Soap: Winter Survival
Soap: Winter Survival

Natural Soap: Winter Survival

Awaken your mind and body on cold winter mornings and soothe dry, itchy winter skin with this moisturizing soap formulated with soothing botanicals, enriched with hydrating shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut milk, and infused with a crisp, uplifting, and refreshing essential oil blend.
Price:
$11.95
oeffa
vegan
cruelty-free
non-gmo
made-in-the-usa
certified-sustainable-palm-oil
Product Overview

Good For: All Skin Types, Winter Itchy Skin, Mild Exfoliation

Oh, the Winter doldrums! Your head is stuffy and your skin is itchy from the dry heat and lack of fresh air. Enjoy the cooling, clearing, and revitalizing scent of this super moisturizing natural seasonal soap made with hydrating plant oils and butters, botanicals, and enriched with nourishing coconut milk to help calm Winter skin. This creamy soap is superfated at a higher level than many of our other recipes which means that more nourishing oils are left in their natural state to moisturize your skin.

Coconut milk, rich in fat, does more than just moisturize, it can help soothe sensitive skin and ease symptoms associated with irritated skin conditions. It also adds a lovely creamy texture to the rich, mild lather.

For centuries herbalists have rubbed marsh mallow root, an incredibly moisturizing herb, on insect bites, burns, and rashes. To get the most benefit from the herb, we mix it with water and allow it to rest until we get a nutrient-rich mucilage, a slick gel, which is incorporated into our soap bar to help soothe, moisturize, and protect dry, irritated, or inflamed skin.

Unrefined shea and cocoa butters are excellent moisturizers that help nourish and soothe dry skin, and can help ease symptoms of irritated skin issues.

Infused with loads of skin-soothing botanicals that also add a scrubby texture to help exfoliate dry winter skin. 

Are you looking for an energy boost to start your day on cold winter mornings? The essential oil blend provides a crisp, cooling, energizing, and penetrating scent that will brighten your day and awaken your mind and body when you are feeling exhausted and fatigued. You may just decide to linger in the shower a little longer with this refreshing soap. 

The natural antibacterial and antiviral properties of Tea Tree and Rosemary Essential Oils are great for cold and flu season.

We make limited quantities of our seasonal soaps, so once they are sold out, they are gone for the season. Our Winter Survival Soap is usually available until late February or early March. 

How To Use

What Should I Use With My Natural Soap to Clean My Body?

organic-natural-soap-latherThe purpose of soap is to combine with oil and dirt on the body, which allows water to wash it away. The method you use to cleanse your skin is really a personal preference. We thought we would share just a few examples.  

Bar Bathers rub the bar directly on their skin to create a creamy lather. Massaging the velvety lather into your skin before rinsing allows you to experience the best moisturizing properties of the soap. This is definitely the best way to use exfoliating soaps.

Hand Latherers create lather in their clean hands and use the lather to massage and wash the skin. This gentle, mild cleansing method may be good for those with sensitive skin. 

Organic Cotton WashclothWashcloth Washers use a washcloth to lather up. Washcloths are made out of lots of different textile textures, from soft cotton to agave fibers, and can provide very gentle to intense exfoliation. Be sure washcloths are laundered and dried often.

Puff Polishers use a mesh puff that works up a foamy, bubbly lather, even with hard water, to wash and gently exfoliate the skin. Poofs make natural soap last longer but can harbor bacteria, so rinse thoroughly after use and replace every few weeks or clean per manufacturer's instructions.

Loofah Latherers love their loofahs that exfoliate and help increase circulation. Whole loofahs can be breeding grounds for bacteria, so be sure they dry out properly after use and replace them every two months. If you would like something less abrasive, check out our Bath & Body Accessories. 

Soap Sackers place their soap into a nylon soap bag. The fibers have a smooth texture for gentle cleansing. Soap sacks can be used for whole bars of soap or scraps that would normally be thrown away.

There is a large variety of bathing accessories available. If using any accessory, never share them with others and replace or clean them often. 

Effective, Feel Good Ingredients

The goal is simple: to Harness the Power & Simplicity of Nature® to cleanse, soothe, heal, and protect your skin and hair!

Our unique formulas rely on moisturizing oils and butters, healing botanicals, and pure essential oils. We choose every ingredient with one end-result in mind….the BEST possible natural skin care for YOU!

