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Would you prefer honesty or a sweet little set of carefully crafted product selling lies? I'm really not up for crafting hype today or any day. The truth is that skin can have so many variable sensitivity issues within each individual that there is no perfect product for everyone. Many factors such as the rate of sebum secretion and over all skin integrity come into play. When you hear pH balanced as a product selling point, ask yourself - what is it balanced in relation to? Is it pH balanced in relation to the acidity of our natural skin oils? It cannot be balanced in relation to the solid skin, because pH may only be measured in liquids. Are all natural products the best for sensitive skin issues? Er, no. Many natural plant extracts and even oils disagree with certain members of the population. That does not mean that they are unsuitable for everyone, it just means that a degree of caution should be exercised. Are products loaded with synthetic components automatically harmful? No, certainly not! Many people use and enjoy these products every day with no ill effects either immediate or long term. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, it is best to consult with a reputable dermatologist before you embark on any product sampling adventures. Incidentally, just because a product is marketed as "dermatologist tested" does not mean skipping a consult with a dermatologist, or that "dermatologist tested" really means the product will be better for your skin.
The same applies for products marketed as "hypoallergenic". Beware of products that claim to be unscented. Sometimes these products still contain some sort of fragrance cocktail. When a product here is designated as essential oil free, it truly has nothing added into it to mask its fragrance. Soap will smell like soap, and nothing else and lotion will smell faintly of the oils it contains. I have a policy. When someone contacts me for advice regarding their sensitive skin, I tell them that there is no one great guaranteed suitable product for them, because this is truth. I tell them also what works for me or others that I know and that such products may or may not be suitable in the individual instance. I do always caution about any sort of fragrance-even essential oils, sometimes-especially certain essential oils. These are key things to eliminate when dealing with sensitivity issues otherwise uncomplicated by a medical diagnosis. Sometimes, the product that is great for you is found by ruling out things with long lists of ingredients since it is hard to pick out the cause of irritation in these instances.
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 This little beauty is made from one of my favorite blends of satisfying and gentle suds. When I first formulated this recipe, I had no idea that I would love it! I thought nothing could beat pure olive oil for mildness and was willing to sacrifice some lather for the purpose. I have never made a pure olive oil soap that had no lather at all, but it could definitely be better. How to increase the suds without compromising the mildness became a serious quest. I believe the secret is in the soy wax! I also wanted a firmer bar without resorting to extra chemical ingredients other than the soap its self. Coconut oil is great for both firmness and bubbles, but must be tempered with softer oils for mildness. The addition of soy wax let me balance my coconut oil with softer olive and soy oils in more equal proportions without a compromise on gentle cleansing. There is a subtle silkiness with this blend without-I hate to admit it-that slimy gloopiness that often comes from pure olive oil soap. This one rinses lighter, but I can still opt out of lotion after wards if I want. Now that's what I like! The pictured soap is still drying. I actually did hot process into molds for this Buttermilk & Lemonbalm soap. I wish my camera skills did the green and bronze mica justice, but truly, this soap is more shimmery in person. The colors remind me of the transition into fall while the scent provided by lemongrass lets summer linger. Don't fear-there isn't the slightest whiff of buttermilk!
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