Handmade Soap and Skincare

We have chosen not to use palm oil or even "sustainable" palm oil. Our Soaps are usually made from the same recipe combination of oils and butters plus sodium hydroxide which changes the liquids into a solid soap matter in a chemical reaction called saponification.

During saponification, the lye bonds with the oils and are completely used up which means it does not remain in the bar. Just to be safe, a pH test is taken of each batch before selling. The final pH is between 8-10.

Our soaps are made with olive oil, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, castor oil, cocoa and/or shea butter, and perhaps a special additive(s). For colorants we mostly use natural herbs or clays, and occasionally use micas and oxides or a combination thereof. For scent, essential oils and or light fragrance oils are used.

Breakdown of the soap ingredients:

Shea Butter - Refined and unrefined Shea butter, the most natural and the least processed. The concentration of natural vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E in organic shea butter make it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for your skin. Shea butter is said to be beneficial for treating dry skin, blemishes, skin discoloration, scars and wrinkles. High in unsaponifiables, this butter is great for its moisturizing, smoothing, and softening properties. This oil is great for aged and damaged skin.

Coconut Oil – A soap making staple used in most of our recipes. It makes a hard bar of soap with quick foamy lather, and has great cleaning qualities. High in lauric acid, Coconut oil softens, moisturizes and helps to repair damaged skin. What Coconut oil may be most useful for as a soap base is its ability to help combat a multitude of skincare issues such as eczema, psoriasis, and inflammation.

Olive Oil – A soap making staple used in most of our recipes. Olive oil brings out the characteristics of the other oils used in the soap recipe. It is a very mild and moisturizing oil. Cold-pressed from olive pits, olive oil is high in oleic acid. Olive oil is known for being easily absorbed, mimicking sebum, promoting skin regeneration and is preferred for sensitive and dry skin types, making it a popular ingredient for skin care.

Hemp Seed Oil - A soap making staple used in most of our recipes. It rejuvenates and nourishes tight or dry skin and prevents flakiness and itchiness. When used on the face, it controls oil production to moisturize without clogging pores. Hemp seed oil restores the skin barrier and helps it to retain moisture, which results in skin that looks healthy, hydrated, and supple.

Castor Oil – This oil gives soap a rich, creamy lather with concentrated conditioning. It is also a humectant oil. Again, this oil is in all the soap recipes we make.

Cocoa Butter – This is another skin conditioning oil. We use this butter to superfat (add after saponification) our soap and in some of our creams. It adds extra moisturizing and a chocolate scent in some of the finished products.

Sodium Hydroxide - Also known as lye. This is the chemical that combines with oil to make soap, with glycerin as a natural by-product of the process.

Sodium Lactate - Sodium lactate is the natural sodium salt of lactic acid derived from the fermentation of sugar. The main benefit is that it helps soap harden more quickly, which means you can unmold it more quickly. And because the bars are harder, they tend to last longer in the shower.

Some Favorite Additives:

Activated Charcoal Powder - It is awesome for oily skin as it can pull the unwanted excess oils from your skin, leaving it smooth. Its ability to absorb oil and dirt from pores leaves skin feeling balanced. It provides the gentle exfoliating and deep cleans your skin. It is slightly gritty, which might provide just the gentle exfoliating you need. It will also absorb oils and toxins on and below the skin and that way eliminate acne.

Alkanet Root - Alkanet is a herb in the borage family. Its main notability is its roots which are used as a dye. We also use this powder to get purple colored soap.

Aloe Vera - Aloe Vera is a natural moisturizer as it contains natural electrolytes similar to coconut water. However, when moisturizing it does not leave an oily feel to your skin. It is a natural antiseptic, which soothes any kind of inflammation or irritation of the skin. It helps to clean the pores and strengthens the superficial layer of the dermis, and so it is an excellent treatment to clean and eliminate impurities, which in the medium term, prevent the deterioration of the skin.

Carrot Juice - Carrots get their characteristic orange color from B-carotene which results in a high concentration of vitamin A. Beta Carotene helps your skin to stay moisturized, especially when it comes to dry skin types, it reduces fine lines and wrinkles and protects your skin from UV rays. Freshly squeezed organic carrots are the best for soap.

