As men with melanin-rich skin, finding products that not only represent us but also fit our specific skin profile can be a challenge.
To maintain healthy skin beaming with extraordinary glamour, it is important to add quality soaps to your skincare routine. This begs the question, how do you get the best soap for black men? Thankfully, you don’t have to make one.
In recent years, people of color have gained more representation in the men’s grooming world, with more products being made for black skin. But what makes the best soap truly special?
The best soap for black men not only adds nutrients to the skin; it develops a nice lather, moisturizes the skin, and of course, makes you feel and look great when exiting the shower. Yes! These are what the soaps in this review offer.
Even for our brothers with oily skin types, there are great exfoliating soaps for you. Simply washing your body with any bar of soap that comes your way wouldn’t cut it.
Quality soaps help to remove germs, dust residue, and other pollutants from the skin. With a good skincare routine, a black man’s skin is less likely to suffer from excessive dryness or oiliness. It would also curb incessant breakouts as well as reduce wrinkles.
The 5 Top-Rated Soaps for Black Men
We’ve curated some of the best soaps for black men to help you find the right product and keep your skin free from blemishes. While reviewing these products, we focused on the types of ingredients used, their compatibility with melanin-rich skin, safety, packaging, and size.
| Category | Best Soap for Black Men |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Dead Sea Salt Mud Soap |
| Best Smelling Soap | Jack Black Turbo Body Bar Soap |
| Best Moisturizing Soap | SheaMoisture African Black Soap |
| Best Deodorant Soap | O Naturals 6-Piece Black Bar Soap |
| Best All Natural Soap | Oliver Rocket Pine Tar Soap |
While examining dozens of soaps, we found a soap that is rich in mineral ingredients, helps with fine lines and wrinkles, is eco-friendly, and is safe for use. We checked the soap’s wrapper to find its name, boldly written at the top was Dead Sea Minerals.
Dead Sea Salt Mud soap is the best for black men. It is known to improve skin appearance as well as help in addressing some skin issues such as acne, eczema, and premature aging.
Let’s get started!
What Is the Best Soap for Black Men?
Again, the best soap for black men is the Dead Sea Salt Mud Soap, closely followed by Jack Black Turbo Body Bar Soap and SheaMoisture African Black Soap.
There’s no doubt as to why Dead Sea Salt Mud Soap is highly rated amongst black men. It exfoliates and deep cleanses the skin, leaving the skin appearance wrinkle-free and with an appealing complexion. If you have sensitive skin, you need not worry as it doesn’t contain harmful ingredients. Rather, it contains natural ingredients like Dead Sea extract, Argan oil, Shea butter, Cinnamon, and lots more.
Best Overall
This soap is notable not just for its moisturizing proficiency, added for that is its ability to get rid of acne and eczema. It also contains magnesium, potassium, bromide, calcium, and some other minerals that further prevent breakouts and unclog pores. Thanks to its anti-fungal properties, it prevents skin conditions that may cause you to worry.
Dead Sea Salt Mud soap is fragrance-free. They do have a scented variant but if you prefer soaps that are scent-free, then go for the unscented one. It lathers really well, but that doesn’t affect its durability. It would surely last for months.
The soap comes in a pack of three. The packaging is certified climate pledge friendly. One bar of soap can last for about a month when used daily, multiply that by three, and that’s three months. Even for a black man, that is a good deal. You can use the soap at any time of the day. Unlike some other soaps, there has been no complaint regarding its shelf-life.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
This is a decent soap that we recommend for black men with varying needs. It is known as one of the best sulfur soaps for acne. The soap mostly contains natural ingredients that exfoliate and nourish the skin. It feels great on the black skin, as it gets rid of excess oil without drying it out. Putting into perspective the level of quality you get for its price, this is a great buy.
The Jack Black Turbo Bar Soap is made of high-quality ingredients: Lava Rock, an organic ingredient that removes dead skin cells and unmasks the soft, smooth skin underneath; and Blue Lotus which adds adequate moisture to black men’s skin. And of course, this comes at a premium.
Best Smelling Soap
This soap contains over 40 different ingredients, including extracts from seeds, plants, and flowers. It also contains Murumuru seed butter, Shea butter, and Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract. The butter helps prevent dryness in black skin.
The Jack Black scrubbing soap stands out among others. It seamlessly takes the dirt off black skin. It lathers really well, even in hard water. Its refreshing fragrance is a confidence booster. The scent is neither offensive nor strong. It is simply out of this world.
