Not so long ago, there was great controversy about DOVE (Unilver’s) racist marketing of its DOVE soap product.

For anyone who didn’t see it, it was a very selective campaign that moved from the darkest of the four girls to the whitest by having them all remove their darker color in order to achieve her white skin.

The supposition was that DOVE was supposed to get your skin cleaner and softer in the transition from dark to light, implying that dark skin was “dirtier.

”

The corporate beings tried to play off like they had several campaign strategies, one with the white girl removing her skin to become darker — but the reason it didn’t work is that (a) it wasn’t the one they initially released, and (b) it made no sense. Period.

Her skin getting cleaner by turning her darker? The best way they could have portrayed “all skin types” was to use all four women for each skin type, dry to normal to oily and let it go at that, butno… .

Anyhoo … Black America has always had options when it comes to natural skin care products, and Lord knows we have “allergen” issues like nobody’s business. To tell the truth, we not only made our own soaps and skin care from the very beginning, long before the days of LYE soap in America, but natural products from the Earth had ALWAYS been our source – whether it was shea butter or cacao beans or edamame or roasted nut oils, we didn’t need DOVE before, and we most assuredly do not need them now.

So …

If you are shopping for an alternative to DOVE Products, which seems by their own admission, to be a product made exclusively for white-skinned peoples, try these … and SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS as often as possible.

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  Black soap, which translates to ‘Oṣe Dudu’ in Yoruba (the predominant language in Western Nigeria), is an age-old, handmade traditional soap which consists of pure natural ingredients and herbs from the tropical rain forest and savannah regions. Camwood (baphia nitida), which translates to ‘Igi Osun’ in Yoruba, is a tropical hardwood rich in saponnins, polyphenols terpenes and more. It has been used for exfoliation for centuries by West Africans; primarily for sensitive baby skin. A combination of these two names forms Dudu-Osun; our flagship soap brand which was established in 1995 under Cosmos Chemicals Limited (now Tropical Naturals Limited) Nigeria. The evolution of Tropical Naturals occurred organically over a twenty-year period. Starting out with a manually-operated small-scale plant in 1995, the firm’s flagship brand, Dudu-Osun, has grown to receive global recognition with sales in over fifty countries.

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  Pooka was created by Dawn Fitch. A graphic artist by trade, who's life took a different path when she became sick with an auto-immune disease. She started the company 17 years ago. The business started in her kitchen and has grown to a showroom, online sales and a retailer in Whole Foods Market! Watch her story and see how a trial turned into an amazing journey! If you leave feeling inspired we hope that you share the inspiration with others.

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  Organic. Hand crafted. Sustainably sourced. And made with love.

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  Jade & Fox Co. is a luxury lifestyle brand that uses the science of nature to create solutions to everyday skin care conditions and bring tangible results. Using food grade ingredients, Jade & Fox creates an entire experience using original formulas curated by the maker. By revolutionizing the personalized skincare industry, our hopes are to offer a new outlook on the indie beauty industry for both men and women.

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  Cream & Coco carries all-natural skincare & hair care products made from mostly organic products and locally grown herbs & botanicals. Our artisan soaps are offered in over 30 varieties to treat every skin condition, including infant bars, goat's milk, pumpkin & carrot bars, detoxifying bars made with charcoal & sea salts, and even pine tar for psoriasis & eczema.

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  Fed up with buying expensive beauty products filled with toxic ingredients, LA-based actresses Ashley Blaine Featherson and Christina Elmore, started making their own bath, body and hair care necessities for their families and friends. After perfecting several recipes, they have decided to share what has become their passion with the world. Founded on the principle that modern luxury can be all natural, Blaine Lorenn launched in 2015 to cater to those who want to both look and feel beautiful, naturally.

What’s YOUR favorite BLACK/Afrocentric/African-American skin care product? [LIST IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.]

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