When it comes to skincare, what you put on your skin matters just as much as what you put in your body. Handmade soap is a game-changer for those looking for a more natural, nourishing alternative to commercial soaps that often contain harsh detergents and synthetic additives.

But not all handmade soaps are created equal! If you’re making the switch to natural, handcrafted soap, here are some key ingredients to look for that will give your skin the love and care it deserves.

1. Plant-Based Oils & Butters

A good bar of soap starts with high-quality oils and butters. These ingredients not only cleanse but also nourish the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated. Be sure to look out for the tri-frecta coconut, palm and olive oils.

Olive Oil: Rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E, olive oil deeply moisturizes the skin.

Coconut Oil: A powerhouse ingredient that provides a bubbly lather while cleansing and nourishing.

Shea Butter: If your skin is dry or sensitive, this is your best friend! Shea butter locks in moisture.

Sunflower Oil: Full of essential fatty acids that keep skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Sustainably Sourced Palm Oil: Adds hardness to the soap and conditions the skin. (We only use ethically sourced palm oil!)

2. Natural Exfoliants

Exfoliation is the secret to smooth, glowing skin, and handmade soaps often include natural exfoliants to buff away dead skin cells without harsh chemicals.

Oatmeal: A gentle exfoliant that also soothes dry, irritated skin.

Poppy Seeds: A light scrub that helps keep skin fresh and smooth.

Activated Charcoal: Draws out impurities in the skin.

3. Skin-Loving Additives

Handmade soaps go beyond cleansing they nourish, and protect with ingredients your skin will love.

Calendula: Infused in oils or added as dried petals, calendula helps calm sensitive or inflamed skin.

Honey: A natural humectant that locks in moisture.

Clays (Kaolin, Bentonite, French Green) Detoxifies and gently absorbs excess oil.

4. Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils

One of the biggest choices when selecting handmade soap is how it’s scented. Some soaps are naturally scented with essential oils, while others use fragrance oils or even a combination of both. Here’s what you need to know!

Essential Oils: Natural Scents with Benefits

Essential oils come straight from nature, offering beautiful aromas and therapeutic properties.

Citrus Oils (Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit): Bright, fresh, and uplifting.

Lavender: Calming and perfect for relaxation.

Tea Tree Oil: Antibacterial and great for acne-prone skin.

Eucalyptus & Peppermint: Invigorating and refreshing!

Fragrance Oils: A Long-Lasting Scent Experience

Fragrance oils are synthetically created, but don’t write them off just yet! Many handmade soap makers use phthalate-free fragrance oils, which are safe and allow for a wider variety of scents.

Choosing the Right Soap for Your Skin

When shopping for handmade soap, always check the ingredient list! The best soaps use plant-based oils, natural exfoliants, and high-quality essential or fragrance oils to bring you the perfect balance of cleansing and nourishment.

At Nyah Beauty, we handcraft our soaps using natural oils, nourishing butters, and a mix of essential and phthalate-free fragrance oils to give you the best experience possible.

Ready to experience the difference? Explore our collection of handcrafted soaps and find the perfect bar for your skin!

Shop Now

Does it feel like your handmade soap disappears too quickly? You're not alone!

Handmade soaps are crafted with care, using natural ingredients that cleanse while nourishing your skin. Unlike commercial soaps filled with synthetic additives, handmade soaps retain their natural glycerin, making them ultra-moisturizing but also more delicate. Because of their unique composition, they require a little extra care to last longer.

If you love your handmade soaps as much as we do, here are some simple yet effective tips to help preserve their magic and extend their lifespan!

Why Handmade Soap Needs Extra Care

Handmade soaps are made using plant-based oilsiand butters that naturally contain fatty acids essential for the soap-making process, known as saponification. During this process, glycerin a natural humectant that attracts moisture is produced. Unlike commercial soaps, which remove glycerin for use in lotions and creams, handmade soaps retain this skin-loving ingredient.

Additionally, commercial soaps often go through a milling process, where the soap is ground and compressed, making it denser and longer-lasting. Handmade soaps, on the other hand, remain in their natural state, meaning they need proper care to prevent them from softening too quickly.

Ready to make your handmade soap last longer? Here’s how:

Tip #1: Use a Soap Dish with Drainage

Leaving your soap in a puddle of water is the quickest way to make it disappear! To prevent soap from dissolving prematurely, use a soap dish with drainage holes or slats to allow water to escape. This keeps the soap dry between uses and helps it maintain its shape.