Featured Ingredients

Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil
Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil
Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Organic Coconut Milk
Organic Coconut Milk
All Ingredients:
Organic Coconut Oil*
,
Organic Palm Oil (Sustainable)
,
Organic Canola Oil
,
Organic Sunflower Oil
,
Distilled Water
,
Sodium Hydroxide^
,
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
,
Organic Castor Bean Oil
,
Organic Coconut Milk
,
Organic Virgin Shea Butter*
,
Organic Cocoa Butter*
,
Organic Marsh Mallow Root
,
Organic Lavender Essential Oil
,
Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil
,
Organic Rosemary Essential Oil
,
Organic Peppermint Essential Oil
,
Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil
,
Organic Green Tea
,
Organic Saint Johns Wort
,
Organic Thyme
,
Organic Mullein
,
Organic Cornstarch
,
Organic Rosemary Oil Extract (ROE)

*Ingredient is Fair Trade Certified

^Used in the saponification process to turn oil into soap and glycerin. None remains in the finished product. 

Made with certified organic Coconut Milk, Green Tea & Cocoa Butter
Certified Organic By OEFFA  
A USDA Accredited Organic Certifying Agent

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Wash Your Hands To Help Stay Healthy
Hand-Hygiene-Helps-Prevent-Illness

Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that for good hand hygiene all you need is plain soap and water.

Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community.

Five simple and effective steps can help reduce the spread of illness so you, your family, your friends and the general public can stay healthy.

Hand washing is a win for everyone . . . except for the germs!

CDC recommends cleaning hands in a specific way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. The guidance for effective hand washing was developed based on data from a number of studies.

Wash often and follow these five steps every time you wash your hands!

1. Wet your hands with clean, warm running water and apply soap.

  • When dealing with cold and flu viruses, as you wash your hands the soap molecule burrows its way into the fatty envelope of a virus and literally pulls the virus apart.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.

  • Soap and friction help lift dirt, grease, and microbes—including disease-causing germs—from the skin so they can be rinsed down the drain.
  • Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

  • Lathering and scrubbing hands creates friction, which helps lift dirt, grease, and microbes from skin.
  • The entire hand should be scrubbed. Microbes are present on all of the wrinkly surfaces of the hand, especially under the nails.
  • How long are 20 seconds? About the amount of time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  • The ideal length of time for handwashing can depend on other factors for example, if hands are very dirty or if you are caring for someone is ill.
  • Evidence suggests that washing hands for about 15-30 seconds removes more germs from hands than washing for shorter periods.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

  • If you are using a public restroom use a paper towel to turn off the faucet after hands have been rinsed.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

To date, studies have shown that there is no added health benefit for consumers (this does not include professionals in the healthcare setting) using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients compared with using plain soap.

Information is taken from the CDC.gov website

Read our blog "Simple Soap Can Help Decrease the Spread Of Viruses"


View Answer Page
Don't I need to use antibacterial soap to protect my family from germs?

The Short Answer

NO! Adding antibacterial chemicals to soap does not keep your family safe from germs.

I understand why folks (especially those with children) are choosing products labeled “Antibacterial,” hoping to keep their family safe in the war against germs.

According to Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).

"Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water.

In fact, some data
suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.”

Simply washing your hands with old-fashioned natural soap and water rids your skin of most fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Soap does not kill germs, it surrounds them and carries them away.

The Long Answer

Please read our blog: Antibacterials: More Harm Than Good!


View Answer Page
How Long Will A Bar of Natural Soap Last?

Short Answer

Natural Organic Soap Sweet BasilHow long a natural soap bar will last depends on:

  • how many people are using it
  • how often you bathe or shower
  • how you use the bar

For one person showering every day, a well-drained bar should last for about one month.

Longer Answer

Natural soaps are normally softer than commercial soaps because they retain their natural glycerin (which is removed in commercial soap production) and contain no artificial hardening chemicals, synthetic waxes or free alkali.

We also superfat our soaps (add extra oils or butters) and use "softer" oils so that Chagrin Valley natural soaps are more emollient and leave skin feeling moisturized.

Different oils impart different qualities to soap. Some add lathering qualities, some moisturizing, some hardness, and so on. Compared to other natural bars, we use a larger percentage of extra moisturizing and conditioning oils in our soaps and shampoo bars. These oils produce a bar that may not be as hard as bars with less conditioning oils.

How you use the bar will also affect its lifespan. For example, do you use a washcloth, an exfoliating accessory, or only the bar? Although exfoliating loofahs and sponges are great they will use up the soap much faster than a washcloth or the "only the bar" purists.

Our Natural Soap Will Last A Long Time With Proper Care

  • Don't let your soap sit in water
  • Store soap on a well-drained soap dish
  • Allow soap plenty of fresh air to dry between uses
  • Never place soap where shower water can continuously hit it
  • If your bar ever gets waterlogged and becomes gooey, simply set it on a draining soap dish or stand it on its edge for a few days and let it dry out thoroughly

Cute Story: A customer called to say she loved our soaps but could not buy them anymore because they did not last as long as other soaps. A week later she called to place an order and apologize. Her husband, who would NEVER use her natural soaps before, fell in love with her new Juniper soap . . . and he showered twice a day!

