On the eve of Mother's Day in the US, I want to take a moment to thank my mother for being the best role model and friend I could have asked for -- her strength, generosity, wicked smarts, optimism, fortitude, and love of puns are a continued source of inspiration. Love you, Mom!

Lavender L O V E

Here in the Soapwalla kitchen, we really love lavender! And what's not to love? One whiff of pure lavender essential oil can put your mind at ease, relieve anxiety, diminish pain, and promote restful sleep. But lavender has more to offer than just its gentle, therapeutic scent.

Lavender is also one of the most potent antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial materials in existence. That's a lot of anti- in one little (very safe) plant! It can heal and prevent infection in skin that's been burned or scarred, or simply soothe skin that's irritated from city air, makeup, or stress. Lavender has been used as both an acute and preventative medicine for hundreds of years. Ancient Egyptians used it as a perfume in mummification rituals, while the Romans used it for bathing and as an insect repellant. During the Great Plague of 17^th century London, people were known to wear small bundles of lavender on their wrists to stave off the disease.

For such a beautiful and seemingly delicate plant, lavender certainly packs a punch! You can find lavender essential oil in many of our products. Use our Recover Body Wash or Lavender and French Clay Soap Bar in your morning shower to start your day with a relaxed mind, and even decongest your sinuses if you suffer from seasonal allergies.

 

The lavender in our Original Deodorant Cream kills odor-causing bacteria and adds a gentle, pleasing scent to our top-selling product. If your skin's feeling a little worn out, just a few drops of our Restorative Face Serum will soothe and regenerate, while our Resilience Pregnant Belly Oil is great for itchy or stretched skin that needs a little extra love. And don't let the name fool you, our Belly Oil works for more than just pre-and post-partum skin! Many of our customers have found it calms inflamed skin and can speed up the healing process of eczema and psoriasis patches

Need a little afternoon pick-me-up? Slather your lips in our delightful Lip Locked Lavender Mint Lip Balm for a soothing tingle that'll keep you smiling into the evening. Finally, after a hard day's work, unwind in a tub full of our Recover Bath Salts to soothe tired muscles, relieve aches and pains, soften the skin, eliminate toxins, and reenergize the spirit.

We encourage you to try something new and fall in love with the superhero plant - lavender!

Lupus Awareness Month

May is Lupus Awareness Month. Soapwalla is a staunch supporter of both the Lupus Foundation of America and the New York City Lupus Foundation. Soapwalla's founder, Rachel Winard, was diagnosed with systemic lupus in 2003, a chronic autoimmune condition that attacks various organs and almost always affects the skin. Rachel's diagnosis led her on a quest to find - and create - pure, effective and beautiful skincare products that would be safe enough to use on even the most reactive skin. Lupus Awareness Month is a big deal in the Soapwalla studio. Rachel and Soapwalla will be donating a portion of this month's sales to each organization.