Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub

Review

Does Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub work?

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub is a type of skincare product designed to be rinsed off, peeled off, or otherwise removed from the skin. Research confirming the moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, and soothing effects of such products is very limited. Therefore, we do not provide efficacy ratings for these types of skincare products.

However, you can explore the roles of specific ingredients in the Ingredients Explained section below.

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
60
9
6
4
3
2.5
2
1.5
1.3
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Cetyl Alcohol
Function:
Origin:
Glycerin
Function:
Origin:
Myristyl Alcohol
Function:
Origin:
Stearic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Decyl Glucoside
Function:
Origin:
Myristic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil
Function:
Origin:
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Function:
Origin:
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder
Function:
Origin:
Jojoba Esters
Function:
Origin:
Cetearyl Alcohol
Function:
Origin:
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Function:
Origin:
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Function:
Origin:
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Function:
Origin:
Charcoal Powder
Function:
Origin:
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
Function:
Origin:
Nigella Sativa Seed Extract
Function:
Origin:
Tamarindus Indica Fruit Extract
Function:
Origin:
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
Function:
Origin:
Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax
Function:
Origin:
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Husk
Function:
Origin:
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Function:
Origin:
Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil
Function:
Origin:
Salicylic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Panthenol
Function:
Origin:
Bisabolol
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Function:
Origin:
Glyceryl Caprylate
Function:
Origin:
Triethyl Citrate
Function:
Origin:
Caprylyl Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Benzoic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Chloride
Function:
Origin:
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Function:
Origin:
Potassium Hydroxide
Function:
Origin:
Iron Oxides (CI 77499)
Function:
Origin:
Fragrance
Function:
Origin:

Ingredients explained

Water
Est. %60
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Cetyl Alcohol
Est. %9
Function
Origin
Cetyl AlcoholA waxy solid fatty alcohol derived from palm oil. It is most commonly used as a co-emulsifier and affects the final aesthetic of the product, leaving a soft and silky feeling on the skin. Cetyl alcohol is also used as a viscosity controlling agent.
Glycerin
Est. %6
Function
Origin
Glycerin

The most popular moisturizing ingredient in the world. It is a powerful humectant – cheap yet very effective.

