Product Review: Kirk’s Original Coco Castile Soap

Kirk’s Natural

Original Coco Castile Soap

4 oz, ~$1

Available at drug and grocery stores

ing: Coconut soap, water, vegetable glycerin, coconut oil and natural fragrance.

You may remember that I did a bar soap challenge this Spring/Summer and while talking to a co-worker about it he recommended I check out this brand. He was so impressed that he actually purchased this bar for me and JK to try.  Though it is not advertised this product is Kentucky Proud, meaning it is made in Kentucky, and you know I love to buy local when I can.

The product boasts that it contains no animal by-products, synthetic detergents, yet promises a rich creamy lather even in the hardest water.  I actually received the scented version of this product which has a very mild scent, reminiscent of Ivory soap in my opinion.  While I would prefer a nice floral or fruity scent I do like the simplicity of this product.

5 Things I Liked About This Product

1. Its cheap. I mean let’s just be real not everyone want to pay a lot for products.
2. Its natural. Vegan, no synthetics and simple ingredients you can pronounce.
3. It worked.  It got us clean and removed the everyday dirt and grime JK threw at it.
4. Its readily available.  Kirk’s products are available at nearly 100 stores across the nation including Ralph’s, Kroger, Safeway, Meijer’s etc.
5. It lathers well. IMO it really is like a natural version of Ivory soap. It worked just fine with our hard water here in Kentucky.

This soap was not moisturizing, did not smell amazing and the 4 ounce bar did not last as long as other bars we tried. However it is still a great value for the price.  I would recommend this bar to anyone looking for a standard soap bar at a value price.  Kirk’s has other products including glycerin soaps, body wash, shampoo and conditioner so you may want to check those out.  Check out their website above and like them on facebook.

Product Review: SheaMoisture Argan Oil & Raw Shea Butter Soap

SheaMoisture

Organic Argan Oil & Shea Butter Soap

8 oz, $4.99

Available at Target, Walgreens, and other drug stores

ing: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Coconut Oil and , or Palm Oil , Apricot Oil , Nigella Sativa (Black Seed) , Honey , Argan Oil , Vegetable Glycerin , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Mineral Pigment or Vegetable Color , Essential Oil Blend , Soaps of Coconut & Palm

This is the fourth and final bar in the bar soap challenge. I have tried a couple other bars by Shea Moisture including the Baby Eczema Bar and Shea Butter Coconut & Hibiscus Bar.  This company is known for providing quality ingredients that are incredibly nourishing to the skin.

There are several scents available in this line, however I have purchased this scent because it seems a bit masculine which is good considering my little guy is the one to use this most often and he doesn’t want to smell girly.

5 Things I Loved About This Product:

1. Lathers and cleanses well while rinsing clean.
2. Leaves the skin feeling moisturized but not coated.
3. Works well on both face and body.
4. This bar is GINORMOUS! Seriously, I had to cut it in half because it is larger than the soap holder. Of all the soaps I tried it lasted the longest.
5. Great value.  By far it is the the best value when you compare size, money and longevity.

This bar will be on our permanent shopping list, if not for me then for my son.  I love that it works well on the entire body and meets the needs of everyone in our family.  I would like to try the Red Bush & Sage and Olive & Green Tea Bars next as I think their scents will be a nice neutral balance.  If you have not tried Shea Moisture body products you are missing out, give them a try you will not regret it.

Product Review: Earthy Browns Olive Oil Soap

Earthy Browns

Olive Oil Soap in Rosemary Mint

6oz, $6.99

Available at Whole Foods Stores and online

ing: saponified organic extra virgin olive oil, organic palm oil, kentucky spring water, organic coconut oil, organic palm kernel oil, rosemary essential oil, peppermint essential oil, french green clay.

This is the third bar on this list in the bar soap challenge.  I was excited about this bar because it is a Kentucky Proud product, meaning it is produced locally in the state of Kentucky and I love to purchase local whenever possible.

There were several scents available but I selected rosemary mint which is a light, floral,  and a perfect balance of both fragrances.  I also like the simple packaging which is made from a simple cardboard box and a single label decorated with several fleur de lis images and a simple cut out that allows you to actually see the bar. 

5 Things I Loved About This Product:

1. Cleansed very well and rinses clean.  These are the two most important factors in a soap or cleanser.
2. Did not leave a film or dry out my skin.  Saponified oils soaps just seem to love my skin.
3. I LOVED the way it thoroughly cleansed my face.  I think the addition of green clay really made a difference in adding a little extra oompf in cleaning power.
4. Long lasting. JK and I were able to use this bar for at least 4 weeks.  I was a little sad to see it go.
5. It smells great! If you are not a person who likes heavily scented products you will be able to appreciate the light natural floral scents on this bar.

