The GAIA Health Blog

As I predicted in my well received Beauty Secrets from Africa (Part I) article, I knew I’d be coming out with a Part II….

…because, as I said in Part I, there are too many Beautiful Black Women’s photos, and too many holistic African Skin and Bodycare secrets, plants, and products for just one article.

…although, my apologies to the dozen or so Black Sisters who kept politely reminding me that I owe them a Part II, because they loved Part I so much.

Sorry my beautiful Nubian Sista’s, that it took me over a year put out Part II, but I got an excuse….

I mean, I’m no longer just an “egghead” nutrition science blogger, I’m an “artist” now {chuckle}.

I gotta “represent” for my Black Sisters out here in the “Blogging for Health” world, and my presentations of Black Women have to be “tight”, as WE see OURSELVES……

…..meaning, as Black People, “WE have to start presenting ourselves in the media as WE see ourselves, not as Society sees US, or how society is comfortable seeing US, if you feel me.

I have a few thoughts on all that at the end of this post, but now, we gotta take care of some natural, holistic, Skin and Hair Care business…..

A “Bio-Chemical” Reason for Black Women to buy African Grooming Products

That’s a whole other “long winded”, boring, “egghead science”,  article I’m working on, but the short of it is, African Americans should, in my opinion, should  start back taking in [to whatever degree is practical], the traditional foods, skincare, etc, that nature designed in Africa, for our melanated skin.

…what I mean is, try to start using the African plants that Mother Nature designed for our unique bio-chemistry, speaking of the dominant melanin molecule in Black People, and start to wean off products, [including foods and medicines] designed for Caucasian, and other bio-chemistries. 

The “Motherland” Daily Facial Exfoliation Recipe
(…featuring African Oils, and African Tea)

[Half the Formula is] Rooibos South African Red Tea

….a VERY HEALTHY African Tea, when drinking or using or skin, many health benefits.  Rooibos is [in my opinion] designed by nature, to be more compatible with the biochemistry of African peoples that other teas such as  green tea. Rooibos has 50x the Antioxidant power of green tea. Though green tea is very healthy, I think African Peoples should drink Rooibos Tea. Plenty of Rooibos on Amaxon.

[The other half of the formula is a combination of oils]

Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
African Moroccan Argan Oil (sold on Amazon)
African (Egyptian) Black Seed Oil (sold on Amazon)
African Baobab Oil (sold on Amazon)
African Marula Oil (sold on Amazon)

(…you don’t necessarily need all the African Oils in your formula, since they’re not cheap,
try different combinations to see which your skin likes the best, also try the African Oils in this post)

a loofah sponge
(to gently exfoliate and remove the dead skin cells)

Directions: Brew the Rooibos Tea very strong (meaning using a lot of tea, and steep for over 5 minutes), let cool, then add to a small watertight container to keep in the shower area or in bathroom. If you are not into brewing loose leaf tea yet, just get Rooibos Tea Bags off Amazon. Save unused Rooibos  in Fridge for next batch. Rooibos Tea will be half the formula. Other half is the oils. Add the other oils. Everyone’s measurements will vary,  but Coconut Oil and Olive Oil will probably be the majority of the oil in the formula, with the African oils perhaps a teaspoon each, because they’re all fairly expensive. Since the Rooibos separates from the oils when sitting, shake jar to mix before using. If exfoliating the face in shower, let the hot water and steam open up the pores, and to go “True Nubian”, give the face a quick pre-wash with African Black Soap. Wet your loofah sponge, dip into your concoction and rub/lightly scrub over face. Then a follow up face wash, or face rinse in the shower, to wash away those dead skin cells, allowing for the natural, healthy, Nubian Skin underneath to glow like the Queen of Sheba. There are other African oils, such as others listed further down in this post, and I would suggest swapping and experimenting to find those your skin loves the most. Everyone’s exfoliation formula will evolve uniquely to them, use this recipe as a baseline, starter recipe.

Neroli Oil  (Bitter Orange Blossom Oil)

The Bitter Orange Tree (Citrus aurantium) is cultivated primarily for its flowers, cultivated in many parts of North Africa, including Algeria and Tunisia…..

