F.A.Q.
HOW DO YOU make your soaps?
My soaps are handmade from scratch, one small batch at a time. I craft the soaps using the cold process method which means no external heat is used. This way, the benefits of the natural ingredients are preserved for you as much as possible.
A great bar of soap is the result of carefully balancing different oils and butters to maximize the benefits for your skin. I add olive oil for moisturising and coconut oil for fluffy bubbles. Shea butter, avocado oil and cocoa butter add extra nourishing benefits for your skin. Next, I add natural botanical colorants: roots, clay or herbs. Finally, a blend of carefully chosen essential oils gives the soaps its invigorating scents.
After fabricating my soaps thay are left to cure for several weeks. Moisture evaporates and the soap will become slightly smaller, harder, longer lasting, and more mild. This curing process assures a high quality product.
Natural handmade soaps are a healthy treat you can give yourself every day. They are not just for cleansing, they play an important part in natural skin care. Your skin deserved to be regularly nourished by the best quality ingredients and their enriching nutrients.
A great bar of soap is the result of carefully balancing different oils and butters to maximize the benefits for your skin. I add olive oil for moisturising and coconut oil for fluffy bubbles. Shea butter, avocado oil and cocoa butter add extra nourishing benefits for your skin. Next, I add natural botanical colorants: roots, clay or herbs. Finally, a blend of carefully chosen essential oils gives the soaps its invigorating scents.
After fabricating my soaps thay are left to cure for several weeks. Moisture evaporates and the soap will become slightly smaller, harder, longer lasting, and more mild. This curing process assures a high quality product.
Natural handmade soaps are a healthy treat you can give yourself every day. They are not just for cleansing, they play an important part in natural skin care. Your skin deserved to be regularly nourished by the best quality ingredients and their enriching nutrients.
How to tell fake soap from real soap?
The vast majority of the products in store shelves don't say 'soap' on their labels. They might be called beauty bars, moisturizing bars, or body bars, but not soap. That's because these bars aren't actually soap and can't legally claim to be; they're detergents.
Soaps are made of materials found in nature. Detergents are synthetic-made from synthetic surfactants, petrochemicals and other cleaning agents. Some harmful ingredients that you will find in commercial soaps include: parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, triclosan, synthetic perfumes, artificial colorants.
Keep in mind, our skin is the body's largest organ and like a sponge, absorbs chemicals. And let’s not forget the effect of those toxins on our environment.
Do you really want to scrub those toxins all over your body when real soap feels so good?
Soaps are made of materials found in nature. Detergents are synthetic-made from synthetic surfactants, petrochemicals and other cleaning agents. Some harmful ingredients that you will find in commercial soaps include: parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, triclosan, synthetic perfumes, artificial colorants.
Keep in mind, our skin is the body's largest organ and like a sponge, absorbs chemicals. And let’s not forget the effect of those toxins on our environment.
Do you really want to scrub those toxins all over your body when real soap feels so good?
What is GLYCERINE?
Glycerin is a humectant. It absorbs water from the air and is a natural by-product of the saponification process. Natural soaps contain around 8% glycerine.
However, manufacturers of commercial soaps usually extract this highly prized component and use it to produce more expensive cosmetic products like body lotion. That’s why commercial soap has drying effect on skin.
By allowig the glycerin to remain unadulterated in the soap, it pulls the moisture deep down into the layers of your skin, thus providing moisture throughout the day.
However, manufacturers of commercial soaps usually extract this highly prized component and use it to produce more expensive cosmetic products like body lotion. That’s why commercial soap has drying effect on skin.
By allowig the glycerin to remain unadulterated in the soap, it pulls the moisture deep down into the layers of your skin, thus providing moisture throughout the day.
Ingredients
Skin care products are only as good as the ingredients used to create them.
I believe that nature has the best ingredients. That's why I use high quality, certified organic oils and butters, pure essential oils and natural colorants for my soaps. Lots of good stuff made from what the diversity of nature provides.
All soaps are vegan, cruelty free and without parabens, phosphates, silicones, sulfates or mineral oil.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding ingredients or if you have allergies and need advice on which soaps suit your skin and body best.
I believe that nature has the best ingredients. That's why I use high quality, certified organic oils and butters, pure essential oils and natural colorants for my soaps. Lots of good stuff made from what the diversity of nature provides.