This bar is definitely on my repurchase list, although I would like to try the lavender chamomile scent next.  All natural, vegan, no synthetic fragrances, dyes or preservatives.  I really loved using this bar on my face it is my favorite so far.  I would love to see what the manufacturer could do with black soap recipe.  Check out their website above and like them on FB.

I purchased this product with my own money and I was in no way compensated for this review by the product manufacturer or the store where I purchased the product.

Product Review: Clearly Natural Essentials Soap

Clearly Natural Essentials

Honeysuckle Glycerin Soap

4oz, $1.99

Available at Whole Foods, Walgreens or online

ing: Glycerine , Coconut , Palm and , or Palm Kernel , Vegetable Derived Surfactants (Coconut/Corn/Sugar) , Corn Derived Humectants , Sodium Citrate , Blend of Natural Aromas and Essential Oils , Saffron , Annatto , Caramel Color , Beet Juice

This is the second bar soap I decided to check out in my bar soap challenge.  As a young girl I remember my Granny having pretty decorative glycerin soaps in the guest bathroom that we were never allowed to use.  I always wanted some and planned that one day they would be mine.

This brand is relatively inexpensive and I had to stop myself from grabbing 3-4 bars just on nostalgic GP.  I opted to go with the honeysuckle because it smelled just plain delightful.  I love the smell of honeysuckle and it is not often that you find products with this light, sweet floral scent so I had to have it.

5 Things I Liked About This Product:

1. I LOVE THE HONEYSUCKLE SCENT.  I mean it smells like real honeysuckle which is one of my fav fragrances.
2. Its relatively inexpensive.  You can easily pick up 3-4 bars to add a little color accent to your bathroom just like my Granny did.
3. It is moisturizing.  Glycerin is a natural humectant so it adds moisture to your skin.
4. Its transparent. Why does this matter? Well it doesn’t really but for some reason I like the fact that I can see through the product and it gives it a natural appeal.
5. Vegetable derived formula so it is vegan friendly.

This bar is not on my repurchase list, at least not for my face/body cleansing needs.  The product performed okay but it was not able to remove my make-up.  I took this bar with me to Atlanta where it was very hot and humid.  I washed several times a day and this soap bar did a good job of removing the sweat without drying out my skin.  I feel however for heavier really grimy days that this bar does not have enough cleaning power. If/when I get a spare bathroom I think I will grab a few bars and toss them in there for the visual and fragrant appeal.

I purchased this product with my own money and I was in no way compensated for this review by the product manufacturer or the store where I purchased the product.

Product Review: One With Nature Shea Butter Soap

One With Nature

Shea Butter Soap 

7 oz, $4.99

Available at Whole Foods Stores or Online

ing: Saponified Palm and Palm Kernel Oils, Shea Butter, Vegetable Glycerin, Natural Fragrance, Dead Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Salt, Vitamin E

So I decided to take a break from Dr. Bronner’s and check out some of the bar soaps available.  My little prince uses bar soap.  It is easier for us because he is able to wash himself up with spilling it like with liquid soap and it is so darn inexpensive.

They have so many varieties to choose from I decided to go with shea butter because it smelled so darn delicious and I felt it would be moisturizing since shea is the second ingredient.  My estimations were spot on the smell was so light and fresh and gave my bathroom a warm polite scent.  

5 Things I Liked About This Product:

1. It works. It got my face and body clean removed make-up, dirt, grime, sweat and anything else we threw at it.
2. It was not drying.  Most of the complaints with bar soap is that it is drying and leaves your skin feeling tight or itchy. That was not the case with this product.
3. It rinses clean.  Another soap complaint is that it leaves behind a residue. That was not the case here, it left my skin feeling nice, soft, clean and moisturized but there was no coating.
4. It lasts.  JK and I both used this soap and it lasted us for a little over a month. At 7 ounces it is much larger than your standard soaps and it too big for soap holders.  We cut ours in half so it would fit.
5. Its affordable.  Now I know that you can buy a 3 pack of Ivory for $3.99, however how long will that bar last? This bar is a  better value because you do not need as much to clean yourself and it does not simply dissolve to goop at its first interaction with water.

This bar is definitely on my re-purchase list, although I would like to experiment with some of the other scents.  Great value, vegan, and contains no artificial colors or fragrances.  If you have sensitive skin and are using Ivory or Dove you should give these soaps a try, I think your skin will agree with me.  If you do not live near a Whole Foods Store (which is where I purchased this soap) you can purchase from their website.  Like them on facebook and receive 15% off your order with code: facebook.

I purchased this product with my own money and I was in no way compensated for this review by the product manufacturer or the store where I purchased the product.