Soaping Process and Ingredients
What Is In Your Handmade Soap?
We use only natural ingredients and these can be found on each of the soaps’ labels and the product description on the shop page. All of our soaps contain: Saponified Beef Tallow, Water and Glycerin. We then have cold-pressed essential oils and food grade botanicals added that are safe for skin to add colors, textures and/or fragrances.
Grapefruit and Elderberries – Grapefruit Essential Oil and powdered, whole elderberries.
Orange and Turmeric – Orange Essential Oil and powdered, turmeric root.
Honey and Oatmeal – Raw, Oregon honey and powdered, whole oats.
Lemon and Calendula – Lemon Essential Oil and whole, dried calendula petals.
Bergamot and Ginger – Bergamot Essential Oil and powdered, ginger root.
Douglas Fir and Dandelion – Douglas Fir Essential Oil and powdered, dried, dandelion leaf.
Lavender and Buds – Lavender Essential Oil and dried, whole lavender buds.
Tea Tree and Charcoal – Tea Tree Essential Oil and finely ground, food-grade charcoal.
Do You Test On Animals?
No. We never test our products on animals. Friends and family members have always been willing to try out our products for us as we developed them.
We also buy from suppliers with the same priorities and ethics.
Do You Use Animal Products?
Yes. We use rendered suet in our soap base, known as “tallow” when it complies to industry-specific regulations such as melting point and purity. This is a waste product of the meat industry and so is both sustainable and eco-friendly. Tallow itself, is similar in composition to human skin’s natural sebum (Sebum is the oily, waxy natural oils produced by your skin to coat, moisturize and protect it) which means is it gentle and easily absorbed into skin of all types. Tallow contains vitamins A, D, K, E and B12, Conjugated Linoleic Acid (for improved immune response), Oleic Acid Omega 9 (locks in moisture), Palmitic Acid (anti-microbial emollient), Stearic Acid (softens and smooths skin) with natural anti-inflammatory, healing and soothing properties. It’s a wonderful product!
We also use locally harvested, raw, honey in our unscented Honey & Oats bar.
Do You Use Palm Oil?
NO. Absolutely not. The palm oil industry has contributed significantly to climate change due to the clearing of precious carbon-capturing forests – which are also the natural habitats for a huge number of wild species. Scientists predict the orangutan population is in such decline, they could become extinct within our lifetime if we continue to support the destruction of their homes for palm oil plantations. Luckily for us, tallow has high quantities of palmitic acid (the active ingredient in palm oil) so we don’t need to support these practices and we still get all the benefits in our soaps. Winning!
Are These Soaps “Superfatted”?
“Superfatting” soap is an essential part of premium soap-making. It requires a recipe to provide more fat than lye (caustic soda) for the process of saponification. This means there are some extra fats in the final bar that have not been saponified during the soap-making process and these are desired for a luscious, soft and slippery feel on your skin. We can confirm there is no lye/caustic soda left in your final bar of soap for safe use.
Allergies and Sensitivities
I dislike/am allergic to fragrances; do you have any options?
Yes! We have an unscented, plain bar which we call “Original”. This is simple traditional soap, as was made by our ancestors through the centuries.
We also have a “Honey and Oatmeal” bar which contains no essential oils or fragrances for sensitive skin.
We do also have limited edition varieties which may have only a natural, food-grade additive like ginger or turmeric for some color and interest. If you wish to make a custom order, we can make any of our soaps fragrance free for you.
Please note: If you order scented and unscented soaps in the same shipment, the packaging may have some scent to it, but as each bar is individually boxed, the unscented soaps will still be scent-free.
I Have Sensitive Skin; Can I Still Use Your Soaps?
Yes. We have had great feedback from those with sensitive skin. As all the ingredients are natural and plant-based, we have found that they are mild and gentle for skin of all types and ages. So far, we have not found anyone who is unable to use our soaps on a daily basis. We only use 100% natural essential oils, but also provide unscented soaps if you would prefer those.
We do not use any detergent-based, chemical-laden or synthetic ingredients – which are usually the cause of any unpleasant skin reactions.
As per our refunds and returns policy, we do recommend that if you have any doubt, always try an allergy patch test beforehand and if at any time irritation occurs, discontinue use of the product immediately. Remember: these soaps are for external use only.
Soap Bar Size, Use, and Storage
What Sizes Do Your Soaps Come In?
Our soaps come in two sizes:
Body Bars which are about 3in x 3in x 1in in size and weigh a minimum of 3.3oz each and;
Handsoaps which are about 2in x 2in x 1in in size and weigh a minimum of 1.5oz each.
If you wish to order a loaf of soap, the dimensions of cut bars changes to 4in x 2in x 1in and each bar weighs a minimum of 3.3oz also.
Please note, these do not come in boxes or with any labelling but will be wrapped for protection during shipping.
How Long Does A Bar of Your Soap Last?
We have received varying answers to this question. It seems that on average a Body bar will last between 2-3weeks and Handsoaps last a little less time with averages between 1-2weeks.
How Do I Make My Soap Last Longest?
The best way to get the most out of your soap is to make sure it doesn’t become a soggy mess on the shelf in your shower! You will want to allow the soap to dry out between uses. Therefore, we sell a natural loofah raindrop that can be used as a soap saver (or a for a good scrub) and bamboo soap racks which raise the soap up, allowing air to circulate it when not in use. These come in a light or dark stain finish. Check our these options here: http://RaindropSoaps.com/product-category/accessories.