…….but not limited to North Africa, as Côte d’Ivoire in Sub-Saharan Africa, is a large producer.

The African Moors introduced the Bitter Orange to Spain in the 10 century. It became so popular as it spread to Southern Europe, that name Neroli comes from Anna Maria de La Trémoill of Nerola……

…….the 17th century Italian princess of Nerola, who was so obsessed with it, that she made it her signature scent. She was said to have used it to scent everything, from her gloves and bathwater. 

Neroli oil, is popular for its ability to anti-age, hydrate and even heal damaged skin, as well as having antibacterial and antiseptic properties that make it the ideal beauty oil for acne-prone skin.

There is plenty of Neroli Oil available on Amazon.

[below] Alba Garcia devotes a few seconds of her video below to how she uses Neroli Oil to combat acne

Raw Cacao (Raw Chocolate)

Though Cacao is native to Central America, currently, four of the top 5 Cacao Chocolate producers are in Africa, that being, #5-Cameroon, #4-Nigeria, #2-Ghana, and #1-Côte d’Ivoire. [source]

As a food, raw Cacao is loaded with POWERFUL antioxidants called Flavanoids, and is one of the top superfoods you can ever put in your body. For skin care, Cacao is also a powerhouse, beauty, bodycare, and anti-aging, African Gift.

So far as Cacao being the ultimate superfood, I have keep telling my readers that the skin eats foods just like the mouth eats food, and the skin [arguably] “eats” even quicker and more thoroughly…..

….because, when the skin eats, there are no digestive “buffers and filters”, the nutrients go straight into the skin and bloodstream.

[below] The Cacao Bark Conditioning Hair Mask. One of the great skin and bodycare products from Bekura Beauty, a company whose products seem to get rave reviews from Black Women. This Hair Mask, containing one of the healthiest superfoods on the planet, Cacao, is suitable for medium curly to thick coarse, drier hair types. The “looks good enough to eat” natural cocoa botanical remedy to gives tresses that sweet oasis for healing & recovery. [Click photo below to purchase].

[below] Make your own Cacao, Yogurt and Honey Facial Mask. (I recommend Manuka Honey, it is miles ahead of all other honey for cosmetic use) The Cacao for the recipe, can be purchased in powdered form and any health food store, or can be bought on Amazon [click photo below for facial mask recipe and instructions]

Cacao makes a great hair treatment for Coarse/Kinky hair….

…because nutrients in Cacao, primarily magnesium, seem to treat the hair and scalp and help prevent hair breakage, which many Black People know all to well is a common problem when combing or brushing through coarse hair, and is one of the main reasons we can’t get our hair to grow.

The extremely high antioxidant properties of cacao are now being utilized by some women in hair treatments, to promote stronger, more vibrant, faster growing hair.

For the formula in the video below, plenty of Cacao Powder available in Amazon.

Ximenia Seed Oil

Ximenia [pronounced “Za-minia”] is a genus of small trees and shrubs named after the 17th century Spanish monk Franciso Ximenez. The trees are found in abundance across Southern Africa, and grow at low altitudes in woodlands and grassy savannahs.

The tree is commonly known as the wild plum or monkey plum.

Women and girls in Southern Africa use Ximenia oil to soften their skin and condition their hair. It is particularly popular as a massage treatment for dry and chapped skin.

Ximenia seed oil has been shown to be an effective treatment for dry skin prone to ageing since it increases moisture levels and improves the function of sebaceous tissues [tissues that supply the skin and hair with moisture].

[below] In the video below, the product she is speaking of, the Ximenia-Marula Shower Cream, seems to be out of stock on Amazon lately, you may have to put in a little work to track it down in the USA. However the same company (The Body Shop) does have an Ximenia Body Scrub on Amazon, if you want to check out how the Ximenia Oil works for your skin type. Of all the African Beauty Secrets on this page, Ximenia seems to be taking off the slowest  in the USA, but I think worth looking into, or at least, make a mental note to keep an eye out for Ximenia, for when it become more popular.

Moringa Leaf

Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, Moringa, is an easy growing tree, and is “trying” to gain traction in the USA market, both for food consumption, and cosmetic uses.