Coffee Grounds - A natural astringent that makes your skin tighter and firmer. Most known for a morning caffeine jolt, coffee can give your skin a jolt too! It’s packed full of antioxidants, making it naturally anti-aging and detoxifying too.

Goat's Milk - Adds additional lather, moisture and a gives a luxurious feel. The vegan version uses Coconut Cream instead.

Honey - A natural resource of nutrients, vitamins, enzymes, and skin-boosting acids, honey is a natural soap making ingredient to love! Honey is a natural humectant that draws in moisture, is antibacterial, and is full of antioxidants!

Matcha Green Tea - Rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging properties, green tea has amazing beauty benefits. You can apply green tea in an abundance of natural ways to help smooth, hydrate, tighten, and brighten your skin.

Oatmeal - Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, colloidal oatmeal, and quinoa are great all-natural skin-softening additions for natural soap making. The cellulose and fiber from the oats make an effective skin soother for itchy, irritated, dry skin.

Papaya Fruit - Papaya is a fruit of all seasons that provides the body with all essential nutrients. The extract of this pulpy fruit is also the main ingredient in a wide range of skin and hair care products. The huge amounts of essential vitamins A, C and antioxidants lycopene present in papaya make your skin look radiant, toned and youthful.

I base my business mission on the belief that some health issues are induced by the environment or from the products and food we consume. When it comes to beauty or cosmetics, as a whole, the industry has been deceptive, dangerous and wasteful. Deceptively and dangerously telling consumers that a certain product is healthy, when in fact it has chemicals known to cause cancer or ingredients that disrupt hormones. Their choice of packaging produces landfill waste and destroys our planet, ocean and animals or wildlife. Their decisions are based on greed. SoapArtSF will be different. We will use quality ingredients with no chemicals, use only safe, responsible, sustainably sourced ingredients. Our goal is to be 100% vegan and plant-based. Our packaging will be zero waste or eco-friendly. Our decisions are based on love. This requires lots of research and work, but my drive and passion helps me to stay focused and energized as we look for ways to improve the product to the benefit of humans, animals and the planet.

SoapArtSF is a small business that manufactures natural soap. Hi, my name is Yumi Bennett. I’m a native San Franciscan. For social recreation, I hosted soap making events in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was an opportunity to enjoy quality bonding time with friends and family. However, during the pandemic in 2020, I had to stop doing this. We could no longer have social visits and suddenly we were isolated and I was not even working secularly. With time on my hands, I taught myself how to formulate a plant based and vegan soap recipe. I decided not to include palm oil, even sustainable palm oil; and I wanted to incorporate hemp seed oil. I'd like to prove that soap and skincare products could be pure, clean and earth friendly. I know I can't save the world from its current state, nor can I reduce aging. However, I can have a clean conscience knowing that my products are not contributing to disease or pollution. The best part is just opening the conversation with people about reading labels and how to be responsible for our consumer choices, which in turn, can contribute to having a healthier and happier life.

SoapArtSF will raise the bar by using quality ingredients with no chemicals, use only safe, responsible and sustainably sourced ingredients because we love people, animals and earth.

There's a growing demand for products made with real ingredients, with no added chemicals or enhancers. It is important to see familiar ingredients that are easy to pronounce and spell. More people prefer vegan, palm oil free, cruelty free products and appreciate packaging that is eco-friendly. Ingredients are always listed and available for our products. Soaps, shampoo bars, masks, serums, bug repellent, and even dog shampoo are made from all natural, organic and unrefined raw ingredients whenever possible. Even though listing the ingredients on soap is not a requirement, to be transparent, we share all the ingredients that were used. Always do a patch test first and if it irritates your skin, stop using it immediately and see your doctor. Take care of your body, nourish it and show gratitude for what you were given. Let's also do our part in taking care of the earth we live on. Reduce, reuse and recycle. "Keep It Classy, Not Trashy!" CALL TO ACTION: Support brands that use compostable packaging. Consider replacing your soap that comes in plastic bottles with a solid soap bar (since it lasts longer than liquid soap, it will save you money). Or use a re-usable water container to refill your drinks instead of single-use plastic bottle. You will make a difference. Ditch the plastic! Our goal is zero waste.