When you eat vegan, you also start thinking about what you’re putting on the outside of your body. After all, your skin is your largest organ. So I am a bit particular about the soap I use.
I had heard a lot of good things about the company Lush. It’s absolutely great that they are vegan and environmentally minded, but there is something about the vivid, radioactive colors of their products that sets off my alarms.
It turns out that in addition to lots of synthetic coloring, they include many questionable ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, and parabens. Parabens in particular are something that I have concerns about due to the connections to cancer that a lot of researchers have found.
Here in Paris, I like to take a back-to-basics approach and go with Savon D’Alep. This is the original way soap was made, dating from Antiquity where it was created in Syria with olive oil and bay leaf oil. You’ll find this soap at any natural foods store in town.
It’s a very natural-feeling soap, but sometimes, when you want something that is more scented and fun I love Raw Gaia. Not only are they 100% Vegan and organic but their products are raw, which like with food means it’s not heated to more than 40ºC, and therefore maintains its antioxidant properties. They have really nice smelling creams too and everything they make is very pure and simple.
Raw Gaia is based in England, so now that the pound is slumping it’s the perfect time to exploit your powerful Euro by buying from their web site!
Vegan Pilgrim 
I’m a total ‘Lushie’ and the fact that they are approx 70% vegan in their products and that they support as well as take active steps in many causes. They are also largely organic and working on fair trade.
However, I agree that they are not as natural as I would like in some products and hence have my favourites that I stick to but for things like shampoo/conditioner and soap I love Aubrey Organics and Dr. Bronner’s Magic 18-in-one Castile soaps which are liquid concentrate. They are are purely organic, natural, fair trade and no animal products/testing and as the 18-in-one suggests, they have many uses! Literally a few drops is enough and can be used for face, body soap, washing up liquid for clothes and dishes, hair shampoo, facial massage, shaving cream and more.
Love your site – I will be trying the recipes, they look absolutely delicious!
Hi,
Wow, me too: I absolutely love Aubrey Organics and Dr. Bronner’s. The problem is you can’t can’t get them in Paris, as far as I know. I stock up on them every time I go to the US or England. Whole foods in London carries a wide range of Dr Bronner’s but not Aubrey organics. You can also order from Aubreyorganicsuk.co.uk
If you or anyone who reads this knows where I can find these soaps locally I would be thrilled to know.
Glad you liked the site and hope your Paris trip is great.
Emily
A friend told me to check out The Conran Shop at 117 Rue de Bac for Dr. Bronner’s. I am going today to see if it’s there 🙂