Pro tip: Opt for soap dishes made from wood, ceramic, or bamboo for better air circulation.

Tip #2: Keep Soap Away from Direct Water

It may be convenient to leave your soap in the shower or tub, but constant exposure to water will make it soft and mushy. If water is splashing onto your soap when it’s not in use, it will dissolve much faster than necessary.

Solution:

Store your soap on a shower rack or a soap holder outside the water stream.

If you prefer to keep it in the shower, place it on a wall-mounted soap saver that allows it to dry fully between uses.

Tip #3: Use a Soap Saver Bag

Soap saver bags are a game-changer! These small bags, made of natural fibers like sisal or ramie, help you get the most out of your soap while also providing gentle exfoliation.

How to use it: Place your soap (or leftover soap slivers) inside the bag and use it like a washcloth to create a rich lather.

Bonus benefit: The bag allows airflow, so when you hang it up after use, your soap dries faster helping it last longer!

Tip #4: Cut Soap Bars Into Smaller Pieces

Instead of using a full bar at once, cut it into halves or thirds. This helps extend its lifespan by ensuring you only use what you need while keeping the rest stored away in a dry place.

This is also a great way to rotate scents if you enjoy switching things up in your skincare routine!

Tip #5: Store Unused Soap Properly

If you stock up on handmade soaps, store them in a cool, dry place away from humidity. Keeping them in breathable packaging, like a linen bag or wrapped in paper, helps preserve their quality until you’re ready to use them.

Avoid storing soap in plastic containers or airtight bags, as this can trap moisture and cause them to soften over time.

Handmade soaps are a luxurious, skin-loving treat, and with a little extra care, you can enjoy them even longer. Using the right tools like a soap dish, soap saver bag, and proper storage techniques will help maximize the life of your soap while keeping your skin nourished and happy.

Ready to make your handmade soap last longer? Explore our collection of nourishing, natural soap bars and experience their benefits for yourself!

Shop Now

Have you ever wondered what goes into the soap you use every day? It might surprise you!

The next time you’re in the supermarket, take a closer look at the soaps in the “soap” aisle. Notice the labeling: are they calling it “soap,” or are they using terms like “beauty bar” or “cleansing bar”? If it’s not labeled as soap, it might not meet the FDA’s definition of true soap.

At Nyah Beauty, we believe everyone deserves a product that’s good for their skin, the environment, and their community. That’s why we’ve compiled the top five reasons to make the switch to handmade soap.

Reason #1: Natural Ingredients

Handmade soaps are crafted with natural oils and butters, such as olive oil, coconut oil, sustainable palm oil, and shea butter—ingredients we use in every bar we make.

Unlike commercial “soaps” loaded with harsh chemicals and synthetic detergents that can irritate your skin, handmade soaps are free from unnecessary additives. With natural soap, you get the benefits of pure, plant-based ingredients that cleanse and nourish without compromise.

Reason #2: Skin-Nourishing Properties

Handmade soaps retain glycerin, a natural byproduct of the soap-making process. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it helps your skin attract and retain moisture, leaving it soft and hydrated.

In contrast, many commercial brands remove glycerin from their soaps to use in other products like lotions, creams, and pharmaceuticals, where it’s more profitable. At Nyah Beauty, we leave the glycerin where it belongs—in your soap, for your skin.

Reason #3: Eco-Friendliness

Natural bar soap is a sustainable choice that requires minimal packaging, reducing waste and your carbon footprint.

Unlike body washes or shower gels packaged in single-use plastic bottles that often end up in landfills, natural soaps come in recyclable or biodegradable packaging—or none at all. By switching to handmade soap, you’re choosing a cleaner future for the planet.

Reason #4: Unique and Artistic

Each bar of handmade soap is a work of art. Makers like us at Nyah Beauty infuse creativity and care into every bar, crafting unique scents, colors, designs, additives, and shapes.

This artistry ensures that every bar offers a one-of-a-kind bathing experience, making it more than just a soap—it’s a sensory delight.

Reason #5: Supporting Small Businesses

When you buy handmade soap, you’re supporting a small, local business and helping a community thrive.

