Soap: Adzuki Bean Complexion

Name: Soap: Adzuki Bean Complexion
Brand: Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve
SKU: sadzuki
Price: 9.95 USD
Availability: InStock

A moisturizing, natural complexion soap made with adzuki bean powder that gently exfoliates without damaging skin's surface, leaving a soft, radiant glow.

Title:

Full Bar 5.6 oz

Trial Sample Bar 1.7 oz

$9.95

Quantity

Product Overview

Good For: All Skin Types, Gentle Exfoliation

A moisturizing, natural complexion soap made with organic Adzuki Bean powder used in Japanese skincare regimens for centuries and French Pink Kaolin Clay.

French Pink Kaolin Clay is a mild clay that provides the ideal balance for those with sensitive skin that has a bit of excess oil and needs gentle exfoliation.

Gently exfoliates without damaging the skin's surface, leaving a soft, radiant glow
Adzuki beans contain saponin, a natural foaming agent, that helps cleanse pores by removing dirt and dead skin cells
Exfoliation helps draw out impurities and promotes circulation
Moisturizing organic cocoa butter soothes and softens dry, itchy skin

Our organic adzuki beans are ground at an Amish mill right here in Ohio!

Learn more about Cosmetic Clays in Skincare

Learn more about Adzuki Beans

How To Use

How Should I Use Natural Soap to Clean My Face?

We believe in simple, effective cleansing for your complexion and that is accomplished with natural soap and water. The 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, especially your face, is really personal preference. We thought we would share just a few examples.

Hand Lathering is usually the suggested method for cleansing delicate facial skin.

Use lukewarm water to create a creamy lather in your clean hands.
Gently massage the lather over your face using circular motions with your fingers.
Rinse with cool water and pat dry.

Washcloth Washers: A washcloth can help remove dead cells and invigorate your skin. A gentle massage with a soft washcloth can help keep facial skin smooth and clean.

Rub the bar on a soft, clean, wet cloth to create a creamy lather.
Apply to your face by a gentle massage using circular motions.
Rinse with cool water and pat dry.

If you are using a washcloth:

Exfoliating or scrubbing too hard may cause the skin to become red and irritated.
Use a clean washcloth, especially if you are prone to acne. Washcloths can re-deposit dirt and grime right back onto your skin.
Washcloths can have soft or rough fibers. You want to use soft, NOT rough fibers on your face.

Never share washcloths or other accessories and replace or clean them often.

A Few Other Pointers:

Use warm, not hot, water to wash your face.
Use cool water as a final rinse to close your pores.
Avoid products made with synthetic ingredients that can irritate facial skin.
Avoid products that contain alcohol which can cause skin to become tight and dry.
Apply a moisturizer immediately after washing your face while skin is still damp.

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 Adzuki Beans

Kaolin Clay

Organic Coconut Milk

All Ingredients:

Organic Coconut Oil*

,

Organic Palm Oil (Sustainable)

,

Organic Canola Oil

,

Organic Sunflower Oil

,

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

,

Distilled Water

,

Sodium Hydroxide^

,

Organic Castor Bean Oil

,

Organic Cocoa Butter*

,

Organic Coconut Milk

,

Organic Adzuki Beans

,

Kaolin Clay

,

Organic Lavender Essential Oil

,

Organic Orange Essential Oil

,

Organic Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

,

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 Organic Oils, Cocoa Butter & Adzuki Beans
Certified Organic By OEFFA
A USDA Accredited Organic Certifying Agent

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Wash Your Hands To Help Stay Healthy

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

12 Reasons to Use Handmade Natural Soap

1. Handmade Soap is Actually Soap

Most of the soap you purchase today is a commercially manufactured chemical cocktail of ingredients. It is not natural and is not even really “soap.”

2. Natural Soap is Made With Natural Ingredients

The very best reason to use natural soap is the ingredients. A product is only as good as the ingredients used to make it.

3. Natural Soap Is NOT Made With...

synthetic ingredients
artificial fragrances or perfumes
artificial colors
detergents
synthetic preservatives

Our soap bars contain only the ingredients that they need—no extra preservatives that liquid body washes or commercial bar "soaps" require to increase their shelf life to years, and no foam boosters to make them lather.

4. Natural Soaps Are Moisturizing

Sadly many people have the misguided perception that all bar soaps will dry your skin. The problem is that most commercial bar “soaps” are detergents and not real soap.

There are three main reasons why natural soaps are moisturizing.

Natural Soaps are made with Plant Oils and Butters
Natural Soaps are Superfatted
Natural Soaps retain their natural Glycerin

5. Scented Natural Soap Provides Real Aromatherapy

Scented natural soaps are made with pure essential oils, not fragrance oils, and offer aromatherapeutic benefits.

6. Natural Soap Helps Maintain Healthy Skin

The body’s largest organ, our skin, is incredibly porous and absorbent. How we treat our skin can have a major impact on our overall health as well as the look and feel of our skin.

7. Natural Soap Provides Rich Lather Without Synthetic Foam Boosters

People absolutely love bubbly lather. The foam, bubbles, and lather we know and love from commercial liquid and bar soaps are produced by surfactants--synthetic foam boosters, lathering agents, and detergents.

