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At a glance
Bar soap is made by combining fats or oils with an alkaline base. The type of soap depends on the types of fats, oils and alkalines that are used—for example, soap-makers can choose between a vegetable fat such as palm oil, or an animal fat such as sodium tallowate, which can be derived from rendered beef fat. Beef tallow became a popular ingredient in mainstream soaps due to its availability and low cost, as it is a by-product of meat processing.

Conventional body washes are often made with petroleum-derived detergents and include chemical fragrances as well as parabens, which studies have shown to be potentially carcinogenic. Like bar soaps, natural body washes are often made with saponified vegetable oils.

Ingredients to look for:
Neem
Aloe vera
Hempseed oil
Ylang ylang
Dead Sea salt

Pacifica Tunisian Jasmine Bar Soap: All of Pacifica’s soaps are handmade with a proprietary vegetable-glycerin base, herbs and the company’s perfume blends. Ground almond meal and a blend of ylang ylang, jasmine and almond essential oils round out this moisturizing bar soap.

Alba Island Citrus Bath + Shower Gel: Lemon balm, aloe and meadowsweet come together in this product to make bath or shower time luxuriously refreshing. It’s moisture-rich and gentle, with a citrus zing.

Pangea Organics Malagasy Ylang Ylang & Linden Flower Shower Gel: This soothing shower gel is packed with herbal goodness from the likes of calendula flower, comfrey leaf and fennel seed. Based in organic coconut, extra-virgin olive, hempseed and jojoba oils, the gel’s essential oils of ylang ylang, neroli and sweet orange relax and rejuvenate.

One with Nature Lavender Restorative Body Wash: Natural minerals, muds and salt from the Dead Sea mix with the soothing scent of lavender in this invigorating body wash, while shea butter, organic aloe vera and vitamin E keep skin moisturized.

Himalaya Protecting Neem & Turmeric Soap: At the core of this nourishing bar soap is neem, a large evergreen tree that grows in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Oils of neem are used for reported protective properties, including antibacterial, antiviral and fungicidal purposes. Lemon adds zest while turmeric improves the complexion.

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