#5: Aromatherapy

There are two ways to scent a handmade soap – naturally with essential oils, or synthetically with fragrance oil. Very few store-bought soaps are scented with essential oils. Natural essential oils have various properties that can affect your mood and can truly be therapeutic. Lavender, for example, is universally known for its calming effect. I blended mint and eucalyptus essential oils for a Stress Relief soap. Customers say it actually works!

“I absolutely love the Stress Relief soap because it really does help relieve the stress in your life. The smell is so refreshing. I love all your soaps, but this is my favorite.”
-Tracie C., Olathe, KS

#4: Serves multiple purposes

Cleans your skin AND:
Removes odors (Coffee soap)
Naturally repels mosquitoes and other bugs (Bug Off soap)
Controls oily patches (Clarifying Facial soap)
Dries up poison ivy or poison oak (Old-Fashioned Lye soap)

#3: It doesn’t irritate sensitive skin

Let’s face it. Skin allergies are prevalent. My older daughter fights excema on the backs of her knees and the insides of her elbows every winter. I visit with lots of people at the local farmer’s market. Many of them tell me they have sensitive skin and can’t use regular soap. I always advise them to start with the Creamy Castile soap – a fragrance free, pure olive oil and goat’s milk soap. The fewer the ingredients, the less likely to have a reaction.

“I have the most super-sensitive skin, which is now dry. Almost all soaps and creams break out my skin, even after using them only once. Over my lifetime, I have probably tried over a 100 products that irritate, break out my skin and clog my pores. I have been using Great Cakes Soapworks soaps for several years now. I can’t live without the Creamy Castile Soap. I use it for my facial soap and use the scented bars in the bath.” – Nancy H., Lenexa, Kansas

#2: It moisturizes your skin

Store-bought soaps tend to be drying. I used to have such itchy, dry skin before I switched to handmade soap. I couldn’t believe how soft and moisturized my skin felt after showering with handmade soap! Why is that? Well, the simple answer is the glycerin that is found in handmade soap. Glycerin is a humectant, which is a substance that helps your skin retain moisture.

“I have struggled with extremely dry skin all my life. I felt like I had tried everything under the sun from home remedies to the advice of dermatologists as well as a couple of allergy specialists. I believed I’d spend the rest of my life with giant claw marks on my legs and arms because I would scratch in my sleep. Now that I’ve started using your handmade soaps, I no longer fight dry skin!”
– Sheila D., Lenexa, Kansas

#1: To avoid the chemical-laden cleansers

Shower gels are the worst for packing in the artificial foaming agents and other nasty ingredients. It’s not even soap! Check the labels. The following common ingredients may irritate your skin: sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, Cocamide Dea, DMDM Hydantoin, and many others. Check the Skin Deep database to find out whether the ingredients in your current cleanser could possibly be irritating or even toxic.

I’ve been exploring some information about what substances actually penetrate our skin – both the good and the bad. You can find out how I started on this journey by reading my ponderings about how much the skin absorbs and the comments I’ve received. This topic will continue to be explored, and I’m anxious to hear your feedback on the subject!