Myristyl Alcohol
Est. %4
Function
Origin
Myristyl AlcoholA naturally derived fatty alcohol that thickens and stabilizes emulsions.
Stearic Acid
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Stearic AcidA saturated fatty acid found in vegetable butter and animal fats. It is an occlusive moisturizing and emollient ingredient and also helps to maintain the barrier function of the skin.
Decyl Glucoside
Est. %2.5
Function
Origin
Decyl GlucosideA surfactant that can function as both a cleansing agent and emulsifier. As a cleansing agent, it is very mild on the skin. As an emulsifier, decyl glucoside will produce oil-in-water emulsions. It is naturally derived from vegetable oils and starch.
Myristic Acid
Est. %2
Function
Origin
Myristic AcidA common fatty acid found in various vegetable oils, most notably palm and coconut oil. It is a strongly occlusive moisturizing, emollient, and emulsifying ingredient.
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed OilA fatty oil extracted from mango seeds that is comprised of emollient and occlusive moisturizing stearic and oleic acids. It is best suited for dry skin.
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Est. %1.3
Function
Origin
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) OilA famous occlusive moisturizing and emollient oil. It is derived from coconuts and may give a product a lovely coconut scent. Coconut oil is listed as a common comedogenic ingredient by acne.org.
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder
Jojoba Esters
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Jojoba EstersA mixture of various wax esters from jojoba oil. It is used in skincare products as a fantastic emollient, soothing, and occlusive moisturizing agent that won't leave a sticky, oily feeling on the skin.
Cetearyl Alcohol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Cetearyl AlcoholA blend of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, the fatty alcohols that are derived from palm oil. It helps to create emulsions that give off a soft and silky emollient feel and also increase product thickness.
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Glyceryl Stearate CitrateAn ingredient composed of citric acid, stearic acid, and glycerin. Glyceryl stearate citrate acts as an emollient in skincare products, making the skin appear smooth and pleasant to the touch.
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Cocamidopropyl HydroxysultaineA mild surfactant with excellent foaming properties and thickening capabilities.
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) ButterA semi-solid, buttery fat extracted from the seeds of the Shea tree that is a wonderful occlusive and emollient ingredient mainly comprised of fatty acids. Shea butter contains a large amount of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds.
Charcoal Powder
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Charcoal PowderA naturally occurring ingredient that is used as a colorant due to its rich black color. It can also be used as an abrasive to exfoliate the top layer of dead cells off the surface of the skin, as well as as an absorbent.
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed OilA liquid plant wax, also known as Jojoba oil, pressed from the seeds of Simmondsia chinensis. These seeds can contain up to 50% of liquid wax. It is used as an occlusive moisturizer, emollient, and emulsifier.
Nigella Sativa Seed Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Nigella Sativa Seed Extract
Tamarindus Indica Fruit Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Tamarindus Indica Fruit Extract
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf OilA fragrant and antioxidant essential tea tree oil praised for its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. Tea tree oil helps to treat acne, inflamed skin, and small wounds. It might, however, cause allergies and skin irritations.
Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) WaxA thick wax obtained from the stems of the Candelilla, or wax plant that is native to Mexico and the southern USA. Its stems are covered in wax to protect the plant from water loss. It is an occlusive moisturizing and emollient ingredient.
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Husk
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Husk
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Hydrogenated Castor OilA processed, butter-like castor oil. It is solely comprised of occlusive moisturizing and emollient saturated fatty acids and is best suited for dry skin. It can also act as a thickener and emulsifier.
Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil
Salicylic Acid
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Salicylic AcidThis effective peeling and anti-inflammatory BHA is used as an anti-acne agent and works by breaking down the junctions between dead skin cells. This results in the peeling of dead skin and the unclogging of pores.
Panthenol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
PanthenolA popular soothing and moisturizing derivative of vitamin B5. Panthenol is particularly beneficial for dry, flaking, burned, or damaged skin. It is used to alleviate the symptoms of a rash, dermatitis, eczema, chapped lips, and sunburn.
Bisabolol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Bisabolol

An anti-inflammatory compound found naturally in German chamomile essential oil. It has a pleasant, sweet, and floral scent. Bisabolol also has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties but can cause an allergic reaction in more sensitive individuals.

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Sodium Lauroyl LactylateA multifunctional ingredient that produces foamy cleansers and allows oil and water to mix.
Glyceryl Caprylate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Glyceryl CaprylateA waxy solid derived from vegetable oils that has emollient and emulsifying properties. It is also known to boost the efficacy of organic acid preservatives by destabilizing the microbe's cell membrane.
Triethyl Citrate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Triethyl Citrate
Caprylyl Glycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Caprylyl GlycolAn emollient that improves product spreadability and offers a silky feel on the skin. It also acts as a preservative booster that improves the efficacy of other preservatives. According to the manufacturer, it is also a humectant moisturizer.
Benzoic Acid
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Benzoic AcidA preservative effective against fungi, yeast, and some bacteria. It is commonly paired with phenoxyethanol to create a broad spectrum preservation system. Benzoic acid can also serve as a pH adjuster, fragrance, and bulking agent.
Sodium Chloride
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Sodium Chloride

You’re definitely familiar with sodium chloride, even if you don’t think you are. It’s table salt! Salt works well with some cleansing ingredients (surfactants) to thicken them into gels. It also acts as a stabilizer for water-in-oil emulsions.

Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Potassium Hydroxide
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Potassium HydroxideA very alkaline ingredient, meaning that it has a high pH. Potassium hydroxide is therefore useful in bringing a low pH in a cosmetic product up to a more neutral, skin-safe level.
Iron Oxides (CI 77499)
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Iron Oxides (CI 77499)A black colorant also known as black iron oxide used in a wide range of skincare products.
Fragrance
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
FragranceUnder trade secret law, manufacturers have the right not to disclose what exactly went into the fragrance and use the unspecific word Fragrance or Parfum instead. Many fragrances are highly allergenic.