Made In Cameroon Cosmetic Products Flourish at SIARC 2026
Among the items displayed at the Yaounde International Tade Fair for Arts and Crafts (SIARC) at the esplanade of the National Museum, are a variety of cosmetic products to resolve problems of black skin and hair. Young female university graduates are using local ingredients from time immemorial to enhance beauty. They have produced bathing soaps, […]
Using Local Ingredients to Solve Beauty Problems
Tchingwi Prescilia, an Environmental Science graduate, had challenges with caring for her hair. She used relaxers which caused much damage on her scalp. She resolved to keep her Afro hair. She therefore had to buy imported products to take care of her natural hair. COVID 19 came in, causing the borders to be blocked and limiting importation.
This situation inspired her to start producing her own hair products using local ingredients. « I use rosemary, shea butter, cocoa butter, hibiscus flowers and cloves to produce hair oils, hair masks, shampoo, hair cream and musk for natural Afro hair ». She sells these products to users in different towns in Cameroon.
She also runs a hair beauty salon where she uses these products to provide hair care to women.
For her part, Tangwan Mourine, suffered severe skin problems. Acute acne pushed her to find solutions from her own environment. « I use aloe vera, tumeric, cacia alata plant and bitter leaves to produce soap for troubled skin, » she says. Alongside, she makes detergent from local ingredients, and bleach which she sells at exhibitions.
Transfering Ancestral Knowledge to Modernity
The Cameroon International Trade Fair for Arts and Crafts (SIARC) 2026 emphasized on transfering knowledge from the older generation to the younger one. One of the artisans, Jumbuin Ruth Maya, a graduate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and a student in Public Health Medicine, presented a first aid remedy made of two plants which her mother used to treat cases of food poisoning and insect bites.
She presented Medi Quick a transformed version of the ‘miracle leaf’ and neem leaves as first aid for food poisoning. She has worked with her mother to come out with the scientific value of the herbs used by her foreparents to treat cases of food poisoning and insect bites.
Most of the artisans at the SIARC 2026 presented products which have witnessed a transformation from rudimentary to modernism, increasing their shelf life, packaging and value. This is the case of Maimouna Alhadji, a graduate of engineering from the University of Ngounderé who presented hair butter extracted from cow milk. This is used to soften hair by mostly Fulani people. She has succeeded in taking out the pungent odour and replacing it with a pleasant perfume.
As the Trade Fair wraps up, most artisans have successfully displayed their works of art and engaged in more marketing especially on social media.
Prisilia Lum