8. Natural Soap is Economical

Some consumers are put off by the cost of handmade soap. You probably look at a bar of natural soap and wonder why it costs more. I mean, soap is soap, right? But there are some things to think about!

9. Natural Soap Has a Smaller Environmental Impact

The synthetic chemicals in liquid and many bar soaps wash down our drains into our septic fields or water treatment facilities. Also, if you use a liquid body wash, how many plastic bottles and pumps do you dispose of in a single year?

10. Natural Soaps are Unique

For me, soapmaking is a synergy of science and art that took years to perfect. It is a labor of love. I take the time to create wholesome soap recipes that do not sacrifice beauty or scent while incorporating amazing natural and organic ingredients.

11. A Natural Soap Company Has Social Consciousness

While I am sure there are some large commercial soap companies with a social conscience, natural soapmakers tend to have the utmost respect for the earth and all its creatures.

Environmental stewardship is not a buzzword for us. It is not a talking point, not a political stance nor is it about optics!

12. You Are Supporting A Small Business

When you buy a handmade bar of natural soap, you are supporting a small business that truly cares about and believes in the products they make. Your purchase really does make a difference.

Before I conclude I would like to add one final reason to the question of "Why You Should Switch To Natural Soap Bars."

The simplest answer is, Why Not?

From its composition to its benefits for the skin and health, to its impact on the environment, natural soap is very different from commercial liquid “soap,” bar “soap,” or syndet bars.

This list is a scaled-down version of a blog I wrote that shares the same name. For more detail please read our blog, “12 Reasons to Use Natural Soap"

View Answer Page

Why Choose Chagrin Valley Natural Soaps

Aren't all handmade natural soaps the same? . . .

The answer is NO!

Saying a soap is "handmade" says nothing about quality of the ingredients or the knowledge and skill of the soapmaker!

Chagrin Valley is not just another soap and skincare company. We are committed to healthy skin, healthy people and a healthy planet.

We are a USDA Certified Organic Company specializing in luxurious, organic, handmade natural soaps and shampoo bars rich in natural glycerin for healthier skin and hair.

It's all about the ingredients! Inspired by our love of nature, we use organic herbs, seeds, flowers, vegetables, fragrant spices, fruits, pure essential oils and purifying clays for their exceptional skincare benefits and to provide natural color, aromatherapy, texture, or gentle exfoliation. Nothing artificial, nothing synthetic, no GMO’s, just natural wholesome ingredients.

Chagrin Valley's Natural Soap & Shampoo Bars Are...

all natural
made with USDA Certified Organic ingredients
handcrafted in small batches using the old-fashioned Cold Process Method
made with sustainable and fair trade ingredients
certified cruelty-free
free of detergents
free of synthetic fragrances
free of synthetic colors
free of artificial preservatives
free of artificial foam boosters
free of alcohol and petroleum products
free of synthetic additives
free of GMOs
biodegradable
mild and nourishing
rich in natural glycerin
magnificent long-lasting lather
cured for 8 to 10 weeks

Our soap making process uses only natural and organic ingredients. Why add artificial ingredients to a handmade product?

"Are All Handmade Soaps The Same?"

"12 Reasons to Use Natural Soap"

View Answer Page

How Big are Chagrin Valley Natural Soap and Shampoo Bars?

Natural Organic Chocolate and Honey Soap Bar for dry skin Although we get asked this question often, it is a very difficult one to answer, because the bottom line is . . . how old is the bar? Is It freshly cut or has it been allowed to cure?

Handmade soap and shampoo bars made using the cold process method and at the end of the soap reaction (saponification), they still contain water. The curing process allows excess water to evaporate.

Our freshly cut full-size bars are soft and weigh approximately 6.4 to over 7.4 ounces.

These bars will lose approximately 12% of their weight as most of the water evaporates during the first 6 to 8 weeks of curing time. This means that an average fresh bar, at 6.8 ounces will weigh approximately 6.0 ounces after about 8 weeks.

At Chagrin Valley Soap, our soap and shampoo bars are cured for about 10 to 12 weeks before selling and moisture will continue to evaporate over time as the bar ages. So, as our soap and shampoo bars sit waiting for a new home they will continue to shrink in size.

Some soap makers use the fresh-cut weight on their packaging, but we feel that is an inaccurate description. We use the average weight of our bars after at least a 10 week curing time.

While some companies allow their soaps to cure for only 4-weeks, but we know that our longer, slower curing time ensures a milder, harder, longer-lasting bar, with a very rich lather.

Some soap companies shrink wrap their soap bars to help prevent continuous shrinkage due to evaporation. We have a few big problems with that idea. First of all, we know that we definitely do not need any more plastic added to our planet. Secondly, although we know there will continue to be a small weight (and scent) loss over time, we prefer that over sacrificing the quality of our soap.

Since each of our soap/shampoo recipes is different and the percent of liquid used varies, the amount of water that evaporates over time and the bar size will also vary.

The average weight of Chagrin Valley full-size natural soap and shampoo bars is about 5.6 to 5.8 ounces after 10 weeks of curing. The average full-bar dimensions in inches are approximately 3.75 x 3 x 1.

