SOAPWALLA

Soapwalla was founded by Rachel Winard in her NYC kitchen when she created the cult product Original Deodorant Cream. After months of unsuccessfully searching for products that did not irritate her sensitive skin, she created her own. All Soapwalla products are handmade in Brooklyn in their Soapwalla Kitchen, made from clean, organically grown, and even edible ingredients. To obtain the highest quality, Soapwalla partner with small farms – a testament to their integrity and dedication to create a sustainable skin care brand. 

 

MEET THE FOUNDER - SOAPWALLA

 

HOW DID IT ALL START?

During my first year of law school, I got very sick. Overnight I went from being perfectly healthy to having all sorts of medical conditions crop up. It took a year, but I was finally diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus for short), a chronic autoimmune illness that has varied symptoms but nearly always affects the skin, as it's our largest organ. Like others who suffer from lupus, I get terrible skin rashes, hives, and irritated skin patches. When it was at its worst, I could barely use water on my skin without irritation. The concept for Soapwalla was born one late night in early 2002, after months of unsuccessfully hunting for face and body products that would not aggravate my sensitive skin. I tried everything on the market I could find without any luck - and I mean everything. If the product said it was 'hypoallergenic' or 'sensitive' or 'natural' or 'organic' I bought it. And then I threw it away when it made my skin feel worse. I decided to start making my own products that were as healthy and wholesome as possible. Friends and family gently prodded me to sell my beloved skincare products to the public and Soapwalla premiered Dec 1, 2009.

 

WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF YOUR BRAND?

Feed Your Skin is on every package we sell. Your skin is your largest organ and in order for it to function at its best, you need to feed it wholesome ingredients. My guiding principle when I first started formulating and our overarching philosophy still is: The skin is our largest organ and for it to function at its best, we must feed it wholesome ingredients. If I refuse to put something in my body, I do not want to put it on my body. Also, we are a completely gender-neutral, universal brand - if you have skin, you can use our products. 
 

WHAT DOES BEAUTY MEANS TO YOU?

Beauty is happiness, a glowing, vibrant energy, an excitement to walk through the world and a self-assuredness that shows you know your worth.

 

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION / OBSESSION?
I have so many! Right now, outside of my profession as owner and CEO of Soapwalla, my passions are music, yoga, boxing, design, art, nature, hiking, and baking, to name a few.

 

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

My business inspirations are Eileen Fisher and Patagonia, as they run global, profitable corporations that do good in the world. This is what I want for Soapwalla. My personal inspirations are Maya Angelou, Rachel Carson, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, my friends and family, Agnes Martin, and David Bowie.

 

WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED (THE HARD WAY)? 

SO many! The biggest lesson I have learned over and over in my life, is to listen to my instincts. They never steer me wrong, even when my instincts are going against what every other person is telling me to do. Also, there are no shortcuts. The best - the only - way to get from A to B is by diligent, hard work. Put in the work, you will reap the rewards.

 

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT THE CONSUMER TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BRAND?

That we care about you, that we want you to feel, look and smell your best when you use our products. And that we want to leave the world a better place than we found it. Always.

 

WHAT ARE YOUR BEST BEAUTY TRICKS?

I have three failsafe beauty tricks: 1. Drink a LOT of water. Dehydration can sneak up on us and make us feel tired, irritable, dizzy...and is hard on the skin as well. 2. Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. We all need good quality rest every night. 3. Have fun! Smiling is an immediate mood booster, and changes your entire outlook. 

 

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