It may seem weird, but we actually absorb chemicals through our skin. This is exactly how nicotine patches work, while some less harmful substances are applied in the same way for medicinal purposes.

It sort of follows that, in order to get the glowing, vibrant skin you desire, you should really think about how you nourish it from the outside (of course, a healthy diet including plenty of water remains important, too). For a number of centuries, now, women from Ghana, Nigeria and other West African countries have taken advantage of this principle and used this remarkable stuff instead of harsh, dehydrating chemicals for bathing.

Don’t be put off by the dark color of this soap: that’s just a reflection of its natural origins and the fact that it’s made from ingredients such as shea butter, cacao pods, coconut oil, plantain skins, and several other plant-based ingredients. Although the basic recipe is traditional, every region and workshop adds its own twists.

This kind of soap, called alata simena, ose dudu or by another name depending on the country, naturally hydrates skin, corrects its oil balance, gently exfoliates, kills the bacteria that cause acne and pimples and even reduces fine lines and blemishes.

In other words, it does the work of half a dozen branded beauty products, contains nothing that will harm you, and, unbelievably, costs less than $10 a pound. It works really well on all types of skin – many people who tried it once now refuse to use anything else.