You’re not just purchasing a product—you’re connecting with the maker, hearing their story, and becoming part of a movement that values quality, sustainability, and care. For us, it’s personal. Nyah Beauty began with the simple mission of helping my mother find soap that wouldn’t irritate her skin. Every bar we make carries that same intention: to bring natural beauty to your life.

Why Switch to Handmade Soap?

Switching to handmade soap isn’t just better for your skin—it’s better for the planet and your community. It’s about choosing quality over quantity, sustainability over convenience, and artistry over mass production.

Ready to make the switch? Explore Nyah Beauty’s collection of handmade soaps today and experience the difference. Your skin, and the world around you, will thank you.

Shop Now

Nyah Beauty began with my love for crafting and creating things by hand. At first, it was just a hobby—something I did for fun, never imagining it could grow into a business.

The turning point came when my mother asked me to make her more handmade soaps. Curious, I asked why she preferred them, and her response changed everything: “They don’t make my skin itch.” That simple statement sparked a deeper investigation. I realized that the commercial soaps she had been using contained ingredients that irritated her sensitive skin.

As I dove into learning about soap-making, I discovered the beauty of creating soap from scratch—not using a base, but crafting it with natural oils and fats through a process called saponification. This method combines these ingredients with caustic soda to produce soap without added detergents or surfactants, which can strip the skin and cause irritation. After making my first batch of cold-process soap, I was hooked. The idea that I could create something as essential as soap, using raw, plant-based ingredients, filled me with pride and purpose.

Through a supportive community of soap makers, I expanded my skills to create other natural skincare products. Today, Nyah Beauty offers an array of products, including lotions, sugar body scrubs, coconut wax candles, and shower steamers, in addition to our signature handmade soaps.

---

Challenges and Growth

As with any business, Nyah Beauty has faced its share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles for small, women-owned businesses is financing. As our private-label business grew, we found it increasingly difficult to keep up with demand while making bath bombs and shower steamers entirely by hand. The physical toll was real, and we needed machinery to help us scale efficiently.

We launched a crowdfunding campaign to address this need, and to our surprise and delight, Caress was one of the first contributors! Thanks to their support and the generosity of others, we were able to purchase our first machine. This investment revolutionized our production process, increasing output by 200% and allowing us to make double the products in the same amount of time.

We’ve also reached milestones worth celebrating, including partnerships with major hospitality brands like Westin, Marriott, and Kimpton, as well as having our products sold at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Connecticut. These accomplishments remind us how far we’ve come and inspire us to keep moving forward.

---

Why Nyah Beauty Matters

Nyah Beauty isn’t just about products; it’s about people and their stories. One customer who stands out is Theresa T., who has extremely sensitive skin. During the pandemic, one of my banks featured my business to their customers. As part of the initiative, I left sample soaps attached to my business cards. Theresa picked up a sample of our Lemongrass and Lavender soap, and shortly after, she placed her first order for a full bar.

For someone like Theresa, finding a soap that didn’t irritate her skin was life-changing. That first bar was just the beginning—she’s been a loyal customer for five years now, trusting our plant-based soaps to care for her skin.

---

Join the Journey

Nyah Beauty is here to help you embrace your natural beauty. We invite you to explore our products and learn about the carefully selected ingredients that go into them. Your skin deserves the care and nourishment of natural ingredients to stay clean, healthy, and radiant.

We’re grateful you’ve joined us on this journey. Together, let’s celebrate who you are and the beauty that’s uniquely yours.

As the leaves begin to turn fiery hues and the air takes on a crisp chill, it can only mean one thing: the fall equinox is upon us. The season change from summer to autumn calls for a change in your skincare routine.

What is the Fall Equinox

The fall equinox marks the moment when day and night are of equal length, ushering in a season of balance and transition. Just as nature adapts to the change, our skin requires a shift in care to combat the challenges posed by cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and exposure to cold wind.

Hydration is Number One

As temperatures drop, the air becomes drier, which can lead to dehydration and dry skin. To combat this, invest in a rich, hydrating moisturizer like Nyah Beauty's nourishing body lotion. This will help hydrate the skin and seal in moisture creating a protective barrier against the elements. 

Gentle Exfoliation 

Summertime fun may have exposed the skin to extra love from the sun. To shed the remnants of summer and reveal fresher skin, exfoliation is key. Use a gentle exfoliating scrub with natural ingredients like oats, sugar, and honey can help maintain a healthy balance. 

