Wet the skin with lukewarm water, then work the soap into a lather in your hands instead of rubbing the bar directly on the face. Apply the lather gently to the face or body, massage lightly, then rinse well with warm water. Some current usage guidance also suggests following with a moisturizer, especially if your skin feels dry.

If you have sensitive skin, start slowly and patch test first. Current sources note that African black soap can be cleansing but may feel drying or irritating for some people if overused.