Alter/native Soaps by SUMA (sold in health shops)

Alter/native by Suma is a brand of soaps from a wholefood collective set up in the 70s, owned by its 200-strong workforce (there are no bosses or shareholders) in Yorkshire. It’s also widely involved in tree-planting projects in Upper Calder Valley.

These are mostly based on coconut and olive oil (to avoid palm oil) and sold in paper packaging. Inspired by the natural power of plants, everything is vegan and not tested on animals. Made in Yorkshire.

Real handmade soap does not dry your skin out. These soaps are all vegan (no sodium tallowate – beef fat) or sodium palmate (palm oil) to help protect orangutans and other endangered species.

Choose unscented soaps for pregnancy/nursing. Avoid shea butter for latex allergies. Note that cocoa butter contains the same toxin as chocolate, so wash off before letting pets kiss you. And never use human soaps on pets (the PH is different – read more on how to give dogs baths, naturally).

Don’t bar soaps dry skin out?

You’ve been reading silly beauty magazines! Real soap (made with caustic soda – don’t try this at home!) is then ‘cured’ for weeks. Which results in ‘proper soap’ to clean your skin, but retains the moisturising glycerine.

Most commercial soaps (which nearly all contain palm oil, contributing to deforestation of habitats for endangered orangutans) takes out the moisturising glycerine, and sells it to industry.

Or uses it to make fruity ‘transparent glycerine’ soaps for extra profits. Which don’t dry skin out, but won’t clean it either (because they are not soaps!

So seek out proper handmade soaps to find pure bars that both clean and moisturise your skin. Try using one on your face and nothing else for a month. And notice the difference!