Transition Your Cleanser

Swap out your lightweight summer cleanser for a creamy, hydrating cleanser. Nyah Beauty offers a range of cleansers infused with botanical extracts that cleanse without over-drying, leaving your skin clean and comfortable.

Soothe with Serums

Fall is the perfect time to introduce serums into your skincare routine. Serums, enriched with vitamins and antioxidants, may help rejuvenate the skin and give your skin a radiant appearance. Look out soon for Nyah Beauty’s launch of facial serums this fall.

Don't Forget the Sunscreen

Just because it’s fall doesn’t mean you get to skip on the sunscreen. Although the sun may seem less intense in the fall, UV rays can still harm your skin. Continue to protect your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen to prevent premature aging and sun damage.

Lip and Hand Care

As the weather cools, our lips and hands often bear the brunt of the dry air. Emollient lip balms and hand creams, enriched with natural oils and butters, will keep your lips and hands soft and supple. Watch out for Nyah Beauty’s lip balms coming this fall.

Fall is a time of transformation, and it's the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate your skincare routine. Remember, self-care is an essential part of any season. Prepare your skin for the fall equinox, and let your beauty shine as brightly as the autumn leaves.

Soap has been a staple in our daily hygiene routines for centuries, promising cleanliness and washing germs away. But what if we told you that not everything that bubbles and foams is true soap?

We're here to shed light on the difference between true soap and its imitators, as well as the potential pitfalls of using non-soap products.

True Soap: The Definition and Science Behind It
At its core, true soap is a product formed through the chemical reaction between fats or oils and an alkali, typically sodium hydroxide (lye). This process, known as saponification, produces soap molecules that have hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) ends. These properties allow soap to lift away dirt, grease, and impurities from surfaces and skin when combined with water.

Non-Soap Cleansers: A Sneak Peek
Not all cleansing products labeled as "soap" fall under the true soap category. Many commercial products that look like soap, such as body washes, shower gels, and liquid hand soaps, often contain synthetic detergents or surfactants as their primary cleansing agents. While these products may create a luxurious lather, they don't rely on the same saponification process that true soap does.

The Lather Myth
One common misconception is that more lather equals better cleaning. This belief has led to the proliferation of products that produce copious amounts of bubbles and foam. However, the truth is that excessive lather is not indicative of superior cleaning power. True soap creates lather through a natural process, while non-soap cleansers may rely on added chemicals to generate foam.

The Pitfalls of Non-Soap Cleansers
a. They can be drying and strip your skin of its natural oils. Non-soap cleansers, especially those containing sulfates, can be harsh on the skin and strip away natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and sensitivity.
b. Some non-soap products contain harmful chemicals that can contribute to water pollution and harm aquatic ecosystems.
c. Additives found in non-soap cleansers can trigger allergic reactions and skin irritation in some individuals.

Make Better Choices

So now that you know better it is time to do better.

a. Become a label reader. To tell the difference between true soap and non-soap cleansers, carefully read product labels and look for ingredients like sodium hydroxide (lye) for true soap.
b. Opt for natural ingredients. Choose products made with natural oils and plant-based ingredients to ensure gentler cleansing and fewer environmental impacts.
c. Patch test when trying new products. If you have sensitive skin, perform a patch test before using a new product to avoid potential allergic reactions.

So the next time you are in the soap aisle read the packaging and see if you can spot if it’s true soap or an imposter.

When it comes to your hygiene routine, knowledge is indeed your strongest ally and now you are equipped to know the difference.

Coconut oil is one of nature's secret weapons when it comes to skincare. There are many good reasons why this cold-pressed oil is great for the skin. Let's deep dive into the benefits this island fav has for your skin!

1. Hydration Hero: Coconut oil is a fantastic natural moisturizer. Its rich fatty acids deeply hydrate your skin, leaving it soft and supple. Say goodbye to dry patches!

2. Lock in Moisture: Applying a thin layer of coconut oil on damp skin after a shower helps seal in moisture, giving you a radiant and healthy glow.

3. Gentle Makeup Remover: Need an easy affordable way to take off your makeup? No need for harsh expensive makeup removers! Coconut oil is a gentle and effective way to remove makeup, even waterproof mascara.

4. Soothe Sun-Kissed Skin: Over did it in the sun? Coconut oil can help soothe and calm overexposed skin with its skin-soothing properties.