Our Natural Soap and Shampoo Trial Size Sample Bars weigh approximately 1.5 to 2 ounces.

Summary of the variation in weight

Our soaps are a handmade product
As our curing bars sit and wait for a new home, they will continue to lose water weight and shrink a bit
Since all of our recipes are different, the amount and type of liquid used to make each recipe differ and the more liquid used in the recipe, the more they will shrink as they cure
In Winter the dry heat will often cause bars to shrink a bit more
No plastic wrapping
The good news is that the older bars will last longer and lather even better

Compare our bar size! Most handmade soap companies sell bars that are about 3.5 to 4.5 ounces. Our customers have told us that they like the larger size bars.

When you compare the prices of other soaps, please compare SIZE and ingredients as well!

For a great explanation of the process involved in making soap please read our blog, "How We Make Soap"

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

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

How Long Will A Bar of Natural Soap Last?

Short Answer

Natural Organic Soap Sweet Basil How 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

Are Chagrin Valley Ingredients & Products USDA Certified Organic?

Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve is a USDA Certified Organic Company

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

What Do The Different Organic Symbols Mean?

We use two different organic symbols on our website.

Each symbol has a unique definition!

Organic Labels

The "certified organic" labeling has been developed by the USDA and refers to organic claims and labeling on food and personal care products in the United States. The USDA has very strict guidelines for the percentage of organic ingredients necessary to receive organic certification. Other countries have their own certification procedures, requirements, and standards. Labeling criteria and allowable ingredients differ from those in the US.

The USDA Organic Logo Label can be used on products that meet the standards of the first two tiers of the organic labeling system in which 95 - 100% of the ingredients are certified organic.

Most of our non-soap products fall into this category and display the USDA logo!

OEFFA is a USDA accredited organic certification agency The Certified Organic by OEFFA label is used in our company for two reasons . . .

Soaps and Shampoos: These products contain at least 8% of the sodium hydroxide due to the process of soapmaking. Our "organic" soap is about 87% to 92% organic, but the USDA standard states that a product must be made of 95-100% organic ingredients in order to bear the USDA Certified Organic seal shown above. We are also not allowed to use the words "organic soap" on the label.

Wildharvested Ingredients: When using any agricultural ingredient (any ingredient that has a biological origin) that is not certified organic the same labeling rules we use for soap apply.

The USDA rules for proper labeling state that the products may display the certifying agent's logo but not the USDA organic logo. Our USDA certifying agency is OEFFA (The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association). Their logo is displayed on our "organic" soaps and shampoos.

Why do some soap companies use the word "organic" on their labels--even though it is against the rules? Click Here to Read More about Rules for Organic Labeling of Soap!

Unofficial Labels

We sometimes use an unofficial symbol for products made with "natural" ingredients that do not meet the criteria for either label above. You may see this type of symbol on products, like the Dead Sea Black Clay, Bamboo Charcoal, and Loofah Pumice Foot Soaps and our Mud & Clay and Rosemary Mint Charcoal Shampoo Bars.

Organic certification is based on organic farming and agriculture standards. As a result, the list of allowable non-agricultural ingredients (like clay, salt, mud etc) is based on raw materials used in agriculture or food production. Unfortunately, ingredients like some Clays, Pumice, Dead Sea Mud and Bamboo Charcoal are not used in farming or food production and thus do not appear on the list.

Although it may seem long, this is really a very brief description. For more detailed information please read, "What Do All Of The Organic Labels Mean?"

View Answer Page

Do Your Natural Soap And Shampoo Bars Have An Expiration Date?

The Short Answer

Yes And No!

Although handmade natural soaps usually get better with age, we recommend using our soaps within 12 months of purchase. Our scented soaps should be used within 3 months after removing them from the box.

Although the soaps will not be "spoiled" after that time, you may notice some changes as natural soap ages.

some natural colors may fade over time
the scents from pure natural essential oil scents will fade over time

The changes in color and scent happen even more quickly in our sample size bars.

These small natural soap bars have a much greater surface area to volume ratio which allows essential oils to evaporate from the surface more quickly. However, the scent may still be there when you lather up.

I have found some ancient bars hiding in my closet that years old. The scents were gone, but the lather was incredible!

The Long Answer

For a more detailed discussion please read our blog, "The Shelf Life, Color & Scent of an All Natural Soap."

How You Can Help Prolong Shelf-Life

Natural soaps need to breathe. Exposure to air promotes hardening of your soap and contributes to longer-lasting quality. Soap should be left unwrapped in their boxes or wrapped with breathable materials. Tight wrappers cause humid conditions by preventing evaporation of moisture.
Our soaps are packaged in breathable, recyclable, sustainable packaging! Keep your natural handmade soaps in a dry, cool place away from sunlight, excessive heat and humidity.
Our scented soaps, like Lavender Rosemary, can be placed in a muslin bag, old clean sock, or wrapped in a piece of cloth and put in your linen closet or dresser drawer to give a delightful fragrance to your linens and clothes while waiting to be used.

View Answer Page

Soap: Adzuki Bean Complexion