Product review: Ghana Red Palm Soap by Akoma Skincare

As a blogger you own to yourself and your readers to be honest. OK.
This is the fundamental rule to blogging. Again, OK. I got it. 
So, as much as it pains me to say it and point it out I have to come clean and say it out loud. Wait for it; here it comes: "I do not have a good skin". 
There; I've said it. 


Listen, I am no dummy and am aware that I am not perfect, but God do I love myself.
When it comes to beauty and self-acceptance I have two basic rules:
1) If it's not broken don't try to fix it;
2) Work with what the Lord has blessed you with and learn to appreciate and love it!


Life is too short and too meaningful to waste time worrying about my newly-found love handles, and forever flat bum and chest. I personally believe that if I can't change the way I look with exercise, then it is not meant to be changed. The key is to be healthy. There are far too many pretty pieces of clothing that are here to make me look and feel gorgeous. 
So, that's my moto when it comes to my body. 
But what about my face? Unless I am mistaking, I can't hide or dress it!


I have a very sensitive skin which is prone to dryness and eczema. I don't put perfume on it, use Oilatum religiously and am forever trying out steroid-based cream treatments to moisture my dry patches which tend to be exacerbated by stress.
The skin on my face is even more delicate. I can only wash my face with Avene cleansing products and moisturize it with Bobbi Brown face creams. I long for a smooth and even-tone complexion but am plagued with dark-spots and tiny weeny blemishes that look more like a heat rash rather than acne.


I have been hearing about the cleansing and natural healing benefits of African Black Soap and Red Palm for years.
Back when I was a little girl, my mum used to keep her ones in the bathroom alongside my dermatologist-prescribed soap-free cleansing shower gels. My skin has always been a source of joke in my family. I am known as the one with the 'caiman skin' because of its dryness and roughness. How lovely.


Anyway, earlier on this year, I bought a couple of Black Soaps from sheabynature.co.uk
It didn't go to well. It took an all month for the rash and the eczema I developed from using the soaps to clear.


Two weeks ago, while ordering my usual supply of Shea Butter from Akomaskincare.co.uk I thought that I might try their Ghanaian Red Palm Soap. I bought a couple as I couldn't decide which one I wanted the most (the coconut oil, shea butter, lemon oil and lemongrass oil soap or the exfoliating one) as well as their Argan Oil, Olive Oil and Shea Butter's for my daughter.


OK, so I need to mention something. Except the episode with the Black Soaps from Shea by Nature back in January, it has been over 12 years since I have used soap on my skin (face and body). I find soaps far too drying for my skin.
Needless to say that I didn't have much hope regarding the ones for Akoma.


Well, let me tell you something. I have been using the Coconut Oil, Lemon Oil and Lemongrass Oil for two weeks now and so far, I haven't developed any rash neither on my face or body. It usually takes less than 48 hours for my skin to turn red, then dry (and start bleeding, sometimes) when I react to a beauty product. My skin feels clean and refresh. I hasn't smooth or even-toned my face complexion but hasn't left it with spots either.


My daughter developed chicken pox about 10 days ago and I have been using the Argan Oil soap on her and it has been leaving her skin very smooth and soft. I hope that it will help fading the scars left by the virus.

I find that when it comes to beauty and hair products each individual reacts differently. Someone else might have gotten great results with products from Shea by Nature but I wasn't part of the lucky ones.



Has any of you tried Black Soaps and/or Red Palm ones before?
What did you think of them?


Vanessa
XOXO






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