To maximize the life of your soap, keep it in a well-drained soap dish so it can dry between uses.

We sell a handcrafted solid white oak soap dish. The deep ridges are perfect for keeping your all natural handcrafted soap dry between uses. White Oak is the wood used in shipbuilding.

A tip passed on by one of our customers whose kids always leave the soap in a water puddle: cut the large bars in halves. Then alternate the halves, allowing a longer drying time between uses.


View Answer Page
What are essential oils?

What Are Pure Essential Oils?

Have you ever enjoyed the scent of a fragrant flower or herb? The fragrance comes from potent, aromatic compounds called essential oils found in the flowers, stems, seeds, bark, roots, fruits, and other parts of plants. It often requires several pounds of a plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil.

Essential oils not only give plants their unique scents but also help lure plant pollinators and protect plants from insects and other predators.

The chemical composition of essential oils may provide valuable psychological and physical aromatherapeutic benefits for some people.

It is important to note that to be a true essential oil, the oil must be isolated from the plant material by physical means only. Essential oils are NEVER extracted using solvents.

Although synthetic fragrances or "nature identical" oils are available at a much lower cost, only natural plant essential oils will provide any aromatherapeutic benefits.

View related natural skin care blogs

What Are Essential Oils (Much more detail)

How Essential Oils Are Extracted

Why We Use Only Real Plant Essential Oils?

What is Aromatherapy?


If you are pregnant or under a doctor's care for any medical condition, please consult your healthcare provider before using essential oils.

Pregnancy & Children: We do not provide information on the safety of essential oils during Pregnancy or for use in Children because the available information is very ambiguous and often contradictory. If you’re interested in using essential oils during pregnancy or with young children please do your own research and consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional before use.


View Answer Page
Why Does the Smell of Natural Soap and Shampoo Bars Made with Essential Oils Change?

My natural soap bar doesn't smell the same as the last one

We sometimes receive emails that go like this:

  • I just reordered [some soap]. It is my favorite bar but it does not smell the same. Did you change the recipe?

  • This name of this bar is "lavender . . . " but I smell more of the other essential oils than lavender. Why do you call it lavender?

The good news is that when you purchase natural soap from an organic skincare company, it is scented with only pure essential oils.

The bad news is that when you purchase natural soap from an organic skincare company, it is scented with only pure essential oil.

The scent of an essential in any totally natural product can and will change over time and from batch to batch.

Essential Oils are a Natural Ingredient

Essential oils come from nature. The quality and scent of essential oils are affected by yearly weather conditions and varies from crop to crop and region to region.

This makes it very difficult to produce finished products in which the scents are always exactly the same.

Most commercial soaps (and skincare products), even some of the "natural" ones that contain some essential oils, are made with at least some synthetic fragrances oils, nature identical oil, or natural fragrance oil. Using any synthetic fragrance ensures a more consistent scent.

Essential oils are temperamental to work under any circumstance. But while a natural essential oil scent blend may change a bit in a cream or oil, these blends are especially unpredictable when making cold processed natural soap.

After all my years of soap making in never ceases to amaze me just how much the actual soap making process changes the scent of an essential oil blend.

View related natural skin care blogs

Natural Soap and Essential Oils

Why We Use Only Real Plant Essential Oils?

Natural Fragrance Oil? . . . Really?

Why Are Synthetic Fragrance Oils So Popular?


View Answer Page
Are Chagrin Valley Ingredients & Products USDA Certified Organic?

Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve is a USDA Certified Organic Company

Certified Organic Skin Care

The most important consideration in any business is its customers. Today's world of misleading claims, false advertising, and simple deception, often leaves consumers trying to discover the truth about personal products and their ingredients.

  • We want our customers to know that we are committed to transparency in everything we do.
  • We want our customers to know that when we say "organic," we mean it.
  • We believe that in becoming a USDA Certified Organic company, our customers do not have to wonder if we really use certified organic ingredients or if our organic products are truly organic.
  • So we choose to be a certified organic company and abide by the strict standards required for organic certification.

Some of my favorite products are made with ingredients that just do not exist as certified organic. Why? At this time there are no standards created for ingredients specifically used in the personal care product industry. Organic certification of personal care products is based on the organic food standards set by the National Organic Program of the USDA.

But since we are a certified organic company, we are required to submit documentation that even our "non-organic ingredients" were produced without the use of toxic pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage sludge, or irradiation.

View related natural skin care blogs

Why Did We Become a Certified Organic Company?

What Do All of the Organic Labels Mean?

Organic Soap Labeling


View Answer Page

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