All soaps are vegan, cruelty free and without parabens, phosphates, silicones, sulfates or mineral oil.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding ingredients or if you have allergies and need advice on which soaps suit your skin and body best.
PALM OIL CONTRoVERSY
As a soap ingredient, palm oil contributes to the hardness of soap and how long the bars last. It also adds to the soap’s lathering properties and enhances the bar’s ability to moisturize and be kind to skin. Overall, it’s a prime contributor to a high quality organic soap.
There is a lot of controversy around the use of palm oil. In Southeast Asia, the development of large-scale palm plantations has resulted in massive deforestation, destruction of animal habitat, and displacement of family farms and indigenous populations.
Some people decide to boycott palm oil completely. For my part, I have chosen to support the efforts of organic, fair-trade farms and, in doing so, be a part of building palm oil’s sustainable future. Supporting sustainable palm oil production helps assure that valuable tropical forests will not be cleared, biodiversity is preserved, green space that cleans our air is protected, and fare trade economic opportunities for poor communities and countries are provided.
The palm oil I use for my soaps carries organic, sustainable certification. It is not produced on land that has been taken from the Rain Forests, nor are there any Orang-Utangs made homeless. My supplier uses 'ethical' methods in their production and is member of the RSPO (Round Table for Sustainable Production of Palm Oil).
I also apply this stardard to my other suppliers of tropical oils and butters to insure that all crops, not only palm oil, are grown in a manner that supports sustainability of our native forests and protects indigenous peoples, wildlife and biodiversity.
If you prefer to use palmfree soaps just enter "palmfree" into the search field and you can see which of my soaps are made without palm oil.
There is a lot of controversy around the use of palm oil. In Southeast Asia, the development of large-scale palm plantations has resulted in massive deforestation, destruction of animal habitat, and displacement of family farms and indigenous populations.
Some people decide to boycott palm oil completely. For my part, I have chosen to support the efforts of organic, fair-trade farms and, in doing so, be a part of building palm oil’s sustainable future. Supporting sustainable palm oil production helps assure that valuable tropical forests will not be cleared, biodiversity is preserved, green space that cleans our air is protected, and fare trade economic opportunities for poor communities and countries are provided.
The palm oil I use for my soaps carries organic, sustainable certification. It is not produced on land that has been taken from the Rain Forests, nor are there any Orang-Utangs made homeless. My supplier uses 'ethical' methods in their production and is member of the RSPO (Round Table for Sustainable Production of Palm Oil).
I also apply this stardard to my other suppliers of tropical oils and butters to insure that all crops, not only palm oil, are grown in a manner that supports sustainability of our native forests and protects indigenous peoples, wildlife and biodiversity.
If you prefer to use palmfree soaps just enter "palmfree" into the search field and you can see which of my soaps are made without palm oil.
How to use and store the soaps
Natural soaps need to breathe. Exposure to air promotes hardening of your soap and contributes to longer-lasting quality. Soap should be left unwrapped or wrapped with breathable materials in a dark, cool place. Some people like to store them between their linens or clothes to give them their lovely scent.
To maximize the life of your soap, keep it in a well-drained soap dish so it can dry between uses. Use your fresh new soap within 6 months of purchase.
For me personally, one soap last about 2 months - either for showering or as shampoo.
To maximize the life of your soap, keep it in a well-drained soap dish so it can dry between uses. Use your fresh new soap within 6 months of purchase.
For me personally, one soap last about 2 months - either for showering or as shampoo.
HOW TO USE Shampoo soap Bars?
To use your shampoo soap bar, wet your hair thoroughly, then gently rub the bar directly onto your hair, from hairline to crown.
Make sure your soap foams well and you get a good amount of bubbles. To prevent tangles don't pile your hair on your head and use your fingers like a comb not a mixer.
Like all soap products, keep out of eyes. Rinse well! When rinsing, you may notice that your hair has a different feel than after using commercial shampoos which is good because it means your hair is healthy and free from chemicals.
Are you new to shampoo bars?
Some people enounter a certain transition phase when switching from commercial shampoos to natural shampoo bars. Your hair may feel different during this period. The transition is due to synthetic silicones from commercial products that left residues in your hair and it will take a few washes until they are gone.
In general, most people using natural shampoo bars find they can wait a longer period of time between washes, their hair has more body, and is more manageable.
