FAQs
Where are your products made?
All of our artistic, handmade soap and premium natural skincare products are handmade in small batches in a dedicated workspace in Douglas, just outside Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Are your products 100% natural?
Close but not exactly. We make healthy compromises when we can:
While we strive to use only high-quality natural ingredients — never parabens, phthalates, fillers or harsh preservatives, we cannot avoid using preservatives in products like our Daily Glow Face Cream and luxurious Body Crème because of the water content to fend off mold. So, we choose healthier options for preservatives and the recipe only needs 1% of them for it to work, so we believe it’s a fair compromise in order to deliver the high level of skin nourishment and quality we do. We don’t use cheap or pointless fillers or synthetic surfectants that only make the formula feel better but do nothing for your skin. Every ingredient has a purpose.
We use oxide powders in our soaps for colorants, derived from minerals and earth. While others may use herbs, clays and botanical colorants, we believe this to be a fair compromise and middle ground instead of resorting to lab-created synthetic colorants to achieve the gorgeous colors and contrast in our soap… although we did use a neon in our recent batches of landscape soap, Freddy Beach to achieve the shocking color of the sunset.
We strictly choose phthalate-free when we use fragrances. Phthalates are what people are irritated by and allergic to, and fragrances can add a delightful component to our, otherwise possibly dull, lives, by instantly whisking us back to a fond memory, reminding us of a loved one, or elevating our emotional state.
In 2013, we committed to never using palm oil, canola oil or cheap sunflower oil (we use only high-oleic for soaps and organic high-oleic for some skincare- like in our body creme). See more about our Ingredients here.
We never buy our oils from grocery stores or Walmart shelves. We always vet the quality and authenticity of commonly-adulterated oils like olive.
Do you offer local pickup?
Yes! Select local pickup at checkout, and we’ll email you when your order is ready for PickUp at a couple of options in the fredericton area.
Do you ship across Canada?
We sure do. We use a variety of couriers with great rates to get your order to your location, whether rural or urban. Shipping times vary by province. Obviously we avoid Canada Post when they’re on strike.
What’s your return policy?
Due to the nature and hygienic state of skincare products, all sales are final. However, if something arrives damaged or there’s an issue with your order, please contact us and we’ll make it right.
Do you do custom orders?
Yes, absolutely! We adore custom soaps and have made various sizes of soaps, from 1/4 to full size custom designed bars and scents for weddings, baby showers, fundraisers, breastmilk soap, custom blends, Air BNB guest soaps, and more!
Please contact us to discuss your idea and get a quote. Include any details you think might be relevant and if you also desire custom labels (we do in-house graphic design for incredibly frugal prices!). Our minimum quantity is 8 bars if you’re looking for a personal stash, but we can do various sizes and quantities.
Do you sell wholesale or white-label?
Yes! If you’d like to carry our products, please visit our Wholesale page or contact us for details. If you’re interested in white-label, we’d love to have a conversation about your desires.
Are your products vegan?
Not entirely-
Our customers appreciate that our soap is SO incredibly velvety and moisturizing, unparalleled by many other soaps out there- this is because we use purified lard in our soaps along with a fine selection of oils and butters. Lard also keeps our soaps economical for you whereas ingredients like shea and cocoa drive the prices up to unaffordable levels.
While we focus on harnessing the purity and health from plant ingredients, we also appreciate the nourishment animal products can offer our skin to contribute to a state of true skin health. We’re prepared to acknowledge that some people are offended or disgusted by this but the science backs up our claims. Our ethos is literally in our name: to create skin potions- that nourish and heal using healthy, natural ingredients.
Vegan is not a catchphrase or fad that we have ever aligned with, neither personally or professionally, neither in diet or lifestyle. We believe in and appreciate the nourishment found in animal products, For example, tallow and lard are highly nutritious, protective and are nearly bioidentical to our own human lipids. The animal was not killed for their fat- the fats are by-products that would otherwise go to landfill, and our ancestor’s way of honoring the animal is to use every part of it- waste nothing.
And we never test on animals — only willing humans. 🖤
Are Skin Potion Naturals products safe for sensitive skin?
Absolutely! Our products are designed specifically for sensitive skin and made with gentle, skin-nourishing ingredients- never harsh synthetics, alcohols, or irritants. Many customers with sensitive skin find relief using any one of our products and specifically our Hand & Body Soap and rich, all-natural Body Crème.
What makes your natural deodorant actually work?
Our time-tested, athlete-approved natural deodorants are made with the best food-grade ingredients and mineral powders that neutralize odor without clogging pores or irritating skin. They’re made with a super fresh blend of essential oils designed to combat odor and free of aluminum, parabens, and artificial fragrance — just clean, effective protection that actually lasts. We use healthier arrowroot powder instead of cheap cornstarch to work synergistically with your microbiome, not against it. We use gentle kaolin clay to gently detox pores and old doedorant build-up while combatting wetness and odor.
What’s the difference between your soap and store-bought soap?
Commercial soaps are usually synthetic detergents, (syn-det bars) NOT real soap made from nourishing oils and lye. We craft ours traditionally using natural oils, butters, and botanicals, and the glycerine is created during the saponification process. Using our bars means your skin will feel clean but never stripped of moisture or tight. We add an abundant amount of oils and butters to superfat our soap to a higher percentage than most soapmakers and use just the right amount of phthalate-free fragrances or essential oils to scent them. Every bar is cured slowly for a rich, long-lasting lather to create a high-value bar of soap for you. Because we never use cheap oils like canola or basic sunflower (only high-oleic sunflower!), our soaps always smell amazing and not like rancid oils. Read more about our ingredients here.
Is your packaging eco-friendly?
Yes — we’re committed to sustainability and reducing waste. Our soaps are wrapped in recyclable and compostable paper, and we reuse shipping boxes and packing materials whenever possible. We strongly encourage the use of our local Refillery to refill our products and although we use plastic containers and bottles— we do this so travellers and gym-goers don’t have to worry about broken containers in the case of an accident. We’re highly considerate of not wasting materials like labels, packaging and find ways where possible to reuse ingredient packages like bottles and buckets in our shop and home!
How long do your products last?
Because our products are natural and not heavily saturated with synthetic ingredients and preservatives, they’re more prone to damage if not stored correctly, so best used within 12-18 months of purchase. Keep them away from heat, temperature fluctuations and direct sunlight for the longest shelf life. If they sit on a bathroom shelf as a decoration, the humidity and constant hot-cold will age the soaps faster and fade the scents.