Soapwalla was born in founder Rachel Winard’s kitchen one evening in response to her sensitive skin issues caused by systemic lupus. Soapwalla’s skincare is crafted from the highest quality organic, vegan and food-grade ingredients. They are handmade in Brooklyn, NY and sold globally.
Parvati Magazine: Tell us a bit about the process of starting from scratch and creating your own products?
Rachel Winard: It was a lot of trial and error at the beginning. When I first started researching natural skin alternatives, I had just been diagnosed with lupus and my skin was absolutely freaking out. I got my hands on anything and everything I could read about natural skincare, basic chemistry, herbology, aromatherapy, etc. I also discovered that a lot of valuable information came from old wives’ tales/mythology — herbs people have been using for years, the varied uses for plants and the best ways to extract them.
My first products were the Lavender and French Clay Soap Bar and Restorative Face Serum. The Soapwalla line grew with me — whatever product I needed, I created. I perfected the line over 7+ years and premiered it December 2009. We recently celebrated our 7th birthday!
PMAG: Your line includes a variety of soaps made of essential oils, cold and expeller-pressed oils, and other nourishing ingredients. Can you highlight a few that are perfect for these wintry months?
RW: My favorite is jojoba, a liquid wax that is chock full of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins B and E, silicon, chromium, copper and zinc. It has a very high percentage of iodine, which gives jojoba oil its power to heal. I also adore moringa, baobab, echium and rosehip seed oils for their high levels of vitamins A, C, D, E, and F, omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, and antioxidants. They’re multivitamins for the skin!
PMAG: In addition, Soapwalla’s award winning Deodorant Cream is also a hit. What is unique to this cream?
RW: What sets it apart from the other natural deodorants on the market is that it works unfailingly. I tweaked the deodorant formula over 2,000 times before I was satisfied with the end result. For pure effectiveness, simplicity, and efficiency, I don’t think you can beat a cream. It’s travel-friendly, doesn’t need waxes or hardeners—or a bunch of plastic parts—and provides you with the ultimate control over where and how much you use.
PMAG: A new product, The Spray, is a chemical-free sanitizer for hands, gym equipment and so forth. How did this product come about?
RW: I kickbox and practice yoga several times a week. I wanted something highly antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal to use on my equipment, that I wouldn’t be afraid to use on my skin.
I also ride the NYC subway system and wanted a potent, natural, non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer. After months of formulation, I realized my gym de-funking spray would be perfect as a hand sanitizer (and smells amazing enough to use as a perfume!).
PMAG: What recommendations do you have to soothe irritated and dry skin?
RW: Our new release, The Balm, is a must-have for irritated and dry skin. This new facial and body concentrated repair balm rejuvenates and revitalizes skin. The Balm melts instantly upon touch and disappears into the skin. Powerhouse ingredients like moringa, arnica and prickly pear seed oil repair tissue damage, reduce inflammation and redness, and combat dryness. Horse chestnut and blue tansy strengthen circulation and provide unparalleled skin healing abilities. The other two products I cannot live without to soothe my skin: (1) our Restorative Face Serum, and our (2) Hydrating Facial Toning Mist. When used together, these three products are truly incredible.
Rachel Winard is the founder and president of Soapwalla, an award-winning luxury natural skincare line. She believes that products are only as good as their ingredients. Rachel is wildly passionate about what Soapwalla does every day: creating products that promote skin health and the emotional well-being of our customers and planet. She speaks across the globe about the importance of natural beauty and ethical business practices. In 2015, Rachel presented workshops in the US, Canada and Europe, including at Colette and Le Bon Marché in Paris. Learn more at Soapwalla.