Since it’s a bit costly, you can use it on special occasions, then use a cheaper soap as a daily driver.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
For men with oily or dry skin looking for a quality soap to use, the Jack Black Turbo Bar Soap is worth considering. Keep in mind that this is a precious gem for black men. One that leaves you with a refreshing aura.
Formulated with African Americans in mind, SheaMoisture African Black Soap is the best black soap for black men. It gets its ingredients from Africa. Free from harsh chemicals like Paraben and Sulfate, this organic soap is crafted to be a daily companion.
Best Moisturizing Soap
Aloe Vera extracts, Cocoa-pods, Plantain, Willows, and Oats are part of the ingredients that make this soap great for black skin. This African black soap is rich in vitamins, preventing skin irritations, and reinvigorating the protective skin barrier. Needless to say, it contains Shea butter to soften the skin and heal dark spots.
The soap is mild on sensitive skin while having essential oils that help reduce hyperpigmentation in black people. It tones the skin in a natural way. What’s more, the vitamin E found in SheaMoisture African Black Soap helps reduce wrinkles, which is quite helpful as the skin loses its natural elasticity as we grow older.
This is the best soap for acne-prone skin that can be used daily for its amazing benefits. It reduces the frequency of breakouts, inflammation, and redness, making it a home remedy that actually works. The soap doesn’t irritate or dry the skin, rather it keeps it clear and soft.
While many mild soaps don’t lather properly, this does so excellently. As a bonus, it smells nice, thanks to the plants and flowers in its ingredients.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
If you want an African black soap suitable for black skin, then you should check this out. With its healing and antibacterial properties, there’s no need to look further. SheaMoisture gets the job done.
The O Naturals 6-Piece Black Bar Soap pack is one of the best packages we’ve come across. It contains Activated Charcoal & Peppermint Soap, African Black Soap, Black Coffee Soap, Black Tea & Tea Tree Soap, Dead Sea Mud & Green Clay Soap, and Dead Sea Mud & Salt Soap.
Best Deodorant Soap
The O Naturals Black Soap Collection is made up of organic products. While the soaps are made with varying ingredients, one thing they have in common is the revitalizing effect.
Activated Charcoal & Peppermint Soap
If you are looking for a soap to rejuvenate your skin, then you’d like the O Naturals Activated Charcoal & Peppermint Soap. It is one of the soaps in the O Naturals pack. For black men experiencing acne breakouts and irritations, you may find the soap very helpful.
African Black Soap
This is one of our favorites in the pack. The product contains natural ingredients that are used in West Africa. It is useful in cleansing pores, reducing discoloration, and lessening inflammation. It is a must-have for black men’s skincare routine.
The African black soap in the O Naturals pack contains Shea butter, Coconut oil, Cocoa-pods, and plantain peels. Shea butter smoothens the skin, coconut oil moisturizes the skin, Cocoa-pods possess anti-inflammatory characteristics, and plantain peels provide numerous vitamins.
Black Coffee Soap
O Naturals Black Coffee Soap is one of the most versatile soaps in the pack. It refreshes the skin by exfoliating dead skin cells to reveal fresher skin. The soap also remedies stretch marks and fine lines on the skin. It takes full advantage of Shea butter and all its astonishing moisturizing benefits.
Black Tea & Tea Tree Soap
The Black Tea & Tea Tree Soap is another soap to deal with eczema and acne breakouts. It contains natural ingredients that rejuvenate your skin to achieve a uniform tone. Some of its ingredients are also known for their anti-oxidizing properties. It deals with wrinkles as well.
Dead Sea Mud & Green Clay Soap
The Dead Sea Mud & Green Clay Soap has a combination of necessary oils needed for smooth and healthy skin. This natural soap contains Dead Sea mud and French green clay. The product deep-cleanses the skin and prevents breakouts.
Dead Sea Mud & Salt Soap
The O Naturals Salt Soap is known for its magnificent properties. It contains tons of naturally occurring minerals that contribute to the overall health of the skin. The salt helps in detoxification as it removes impurities from the skin.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
The O Natural Bar Soap collection is gaining a lot of fame for its diversity and effectiveness. Each soap in the collection has a different scent and unique characteristics while maintaining its remarkable craftsmanship. The African black soap is one of our favorites in the pack. Whether you want soap for your face or body, these soaps get it right in so many ways.
If you have used the Dr. Squatch Pine Tar soap, you will definitely love the Oliver Rocket Pine Tar Soap. For less than half the price, the Oliver Rocket provides a detoxifying and exfoliating soap just as good. This is a homemade soap that completely removes dirt without drying the skin.
