5 African Products
The cosmetic industry evolved toward increasing sophisticated formulas for care and beautifying the skin, but often the best proposals have already been known for centuries somewhere on the planet. Some natural products that most respect the skin come from the African land and flora, such as argan oil or shea butter.
This popular wisdom arouses growing interest, and natural substances traditionally used in Africa successfully enter the international market.
The secret to their effectiveness is that plants make them protect themselves from the extreme rigors of the African climate, and they perform similar functions on the skin.
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1. Shea Butter
It is probably the best-known African product in cosmetics. It remains extracted from the almonds of a tropical tree that only grows in Africa and the wild, in wooded savannahs.
The women of Sudan, Senegal, Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast know the virtues of shea butter. They massage newborns with it to protect their skin from external aggressions.
The shea is “the women’s tree” because they are its guardians, and they are the ones who collect its almonds to crush them later and obtain a fine paste that, kneaded for a long time, becomes a creamy ivory-colored butter.
Rich in fatty acids, vitamins A and E, healing, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, and sun-protective unsaponifiable substances, its unique and complex composition is unparalleled among fatty substances.
In What Cosmetics Is Shea Butter Used?
It is marketed in its pure state and as an ingredient in many cosmetics (balms, body bowls of milk, soaps) for dehydration and sensitivity. Intolerant and reactive skin; in many sun products (its natural protective factor is equal to 6 ) and in cosmetics for more elastic skin.
2. Argan Oil
The argan ( Arganda Spinosa ) is a thorny tree that is very resistant to the heat and aridity of the land it grows, from the Sahara to the west coast of Morocco.
It provides wood, fodder, and oil used for food and medicine that women use to care for dry, wrinkled skin, nourish and revitalize fragile hair, and strengthen nails.
To care for their skin and hair, Berber women from southern Morocco have used argan oil since ancient times; incredibly moisturizing and protective due to its high content of fatty acids and tocopherols (vitamin E) also act as antioxidants.
Today, this rare and valuable oil is found among the ingredients of many skin creams and products and remains solid in its pure form in health food stores and specialty stores.
What Cosmetics Contains Argan Oil?
It remains found in anti-aging and revitalizing products. In addition, due to its protective capacity against UVA rays, it is also found in sun creams. Lastly, it is included in hair cosmetics, as it gives shine and prevents split ends.
3. Baobab Extract
Native to Madagascar but widespread throughout Africa, the baobab ( Adansonia digitata ) remains revered as the “pharmacy tree.” The infusion of its bark remains indicated against malaria attacks.
And its leaves, very rich in flavonoids that fight free radicals, remained used to protect and soften the skin, moisturize it and firm it.
What Properties Does Baobab Extract Have?
It remains used in products with a toning and firming effect. And also in facial products with anti-aging properties, which hydrate and smooth the skin. In addition, because of its richness in vitamin C, it remains used in products for couperose.
4. African Kigelia
This up to the 20-meter-tall tree ( Kigelia Africana ) grows in the African tropical belt. Also, from southern Chad to South Africa. Still, its fruit pulp remains traditionally used throughout the continent to cure everything from snake bites to rheumatism.
Senegalese women apply it to their bust since the kigelia extract is rich in active plant ingredients with tightening and firming effects.
5. Rasul, Moroccan Clay
It comes from deposits on the border of the Atlas, 200 km from Fez. Also, With a high magnesium silicate content, this great clay has remained used for centuries as a soapy substance in North Africa.
In contact with water, it swells to become a kind of gel that acts as a detergent and degreaser: it absorbs dirt and grease like a sheet of blotting paper without damaging the skin or hair with surface-active agents.
What Is Rasul Used?
Cosmetics remain a base ingredient in shampoos, bath gels, soaps, creams for sensitive, allergic, or atopic dermatitis skin, and creams to treat acne.
The five brands best known by Africans
1-MTN.
Created in 1994, the South African Telecommunications Group operates in 22 countries in Africa and others outside its borders, such as Afghanistan, Cyprus, Syria, Iran, and Yemen. The company has more than 25,424 employees and connects more than 203.8 million people. Also, MTN has contributed to mobile communication for payments, business, and health issues on the African continent.
2- ABSA.
The South African Group ABSA remained renamed Barclays Africa Group after merging with the British bank Barclays. But the ABSA brand remained for Banco ABSA. This alliance is more relevant in the continent: South Africa, Ghana, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Seychelles, and Mozambique. ABSA stands for United Bank of Africa of South Africa.
3- Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
This is the state oil company in Nigeria. It is the largest oil and gas company in sub-Saharan Africa. Also, The Nigerian federal government regulates and participates in the national oil industry through it.
4- Eskom.
It is a public electricity company in South Africa. Founded in 1923, Also, it acquired its current name in 1986. Eskom is the largest producer of electrical energy in Africa. It generates 95% of the electricity used in South Africa and 45% of the total on the African continent.
5- Shoprite.
South African company specializing in retail food and fast food. Also, It has more than 1,200 points of sale and 270 franchises in 16 countries in Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean.
Also, read: HOW TO FIND OUT THE BEST PRP HAIR RESTORATION IN LOS ANGELES?
Conclusion
The cosmetic industry evolves towards increasingly sophisticated formulas to care for and beautify the skin. Still, the best proposals have often remained known for centuries on the planet. 5 African Products.
