Saabou / Black Owned Businesses | StyLynne

Saabou is a charming natural cosmetic shop in Ukkel (Bussels) run by the Senegalese Maya Diagne.

Her story began when she came to Belgium after first living in Ghana for 6 years.

In Belgium her skin started to break out in acne, at first she thought this would eventually pass but the acne kept tormenting her.

Trying to find solutions to this problem she first turns to cover them up with make-up but it is still visible.

After a friend comments on the condition of her skin she goes to Paris XL and buys several face creams and lotions but still no results.

The pharmacist tells her to go and visit a dermatologist, who gives her creams based on cortisone and other nonsense.

She start to notices the composition of the ingredients of these creams and is still not impressed by the results.

When consulting Google she starts reading different articles and testimonies and comes to the realization that she is not the only one experiencing this problem.

Using Google and reading books about slow cosmetics, she not only discovers that all of the creams she was using where hormone disruptors and bad for the skin but also how to make her own cosmetics.

She decides to continue her research to find a solution with 100% natural and preferably African ingredients.

She remembers that her own grandmother had flawless skin and she did as well when she was a child, because she used shea butter.

So she decided to make her products based on shea butter.

Continuing her research she went back to Ghana, to visit the women in the villages who make the shea butter.

She notices all these women have the skin of goddesses!

Thanks to these brave women and their advice Maya started to make her products based on shea butter, essential oils, hydrosols, exotic vegetable oils, etc.

That is how Saabou was born, starting in Maya’s own kitchen.

Maya has found a way to differentiate herself from any other cosmetics brand.

Today She has her own shop in Brussels, were she works with employees from different racial backgrounds.

The development of the Saabou Company is part of a responsible approach whose main characteristics are respect an preservation of the environment.

Therefore, at the heart of the project is the fusion between nature and humans.