With so many all-natural soap and skin-care options, it’s easy to skip the harsh detergents, chemicals (and yes, even animal fat), and lather up with skin-friendly suds.
Soaps made with food-grade ingredients like coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and Japanese beauty secret – rice-bran oil – all do double-duty to cleanse and moisturize. There are also luxe artisanal soaps made with clay and activated charcoal that can draw out impurities and toxins along with coffee grounds, nuts and seeds to exfoliate, plus herbs and essential oils that can add that spa-like scent.
“Compared to traditional drugstore brands, natural soaps last longer, feel better on skin and send your nose into olfactory heaven,” says Carly Pereira of local skin-care company Purple Urchin. “Natural soap is all about enjoying the experience – not just getting clean!”
Oresta Korbutiak, owner of Oresta Organic Skin Care Confectionery, says that although we love the feeling of suds, some can strip our skin of essential moisture. The skin-care expert prefers oil cleansers that can work for all skin types. “Oil draws unwanted oil and dirt, and removes makeup (including waterproof mascara) without leaving a greasy residue.”
