The market for eco-friendly soap is growing as people are becoming more aware of the impact of the chemicals that they put on their skin and use in their homes each day. But, since cleaning products and soap aren’t food, beverages, or drugs, they aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, the government only requires companies to list ‘chemicals of known concern’ on their labels.
The keyword here is ‘known’, but the government doesn’t test for other harmful chemicals. What’s more, they don’t require manufacturers to test them either. Because of that, the companies usually keep their other ingredients secret.
Sloan Barnett, the author of Green Goes with Everything, doesn’t give manufacturers the benefit of the doubt. “Call me suspicious, but I honestly don’t think it’s because the recipe is top secret,” she says. “If it was, there wouldn’t be so many competing products with identical ingredients.” Meaning Barnett thinks manufacturers don’t want to disclose how many possibly harmful chemicals to their potential customers.
Moreover, cosmetic manufacturers aren’t required to list the specific ingredients that are used to create their product’s scent. So that means the word “fragrance” is can be a hiding place for some toxic chemicals.
No regulation means no accountability
Environmental experts say the average household contains a surprising number of toxic chemicals. So we’re exposed to them routinely, from the phthalates in synthetic fragrances to the noxious fumes in oven cleaners. Even worse, more ingredients in common household products are being linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive disorders, hormone disruption, and neurotoxicity. As a result, these companies said its time for a change.
WILDLAND ORGANICS
HIGH VIBE, LOW MAINTENANCE LIVING
Wildland is committed to helping you live a lighter, more sustainable life. They have a foundation of conscious self-care and environmental stewardship.
Made in beautiful California, their attention to detail is top notch. Also, they seem to have everything covered, and they provide tons of details on their website.
THE TRAVELER
Experience just some of what Wildland has to offer while on the go with this thoughtful kit of multi-use, travel-friendly essentials.
Included in this collection is The Super Bar, Ritual Oil, “Magic Dust” Dry Shampoo, Matcha Clarifying Rinse, and an Artisanal Hemp Washcloth
The Super Bar is an all-in-one solution for hair, body, & shave that truly “gets the stink out” while offering a rich, moisturizing experience.
It is completely biodegradable, made of all-natural and organic ingredients. Also, the packaging is made from post-consumer recycled paper and is itself 100% recyclable.
The rinse is used to cleanse and renew stressed tresses and scalp.
Also, this nourishing elixir designed to smooth hair cuticles, remove product residue, and soothe the scalp.
The oil, formulated primarily as a beauty oil to combat fine lines and reduce redness. Organic Baobab, Camellia & Argan work triple time as a quick-absorbing facial treatment, hair serum, & cuticle oil all in one.
The Traveler sets are also a great way to try out the Wildland Experience for yourself for the first time. Also, they make for the perfect gift for the essentialist or minimalist in your life.
Wildland is doing what they love, and it shows
Wildland is an active member of 1% For The Planet – donating 1% of sales (not profits) to the preservation of American wildlands. Their commitment to zero waste offerings & local refill locations. Finally, they have a deep commitment to using only responsibly sourced, sustainable ingredients.
See more of Wildland the Traveler
Bathing Culture
At Bathing Culture, they celebrate the simple necessity of bathing. After long days at their office jobs in downtown San Francisco, California, they needed to escaping into nature to recharge.
Racing the sunset across the Golden Gate Bridge on bikes, into the rambling trails of the Marin Headlands was a common day for them. Streaked with mud and sweat, they would joke that they never be able to get clean.
As they surfed and climbed, soaked and sweated, the running dirty joke became an obsession. Returning home from the epic adventures, they found that run-of-the-mill body wash couldn’t hold up. Even worse, it stripped skin of its moisture, was full of toxic synthetics, and smelled bad, or was watery and weak.
Consequently, they started making soap in the summer of 2015. Working under the supervision of Mt Tamalpais, Bathing Culture made thousands of batches of eco friendly soap before arriving at their Holy Grail. Altogether, the special blend includes organic coconut oil, organic olive oil, organic sunflower oil, natural plant glycerin (soy bean), aloe vera, shea butter, guar bean, citric acid, and essential oils.
