Why I Believe Handmade Soap Is Better for Your Skin

I believe handmade soap is better for your skin, says the small business owner who makes soap!

When I first began making soap, I was working regularly in our Tattoo Studio and I became curious about the ingredients in the aftercare cream we were buying in, which grew into a simple desire, to care for my skin in a more honest, natural way. Over time, this passion grew into Wild by Nature, and my belief only strengthened that handmade soap really is kinder to your skin than most of what you’ll find on supermarket shelves.

One of the biggest differences is the ingredients. Handmade soaps are crafted from nourishing oils, butters, and natural clays, rather than synthetic detergents or artificial foaming agents. I choose ingredients like olive oil, tallow, shea and grapeseed & hemp oil because they’re gentle, effective, and full of natural benefits. They cleanse without stripping your skin of its natural oils, and they leave your skin, which is our biggest organ, feeling comfortable, tight or dry.

Another hero in handmade soap is glycerin, which forms naturally during the cold process method. Glycerin helps your skin retain moisture, and it's often removed from commercial soaps to be sold separately. Keeping it in the bar means your skin gets the all the nourishment it deserves.

Scent is also something I take great care with. Rather than using synthetic fragrance oils, I scent my soaps only with essential oils such as lavender, peppermint oil etc. These not only smell beautiful in a more natural way, but they can also bring gentle benefits for your mood and wellbeing. Essential Oils are derived directly from plants, but nothing is perfect for everyone and it is worth pointing out that essential oils aren't always suitable for everyone.

Fragranced Oils can contain dozens of chemical components some of which are natural but mostly synthetic. There has also been links to skin irritation especially for people with sensitive skin. There are also a few that use components like phthalates (to help hold the scent for longer) that have been linked to hormone disruption. Certain fragrances can contribute to air and water pollution, as some don't break down easily after washing off. People with scent sensitivities can also find fragrance oils overpowering or triggering, essential oils can have this effect too, but fragrances oils tend to be stronger. They are not all bad either, so Its worth reading the labels and finding out more about the ingredients in your products. 

And then there’s the way handmade soap is made. Each bar  I make is poured, cut, and cured by hand. There’s a quiet joy in knowing exactly what’s gone into something you’re putting on your skin every day. There are no big factories, no shortcuts, just real ingredients made by time-honoured traditional methods.

I also think it matters how we treat the world around us. That’s why I will not use palm oil, and I know it is now possible to source sustainably produced palm oil but I prefer to stay away from palm oil wherever I can. I source my ingredients carefully, aiming for ethical, sustainable options wherever possible. The packaging is simple always recyclable or compostable and I will often reuse packaging from other small businesses for posting.

For me, handmade soap is more than just a product. It’s a way of looking after ourselves in a gentler, simpler way.

If you’ve never tried handmade soap before, I hope you will. And if you ever have questions about what goes into my bars or how they’re made, just ask. I’m always happy to chat.

Stay wild :)
Gabbie
Wild by Nature