The cleansing products from So…Soap don’t just break down dirt and oil in your pores, but also break down the barriers to employment that many poor women in Hong Kong face. While there are a lot sustainable products out there that meet one or two social, political or environmental concerns (e.g., PETA-endorsed Method), this is the first soap I’ve seen that takes nearly everything into account. And I mean everything!

1. Communities: The manufacturer uses a community-based production scheme that recruits local women. The women are given a way to provide for their families while working flexible hours close to home. When you buy a bottle of So…Soap, your individual label will tell you what specific community helped to produce your product!
2. Ingredients: Every product is hand-made from completely natural, vegan  ingredients. You won’t find sodium laurel sulfate or any of the other common ingredients typically found in most hair and skin products.
3. Packaging: Each So…Soap product comes in a cute bottle. What consumers may not know is that the manufacturer paired up with two local organic soy milk producers to obtain used soy milk containers that are disinfected and reused as soap containers.

Discover more at SoSoap.com.

Because bar soap is more ubiquitous in your bathroom than a Kardashian on cable TV, it’s so very easy to take it for granted. But you probably shouldn’t. Most of the bar soap products on store shelves are pumped full of dyes, chemicals, artificial perfumes and other nasty stuff that, over time, can dry out and damage your skin. Hello, premature wrinkles!

While Dr. Bronner’s magic soap bars — no, really, they’re labeled “magic” — may first catch your eyes for their text-heavy, messy labeling, a second glance reveals just how awesome these soap bars are. The ingredient list boasts all-natural, organic and fair trade stuff like coconut oil and jojoba oil, while it also proudly displays PETA’s “Not Animal Tested” logo. Good for my skin, good for the bunny rabbits, good enough for me!

Plus, the numerous available scents, like citrus orange and lavender, are as refreshingly clean as the ingredients. Cruelty-free soap has never smelled or felt so good!