I was conducting an online search for multi-purpose soap for my post Can you cover all your beauty needs in just 5 products when I stumbled upon Friendly Soap. The brand kindly gifted me this travel selection of four soaps which I felt deserved their own dedicated review post. First impressions were positive. The letterbox-sized plastic-free kit dispenses of any superfluous packaging: just a recycled card box with a sleeve and a couple of leaflets – one to explain how to switch from a chemical shampoo to a soap bar (as your hair will need to adjust), and another to leave with your local ethical shopkeeper to spread the word. Smart. Certified vegan and cruelty-free, formulas are also free of:
- Parabens – preservatives believed to be hormonal disruptors
- SLS – used to give beauty products a foaming effect and considered a skin irritator
- Palm oil – to be avoided unless certified sustainable due to its link to deforestation
As I continue my foray into bar soaps I put these four virtuous options to the test – are solid soaps the vintage way forward?
