HOW OSMIA MADE FACIAL SOAP COOL AGAIN

We grew up watching our moms lather their favorite bar soaps between their hands and scrub their faces diligently every day. Then, out of nowhere, facial bar soap got a bad rap! Actually, bar soaps were not only abandoned but actively scorned by dermatologists. You’ll hear that they’re drying, that they disrupt the acid mantle, that they strip the skin—you name it! But all those accusations apply to commercially made soap that’s loaded with unnecessary chemicals and robbed of all the good stuff. We make a different kind of soap. And we think bar soap has worn the scarlet letter for too long. So, we’re here to restore your faith—and your complexion.

Already a black clay believer? 

HOW DOES BAR SOAP WORK?

First of all, a word about how we make our soap. If you’re interested in the nitty gritty, we have an entire post about our method of soap making—you’ll be a pro after reading it. But, if you want the short version, here it is. We combine organic plant oils and sodium hydroxide and stir them up with a mixer. The mixing causes the process of saponification to begin: molecules rearrange themselves in a soapy dance, and, over the course of about 72 hours, we are left with only soap molecules and glycerin.

Soap molecules have a water-loving end and a grease-loving end, a structure that explains soap’s efficacy as a cleanser. The grease-loving end grabs onto oil and dirt on the skin as you lather up, and the water-loving end pulls the soap and dirt off your skin when you rinse away the bubbles. The glycerin in the bar stays behind on the skin and draws moisture to your skin throughout the day.

SHOULD I USE FACIAL SOAP?

Now that you know how soap works, let’s touch on the reasons we think you will love our Black Clay Facial Soap, like so many thousands of others do.

1) SUPER CLEAN INGREDIENTS

Most commercial soaps have ingredient lists that make your brain hurt just trying to pronounce them. Here's the ingredient list for our Black Clay Facial Soap (an asterisk means it's organic):

• saponified oils/butters of olive*, responsibly-sourced palm kernel*, mango*, coconut*, sweet almond*, castor bean*, avocado*, and jojoba*
• Dead Sea mud
• coconut milk*
• iron oxide
• essential oils of Atlas cedarwood, bergapten-free bergamot, lemon, peru balsam, and Virginia cedarwood
• non-GMO mixed tocopherols (vitamin E)
• rosemary extract*

2) SUPER CLEAN SKIN

When you use facial bar soap correctly, using warm water, and a 30-second, gentle lather with your fingertips, the dirt and germs go down the drain. When you rinse, your skin feels soft and clean, not dry and tight. It’s strong enough to remove makeup but nourishing enough for daily use.

3) NO NASTIES

If you’re trying to stay away from certain chemicals, a natural facial bar soap is the way to go. Many liquid cleansers have surfactants and preservatives that can shed harmful ingredients into our water supplies and septic systems. 

4) POWERFUL ACTIVES

The reviews on our website tell the story of how this soap has helped people with sensitive-skin, perioral dermatitis, eczema, and acne issues, thanks to the active ingredients below:

• Dead Sea Mud

Mud found in the Dead Sea (a giant salt lake surrounded by Israel, Jordan and the West Bank) has been a beauty secret for millennia. It’s rumored that glamorous Cleopatra spent time in the Dead Sea, soaking up all that the wondrous water had to offer. Today, thousands of hopeful tourists visit the Dead Sea each year to float and cover themselves with mud overflowing with sulfur, magnesium, sodium, phosphates, potassium, calcium, and bromides. Studies have shown that the high mineral and salt content can hydrate skin, reduce inflammation, and are full of anti-microbial properties, beneficial for acne, psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.

• Organic Mango Butter

Cold-pressed from the mango seed, this uber-moisturizing, thick butter is packed with essential fatty acids. Soothing and rich in texture, mango butter is gentle enough for sensitive skin and helps protect skin from environmental stressors. It’s a natural source of vitamins A and C, giving a glowing and plump appearance to the skin.  

• Organic Avocado Oil

Pressed from the avocado seed, this thick green-hued oil is full of fatty acids, minerals, and antioxidants, conditioning the skin and leaving it soft and nourished. “The beta-carotene, protein, lecithin, fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and E found in avocado oil help moisturize and protect your skin from damaging UV rays and increase collagen metabolism,” says Healthline.

Also studied for its antimicrobial benefits, avocado oil could assist in healing wounds, based on a 2013 study. One more cool fact? It contains chlorophyll, making it like a superfood for your face!

• Organic Coconut Milk

Applied directly to the skin, coconut milk smoothes the surface and provides Vitamin C, improving the skin’s appearance and elasticity. Within the Black Clay Facial Soap, the coconut milk also helps produce a beautiful white lather, free of sulfates and chemicals.

• Iron Oxide

This mineral-rich clay detoxifies the skin, clearing congested pores of dirt and debris while replenishing and tightening the epidermis. Minerals help to plump the skin at a cellular level, allowing skin cells to retain moisture more effectively.

You don’t have to take our word for it, just read the 1000+ reviews on our site and make your own decision. Men and women of all ages (from teens to seventies - seriously) love this beautiful bar, and we hope you will, too. Bar soap IS better, for our skin and for our fragile planet.

With and love and a sincere belief in the coolness of bar soap,