of handmade soaps

Why Use Natural Handmade Soap?

The benefits of using handmade soap are many: simpler ingredients, fewer chemicals, natural vegetable oils instead of animal fats. All these things are important to many people today. The reasons to use a more natural, handmade product are not always obvious, however. Read on to learn more.

We live in a day and age where the technological advances are many. Cell phones, microwave breakfast, instant pototoes, digital TV, radios the size of a credit card.... Many of these advances are there to make our lives easier. However, when it comes to skin care and the ingredients you put on your skin, technology is probably not what you had in mind!

Why is Handmade Natural Soap so special?

Natural soaps are made in a time-honored fashion. It involves a very simple chemical reaction between oils (or fats) and lye (sodium hydroxide for bars). All soap is made with lye, but there is no lye in the finished product. The chemical reaction converts the lye/fat mixture to glycerin. The glycerin is a natural by-product and, as such, the relationship between the soap molecule and the glycerin means you have a cleanser with abundant, luxurious lather that cleans like nothing else. As a bonus, it does not strip your skin of its natural, protective oils.

Commercially made soap usually contains detergents, fillers, chemicals, petroleum, high animal fat content (read: sodium tallowate) and irritants like SLS or SLES (read our other articles about sulfates!). Commercially made soap tends to be less eco-friendly as well. While commercially manufactured soap usually costs less, the impact on your skin and the environment is shocking.

Natural handmade soaps are made with natural oils, have a high glycerin content, are better for the environment with no detergents, phosphates or sulfates, and are never tested on animals.

What is Natural Soap made of?

At Nee Nee's Soap Shop, we use all-natural vegetable oils in our soaps. Each oil is carefully chosen for its cleansing properties in soap. Soybean and Coconut oils are the only oils we use. Our soybean oil is partially hydrogenated, vegan and as natural as we could find for cosmetic use. Shea butter adds essential moisturizing properties to the soaps we make, aiding in keeping your skin soft and supple. Goat's Milk (read our articles here about that, too!) is also a natural, skin-friendly moisturizer that helps your skin maintain its pH balance, thus making your skin more healthy and better protected. Essential and fragrance oils contribute each soap's unique scent; natural spices/herbs, oatmeal, and/or flower buds and plant leaves contribute texture. We use NO colorants or unnatural dyes in our soaps. What you see is what you get!

Why is Glycerin Important?

Glycerin is a humectant. It attracts moisture and gives it back to your skin. In natural and handmade soap making processes, one molecule of glycerin is created for every three molecules of soap. Commercial soap makers often remove the glycerin from their soap and then sell it to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. With our natural soaps, however, all of the naturally occurring glycerin remains intact along with all its skin-nourishing benefits.

When and how did soap-making begin?

Until about a century ago, all soap was made from animal fats, and much of it was made at home. Families would save the lard from butchering animals to make soap. Lye was made from the ashes from the fireplace or pit. However, in 1916, the first synthetic soap (detergent) was made. This occurred because of a shortage of animal fats, or tallow, during World War I. From that point on, synthetic soaps became popular with women eager to free themselves from yet another exhausting household chore.

Today, however, we not only understand the process of natural soap making better, there are a wide variety of natural oils and ingredients available. Making handmade natural soap has never been easier, and you don't have to use animal fats to do it. This is great news for vegetarians, vegans and those just wanting a more natural alternative to the "detergent" we us on our hair, our skin and in the sink!

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Maui Tropical Soaps Clearly Hawaiian Glycerin Soap Coconut Mango, 5-Ounce (Pack of 3) List Price: $20.97 Sale Price: $11.95 You save: $9.02 (43%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Clearly hawaii is no ka ‘oi (the best) because we make them completely from scratch using only people and earth friendly ingredients; the results speak for themselves. clearly hawaii soaps pamper your skin while they sooth your soul with their extra rich, creamy lather and luscious tropical fragrances. truly from scratch.... maui tropical soaps is one of only a handful of companies in the entire world that make glycerin soap completely from scratch. making from scratch gives us a level of quality and control that others just can't match, and it’s why our soaps look and feel better than any other glycerin soap in the world! Features They gently lift dirt from your skin leaving you refreshed, moisturized, and smelling great for hours. Nothing says Hawaii like Coconut Mango fragrance We use earth friendly ingredients that speak for themselves

