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Some of Sabrina Dhowre Elba’s fondest childhood memories were made in the shade of a baobab tree. It was here, during yearly family trips to Kenya, that her mother first told her of the natural powers of baobab, an ingredient that, two decades later, Elba has folded into her skincare label, S’able Labs.
The joint venture with her actor husband Idris Elba harnesses the natural power of African ingredients, creating a line of genderless products specifically designed for melanated skin. “You know how they say mum’s always right?” says Elba. “I grew up hearing my mum talk about things like baobab, qasil, and black seed, and how these ingredients are so good for your immune system and your skin.”
Not only did Elba, who is of Somali descent, look to African ingredients for their beneficial properties, it was also a way for her to reconnect with and reclaim her ancestral traditions. “Selfishly, I was able to showcase ingredients that felt slightly appropriated, you know? And feel ownership over these ingredients again. And when you combine them with contemporary science, they’re extremely effective, so it was essentially a no-brainer.”
In championing African ingredients, Elba is in turn championing the people and industries that source them. “We both do a lot of philanthropic work with smallholder farmers in the agricultural sector. People don’t usually conflate skincare with agriculture. We don’t think and realize that people need to farm the ingredients that we’re putting on our face. So when we say we highlight our hero African ingredients, we’re really highlighting hero African people.”
The process hasn’t been easy. Elba had to send her mum, Maryam, to Somalia to help with the sourcing of qasil, which comes from the gob tree and has been transformed into a natural brightening soap with antimicrobial properties, one of five products in S’able Labs’ initial lineup—Qasil Cleanser, Black Seed Toner, Baobab Moisturizer, Qasil Exfoliating Mask, and Rooibos Micellar Water. And while the products’ natural botanicals benefit melanated skin, the line is designed for all skin types and genders. “Idris has come so far in his skincare journey,” she says. “He was really simple, like most men are. Face wash is your body wash. But now he can tell you exactly what vitamin E does for the skin.”
It’s been an education for them both. S’able Labs was dreamt up during the pandemic, a time when the couple, like many others, made a conscious effort to prioritize wellness. “It really was a passion project; now I have a new lens when I look at skincare—even as a consumer,” says Elba. “But I’m still learning.”
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This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
