Why Handmade Bar Soap is Better for You and the Planet

By Diana Trasente, M.Eng & CEO

Founder, Sampson Eco Shop | Environmentalist

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Last Updated Nov 14.2025

Discover how choosing natural, eco-friendly soap supports your skin, the environment, and sustainable skincare practices.

Why Handmade Bar Soap is Better for You and the Planet

Everyday choices in the bathroom can have a surprisingly big impact on both your health and the planet. While mass-produced soaps may seem convenient, the truth is that they often contain harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and plastic packaging that harm both the environment and your health.

By contrast, artisanal soap and handmade bar soap offers a natural, chemical-free alternative that’s designed to help you embrace a sustainable skincare routine, support eco-friendly options, and further minimize your contribution to plastic waste. From choosing organic ingredients to supporting small artisanal makers, shopping for handmade soap can make the difference between nurturing your skin with natural care and giving into fast, disposable habits.

Let’s take a closer look at why handmade soap is a smarter choice for both personal care and environmental responsibility, and how simple swaps in your daily routine can lead to cleaner skin and a cleaner planet.

What makes handmade soap different

Unlike conventional soaps, handmade bar soap is crafted in small batches using natural, organic ingredients. Oils like coconut, olive, and shea butter — often combined with essential oils or botanical additives — create soap bars that are both gentle on the skin and free from harsh chemicals. Better still, unlike their mass-produced counterparts, handmade bars typically avoid sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances that can irritate the skin or disrupt its natural balance.

Handmade soap is also often formulated with moisturizing ingredients that help maintain your skin’s natural oils and prevent dryness. Whether you have sensitive skin that needs to be treated with extra care or simply want a gentler daily cleanser, choosing chemical-free handmade soap ensures that your skincare routine is effective and kind to your body.

The environmental benefits of using handmade soap

The biggest issue with most commercial soaps is that they typically come wrapped in single-use plastic, which further contributes to pollution. By contrast, a simple, plastic-free soap eliminates this issue entirely — especially when it’s combined with minimal or compostable packaging.

Additionally, small-batch production tends to consume far less energy than large-scale factory manufacturing while encouraging sustainable ingredient sourcing alongside using renewable, biodegradable, or ethically harvested ingredients — all of which help reduce the environmental strain on local ecosystems. It’s a win-win!

Buying artisanal soap also means supporting ethical practices

Behind every handmade bar of soap is a story: one of skill, care, and sustainable values. That’s why choosing to buy from small soap makers goes beyond just “buying something” and becomes an investment in people and planet-friendly practices that prioritize quality, transparency, cruelty-free methods, and respect for the environment.

What makes this even more meaningful is that your choice also helps strengthen local economies, which keeps traditional craftsmanship alive. This, combined with fair trade partnerships where ingredient suppliers are paid fairly, resources are harvested responsibly, and no animals are harmed in the process means that your purchase supports ethical production from start to finish.

By buying handmade soap, you’re essentially getting all the benefits without contributing to damaging the planet: from enjoying a higher-quality product to helping build a marketplace that values integrity, sustainability, and community over convenience and excess.

Incorporating handmade soap into your routine

A great addition to a zero-waste bathroom routine, transitioning to handmade soap is a lot easier than it seems. It’s also a great opportunity to explore new scents and formulations that might suit your skin and preferences a lot better than the mass-produced brand you’d been using until now.

For example, sandalwood patchouli soap or vanilla oatmeal bars make a gentle, nourishing choice for daily handwashing. Meanwhile, an activated charcoal soap bar is ideal for a targeted facial cleansing routine that won’t strip your skin. For a refreshing morning pick-me-up, try a citrus cedar sage bar; in the evening, lavender flowers soap is ideal for a calming, relaxing wash. Finally, some types of bars can even double as shampoo and full-body cleansers, which reduces the number of products you need in your bathroom.

If you’re unsure about which bars to use for morning versus evening routines or how to combine scents, go ahead and experiment with different combinations to find one that feels indulgent yet practical — turning everyday washing into a small, enjoyable ritual.

Pro tip: To get the most from your handmade soap, make sure you always store bars on a soap tray to prolong their lifespan.

How handmade soap can help people with sensitive skin

For people who have sensitive skin, switching to artisanal soap and handmade bars means choosing natural oils and butters that are gentler on the skin, providing hydration and nourishment without stripping anything away. Specifically, ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil all help maintain softness and elasticity; meanwhile, essential oils provide calming, uplifting, or antimicrobial properties depending on the blend.

Because chemical-free soap also avoids harsh synthetic additives, they’re especially suitable for sensitive skin or conditions like eczema or dryness. As an added bonus, regular use of natural soap also supports the skin’s natural barrier, reduces irritation, and can even minimize allergic reactions. All of which means you can enjoy a cleansing routine that’s effective and mindful of your health.

Making the switch to handmade soap for your skin and planet

When it comes to upgrading your skincare products, switching to handmade soap is a great way to make an everyday routine more mindful and intentional. By opting for chemical-free, natural soap and supporting artisanal makers, you’re making a conscious choice to reduce your exposure to harsh chemicals and minimize your environmental impact.

Along with that, by choosing eco-friendly soap alternatives, you’re also helping to drive larger changes in the marketplace — from responsible ingredient sourcing to minimal, sustainable packaging. Over time, these choices show companies and communities that sustainability and ethical practices matter.

Finally, for anyone who enjoys small daily rituals, incorporating handmade soap into your zero-waste bathroom routine makes self-care feel purposeful and enjoyable. Each bar you use becomes a small but meaningful moment of calm and indulgence — a simple, tangible step toward a more intentional, eco-conscious, and sustainable lifestyle.