How Should It Be Stored?
We do not use any detergent-based, chemical-laden or synthetic ingredients – which are usually the cause of any unpleasant skin reactions and artificially increase the duration of the bar. If stored in a cool, dry space, away from direct sunlight or drastic temperature changes, tallow soaps can last for many years. However, we recommend you use your bar within 6 months of purchase for optimum results.
If you like to buy a year’s supply each summer and wish to store your soaps for a longer period of time, we have heard success stories of freezing your bars individually in airtight, sealed containers. Always bring it to room temperature before use and it should be as good as new. Just remember to label it clearly so it isn’t mistaken for cheese and grated over spaghetti by an unsuspecting family member!
VARIATIONS AND DIFFERENCES
What Is The White Powder On My Soap?
This is called “Soda Ash” and is simply the result of a chemical reaction that takes place when the curing bar comes into contact with air within the first 24hours of making it. You can scuff this away if you would prefer a surface free of soda ash but please know it is completely safe and harmless to use on your skin and should wash away after the first use.
There are cracks on my soap, now what?
Sometimes tallow soap can dry out enough that it forms small cracks around the surface. This will usually rectify itself during the first couple of uses, as moisture is re-introduced into the soap. If your bar of soap is unused and has a substantial crack in it, please do contact us to discuss replacement.
My Soap Turned a Yellow Color, is That Normal?
If your bar is exposed to the air after use, it can become slightly discolored. Don’t be alarmed – this is perfectly normal for natural soaps and should return to the smooth, consistent color of the “flavor” you chose after washing with it.
Why Does My Soap Have A Fine, Bubbly Texture?
For some of our recipes, the mixing process can introduce teeny tiny bubbles into the mixture – this is most common in our Lemon and Calendula bars because the petals are dried and create air pockets around them. We think they look pretty cool! This should not affect the use of the soap but if you are unhappy for any reason, please contact us.
My Soap Has An Ombre Effect, Why?
Because we use all-natural ingredients, sometimes they don’t do what we expect of them. When we introduce heavier powders into our soap mix, they can sometimes sink to the bottom or get stuck suspended halfway. The soap will have all the ingredients incorporated all the way through, but some extra botanicals can produce an ombre effect or unbalanced pattern. Again, this is purely an aesthetic outcome and should not affect the use of the bar.
My Soap Has One Rough Side and One Smooth Side, How?
In some of our combinations, the added botanicals have a larger particle size than others, which create exfoliation of varying strengths. Particularly, on our Grapefruit and Elderberries bars, we notice sometimes several of the powdered elderberries sink to the bottom of the bar, providing a rougher side underneath and a smoother side on top. We have customers who love that and those that prefer a smooth consistency – please take note of the descriptions when ordering. Any issues? Please contact us using the form at the bottom of the page.
ORDERING
When Can I Place An Order?
ONLINE: We try to keep this website up and running 24hrs a day, 7 days a week (occasionally, we take it down for scheduled maintenance) so it doesn’t matter which time zone you’re in; you can still order through our online shop.
IN PERSON: Our products can be found in various stores in Lincoln County, Oregon. Look out for our logo and little brown boxes of square handmade soaps. For specific locations, please reach out and we can point you in the right direction as this can change seasonally.
EMAIL: Send an email to info@RaindropSoaps.com and we will do our best to begin to accommodate you within 48 hours of receipt.
When Are Your Business Hours?
Our shipping and receiving hours are 10am-4pm Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time from Waldport, Oregon, USA.
Which Payment Types Do You Accept?
We accept cash, debit or credit cards with Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. If you’d prefer, we can also accept payments made through PayPal.
Our apologies. We do not accept checks or mail orders.
SHIPPING, RETURNS & PRODUCT GUARANTEE
How Is It Shipped?
We currently ship through UPS and USPS depending on availability and destination – and will always attempt to find the best price for shipping costs. Please note, these are subject to change and should be calculated for you at checkout.
If you wish to collect your order in-person from within Lincoln County, Oregon, please do reach out to us and we can make arrangements with you for pick-up.
Where Do You Ship To?
We gladly ship to Canada and the continental US. If you live somewhere else and would like to place an order, please contact us and we can see how best to accommodate your needs. Please note, shipping costs may vary greatly for overseas packages.
My Order Arrived Broken or Damaged, What Should I Do?
Before preparing your package for return shipment, please contact us first at info@RaindropSoaps.com and we can discuss your options.
Take a look at our returns policy for more information; located here: http://RaindropSoaps.com/returns_and_refunds_policy
Returns and Refunds, Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy
Please take a look at our Returns and Refunds policy located here: http://RaindropSoaps.com/returns_and_refunds_policy
Terms and Conditions are located here: http://RaindropSoaps.com/terms_and_conditions
Privacy Policy can be found here: http://RaindropSoaps.com/privacy_policy
Any questions? Do not hesitate to contact us via email, or using the contact form below.
Do You Guarantee Your Products?
We want you to be 100% satisfied with our soap. If for any reason, you are not satisfied, please let us know. We’ll do our best to make it right for you. Please keep in mind the nature of natural, personal care products, and understand that we cannot exchange items that you have opened, handled, cut or used. Shipping costs are always non-refundable.
