Review: Acure Superfruit + Cirtus Argan Oil Bar Soap

No matter how many fancy body washes, shower gels, or scrubs I try, I always go back to bar soap. Bar soap is a great, simple cleansing product that helps me keep my showers shorter and conserve water. It is indispensable, yet somehow hard to get just right. Acure Organics has a great bar that doesn't wear down too fast or too slow - it's just right. It's called the Superfruit + Cirtus Argan Oil Soap.

Pros:

• Yummy fruity scent
• Non-drying
• Mostly organic
• Doesn't wear away too quickly
• Retail availability
  

Article: Soaps Made Without Palm Oil

Burt's Bees offers a soap free of palm oil.

Last week, I covered the reasons why palm oil production is often destructive and an environmental hazard. This week, I wanted to provide some alternative options for palm oil free bar soaps - one of the most common perpetrators. Read on for my suggestions.

Soaps Free from Palm Oil:

• Soapbox Soaps (also vegan and gluten-free)
• Moska Organics (also vegan and organic)
• Fanciful Fox (handmade, vegan, and mostly organic)
• LUSH soaps (look for those marked vegan; click here for information on their palm oil free soap base)
• Burt's Bees Cranberry and Pomegranate Replenishing Body Bar (Note: not all Burt's Bees bars are free from palm oil)
• Tiki Bar Soap (also vegan)
  

Review: Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap

Peppermint is my top choice.

I've recently become fascinated with packing light. It served me well when we traveled to Japan, and again when I did a "megatrip" through three states and their respective climates (including tropical Hawaii). One of the most indispensable products for these trips, however, has been Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap. Read on to find out why.

Pros:

• Soap works for almost anything - hand soap, body soap, dish soap, laundry soap, etc.
• Wide retail availability
• Extremely gentle
• Compact for travel
• A little goes a long way
• Contains organic ingredients
  

Cons:

• More expensive than some soaps

Summary:
Dr. Bronner's peppermint castile soap is an essential item in my suitcase, especially when I'm staying in hotels. I can bring along my own oatmeal packets and use this to wash off my spoons and mugs. I can also use this in hotel sinks to do laundry. You can also use it as shampoo, body wash, and toothpaste, but I haven't tried them myself. While it is more expensive per ounce than laundry detergent, body wash, and other soaps, the versatility alone makes it worth the price - particularly when traveling. You don't need a large amount for most jobs, and the peppermint is great because it works well for food, clothes, and body. If you're looking to pack light, I highly recommend traveling with a small bottle of Dr. Bronner's.

Also available on Amazon.com.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value

Disclosure notice: This product was sent to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

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Review: Morrocco Method Int'l Baby's Friendly Dragon Coconut Soap

There's nothing like the smell of coconut to user in the summer. Coconut reminds me of delicious tropical smoothies I drank in Costa Rica and tropical settings on the beaches of Hawaii. For this reason, I am especially fond of coconut-scented bath and body products, such as Morrocco Method Int'l Coconut Natural Soap.

Pros:

• Naturally moisturizing
• Extremely gentle
• Cut and polished by hand
• Affodable
• Short, simple ingredient list

Review and Giveaway: Kiss My Face Peace Castile Soap

If I were stranded on a deserted island and I could pick one item to take with me, I would probably bring castile soap.  It's one of the most versatile products you'll find, as it can be used as a dish soap, an all-purpose cleaning spray, laundry detergent, hand soap, and more.  Castile soap is also fairly concentrated, so it can easily be diluted to extend the life of the product.  Kiss My Face recently released their own version of castile soap, Peace Soap, in wonderful fragrances such as  pomegranate acai, lemongrass clary sage, grassy mint, and lavender mandarin.  I tested pomegranate acai.

Pros:

• Multi-purpose product that helps simplify your cleaning routine
• Excellent product for traveling or camping
• Leaves behind a light, natural fragrance
• Comes in a couple of unique scents, such as pomegranate acai
• 10% of profits go to a charity that helps foster friendships between teens on opposite sides of global issues
• Available in travel/trial sizes and with foaming dispensers (best for use as a hand or body soap)
• Easily diluted and a good value for the money
• Biodegradable and well-suited for those sensitive to other soaps