Hard vs. soft water
The shampoo bar works best if you have soft water. If you have hard water, the molecules in the soap tend to "grab" the minerals in the hard water and leave residues in your hair. Hard water can also dry your skin and make it feel itchy. In my case an "ionic filter" shower head helped to solve the problem. It cost me only 15€ and made all the difference for my hair and skin.
Hair conditioner
Many people with long hair recommend rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar (ACV) after using the shampoo bar. The ACV is like a hair conditioner - it helps with pH balance, de-tangles, and makes your hair more soft and shiny.
Simply mix 2-4 tablespoons of ACV into a bottle with 1/2 liter of water and pour it over your hair after washing. You can leave it in and towel dry your hair or do a quick rinse if you like. The smell goes away as your hair dries. Instead of ACV you can also use fresh lemon juice.
Make sure your soap foams well and you get a good amount of bubbles. To prevent tangles don't pile your hair on your head and use your fingers like a comb not a mixer.
Like all soap products, keep out of eyes. Rinse well! When rinsing, you may notice that your hair has a different feel than after using commercial shampoos which is good because it means your hair is healthy and free from chemicals.
Are you new to shampoo bars?
Some people enounter a certain transition phase when switching from commercial shampoos to natural shampoo bars. Your hair may feel different during this period. The transition is due to synthetic silicones from commercial products that left residues in your hair and it will take a few washes until they are gone.
In general, most people using natural shampoo bars find they can wait a longer period of time between washes, their hair has more body, and is more manageable.
Hard vs. soft water
The shampoo bar works best if you have soft water. If you have hard water, the molecules in the soap tend to "grab" the minerals in the hard water and leave residues in your hair. Hard water can also dry your skin and make it feel itchy. In my case an "ionic filter" shower head helped to solve the problem. It cost me only 15€ and made all the difference for my hair and skin.
Hair conditioner
Many people with long hair recommend rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar (ACV) after using the shampoo bar. The ACV is like a hair conditioner - it helps with pH balance, de-tangles, and makes your hair more soft and shiny.
Simply mix 2-4 tablespoons of ACV into a bottle with 1/2 liter of water and pour it over your hair after washing. You can leave it in and towel dry your hair or do a quick rinse if you like. The smell goes away as your hair dries. Instead of ACV you can also use fresh lemon juice.
Shampoo soap vs. regular soap bars
The main difference is the composition and balance of the oils used. For example, I add more coconut oil to shampoo bars because it creates a gentle and cleansing shampoo.
In addition, for the shampoo soaps the percentage of superfat is lower. What's the meaning of "superfat"?
When making soap, all oils used are turned into soap and glycerin due to the saponification process. Superfat means that I add addtional oils to the recipe so that some raw oil remains in the finished product and adds extra nourishing and skin care properties to the soap.
For shampoo bars this superfat percentage is lower to avoid that oil residues remain in your hair. In short, they are less moisturizing than regular soap bars.
That said, everyone's hair and skin is different so you have to try what works best for you. Some people with very dry hair actually like using regular soap bars to moisturize it better. If you have short hair, it's likely you can use regular soap bars for both hair and body wash.
In addition, for the shampoo soaps the percentage of superfat is lower. What's the meaning of "superfat"?
When making soap, all oils used are turned into soap and glycerin due to the saponification process. Superfat means that I add addtional oils to the recipe so that some raw oil remains in the finished product and adds extra nourishing and skin care properties to the soap.
For shampoo bars this superfat percentage is lower to avoid that oil residues remain in your hair. In short, they are less moisturizing than regular soap bars.
That said, everyone's hair and skin is different so you have to try what works best for you. Some people with very dry hair actually like using regular soap bars to moisturize it better. If you have short hair, it's likely you can use regular soap bars for both hair and body wash.
SOAP WEIGHT
My soaps are hand poured into molds and then cut by hand into individual soap bars. This means every bar of soap you receive is different and unique.
Before a soap is ready for packaging it also needs to cure for several weeks on the shelf. During this time some of the water in the soap evaporates, changing the weight of the soap.
With handmade soaps it's almost impossible to aim for an exact weight. Using experience and working with a soap cutter helps but the weight can always vary a little. Sometimes you may get a bit more, sometimes a bit less.
Before a soap is ready for packaging it also needs to cure for several weeks on the shelf. During this time some of the water in the soap evaporates, changing the weight of the soap.
With handmade soaps it's almost impossible to aim for an exact weight. Using experience and working with a soap cutter helps but the weight can always vary a little. Sometimes you may get a bit more, sometimes a bit less.