On a sunny winter day in 1997, a friend recruited my help for a soap making project. She thought it would be a good chemistry lesson for my home-schooled children. So, we crowded into her kitchen (equipped with goggles and gloves), and learned how alkali combines with oils to make soap.

My friend had to convince me to try the soap. At first, I was a little afraid to try it because the old fashioned soaps I knew growing up were very harsh (they made their own lye from wood ashes). Thankfully handcrafted soaps have really progressed.

I never realized how drying commercial "soaps" were until I tried our handmade goat milk soap (I have learned most commercial "soaps" are actually detergents). I was finally able to get out of the shower without feeling dry and itchy or like my skin shrank. I was hooked on making my own all-natural soap. I started researching, reading, and learning all I could about making the best soap, and the more I learned, the more I was sure I never wanted to use commercial "soaps" again. I started to read the ingredients on commercial soap labels—yikes!!!

At first I started making it for my family and friends and giving it away as gifts. Eventually my husband, Dean, convinced me that we should go into business and sell our soap. That's how Alabu was born.

Since then, we have continued to grow. We have now expanded from just soap to a line of all natural skin care products. My son, Hal handles most of the day to day operations, and Dean and I have taken more of a supporting role.

Natural continues to be at the forefront of all that we do. Our products have the ability to change the way you think about all-natural skin care, and as someone that cares a lot about the health of my skin, I can assure you that you'll love our products.

—Maryclaire Mayes, Founder

HOW THEY MAKE THEIR SOAP

All of our soap is made in small batches, and each bar is backed by our best-in-the-industry satisfaction guarantee. We allow our soaps to naturally air-dry for at least four weeks before selling them. Drying is necessary to make a long-lasting, mild, and sensitive-skin-friendly bar of soap.

Why our soap is different:

Soap making is a delicate blend of art and science. Because of the temperamental reactions of the ingredients—goat milk, vegetable oils, and sodium hydroxide—it's very tricky to create a soap that uses goat milk as a base ingredient instead of water. Often times goat milk soap makers will use powdered milk or just add a splash of goat milk at the end. At Alabu, each bar is over 1/4 goat milk! We've developed a proprietary manufacturing process that allows us to do this, and the result is one insanely moisturizing bar of soap.

More and more people are discovering the truth about commercial "soaps" (go ahead and read the ingredients on their labels). They are finding out that they are not soaps but actually harsh detergents. Detergents are actually degreasing agents and strip the natural moisturizing oils out of your skin along with the soil. It's no wonder your skin feels often dry and uncomfortable after bathing!

Commercial detergent manufacturers also remove the naturally occurring glycerin (also called glycerol) that is produced during manufacturing. Glycerin is a natural substance (called a humectant) that helps your skin retain its natural moisture. Commercial manufactures remove this glycerin for various reasons (sometimes because it gums up their automated manufacturing equipment, or because they can sell it for more than it's worth left in the soap). Either way, the result is an even more drying bar of detergent cleanser.

Handcrafted soaps gently lift the soil on your skin into suspension so it can be washed away, but they also leave glycerin and other moisturizing oils behind making your skin softer and keep it moisturized.

After regularly using handcrafted soap you should find that you no longer need to apply as much lotion and cream after bathing. Many people find they don't need additional products at all after using Alabu's soap. So why not treat yourself to a bar of handcrafted soap? Your skin will thank you for it.

We use a cold-process method to handcraft our soaps in small batches. This means we don't heat the ingredients to speed up the chemical reaction that makes the soap. This preserves the naturally occurring properties of the milk and oils we use. Goat milk is rich in proteins, vitamins, moisturizing butterfat, and minerals, and it's very nourishing to your skin. We do everything possible to preserve these properties. The result; Alabu's soap moisturizes, soothes, and softens your skin naturally. Try a bar; we think you'll love how it makes you feel!

We are committed to making natural skin care products that gently yet thoroughly cleanse and moisturize. Our products contain no artificial preservatives, no colors, and no fillers. Most people with sensitive skin find they can use our scented products with good results, but for our friends with especially delicate complexions we also offer unscented products.

For questions regarding Alabu, please see our FAQ page under the Information Library in this section. Click here.