Best All Natural Soap
The Pine tar soap contains pine tar extracts, natural oils, sea salt, activated charcoal, Shea butter, and oatmeal. Some saponified natural oils included in its formula are olive oil, vegetable oil, and coconut oil. The plant oils, as well as vitamins, revitalize black men’s skin.
Most users of this product agree that the soap is suitable for sensitive skin. If you are used to body washes, you would like the way the soap lathers. Although the scent of the soap may not last for the whole day, you’ll definitely enjoy the pine tar feeling.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
This product is a no-brainer. While other pine tar soaps are more expensive, this one offers the same value for a lesser price. If you like homemade products that are good for black skin, then this is the one to try out.
Features to Consider When Buying Soaps for Black-Skinned Men
There are several things to consider when getting the perfect soap for black men. Here are some features to look for:
1. Skin type
Several skin types exist even among black men. Some are more susceptible to hyperpigmentation, dry skin, dark spots, and razor bumps. Hence, it is wise to consider your skin type before getting a bar of soap. As a rule of thumb, get one that improves your skin health.
There are soaps that are made for all skin types — normal, sensitive, dry, or oily. If you’d prefer a multi-purpose soap, then that’s also on the table. Men without any skin issues can use any good soap, whereas those with oily skin, need a soap that regulates or absorbs the oil in the skin.
By the same token, men with sensitive skin keep a wary eye out for the kind of soap to use. If your skin is sensitive, we recommend that you avoid using products that contain harsh chemicals. Natural ingredients help reduce allergies or discomfort. A well-made African black soap comprises organic constituents that cause no trouble for sensitive skin types.
2. Safety
How safe is this soap for my skin? Does it contain toxic compounds? These are some questions you could ask yourself to identify soaps that are perfect for your skin. It is best to avoid knock-off products that are made with harmful chemical compounds.
Mind you, even good soaps may be suitable for a particular skin type and not for another. If it is the first time you’re trying a soap, you can do a patch test by simply rubbing the soap on your forearm and observing it for a day.
3. Ingredients
Generally, you should avoid any soap that contains toxic sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and phthalates. While natural oils are good for your skin, some mineral oils can lead to acne breakouts. Refrain from using products that contain mineral oils that are known to clog pores.
4. Price
The price of soap is not always a function of its quality. That said, there is a wrong notion that a cheap product is inferior and a more expensive product has better quality. But this doesn’t always hold true. If you are not sure about a product’s quality get one with a good return policy.
5. Packaging
If possible, get a bar of soap in a simple package because the cost of packaging a product can affect its price. The fact is, you could end up paying a chunk of its price for unnecessary packaging.
6. Application
There are usually directions from the manufacturer on the soap package. It is better to get a soap that you can use every day. Take note of how your skin reacts to the soap, reduce the frequency of use, or stop using it if you notice any skin irritations.
7. Size
A bigger soap doesn’t necessarily mean a better soap. A soap could last for well over a month when used daily, but it doesn’t make it better than the one that lasts for just 2 weeks. Simply use a soap that makes your skin healthy and glow. If you travel often, you can get a pack of quality soaps.
8. Lather
We love to pay attention to how well a soap develops into a lather. In this case, too much isn’t better. Too much lather means that it can rid your skin of protective oils. On the other hand, it won’t be able to remove dirt and grime if it doesn’t lather at all.
9. Hardness
Plunging a new soap in water and then squeezing it as hard as you can is one way to determine its hardness. People often prefer harder soaps as they tend to last longer.
10. Fragrance
While this may not be an important feature for everyone, most people love soap with great scents. For example, many love the Jack Black soap for its pleasant scent. On the other hand, some prefer soap with no scent at all. Simply because not all skin types can tolerate fragrance.
That said, it is advisable to buy one that gets its fragrance from essential oils. By all means, avoid chemical-based fragrances, as they are harsh and may not be good for your skin. A bar of soap with a great scent is good, but not at the cost of your health.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
It is an honor to have black skin. An honor so great that it attracts great responsibilities. The advantages of having black skin outweigh the unique challenges we may face. And the best soap for black men ensures that our skin stays radiant amid all the stress and anxiety of a post-pandemic lifestyle.
Adding good soap to your skincare routine brings rich rewards. It keeps the skin healthy at all times and it does your confidence a whole load of good. So when next you shop for grooming products consider looking for the features we’ve discussed.
About the Author
Dante Morton
Grooming ProfessionalDante Morton is a grooming professional and fashion expert. He has a jovial personality and a passion for skincare, as well as styling the hair and beards of black men. Before joining GroomHour, Dante worked with several big players in the beauty industry. Join Dante and several monthly readers on GroomHour.com, and enrich your lifestyle with reliable grooming resources.