Attention to their plastic footprint
Bathing Culture uses 100% California curb-side blue bin recycling to make their plastic bottles. This bottle-to-bottle recycling program happens entirely within the state of California. That translates into less carbon emissions, and more efficient use of the local resources.
That being said, this certified by Oregon Tilth, organic soap, is an all-purpose soap also comes in a 16oz rainbow glass bottle. Available with plastic pump top, or go plastic-free with a metal cap.
Also, they sell it in gallon jugs to refill your glass bottle. Since it’s called Cathedral Grove, this scent will transport you to the Redwood canopies of Northern California, where they love to get dirty. Because it is very concentrated 8oz = 80 showers, just a dab will do you.
From the salty smell of sand dunes to the crisp mountain air, they try to do everything possible to connect people to the places where they play. Also, they make mineral soaks, hand sanitizer, body oil as well as starter kits that include an assortment of products.
See more about Bathing Culture’s Products
Salty Lemon Apothecary – Artisan Bar Soaps
Handmade in the USA by a woman-owned business, Salty Lemon Apothecary offers organic, botanical, eco-friendly soaps.
All the products are made in the kitchen of their studio and retail space in High Bridge, New Jersey, using all-natural ingredients, with emphases on responsible sourcing and environmental sustainability. Daphane has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology and has been a licensed cosmetologist for over ten years.
With bits of bright colors and waves of varieing shades, these are beautiful in form and function. They are subtly scented and perfectly balanced for a blissful bath experience.
All of Salty Lemon Apothecary’s products are free of palm oil, phthalates, parabens, and preservatives. Furthermore, they are scented with therapeutic grade essential oils and phthalate-free, cruelty-free fragrance oils.
Each recipe is crafted with the health of your body and the earth in mind.
See more of Salty Lemon Apothecary’s Bar Soap
Itemerie Wooden Soap Dish and Natural Unscented Soap Bar
This duo from Itemerie includes a 100% natural and vegan unscented eco-friendly soap bar and a handmade Canadian wood soap dish.
The 4 oz Naked soap bar is handmade in New York. Made with soothing ingredients like olive oil, coconut oil, hemp oil, and organic shea butter.
This soap leaves your skin feeling moisturized and squeaky clean! Make bathtime the delightful experience it is meant to be, with this cruelty-free, vegan, 4 oz bar soap.
Naked is an unscented soap for those who like no frills during bathtime.
The soap dish is handmade in Montreal, Canada from the finest Western Red Cedar. The zigzag design prevents your luxurious handmade soap from wasting away in a puddle.
Cedar is valued for its distinct appearance, aroma, and its high natural resistance to decay. The aromatic wood is extensively used for outdoor construction in the form of posts, decking, shingles, and siding.
These properties make it the perfect material for a soap dish to use in your bathroom. The dish is 4”x3”x1”, the perfect size to sit beside the sink and hold your bar of handmade soap.
Fern Soapery Bar Soap
Fern Soapery was founded to provide highly effective, clean skincare that is powered by natural oils, butters, and botanicals and safe for people with sensitive skin.
Women-owned and woman-operated, all these beautiful soaps are handmade in their studio in Guyton, GA, USA. Also, for their packaging, they avoid plastic packaging like the plague that it is.
Fern does not use artificial fragrance, all of the scents are their own signature essential oil blends. Like all the products in this list, these products are natural and non-toxic. They provide full disclosure of every ingredient in our formulations.
Fern’s signature handcrafted soaps feature skin-renewing oils and decadent shea butter to deliver a fragrant, creamy lather that cleanses without stripping the skin of vital moisture.
Each soap possesses its own unique & alluring essential oil blend. To ensure a long-lived bar of delightful, handcrafted soap, store on a draining soap dish and allow the bar to dry completely after use.
See more of Fern Soapery Bar Soap
EnviroKlenz
EnviroKlenz, from Bonita Springs Florida, has always been dedicated to helping people live healthier and more productive lives. Innovative and rapidly growing, this company is focused on personal air quality, surface decontamination, and engineered solutions.
EnviroKlenz makes eco-friendly hand and bar soaps that are designed to kill odors naturally and not by covering them with strong fragrances. In addition to this, their products are made in the USA and they offer a 30 days money-back guarantee.
See more of EnviroKlenz Products
Written by Jay Weaver, published 12/18/2020
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