It’s been a bit of a journey to launch our new May Chang goat milk soap. After nearly a year of extreme cleanliness and hand washing, I don’t know about you but my hands have certainly suffered from the excess washing. At one point they became dry, cracked and thoroughly sore.
I did start trying to use less alcohol-based hand sanitizer and try where I could to use soap and water but to be honest, it made no difference and after a bit of research I have since found out that hand washing is the more abrasive of the two. Unfortunately, the official advice is to wash hands with soap for a minimum of 20 seconds in warm water as this is better at removing viruses and bacteria.
I don’t suffer from any specific skin conditions so my heart goes out to those poor souls who have this extra irritation on top of their day to day dermatological struggles.
So I decided to look into what hand cleansers would be more forgiving. Having done the same research previously for a laundry liquid that contains natural cleaning ingredients that are gentle on clothes and skin, I knew there must be something out there that doesn’t cause harm.
I came across soap made with goats milk which I promptly tried and I was so amazed at the positive difference in my skin that I decided to create my own for our gift selection.
Why does hand washing cause dry skin?
Our skin has a lipid barrier that keeps moisture in and pathogens out. Soaps dissolve the lipid barrier if used too frequently causing the skin to become dry and cracked.
This is bad news because damage to the lipid barrier leaves the skin open to germs and infection from bacteria which normally live quite happily on our skin but can cause havoc otherwise.
We can’t do the obvious and wash hands less at the moment but we can try to use good quality hand moisturisers after washing and opt for a good soap which specifically has moisturising ingredients.
Why is goats milk soap so good for skin?
Goats milk has a high-fat content which helps to naturally maintain the moisture barrier in the skin. As such it is popular among eczema and psoriasis sufferers. If you’re used to normal soap or liquid soap you may feel at first, after washing with goat milk soap, that it hasn’t completely washed off, but once you dry your hands you’ll realise that this is actually the super moisturising feeling and it’s wonderful. Goats milk also contains lactic acid which helps to remove dead skin cells, it is rich in vitamin A, protein and essential amino acids and minerals such as calcium, potassium and selenium, all ingredients used in expensive skincare products to rejuvenate, hydrate and nourish skin.
Kind in every way – no kidding!
Our May Chang goat soap is produced using raw milk from a small goat herd based in the New Forest national park. In order to produce milk, goats need to have kids. Our artisan soap producer ensures that the goats are allowed to completely raise their kids. This takes about 6 months until they wean themselves at which point they are found loving homes. The kids are allowed to feed first of course and only the remaining milk is taken to make the soap.
How the soap is made
The soap is hand made using a traditional cold-press method. Once the ingredients, including our May Chang blend are mixed, they’re poured into moulds and left for 48 hours to solidify. Then they are divided in to individual soaps and set aside to cure. This process takes at least three weeks.
All-natural ingredients
Our signature May Chang blend of essential oils have been included to create our gorgeous new soap. The blend consists of lavender, cedarwood, patchouli, laurel, rosemary, clove and thyme. All of the essential oils are produced organically and blended in the New Forest national park by a perfumer and aromatherapist. The soap only contains natural ingredients, there are no artificial fragrances, colours or preservatives, no palm oil, parabens or SLS… oh and it is suitable for vegetarians.
The May Chang blend – a perfect gift
Our May Chang blend featured in this soap is actually designed to repel clothes moths and comes in a variety of products in our moth repellent range, however it is extremely popular among customers for its lovely sweet, zesty fragrance so every now and then we produce some extra limited edition goodies perfect for gifts which feature the scent. This year as well as the May Chang goats milk soap, we have also created a May Chang candle which is extremely relaxing and when lit in the evening, it makes me very snoozy.
Of course, we carry on as usual with our anti-clothes moth crusade but every now and then it’s nice to create a little extra luxury out of our signature blends. And remember, you can always store our soap, in its box, in a draw to repel moths and scent your clothes before you use them.
Hand made May Chang goat milk soap
Award-winning palm oil-free goats’ milk handmade soap made from using the raw milk from a small herd of happy goats who live on a small holding in Hampshire.
The soap is made using natural oils and butter using the ancient and traditional cold process method. Using pure essential oils for fragrance, the soap is luxuriously creamy and packed full of vitamins and minerals that your skin will love. For hundreds of years, it has been believed that goats milk has exceptional moisturising and healing properties. It has a similar pH level to human skin and works particularly well on dry skin problems.
Sodium Olivate (Olive Oil), Goats Milk, Sodium Cocoate (Coconut Oil), Sodium Sunflowerate (Sunflower Oil), Sodium Cocoabutterate (Cocoa Butter). Lavandula angustifolia oil, juniperus virginiana oil, Pogostemum cablin oil, Laurus nobilis oil, Litsea cubeba oil, Thymus vulgaris oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (leaf) oil, Syzygium aromaticum (bud) oil, Eugenol*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool*, Citronellol*, Citral*, Methyl eugenol* * Naturally occurring in essential oils.
Made by Cyril’s Soap Shed, SO51 6EE for Total Wardrobe Care Ltd
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