Friendly Soap/ Review on natural Soap Bars

FRIENDLY SOAP

This company offer the most fantastic soaps which was founded in in West Yorkshire, back in the 1970s by Rob and Geoff – who til this very day support what they believe in which is their lifelong interest in radical political thought and social and environmental justice, rallying against the capitalist model and looking for fairer ways of doing things

“The two friends found work at the now legendary Suma Wholefoods Co-operative.

As well as a bunch of useful business skills, at Suma Rob and Geoff learnt that you really can run a successful enterprise where ethics come before profit. Inspired, aware, and more prepared than ever, they decided in 2008 that the time was right to do their own thing. Friendly Soap was born.

Nowadays, Rob and Geoff might have a grey hair or two and go to bed a bit earlier, but they still have the same passionately held values and convictions as they did growing up. It’s just that now they’ve got a thriving ethical business of their own to channel them through.”

THE ETHOS

The ethos is simple – putting ethics before profits (made by people paid a living wage) and natural ingredients instead of unnatural.

They’ve even earned a ‘Best’ rating with Ethical Consumer, so you can enjoy a spotlessly clean conscience and registered with The Vegan Society and Cruelty Free International.

INSIDE THE PRODUCTS

These products are:

Vegan
Cruelty-free
Gentle on skin
Natural
Biodegradable
Recycled and recyclable packaging.

FREE FROM

Plastic
Parabens
SLS phthalates
Triclosan.
Palm Oil

HOW ARE THEY MADE?

Ethically made using a cold-process method handed down through generations of makers which creates no by-products and relies on old fashioned elbow grease.

With every bar poured, cut and packed by hand, right in Yorkshire! The soap is biodegradable too, so it’s better for the planet even once you’ve used it.

I RECEIVED FOUR BARS TO REVIEW

I was gifted these amazing soaps to try and I love them – they come in card boxes, not a nasty plastic bottle! Yay!:

Detox Bar

Each Detox bar is handmade with Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Activated Charcoal Powder, Rosemary and Lime essential oils.

Detox by name detox by nature – designed to restore nature’s balance, this soap uses activated charcoal to absorb toxins, while rosemary and lime essential oils protect your skin’s health and lift your spirits.

The soap is made using activated charcoal that magically absorbs toxins from your skin, leaving it cleaner and healthier. They’ve added lime essential oil for its antiseptic, antiviral and antioxidant qualities (plus rosemary essential oil for that extra touch!)

Ingredients: Sodium olivate, Sodium cocoate, Aqua, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary ) essential oil contains limonene, Citrus aurantifolia (lime ) essential oil contains citral, limonene, Charcoal powder.

Shea Butter

Each Shea Butter bar is handmade with 1/3 shea butter, 1/3 coconut oil and 1/3 olive oil.

For soothing dry skin and eczema – with a lovely blend of fatty acids and antioxidants packed into this facial cleansing bar. With a third each of shea butter, coconut oil and olive oil, it’s a simple product that will keep your skin looking beautiful too.

Gentle, moisturising and containing vitamin A, it’s nature to the rescue, and perfect for your daily routine.

Ingredients: Butyrospermum parkii butter, Sodium olivate, Sodium cocoate, Aqua

Shampoo Bar

Relaxing lavender, coconut oil, castor oil, olive oil and rose geranium essential oils all handmade!

A nourishing shampoo bar is compact, long lasting, and uses caster oil for a creamy and deeply conditioning lather that cleans and cares for your locks and scalp.

Ingredients: Sodium cocoate, Sodium olivate, Sodium castorate, Aqua, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) essential oil contains linalool, limonene, geraniol, Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium) essential oil contains geraniol, citronella, linalool

Conditioner Bar

For these amazing conditioners they use a special blend of cocoa butter and castor oil! Also kind on little peoples heads.

They’ve used essential oils of Lavender and Rose Geranium to add calming and anti-bacterial to its long list of benefits.

Ingredients: Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Ricinus communis (Castor) oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender), essential oil contains linalool, limonene, geraniol, Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium), essential oil contains geraniol, citronella, linalool

WHAT IS SOAP?

Soap is the term for a salt of a fatty acid or for a variety of cleansing and lubricating products produced from such a substance. Household uses for soaps include washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping, where soaps act as surfactants, emulsifying oils to enable them to be carried away by water.

HOW IS A SHAMPOO BAR DIFFERENT FROM SOAP?

Soap based solid shampoo bars are made from all natural ingredients and essential oils. To make these shampoo bars, either a hot or cold soap-making process is used. The difference between these two methods involves the use of external heat, the time it takes to saponify, the curing time and the finish of the soap.

IS SOAP AS GOOD AS LIQUID?

Most bar soaps do contain glycerin which is very therapeutic for dry skin and other sensitivities like eczema and those with lower pH levels have absolutely no drying effects on skin, in this regard, both hand bar soaps and liquid hand soaps are equally safe when dealing with bacteria.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HAIR?

There is no blanket recommendation, everyone is different. For the average person, every other day, or every 2 to 3 days, without washing is generally fine.

If hair is visibly oily, scalp is itching, or there’s flaking due to dirt, those are signs it’s time to wash!

WORTH THE PRICE?

Definitely! Aside from the obvious ‘no plastic waste’ these bars go further than you think! The fact that they do last longer than you think means they’re even better value than you think too.

Once I’ve used them I’ll definitely buy my own!

A MUST BUY

These soap bars are fantastic – cruelty free, vegan and natural PLUS plastic free and better for the hair as not full of nasty chemicals!

I’ve been using these for the past couple of weeks and I love them! The reduction of plastic as a positive aside you also have the great stuff that’s inside the bars to wash your hair with, meaning, the lack of all the chemicals you’re doing your hair and body a favour.

My hair has been soft since using it although I like to use an extra conditioner alongside the shampoo and conditioner as I have alopecia I need the extra treatment, however, my children it’s been easy to use on them without anything extra.

They have a rich and velvety lather and the shampoo is super creamy. I love how they’re gentle as well as nourishing for my scalp (which is important to me as I have alopecia) but also gentle on hands and face.

Check out their sites! – Friendly Soap Website

Instagram andFacebook

For more eco posts go check out / 15 recommended Eco products for small switches in the home The Foresthog – go Eco Cleaning friendly! / Ecoco box | Five reasons to try Eco and Organic Beauty / 10 reasons why to use cloth pads / 7 tips on making them last! / B-Sensible – Eco Conscious, Waterproof Bedding! A Review / THXSILK – seven EPIC benefits of silk bedding! / Organic Lavender products for babies – by Green people! / Hape Toys exploring the world of Bamboo toys / KINN Living / Natural and organic products for you and your home / Review