At a glance
- PriceMadina 6 oz $7.99 · Muharram $7.99
- AlsoTurmeric liquid black soap $9.99
- UseFace and body, daily
- TipPatch test 7-10 days first
- Get itPickup at 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, or U.S. shipping
Skin care guide · Yado Market
Turmeric soap is a golden cleansing bar made with turmeric, a cousin of ginger whose yellow color comes from curcumin.1,2 Here's what turmeric soap really does (and doesn't do), how it compares with neem and African black soap, how to use it without staining your towels, and where to buy it in Chicago.
Shop Muharram Turmeric Soap Bar · $7.99 →
Quick answer: what is turmeric soap?
The basics
What Is Turmeric Soap?
Turmeric soap is a bar (or liquid) soap made with turmeric, the golden root that also flavors and colors curry. Turmeric is a plant in the ginger family, grown mostly in India and Southeast Asia.1,2 Its bright yellow color comes from a natural pigment called curcumin, the same coloring food makers use under the code E100.2
Besides cooking, turmeric has long had cosmetic uses and a place in traditional medicine systems in India, China, Thailand and the Islamic world.1 That's why you see it in so many soaps today, often paired with neem oil, shea butter, honey or black seed.
In a soap, turmeric mostly gives the bar its color, scent and character. The cleaning itself is done by the soap base. U.S. rules see a soap that cleans and beautifies as a cosmetic; once a soap claims to treat acne, eczema or kill germs, it counts as a drug.6 So at Yado we sell our turmeric soaps as everyday cleansing bars, not as treatments.
Compare
Turmeric vs Neem vs African Black Soap
These three show up side by side on our soap shelf, and many bars mix them. Neem comes from a large tree native to India that now grows widely in West Africa too;5 its seed oil is yellow, bitter and smells a bit like garlic.5 African black soap comes from Nigeria, where the Yoruba call it ọṣẹ dúdú; it's made with ash from plantain skins, cocoa pods or palm leaves plus oils such as palm oil and shea butter.8
Warm, earthy scent and a golden lather. Can leave a light yellow tint on white cloths.
Pick it if: you like a fragrant, colorful daily bar
Shop Muharram · $7.99 →Turmeric plus neem oil, a plant oil researchers are looking at as a cosmetic ingredient.4 Herbal, slightly bitter scent.
Pick it if: you want both in one bar
Shop Madina · $7.99 →Soft, earthy bar made from plant ash and oils.8 No turmeric color. Also comes as a liquid with turmeric.
Pick it if: you want a traditional Nigerian/Ghanaian soap
Shop black soap · $4.99 →| Turmeric soap | Turmeric & neem | African black soap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main ingredient | Turmeric (curcumin) | Turmeric + neem oil | Plant ash + oils |
| Scent | Warm, earthy | Herbal, slightly bitter | Earthy, smoky |
| Color | Golden yellow | Yellow-green | Brown to black |
| Stains towels? | Can tint white cloth | Can tint white cloth | No yellow tint |
| At Yado | Muharram bar $7.99 | Madina 6 oz $7.99 | From $3.99 |
Shop the guide
Turmeric Soaps at Yado Market
In stock for pickup at 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, or U.S. shipping. Add a net sponge and shea butter and your whole shower routine is covered.
Honest answer
What Does Turmeric Soap Do?
A good turmeric bar does what a good soap should: it lifts away sweat, oil and the day's dirt, rinses clean and leaves skin feeling fresh. People choose it for the golden color, the warm scent and the rich lather.
You will read big promises online. The research picture is more modest: a 2016 review of 18 clinical studies found only early evidence that turmeric products may help some skin conditions, and said more studies are needed.3 Those studies were on creams and supplements, not on a soap you rinse off after a minute.3
What we don't claim
Turmeric soap won't change your natural skin tone, and we don't sell it to treat acne, eczema or any skin condition. Claims like that would make a soap a drug under U.S. rules.6 For a skin problem, see a dermatologist.
How to
How to Use Turmeric Soap
- Patch test first. Dermatologists suggest trying a new product on a quarter-sized spot, like the inside of your elbow, twice a day for 7 to 10 days. Redness, itching or swelling means stop.7
- Wet your skin and the bar with lukewarm water.
- Lather in your hands, on a washcloth or an African net sponge.
- Massage gently over face or body. Keep the lather out of your eyes.
- Rinse well, especially around the hairline and nails, so no yellow tint stays behind.
- Pat dry and moisturize: a little shea butter right after your shower seals in moisture.
- Store the bar on a draining soap dish so it stays firm and lasts longer.
Will it stain?
Curcumin is a natural yellow dye.2 Turmeric soap can leave a light yellow tint on white washcloths, towels or sink grout. Rinse the sink after use and wash white cloths soon; use a darker towel if it bothers you.
Routine
A Simple Turmeric Soap Shower Routine
Want to switch it up? Use a turmeric bar in the morning and a mild black soap or moringa bar at night. Everything here is in stock at our Chicago store.
Where to Buy Turmeric Soap Near Me in Chicago
Find Madina turmeric & neem soap, Muharram turmeric soap and turmeric liquid black soap at Yado African & Caribbean Market, 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, IL. Order online for store pickup, or get it shipped anywhere in the U.S. Buy several bars of the same soap and save with our quantity discount.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is turmeric soap good for?
It's an everyday cleansing soap for face and body, loved for its golden color, warm scent and rich lather. It is not a treatment for skin conditions.
Can I use turmeric soap on my face?
Yes, many people do. Patch test first,7 wash gently, keep it out of your eyes and rinse well, especially along the hairline.
Does turmeric soap lighten skin?
We don't sell it for that, and a rinse-off soap should not be expected to change your natural skin tone. Research on turmeric and skin is still early.3
Will turmeric soap stain my skin or towels?
It rinses off skin with water. Curcumin is a natural dye,2 so it can leave a light yellow tint on white towels or grout.
What's the difference between turmeric soap and neem soap?
Turmeric gives a golden color and earthy scent; neem oil is a bitter, garlic-smelling oil from the neem tree.5 Madina's bar combines both.
Is turmeric soap safe for everyone?
Most people use it without trouble, but turmeric on the skin can cause itching or hives in some people.1 Patch test and stop if your skin reacts.
Is it spelled turmeric or tumeric?
Turmeric. "Tumeric" is a common misspelling, and it's the same soap.
Where can I buy turmeric soap near me in Chicago?
At Yado African & Caribbean Market, 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, for pickup, or online with U.S. shipping.
Sources
- Turmeric, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). www.nccih.nih.gov
- Turmeric, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
- Vaughn AR et al. Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence. Phytotherapy Research, 2016 (PubMed). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Azadirachta indica (Neem) as a Potential Natural Active for Dermocosmetic and Topical Products: A Narrative Review. Cosmetics, 2022. doaj.org
- Azadirachta indica (neem), Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
- Frequently Asked Questions on Soap, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. www.fda.gov
- How to test skin care products, American Academy of Dermatology. www.aad.org
- African black soap, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