Provence Lavender / Jasmine Grandiflorum with Sea and Rose Clay Soap(Face and Body) Sale Price: $9.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Rich lather, bits of lavender flowers and the relaxing scent of lavender and jasmine in this beautiful lavender oil used in our soap is imported from the Haute Province of southern France, wild lavenders original home. Every skin type benefits from lavender oil, but it is particularly good for dry skin. With the addition of mango butter and avocado oil, it makes this soap extra creamy with lots of natural moisture. Jasmine grandiflorum flowers grown in India - also known as 'Royal' Jasmine. This is an exceptionally fine example of the classic Jasmine aroma. Jasmine is a component of most of the world's fine perfumes for a good reason. French rose-pink clay and sea clay are added to absorb dirt oil and toxins from the skin while it cleanses and tones for soft and radiant skin. Unlike other clays, French rose-pink clay and sea clay are mild enough to be use every day without drying out your skin. Features Our Natural soaps are crafted using natural herbs, spices & clays and are scented with 100% pure essential oils. These completely natural soaps contain no artificial colors or fragrances All of our soaps are made in small batches to ensure the quality of each batch. We hand stir, hand cut and hand wrap every bar. We even make our own wrapper. Every bar is given a long cure period so that when it reaches you it is mild and ready to use.. We hand-make many different varieties of soap. We use ingredients such as almond and hazel nut oils, brazil nut oil, tee tree oil, copaiba oil, avocado oil, and palm oil all from the Amazon Rain Forest .

Maui Tropical Soaps Traditional Hawaiin Soap 3 Bar Gift Set On Monkey Pod Tray, 20-Ounce List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $12.59 You save: $7.40 (37%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Maui tropical soaps' traditional line is the connoisseur choice, and is a product of evolution, not revolution. each bar is made with only the finest raw ingredients; loaded with essential fatty acids for healthy radiant skin and exotic oils to lift your spirit. some of our soaps even contain flowers that were grown on maui. absolutely everything is made with our own hands. these soaps are the richest, creamiest, most decadent soaps available, bar none. beautiful soaps need a beautiful presentation, and we've even given you two options: a stylish band-wrap, or an elegant presentation box. the look is reminiscent of old hawaiian woodblock prints and 40's vintage aloha clothing, but with a clean, modern twist that we call nuvo-hawaiiana. either way, you'll add a touch of hawaiian class to your bath. Features This set contains an assortment of 3 of our most popular fragrances, and they come dressed on a beautiful wooden tray. This is a great gift for someone you care about, and also makes a wonderful affordable luxury when you deserve a little treat. Enjoy! We use earth friendly ingredients that speak for themselves

Maui Tropical Soaps Hawaiian Guest Soap Gardenia, 1.5-Ounce (Pack of 4) List Price: $11.96 Sale Price: $8.16 You save: $3.80 (32%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Maui tropical soaps' traditional line is the connoisseur choice, and is a product of evolution, not revolution. each bar is made with only the finest raw ingredients; loaded with essential fatty acids for healthy radiant skin and exotic oils to lift your spirit. some of our soaps even contain flowers that were grown on maui. absolutely everything is made with our own hands. these soaps are the richest, creamiest, most decadent soaps available, bar none. beautiful soaps need a beautiful presentation, and we've even given you two options: a stylish band-wrap, or an elegant presentation box. the look is reminiscent of old hawaiian woodblock prints and 40's vintage aloha clothing, but with a clean, modern twist that we call nuvo-hawaiiana. either way, you'll add a touch of hawaiian class to your bath. Features These soaps have tropical oils renowned for healing and moisturizing. No more razor burn, this soap is the best for shaving We use earth friendly ingredients that speak for themselves

Handmade Florida Citrus Sunshine with Mango Butter Soap Sale Price: $9.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description This blend of Floridas grapefruit , Valencia oranges and lemon essential oils most noted for their delicious juices are the ultimate cure to ease the strains and stresses of the day. Our citrus essential oil smells like a fresh sliced lemon, orange and grapefruit. Lemon is thought to help with concentration and to reduce cellulite when used in body oils and scrubs. This highly astringent oil helps oily skin and hair. With the addition of mango butter ,avocado , palm and coconut oil you will feel like your bathing on the shores of South beach. Features Our old-fashioned handcrafted natural soaps are created in small batches using a variety of natural oils, butters & botanicals from the U.S to the Rain Forest of Brazil, the hills of Italy , the Provencal countryside of France to ancient Egypt These ingredients are carefully chosen for their many benefits. Moisturizing, cleansing, & soothing just to name a few. Our Natural soaps are crafted using natural herbs, spices & clays and are scented with 100% pure essential oils. These completely natural soaps contain no artificial colors or fragrances