Moringa is both “Beauty and Brains”, in that it is a nutrient dense “Brain Food”, perfect for 
my daily smoothies …….

For Beauty, Moringa’s 25% protein, including all nine of the essential amino acids, helps to support the building blocks of proteins required for optimum growth, repair and maintenance of healthy skin cells. Its 13 essential vitamins have beauty benefits for strong, supple healthy skin, nails and hair.

[below] Moringa Tea Winter Body Butter Wrap. From Bekura Beauty, a company whose products seem to get rave reviews from Black Women.  This full-bodied, winter endurance body butter provides a protective layering of warm shea & sal butters to shield skin from the cold elements. The Super-Duper food, Moringa Leaf, heals chapness while the calming essence of aromatherapy oils evoke serenity. This product is also sold on Amazon.    [but it’s no longer on the Bekura site, not sure if they are discontinuing the product]. .

[below] Moringa Rum-Salt Winter Bath Cordial. From Bekura Beauty, a company whose products seem to get rave reviews from Black Women.   A recovery blend of Himalayan Salt, Moringa Leaf, & black rum eases muscle tension while shea butter & olive oil enrobe skin in balanced softness. Sprinkle & dissolve desired amount into bathtub full of warm water. Submerge & allow the calmative essence of pure aromatherapy oils to evoke quietness to the mind & serenity to the soul. This product is sold on Amazon. [but it’s no longer on the Bekura site, not sure if they are discontinuing the product].

[below] Make your own D.I.Y. Moringa Facial Mask with Lemon, Avocado, and Honey (I recommend Manuka Honey, it is miles ahead of all other honey for cosmetic use). Moringa is an EXTREMELY HEALTHY superfood, and a full spectrum of amino acids that will work towards healthy skin. Many Brands of Moringa are on Amazon [click photo below for recipe and instructions for Moringa Mask].

[below] A video on How to make your own Moringa Mask

Mafura Oil

Mafura is fruit the tree of the Botanical name “Trichilia emetica”, which grows abundantly in Southeast Africa, primarily, Southern Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa

Mafura Oil is also known as Cape Mahogany Oil, Natal Mahogany Oil and Trichilia Oil.

Mafura’s sweet-scented flowers….

…..seem to “obsessively” attract bees and birds in the wild, and the same sweet smell prevails in Mafura body and hair care products, an added bonus to the rich nutrients of this African plant.

Mafura seems to be “shooting up the charts” of Black Women’s list of “must have” ingredients in their hair and bodycare products, as Black Women seem to instinctively want to reconnect with plants that nature had long ago designed for their African bio-chemistry and melanated skin.

[below] Shea Moisture’s Manuka Honey  and Mafura Oil Collection is sold exclusively at Target Stores, and is also available on Amazon. Shea Moisture seems to have “hit the mark” with the Mafura-Manuka Product Line, as many Black Women, who think Shea Moisture’s products in general are some of the best products out there, are saying this line of products “takes the cake”, and is the best of all the Shea Moisture Products. My own note is that any company that will invest in using the amazingly great superfood Manuka Honey, combined with Mafura Oil, in their products, is no doubt taking quality Skin and Haircare ingredients seriously. [click photo below for more info]

Kalahari Melon Seed Oil

The Kalahari Melon (citrullus lanatus) is also known as the Tsamma melon, or wild watermelon, is the biological ancestor of the common watermelon now found worldwide.

It is primarily a Southern African fruit, henceforth the the name “Kalahari”, which is the desert in Namibia and Botswana in South West Africa.

The rich yellow oil of Kalahari Melon’s seeds has been used traditionally in Southern Africa as a moisturizer to protect the skin from the sun, to promote hair growth and as an ingredient in soap.

Kalahari Melon Seed Oil is rich in essential fatty acids, especially linoleic, oleic and  palmitic fatty acids. It has high antioxidant  activity, which possibly helps the plant to survive in the harsh Kalahari desert environment.