5. Nourishing Hair Treatment: Extend the benefits to your tresses! Use small coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner to add shine and tame frizz.

6. Lip Balm Magic: Looking for a quick way to treat chapped lips? Swipe on some coconut oil for a natural and moisturizing lip balm.

7. DIY Body Scrub: Take a spin at creating your own homemade body scrub. Simply mix coconut oil with sugar or salt. It exfoliates and hydrates your skin in one go! One warning though, don't use salt scrub on freshly shaved skin. Ouchie!!

We love using coconut oil. It is in most of our formulations. From above you can see why it’s in our soap, lotion and scrub. Say hello to glowing, healthy skin with this tropical gem!

Have you ever wondered how soap works its magic, effortlessly washing away dirt and leaving you feeling clean and fresh? Today, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of soap and demystify its science, explaining in layman’s terms how this humble cleaning companion accomplishes its remarkable cleaning power.

So let’s start with the basics. What is soap? Soap is a magical compound that consists of two essential ingredients: fats or oils and an alkali (such as sodium hydroxide). When these ingredients combine through a process called saponification, they undergo a chemical reaction that gives birth to soap.

You may be wondering how does soap clean. When we use soap, we introduce it to water, and that’s when the real action begins. Soap molecules possess a unique structure: one end is hydrophilic (water-loving) while the other end is hydrophobic (water-repelling). This duality is what makes soap so effective at removing dirt and grime.

The hydrophobic tail of soap molecules is attracted to oils and fats, while the hydrophilic head loves water. When soap is applied to your skin or any other surface, these molecules surround and trap dirt, oil, and bacteria by encapsulating them in tiny clusters called micelles. The hydrophobic tails face inward, enclosing the dirt, while the hydrophilic heads face outward, interacting with water.

As you rinse with water, the hydrophilic heads of soap molecules interact with the water molecules, allowing the trapped dirt and oil to be effortlessly washed away. This is why rinsing with water is essential after using soap, as it carries away the soap-laden micelles, taking the dirt and grime along with them.

Water is a vital partner in the soap-cleaning process. It helps to distribute the soap evenly, allowing it to interact with the surface being cleaned. Additionally, the cohesive properties of water help the soap molecules form micelles and facilitate their easy removal during rinsing.

Soap, with its remarkable dual nature, acts as a bridge between water and dirt, enabling them to interact in a way that effortlessly removes grime from our skin and surfaces. Its hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties create micelles that effectively trap dirt and oil, making it easy for water to rinse them away.

The next time you lather up with your favorite soap, take a moment to appreciate the simple yet fascinating science behind it. Soap is not just a cleansing agent; it’s a scientific marvel that keeps us feeling clean and fresh.

If you're looking for a gentle and effective way to clean your skin, you may have heard about natural soap. But what exactly is natural soap, and what makes it different from conventional soap? In this post, we'll explore what natural soap is and why it's a great choice for your skincare routine.

Natural soap is made from all-natural ingredients such as vegetable oils, essential oils, and natural colorants. It does not contain synthetic fragrances, preservatives, or other harmful chemicals that can irritate the skin. Instead, natural soap is formulated to gently cleanse and nourish the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

So why should you choose natural soap over conventional soap? Here are just a few reasons:

It's Gentle on the Skin: Natural soap is formulated with mild ingredients that are gentle on the skin. Unlike conventional soap, which can contain harsh chemicals that strip the skin of its natural oils, natural soap helps to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated.

It's Environmentally Friendly: Natural soap is made with ingredients that are biodegradable and eco-friendly. This means that it doesn't harm the environment when it's washed down the drain.

It's Cruelty-Free: Many natural soap brands are also cruelty-free, meaning that they do not test their products on animals.

It's Versatile: Natural soap can be used for a variety of purposes, including hand washing, body washing, and even as a shampoo bar. It's also available in a variety of scents and formulations to suit different skin types and preferences.

At Nyah Beauty, we believe that natural soap is an essential part of any skincare routine. That's why we offer a variety of natural soap options, including handmade soap bars made with all-natural ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, and essential oils. Our natural soap bars are perfect for those with sensitive skin, and they come in a variety of scents to suit your preferences.

In a nutshell, natural soap is a gentle and effective way to clean your skin without exposing it to harsh chemicals or harmful ingredients. If you're looking for a natural alternative to conventional soap, consider switching to natural soap and see the difference it can make for your skin.