Each batch of Namaste Soap is hand made in my little workshop in Dorset, using traditional cold process and hot process methods, and combining natural ingredients such as vegetable oils and goat milk. Whenever possible these ingredients are sourced locally, e.g. beer from the Dorset Piddle Brewery, and Mr Filbert's locally produced rapeseed oil from Milton Abbas. All my soaps are cruelty free and vegetarian friendly, and some are suitable for vegans. Fragrance is from carefully blended essential oils, which also add their therapeutic properties. (I am a qualified Aromatherapist.) Fragrance free soaps are also available. Most of my soaps have no added colourants, with the final shade resulting from the ingredients used and the effects of the soap making process. Where any colouring is added, I have created this with the use of plant materials such as alkanet or annatto. There may be slight variations in colour from batch to batch, which is due to the nature of hand made soap. The naturally occurring glycerine produced during the soap making process remains in the soaps and adds to the moisturising properties, leaving the skin feeling silky and smooth. Most commercial "soaps" have the glycerine removed for use in other more expensive products, resulting in an end product which is in fact detergent - and this can be very drying and a potential irritant to the skin. So when the commercial soaps advertise "added moisturiser", it's usually referring to moisturiser they've put in to replace the glycerine - not extra moisturiser in addition to what's already there. This can be misleading to the consumer. Namaste products contain no nasties - no animal fats, synthetic colours or fragrances - and definitely no dodgy chemicals such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) or Parabens (or the widely used Paraben substitute Tetrasodium EDTA which is made from formaldehyde and cyanide). There are no chemical hardeners in Namaste soap, and if constantly allowed to remain wet it will quickly dissolve - so to get the maximum use from your soap it is advisable to keep it on a soap dish. All Namaste products have been fully safety tested by a Cosmetic Chemist and comply with current EU and UK legislation and regulations governing their manufacture and labelling.