[below] The Hask Kalahari Melon Seed Oil Collection. It is also available on Amazon. [click photo below for more info]

For your own DIY skin and hair care formulas, and to use Kalahari Melon Seed oil by itself for skin and hair, there are plenty of brands of Kalahari Melon Seed Oil on Amazon

Mongongo Oil

Mongongo Oil comes from the nut of the Mongongo Tree (Schinziophyton rautanenii), which flourishes abundantly in the wooded hills, and sandy regions of Southern Africa.

The bright yellow oil pressed from the seeds of the mongongo tree contains high levels of vitamin E (tocopherol), linoleic and eleostearic acids, making it a very useful oil for skin protection.

It is effective not only for hydrating the skin but also for restructuring and regenerating the epidermis.

[below] The Mongongo and Shea Nutrieive Hair Conditioner. from Bella Lucce Beauty. Though the Kwangali tribe of Namibia lead simple lives in relative isolation, they know a thing or two about tapping Mother Nature’s bounty. Their secret? Indigenous Mongongo oil, used to protect hair from harsh winds and sun. Blended with Yangu Seed oil from South Africa, Shea Butter from Uganda and Acacia Flower extract from Senegal, this nourishing conditioner is rich in vitamins. Honey seals the hair shaft as wheat proteins boost control in this ultimate African hair treat.  [click photo below for more info and to purchase]

[below] The Mielle Organics Mongongo line in the video below is sold on Amazon

For your own DIY skin and hair care formulas, and to use Mongongo Oil by itself for skin and hair, there are plenty of brands of Mongongo Oil on Amazon

A Final message to my African American Sisters…..

The following outpouring of expression I spontaneously added to my recent Black Men’s article, and I think is worth adding here as well…..

Normally, I leave the subtle innuendos of my fiercely “Pro-Black” [though never “anti-anybody else”, still believing in “Cultural Diversity”] expressionism to the positive imagery in my photography and visuals on this site. I rant only every blue moon, as in my Colin Kaepernick article, but most times, I keep it low key……

………but this time, I have to blatantly express the deeper, underlying theme of this article, just so it is not missed.

Black Women [and Black People] have so much power and potential…..

But, so much of it is “untapped” and “under-utilized”. Nonetheless, the deeper point I try to emphasize when I speak of taking getting back to taking in African food and bodycare products “when possible” [foods/bodycare such as African native Baobab fruit, as the best example]……

……is that, we have to learn to reconnect psychologically with the sources of power that nature has designed for us, that originated in Africa, reconnect with our true African Roots [not “Chicken George” and “Fiddler”], so we can get back to being the Queens [and Kings for us Brothas’] that we are!!!

Black Women, re-claim your “Queen Nefertiti”,  “Righteous Minds”…….

Black people in general have to learn to take control of our own livelyhoods and destiny, and stop being only consumers, learn to work together and get our finances and money supporting each other’s enterprises [as every other culture seems to do but us 🙁 ] …..

…..and stop being prisoners to the “forces” that control our finances, control our health, control our physiological states of mind, stop being prisoners to the Media that is not designed to promote us in a positive light, especially the TV/Movie and Hip-Hop Music Industries [not saying there is not some positive Hip-Hop, but the “n-word” in music will NEVER represent positive energy], the “n-word” is just poison, negative energy that the music industry set up for us to pass back and forth to each other. And it’s a shame so many black beople can’t see “the game”. Beware of those controlling Media forces that intentionally manufacture false images of us, stop letting them define who we are. Stop letting others define for us whether Black Skin is Beautiful or Ugly. With my website, my main passion is to promote health, but also, to present Blacks as WE see OURSELVES, not as others see US, and I’m gonna, best I can, use this forum to manufacture my own positive reality!!!

Sorry, I got on an emotional roll, but I’m subtly trying to do more here on this site than just post “cool pictures”, in case it is not obovious…..just some “Soul Food” for Thought 🙂

~stay healthy~

…..and look for “Beauty Secrets from Africa (Part 3)”, sometime in 2018 🙂

For a list of Black Owned, Non-Toxic, Skin and Hair Care beauty brands, jump over to this list

you might also like…….

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

Girl Talk: Beauty Secrets
…..from Africa (Part 1)

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”Copyright Disclaimer: Right to use photos claimed under: Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.