Maui Tropical Soaps Clearly Hawaiian Glycerin Soap Rain Forest, 5-Ounce (Pack of 3) List Price: $20.97 Sale Price: $11.03 You save: $9.94 (47%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Clearly hawaii is no ka ‘oi (the best) because we make them completely from scratch using only people and earth friendly ingredients; the results speak for themselves. clearly hawaii soaps pamper your skin while they sooth your soul with their extra rich, creamy lather and luscious tropical fragrances. truly from scratch.... maui tropical soaps is one of only a handful of companies in the entire world that make glycerin soap completely from scratch. making from scratch gives us a level of quality and control that others just can't match, and it’s why our soaps look and feel better than any other glycerin soap in the world! Features They gently lift dirt from your skin leaving you refreshed, moisturized, and smelling great for hours. Made completely by hand and from scratch We use earth friendly ingredients that speak for themselves

Primal Elements White Cat 6.3 Oz. Handmade Glycerin Bar Soap Sale Price: $6.05   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description The colors and shapes of Primal Elements soaps coordinate with unique scents for a beautifully fragrant presentation; all soaps contain vegetable glycerin, which moisturizes the skin with a luxurious lather that rinses cleanly away. Primal Elements soaps are made by hand using pure essential oils or popular fragrance oils. Made in the USA. Features Our furry feline plays in a bar of fresh berries intertwined with soft flowers and a warm mossy finish. Take a relaxing vacation in your home with these great soaps. Primal Elements bath and body products are made with the highest quality ingredients. Primal Elements soaps are handmade in the USA. Primal Elements products are cruelty free.

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Egyptian Geranium with French Rose Clay- Cocoa Butter and Crushed Flowers Soap Sale Price: $9.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Our Geranium soap with French rose clay, cleans and balances the complexion by removing excess oils without drying your skin. French rose clay is good for those with either oily skin or dry congested skin.. The natural fragrance comes from the essential oil of Egyptian rose geranium, sweet, heavy aroma, sophisticated, fresh floral somewhat like rose with a minty overtone. Pelargonium graveolens, the rose-scented geranium, belongs to the same plant genus as the popular red-flowered window box geranium. Geraniums are native to arid areas of South Africa's Cape Province. The plant is highly drought resistant, thanks to its semi-succulent, water-conserving stems and leaves. Popular during the Victorian era, rose geranium was often kept potted in parlors were a fresh sprig was always available to revive the senses. The fresh leaves were also offered in finger bowls at formal dining tables. Today, geranium is an indispensable aromatherapy oil. It's one of the best skincare oils, offering relief from congested, oily and dry skin. On an emotional level, geranium promotes stability and balance. Our products never contain synthetic fragrance oils. Created with French rose clay to absorb dirt oil and toxins from the skin while it cleanses and tones for soft and radiant skin. Unlike other clays, French rose clay is mild enough to be use every day without drying out your skin . With a olive , palm, and coconut oil base and cocoa butter added for richness, it makes this soap a wonderful soap with amazing lather and scent. Finally we fold in crushed flowers to make the soap a real mild natural exfoliant. Features Our old-fashioned handcrafted natural soaps are created in small batches using a variety of natural oils, butters & botanicals Our Natural soaps are crafted using natural herbs, spices & clays and are scented with 100% pure essential oils. These completely natural soaps contain no artificial colors or fragrances All of our soaps are made in small batches to ensure the quality of each batch. We hand stir, hand cut and hand wrap every bar. We even make our own wrapper. Every bar is given a long cure period so that when it reaches you it is mild and ready to use.. We hand-make many different varieties of soap. We use ingredients such as almond and hazel nut oils, brazil nut oil, tee tree oil, copaiba oil, avocado oil, and palm oil all from the Amazon Rain Forest .

Primal Elements Candy Cane 6.3 Oz. Handmade Glycerin Bar Soap Sale Price: $6.05   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description The colors and shapes of Primal Elements soaps coordinate with unique scents for a beautifully fragrant presentation; all soaps contain vegetable glycerin, which moisturizes the skin with a luxurious lather that rinses cleanly away. Primal Elements soaps are made by hand using pure essential oils or popular fragrance oils. Made in the USA. Features Peppermint and spearmint accented with the fresh ozonic notes blended with orange, tangerine lily, jasmine and musk. Take a relaxing vacation in your home with these great soaps. Primal Elements bath and body products are made with the highest quality ingredients. Primal Elements soaps are handmade in the USA. Primal Elements products are cruelty free.