The world of beauty products can be a hard one to navigate. There's so much out there, and no matter how much you read up on a product, you'll never really know if it works until you try it yourself. It doesn't even matter if it's a personal recommendation you got from a friend. What works for one person doesn't always work for the next.
There is one way to improve the chances that what you buy will actually work for you, though: Read the ingredient label. It's a step that many people skip when shopping for cosmetics, but one that's crucial. It's also the easiest way to find out whether the product has an ingredient that you already know clashes with your skin type.
But sometimes even reading the ingredient label can become a nightmare on its own. It can be hard to decipher what all those chemicals and words that are way too hard to pronounce really are.
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There's more good news, though. You can skip out on all these frustrations by making your own cosmetics, and it's really not that hard to do. Cleopatra of ancient Egypt didn't have access to all the beauty products we have today, but legend says that her skin was always silky soft and glowing, thanks to products that were abundant naturally. Sometimes it's better to live closer to the earth, a theme that's common in African skin care. Many believe African skin care has long held the secret to the fountain of youth.
Even when it's not possible to whip up something yourself, look for a product that contains a common ingredient used in African skin care, like marula oil, shea butter, or yangu oil. Read up on which ingredients might help you meet your beauty goals faster. Then it's all about trial and error.
But once you find what's right for you, you won't go back. If you're not sure where to start, don't fret. Skin care and hair care doesn't have to be so complicated. Here are some of the best African beauty secrets you should know about.