Mad About Mama Event GIVEAWAY! Heritage Soaps 5/08

I am usually a body wash girl, mainly because most bar soaps I have found have been incredibly harsh on my skin, and have left me feeling dry or itchy. You know what I mean...You step out of the bath or shower thinking you're clean, and the next thing you know, your skin has an "icky" feel to it, and sometimes there's even a nasty residue. This has happened to me more times I can count, especially during hotel stays for some reason.

So some years ago, I just quit buying soap altogether. I switched to liquid body wash and never looked back. I had never really reconsidered my stance on soap until Heritage Soaps contacted me asking me to review their handmade soaps. I have to admit, I was definitely intrigued. I had never tried handmade soaps, and I was curious as to how a handmade soap was different than a commercially produced bar of soap. So eager to find out, I agreed to give their soaps a shot. Before I get into my opinion and review, let me tell you some things that I learned about Heritage Soaps, and why you should give them a try...even if you're a body wash gal like I was...

Heritage Soaps is a family owned business in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. What a gorgeous place to live, by the way! I am an Ohio native, so naturally I have been to the Amish country in Lancaster County several times, and the area is stunning. There are many farm communities, and the area is rich with history and culture. (And there is also one of the best Amish-run buffets there with some of the most delicious food I have ever eaten!)

Lancaster County is an area that thrives on the forgotten art of handcrafted goods. There is no better home for a handmade soap company, and some of this local flavor definitely shows in their attractive and delicious smelling soaps!

Heritage Soaps makes all of their soaps in small batches to ensure the quality of each batch. All soaps are made by hand using only the finest ingredients. Their  oils are chosen for their qualities to moisturize, for hardness and luxurious lather. Their soap is made by the cold process method, which retains all the naturally occurring glycerin of the saponification process. The oils used  are all food grade which ensures you are receiving the best quality ingredients that are available.  

 

They also hand cut and hand wrap every bar...They even make their own wrappers. Each bar is given a long cure period so that when it reaches you it is mild and ready to use. If you are unsure of your own allergies or reactions, skin testing is recommended. Apply a small amount to the skin of your inner arm. Do not use is redness or irritation occur. As with all soap, do not let it sit in water or it will become soft. Allow the soap to dry between usage and you will have a longer lasting harder bar.





The Dirty Truth About Soap:


Conventional Soap

Most soaps that you can buy in stores today are not really soaps but rather they are detergents. Detergents are petroleum distillates, other synthetics and chemicals rather than natural fats and oils. Commercially made soaps tend to be less eco-friendly. While commercially manufactured soap usually costs less, the impact on your skin and the environment is less than desirable. Commercially made soaps have most, if not all, glycerin removed. This is why is leaves your skin feeling dry, itchy and tight.


Handmade Soap

People are beginning to discover the benefits of using handmade, chemical free soaps. Handmade soap is often an antidote for those who suffer from psoriasis and eczema as well as people who have sensitive skin or allergies. They often find immediate relief by switching to handmade soap. Compared to a conventional bar of soap, handmade soap is very mild. One of the biggest differences between commercial soaps and handmade soap is glycerin. Glycerin is a clear liquid that absorbs water from the air and is a key factor in keeping your skin soft and healthy. Many commercial soap manufacturers extract the glycerin from their soap and sell it as a by-product to be used in higher priced beauty products like lotions and skin creams.


Who knew that soap wasn't a 4-letter word? Or at least by switching to handmade soap full of natural oils and glycerin, it doesn't have to be anymore! Not to mention, Heritage Soaps come in a wide variety of very decadent scents like:

• Black Raspberry Vanilla
• Warm Vanilla Sugar
• Hot Baked Apple Pie
• Blueberry Muffin
• Monkey Farts
• Reindeer Poo
• Pumpkin Cheesecake
  
• Oatmeal, Milk and Honey

And there are many, many more! You'll have to visit their website to find out more! Oh, and did I mention that while they have a HUGE stock of these unique soap creations, they specialize in custom orders? Yes! You can have your family's soap custom made to your specifications! Maybe a family member is very prone to poison ivy like I happen to be...You can have oatmeal added to your soap for extra soothing properties. Or maybe you'd love a wonderful exfoliating soap? Try adding some poppy seeds! The possibilities are endless with Heritage Soaps! And they are super-friendly, too, and will provide nothing but the best customer service.

And just look at how cute these soaps are! They are definitely made with love, and it shows!

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I received the Oatmeal, Milk & Honey and the Black Raspberry Vanilla scents for my review. I am very impressed by these soaps. Like I said, I almost NEVER use bar soaps of any kind, as I have found them to leave either an icky "film" on my skin, or they would be drying, making my skin dry and itchy feeling. I traded soaps in for body washes over 10 years ago. 

Eager to see if I have been missing something, I excitedly filled my tub for a nice, hot, leisurely bath with my Heritage Soaps. I have to say, I was surprised at what a good lather these soaps provided! They became very sudsy and a little lather really goes a long way. They also smell wonderful! The Black Raspberry Vanilla smells good enough to eat, and the Oatmeal, Milk & Honey bar has a more delicate scent to it, but is a fantastic exfoliator. I used this before shaving my legs, and it definitely did help me get a closer shave, as the oatmeal in the soap helped slough away any dead skin that I had around the knees and ankles. These soaps also didn't dry my skin at all. They left me feeling fresh and clean, without a residue. Just as a soap should! They also last a long time. I have been using mine for a couple of weeks, and the bars are almost the same size as they were when I first used them!

Overall, I am very impressed by Heritage Soaps. They are decadent, yet simple, and they have a huge variety of delicious scents to choose from. Wouldn't you like to try them, too? Maybe you'll even give up YOUR body wash in favor of these handmade soaps!

They are also very affordable, so you can stock up all of your bathrooms and give some as gifts, all without breaking the bank!

BUY IT:

You can buy Heritage Soaps on their website. For a limited time, they will be offering my readers a special promotion:

BUY 10, GET 1 FREE! When ordering, just leave "Mad About Mama" in the comment box for this great deal!

WIN IT:

One of you lucky ducks will be getting this beautiful soap gift set, in your choice of scents! Included are 2 soaps of your choice, prettily packaged in this beautiful holder!

Isn't that adorable? To enter, just fill out the easy entry form. I have switched to Google doc forms because I know your time is valuable and entering this way is so much more efficient than leaving a zillion comments. Feel free to comment here to remind yourself you have entered, but please know that comments do not count as entries!

This giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on May 8, 2011. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be posted on this blog as well as notified via e-mail. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond before I am forced to choose another winner. Good luck!

***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided. My opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***