly shows much promise in
preventing Breast Cancer and preventing Prostate Cancer, since it is so rich in Gamma Tocopherol (Vitamin E). The same Gamma Tocopherol in this oil is why its getting rave reviews in Western Europe and America  for the skin and hair. sold on Amazon

~stay healthy~

Final Note: So many beautiful Black Women, so little space. I’ll do a “Beauty Secrets from Africa (Part 2)”, because there are too many amazing photos and an endless list of skin care products to post.

But the photos below I had to stick in…would be a “Bloggers Crime” not to share then with the world!!!

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some of the Hair and Beauty Secrets from found on HypeHair.com

you might also like…….

Girl Talk: Beauty Secrets
…..from Africa (Part 3)

Girl Talk: Beauty Secrets
…..from Africa (Part 2)

Study shows Toxic and Hazardous
Body Care and Hair Care products are marketed
to Black Women more that other women

Girl Talk: Beauty Secrets
…..from the Far East

Girl Talk: Ayurvedic Skin Care
(Beauty is not Skin Deep, it goes much deeper)

Go to all my articles in:
“Girl Talk”

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