Why We Use Plants (and Which Ones)  Are In Our Soap

Why We Use Plants (and Which Ones) Are In Our Soap

Most of today’s mainstream soap is made with ingredients you can’t even pronounce, so why would you put it on your skin? At Groove Soaps, we only use the purest, plant-based ingredients to assure our soaps are not only soft on sensitive skin, but really get you clean, too.

We make the highest quality hand-crafted, plant-based soap using just six ingredients - coconut oil, sustainable palm oil (RSFO palm oil), canola oil, olive oil, castor oil, and vitamin E. Our process is a nod to the traditional soapmakers of times past. We believe today’s manufactured soap doesn’t have the same soul, so we prefer handcrafted soap making due to its pure art form.

Here is a rundown of the plant-based oils we use in our soaps and why they are good for your skin and the planet.

Harnessing the Cleansing Power of Nature

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is made from the fruit of coconuts. To be more specific, it’s made from the white fleshy inner part of coconuts. Virgin or extra virgin coconut oil is made from the fresh flesh, while refined coconut oil generally uses copra, or dried flesh.

Coconut oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids which help to reduce dryness and allow your skin to retain moisture. It also provides a protective barrier, helping shield skin from environmental toxins, dirt, and other icky stuff you’re faced with everyday. With antioxidant and phytonutrient (plant compounds) components, coconut oil for the face can help boost your nutrient factor and fight against environmental stressors that accelerate signs of aging.\

Sustainable Palm Oil

Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of oil palm trees, the scientific name is Elaeis guineensis. Two types of oil can be produced; crude palm oil comes from squeezing the fleshy fruit, and palm kernel oil which comes from crushing the kernel, or the stone in the middle of the fruit.

Among the most beneficial skin care ingredients contained within palm oil is beta carotene. Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant that kills off the free radicals that can lead to premature aging by destroying your body cells, including those of your skin. Palm oil is also a natural source of vitamins A, C, and E, which also have antioxidant properties. Palm oil is also a good moisturizer, and promotes smoother skin, as many natural skin care products do.

Canola Oil

Canola oil is a vegetable oil derived from a variety of rapeseed that is low in erucic acid, as opposed to colza oil. There are both edible and industrial forms produced from the seed of any of several cultivars of the plant family Brassicaceae.

Canola oil contains a high level of essential fatty acids, which moisturize the skin and enhance the strength of skin tissue. It's also rich in Vitamin K, which helps keep the skin supple and smooth, and linoleic acid, which forms a barrier on the skin to keep moisture from escaping.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a nutrient-packed oil made from pressing olives and then expressing their oil. Olives are considered a soft fruit, much like peaches and plums. That means they can bruise easily, which affects the quality of the oil.

Olive oil is a pantry staple that is known for its health benefits in our diets, and it turns out it may be just as beneficial for our skin as well. Olive oil is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, and has been linked to improved skin moisturization, anti-aging effects, and relief from sun damage. Olive oil can be used on the skin, on its own, or as part of skincare products such as facial cleansers or lotions.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from the castor bean or Ricinus communis. Generally found in Eastern Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, and parts of Asia, the castor bean is also grown in tropical regions around the world. When pressed into oil, it has just a slightly yellow-ish color. Castor oil is produced by cold-pressing castor seeds and then applying heat. It’s not considered an edible oil, and makes up only a fraction of the world’s vegetable oil production.

Castor oil contains antioxidants that fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are responsible for accelerating the aging process, making wrinkles appear sooner. Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce swelling and puffiness. It could reduce the size of inflamed pimples or eye bags as well.

Natural Essential Oils

All of our soaps contain only natural essential oils as the fragrance. An essential oil is a natural product extracted from a single plant species. Not all plants produce essential oils, and in the plants that do, the essential oil may be found in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits. For example, our Florida Citrus Slab is infused with locally sourced orange peels and orange essential oils

Essential oils are all natural, they have medicinal and aromatherapy properties, and they do not contain nearly as many carcinogens and other toxins as do fragrance oils. Essential oils often have a greater depth and character than the more flat fragrance oils.

Studies have shown that essential oils may also help:

  • Boost mood
  • Improve job performance through reduced stress and increased attentiveness
  • Improve sleep
  • Kill bacteria, funguses and viruses
  • Reduce anxiety and pain
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Reduce nausea
  • Relieve headaches

We believe soap has the ability to revive skin and rejuvenate the mood, so we are dedicated to making soap with soul. By creating a sensory-inclusive soap that is effective in cleaning but gentle on skin, we can elevate people’s moods through the smell and feel of our soaps. We are dedicated to bringing art to the world through each bar of soap. Our pure and simple ingredients, and extraordinarily rich and enveloping scents that transport you to wherever your shower concerts take you.

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