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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar versus AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar .

Published on August 14, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both face cleansers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Face Cleanser American Brand United States
Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy African Black Soap Bar

Starts at $4.89
Shop

Buy Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar

Starts at $1.92

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying

We don't have a description for Sodium Palm Kernelate.

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar contains this as ingredient number 2.

AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar contains this as ingredient number 3.

AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 4.

3
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar contains this as ingredient number 4.

AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar contains this as ingredient number 6.

AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 6.

5
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising

We don't have a description for Tetrasodium Etidronate.

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar contains this as ingredient number 12.

AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 9.

6

We don't have a description for Pentasodium Pentetate.

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar contains this as ingredient number 14.

AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 10.

7
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant
Community Rating: Mixed

Ci 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.

Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.

Synthetically created Ci 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.

Learn more about CI 77492

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar contains this as ingredient number 15.

AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar contains this as ingredient number 12.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

27% are loved or liked
20% have mixed ratings
20% are disliked or very disliked
33% have no rating yet
14% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
36% are disliked or very disliked
36% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar 15 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating

AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar 14 ingredients

Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 17 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 39 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to AMBI Cocoa Butter Cleansing Bar.

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