Anago soap, alata samina, there are many names for the so called black soap traditionally made in West Africa by tribeswomen in Ghana from special secret recipes. It’s a cleanser used to gently exfoliate and give skin a healthy glow, but there are also claims that it can thin fine lines, even out dark spots, and ease eczema and blemishes.

Black soap is generally made from African plants such as plantain, cocoa pods, palm tree leaves and shea tree bark. The ingredients are sun-dried and roasted, which is how it gets its deep color. Water and oils such as coconut, palm and shea butter are then added. The soap is then left to sit and “cure.”

In bar form, black soap is a little crumbly and softer than most soap. It is suited for any skin ethnicity, can be used daily and is excellent for washing away makeup. If you are caffeine-sensitive, you might test the soap on the inside of your arm because it’s derived from cacao pods, which contain caffeine that can be absorbed through the skin. Also, if you are extremely latex-sensitive, shea butter contains small amounts of naturally occurring latex.

When exposed to air, black soap can develop a thin, white film. This is not mold, and the soap may still be used.