Switch to a Simple Bar of Handmade Soap (no palm oil)

Do you know what’s a scandal? Our closest cousins (orangutans) are in danger of going extinct. And no only does the palm oil industry sell cheap saturated oil to put in junk food, but every single chemist and supermarket sells bar soaps made with it (labelled as ‘sodium palmate’).

To find soap that’s free from palm oil, you nearly always have to visit a health shop (some also sell palm oil soaps) or shop online.

Greenpeace says the term’ sustainable palm oil’ is as useful as a chocolate teapot. It’s just a self-policed term used by industry, to greenwash the public. The only term to trust would be ‘certified organic’. But there is not enough land on earth to do this, with consumption rates.

Some plantations carrying the ‘Round Table on Responsible Palm Oil’ logo’ have been found to have burned forests to the ground, with orangutans and their babies inside them (some orangutan mothers have even been shot and burned, while trying to protect their babies).

Suma Palm-Oil-Free Vegan Soaps

Alter/native by Suma Soap Bars are made with natural ingredients, then packed in recycled paper. Containing olive and coconut oils, with shea butter and essential oils. Ideal to soothe sensitive and dry skin.

Choose unscented soaps for pregnancy/nursing and babies. Avoid shea butter for latex allergies. Don’t use ‘human’ soap on pets (due to different PH and ingredients – read more on giving dogs baths. 

SUMA is run by its workers as a co-operative. That means your money supports fair pay, strong working conditions and a business owned by its staff.

Why Choose Handmade Soaps?

Most soaps in shops are no longer handmade. Old soaps used to use animal fat (sodium tallowate) but today most use palm oil, but the moisturising glycerine is removed, which is why soap dries your skin.

Those fruity translucent soaps are just glycerine, so won’t dry your skin, but won’t clean it either.

Proper handmade soap retains the moisturising glycerine, try using it for a month with nothing else, and notice the difference. The bars are made with caustic soda (lye) so don’t try this at home! But once ‘cured’, they are very gentle on skin, especially olive oil soap, which takes six weeks to be ready for sale.

Real handmade soap (which retains glycerine, instead of selling it to industry) won’t dry your skin. Try using it and nothing else for a month, and see what happens!

Storing Handmade Soap (to avoid going mushy!)

The only caveat is that due to being more moisturising, they can go squishy, so store bars away from water or on a slatted soap dish, to help them last longer. You can also buy shower soaps with integrated ropes, so gravity drains away the water, to keep them dry.

This soap saver pad only costs a few pounds. In four colours, they can be cut to size. They let air circulate, and if they get clogged with soap, you can just give them a wash (even pop them in the dishwasher) to use again.

Suma’s travel soap tin is ideal for when you’re on the go.

This Reborn soap dish is made in Wiltshire, from recycled plastic. It also has air ridges, to let the soap bar dry out faster.

Friendly Soaps (no palm oil, made in Hebden Bridge)

Friendly Soaps are all vegan and free from palm oil, and widely sold at markets and in health shops. Or buy online in packs of 12, to save on postage. You can even buy bags of ‘soap scraps’ from leftovers, to save money.

This company also offers specialty soaps like minty foot soaps, chef soap (to remove garlic smells) and even an exfoliating soap for mucky mechanics!  Plus unscented versions for babies/pregnancy/nursing/allergies.

Coraline Soaps (for very dry and sensitive skin)

Coraline Soaps (also sold at Blomma Beauty (use code englandnaturally for 10% discount) was created by the parents of a baby with Down Syndrome, who could not tolerate ‘sensitive skin’ soaps. The chamomile soap has anti-inflammatory ingredients to relieve dry itchy skin.

For 3 months and up only. Check for nut allergies.

Skin experts often recommend Coraline Soaps for people with sensitive skin. Their formulas are tested to make sure they’re safe and kind. Learn how to help people with eczema.

One woman went to a dermatologist for her ‘incurable itchy skin’ even though she was using the brand leading soap. After he couldn’t help, she popped to the health shop and bought a cheap bar of Oliva soap (just olive oil, salt and water). Her skin began to heal in an hour.