by Emma Brennan | Sep 29, 2021 | October 2021, Stuff
Local skincare brand Good Juju Herbal offers natural and sustainable bar soaps for happy skin.
Judith Jones’ severe eczema gave her a run for her money (quite literally—dumpster diving was even involved…), but after unearthing allergies to 17 common chemicals found in most skincare products, she spent her last $20 on a soap-making kit, to which—guess what—she wasn’t allergic.
Classic sob story turned inspiration, Jones used this basic allergen-friendly soap as the launchpad for her now very successful female-run, 100% natural, sustainable (and affordable!) skincare brand, Good Juju Herbal—and, more recently, as a platform for the Happy Skin Project, which provides people undergoing harsh treatments like chemo or radiation with free, discounted and deeply moisturizing bar soap.
As a former health care provider and a longtime sufferer of troubled skin (who also has a long list of family members touched and taken by cancer), Jones knows that proper and affordable skincare products for fragile or medically impacted skin is an important—yet often overlooked—part of holistic care.
“The Happy Skin Project is a forever type of project for me,” says Jones. “Not only does this work help me process my mom’s terminal cancer diagnosis, but it also highlights the things I care about most in the work that I do… helping [people] achieve healthy skin and thus a more comfortable life.”
The Happy Skin Project is just one of the ways in which Jones is providing better skincare basics, education and community to others. And it’s working out pretty well for her too. After all, she went from dumpster diving to being featured in the likes of Vogue, HuffPost, People, BuzzFeed and more. Talk about a success story.
Good Juju Herbal is also currently going zero waste as part of the company’s focus on sustainability (all products are made from plants and naturally derived ingredients). The gentle yet hardworking handmade soap is vegan and formulated for any sex, any age, any skin—hence every “body”—and can even be used as a laundry detergent (a win-win!).
So if you have skin issues yourself, or just appreciate well-made skincare products that’ll make you feel good, throw a bar of soap in your cart (there are tons of great seasonal scents from which to choose—including spiced pumpkin and cinnamon oatmeal!)… and consider donating a Happy Skin Project bar for just $2 more while you’re at it. Scrub-a-dub-dub… feelin’ good in the tub! goodjujuherbal.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Aug 31, 2021 | September 2021, Stuff
Scrub-a-dub-dub with The Living Soaperie’s natural and delightfully scented soaps, sprays, scrubs and more.
Your spa days just got a whole lot better thanks to The Living Soaperie, a family-run business specializing in handmade soaps and other bath and body products that stir the senses—and beg you to treat yourself to a nice, long soak in the tub…
Founded in 2015 (with a fresh rebrand in July), The Living Soaperie offers bar soaps (which could easily pass as works of art), liquid soaps, bath bombs, body butters, lip balms, hand sanitizer and more. Each sense-sational select is crafted with high-quality, natural ingredients like essential oils, sustainably harvested rainwater, natural clay, botanicals and spices in creative year-round and seasonal scents—think classics like Lemon Basil, Herbal Zinger, Lavender Milk and the Exfoliating Brewer’s Bar (loaded with pale ale and spent grain from a local Raleigh brewer), plus this summer’s Tidal Wave suds made with lemongrass and seaweed.
It all stems from The Living Soaperie’s founder, Jennifer Evarts, who believes in taking care of people with simple, natural ingredients. She lovingly blends each of her small-batch products by hand to spark joy for customers, whether it’s a thoughtful gift for a hardworking mom, a quick thank-you to a co-worker or boss, or a self-care purchase for yourself (again, get that bath water ready!).
Besides soaping yourself up at the end of a long day, The Living Soaperie’s also got you covered against creepy-crawlies with its Bug Off! natural insect repellent. And there’s no better way to start off—or end—your day than with a deep breath of fragrant essential oil blends or a spritz of an aromatherapy mist. With so many products and uses, it’s no soap-rise that The Living Soaperie is racking up tons of rave reviews.
And while you’ll love the summer scents (we couldn’t get enough of those fresh citrus smells!), get excited for all the fall offerings—looking at you, Pumpkin Spice bar soap, Chai Latte bath fizzies and Harvest Spice body butter (OK, we’re ready for fall now). So, thanks, The Living Soaperie, for raising the bar… of soap. thelivingsoaperie.com
Scoop more local soaps stars here and here.
by Lauren Kruchten | Nov 26, 2019 | December 2019/January 2020, Stuff, Trending
Benji Johnson creates handmade soaps with local ingredients.
Aromas of freshly brewed coffee from Counter Culture. A whiff of local honey from the State Farmers Market. Rich notes of chocolate from Videri. These are just a few of the delightfully familiar scents from Naked Body Skin Care, a handmade soap bar brand made here in Raleigh. Creator and owner Benji Johnson stumbled into the soap making business somewhat accidentally; the idea stemmed from his other business, Ball Player’s Balm, a handmade baseball and softball glove cleaner and conditioner product line. Through researching and developing balms in 2018, Johnson realized he had a passion for creating handmade products that led him to start making bar soaps as well. “The soap making surprised me; I never expected it to be as fun as it is, but I love it,” Johnson says. “It allows for so much creativity and serves as an expressive outlet for using different scents, designs, colors and naming the bars.”
Johnson recognized the health benefits for people using handmade soaps. They naturally contain glycerin, a sugar alcohol derived from animal products that Johnson has found can help skin cells mature properly while protecting and moisturizing skin. Many store-bought soaps have glycerin removed during manufacturing and can contain harmful ingredients.
Johnson’s unique soaps include “Icelandic Breeze,” a teal and gray bar made up of shea butter and Icelandic black sand for a gentle exfoliation; an Arizona-themed bar inspired by the landscapes of the West, and a collection containing Counter Culture-brewed coffee and coffee grounds in flavors such as Vanilla Latte and Mocha. Next, Johnson will make a collection of beer scented soaps using beers from local breweries. They’re sure to make you thirsty. instagram.com/nakedbody.skincare
