We'll be honest. Making soap free from all synthetics that is kind for our skin wasn't the primary objective we started out with.
Contrary to most soap makers, the first and foremost reason why we started on our soap journey was to be able to stop buying body wash, hand wash and shampoo in plastic bottles that we throw out after 1-2 months of use.
KIND TO OUR PLANET
We wanted to reduce our personal contribution to the landfill, incinerators and methane in our environment to only what we cannot avoid. Our primary intention was to be kind to our planet and save a future for our children.
Hence all our soaps are sold naked. Less the tag, twine for handling and any postage packaging necessary to protect them on their journey to their owners.
During use, our natural handmade soaps do not discharge harmful substances into our rivers, streams, and other waterways. After the soaps are fully used up, almost nothing is left behind. No bottle to trash or recycle. No upstream use of petroleum to produce that bottle. Reuse or upcycle the twine, compost the tag. On to the next naked bar.
And you may be surprise how much longer lasting our bar of handmade soap can be vs. the regular bottle of hand / body wash.
KIND TO OUR SKIN
But as we journeyed along, we realize that the liquid wash that we had been using all our lives are actually synthetic detergent, not soap. And the reason commercial soaps are so affordable is because the "gem" from the soap making process - glycerin is removed from the soap and put into production of more highly priced cosmetic (e.g. lotions, lipsticks), pharmaceutical (e.g. heart medication, suppositories) and even food products (e.g. dairy products, confectionary).
A humectant, glycerin is a colourless and odourless liquid that attracts moisture from the air to the skin. It results from the saponification of oils with a strong alkali, the key ingredients in natural soap making. Such a priceless natural by-product from soap making, yet glycerin is extracted and replaced with synthetic equivalents for economic benefits.
Instead, synthetic ingredients such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are added as surfactants to make soap foam/bubble, improve lather and cleanse. Parabens (look for butylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben) are included as chemical preservatives to make the product last longer. Where it relates to moisturizing properties, some commercial soaps do not contain glycerin at all while others may have synthetic glycerin added back in during the manufacturing process.
This shocking discovery made us realise that our bigger goal towards protecting our beloved planet may have an even more immediate benefit to our family, friends and everyone around who can benefit from a simple bar of natural soap.
With 2 clear objectives in mind, every my naked bar soap is carefully handcrafted to be naked from packaging, and naked from synthetics. Just pure, simple goodness from nature.
OUR PHILOSOPHY: LESS IS MORE
my naked bars
naked from
- SLS, SLES
- Paraben
- Palm
- Preservatives
- Alcohol
- Synthetic fragrance
- Artificial colouring
- Cruelty
- Packaging
Vegan
Our bars may not be as pretty as many you see in the stores. The colours will not be as brilliant, there's no extra decorations e.g. dried flowers added so there's nothing to pick up after the showers, and no fancy soap art. But we are not apologetic.
Every ingredient in my.naked.bar is chosen for a specific reason - to be kind to the planet and/or the user, never with aesthetics as a primary intention. To cater to those who "need more from their soap through less in their soaps".
HANDCRAFTED IN SMALL BATCHES,
OR ON REQUEST.
my.naked.bar soaps are handcrafted in small batches or based on request. Type of soap bars released changes based on access to ingredients. To find out more about the soap you are holding, scan the QR code on the soap tag.
We've just set up our ETSY store so our soaps are now available online! Check out our soap collections and grab your soap bars during soap releases at my.naked.bar ETSY STORE.
Customisation of soap (e.g. we can totally remove essential oils if you prefer) is available on request for purchase of 10 bars or more. It is necessary for cold process soaps to be cured for average 4-6 weeks before they can be used or gifted. For any customisation, please send your request to mynakedbar@gmail.com at least 2 months in advance.