Coconut Oil

While coconut oil is a popular ingredient in natural skincare for its antibacterial properties and rich lather, it can be drying for some skin types, especially when used in soap.

Coconut oil has a high cleansing ability, which means it effectively cleanses away dirt, oil, and bacteria. However, in doing so, it can also remove natural oils from skin, leading to dryness, tightness, or irritation, particularly for those with sensitive or dry skin.

In cold process soap, when coconut oil is used in high amounts, it can become too harsh. That’s why at Chakra Charm, we carefully balance the amount of coconut oil in our formulas to maintain that beautiful, bubbly lather without compromising your skin’s natural moisture barrier. We also pair it with other nourishing oils and butters to create a more gentle, skin-loving bar.

Tallow

Tallow is a traditional, nutrient-rich fat derived from beef (or sometimes sheep) that has been used for centuries in skincare. When properly rendered, it becomes clean, odourless, and incredibly beneficial for the skin. What makes tallow so special is its similarity to the natural oils our skin produces, making it deeply moisturising and easily absorbed without clogging pores. It’s packed with skin-loving vitamins A, D, E, and K, which help support healthy cell regeneration, improve skin elasticity, and soothe irritation or dryness.

Tallow also contains a unique blend of fatty acids that nourish and protect the skin barrier, making it especially helpful for those with sensitive or eczema-prone skin. In soap, tallow creates a hard, long-lasting bar with a creamy, stable lather that feels luxurious and gentle on the skin. It’s also a sustainable ingredient. At Chakra Charm, we use high-quality, responsibly sourced tallow to craft soaps that nourish your skin and support environmentally conscious practices.

Lard

Lard is a soft, creamy fat rendered from pigs, typically from the fat around the belly or back. Like tallow, lard has been used for generations in traditional skincare and soap-making because of its nourishing, skin-repairing properties. What makes lard so healing is its close resemblance to the natural oils our skin produces. This makes it incredibly gentle, easily absorbed, and highly effective at moisturising and protecting the skin without clogging pores. Lard is rich in vitamin D and essential fatty acids like oleic acid, which promote skin regeneration, reduce inflammation, and help heal dry, cracked, or irritated skin. In soap, lard creates a mild, conditioning bar with a smooth, creamy lather that leaves the skin feeling soft and replenished. It’s especially beneficial for sensitive skin types or those prone to eczema or dermatitis. At Chakra Charm, we use carefully sourced, high-quality lard to create gentle, nourishing soaps that honour traditional methods and support natural skin health.

We have personally seen the healing power of lard firsthand as it helped soothe and clear up our own dog’s dermatitis when nothing else worked. Its gentle, natural properties make it a powerful skin remedy not just for humans, but for our furry companions too.

Palm Oil Free

Our soaps are proudly palm oil free. While palm oil is commonly used in soap-making for its hardness and lather, its production is a leading cause of deforestation, habitat destruction, and loss of biodiversity, especially for endangered species like orangutans. By choosing to go palm-free, we’re committed to protecting the environment and promoting more sustainable, ethical skincare without compromising on quality.

Vegan

We offer a range of vegan soap options for those who prefer plant-based skincare. Our vegan soaps are made without any animal-derived ingredients and are crafted using nourishing botanical oils and butters that gently cleanse and hydrate the skin. They’re a perfect choice for conscious customers looking for cruelty-free, ethical alternatives that still deliver a luxurious, skin-loving experience.

Lye Base - Natural Soap

Glycerin Base

Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) is an essential ingredient in the traditional soap-making process. While lye on its own is a strong alkaline, it completely reacts with oils and butters during a process called saponification. This chemical reaction turns the lye and oils into soap and natural glycerin, leaving no trace of lye in the final product. All true soap is made with lye, the most natural, handmade soaps. Once the saponification process is complete, you’re left with a gentle, nourishing bar that’s safe, skin-loving, and lye-free.

Essential for Soap Creation: Without lye, true soap cannot exist. It’s a vital ingredient that turns nourishing oils into solid, cleansing bars.

• Natural & Time-Tested Process: Used for centuries in handmade, artisanal soaps.

• Gently Cleanses Skin: Properly made lye soap is mild and safe for everyday use.

• Produces a Firm, Long-Lasting Bar: Lye creates a hard, durable soap that doesn’t melt away quickly.

• Boosts Natural Glycerin Content: The saponification process naturally produces skin-loving glycerin in every bar.

• Customisable & Skin-Loving: Allows crafters to balance oils and butters to suit different skin types and needs.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a natural, clear, and odourless liquid derived from plant oils. It’s a powerful humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air into the skin, making it a star ingredient in skincare and soap. Glycerin is gentle, non-toxic, and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

• Deep Hydration: Attracts and locks in moisture, keeping skin soft and supple.

• Skin Barrier Support: Helps strengthen and protect the skin’s natural barrier.

• Soothes Dryness & Irritation: Calms dry, itchy, or irritated skin with a soothing touch.

• Non-Comedogenic: Hydrates without clogging pores—perfect for face and body.

• Gentle & Safe: Suitable for sensitive skin, children, and even delicate areas.

• Natural Glow: Promotes a healthy, dewy appearance with consistent use.

Inside our Additives

How every oil, clay, and extract supports your routine.

Bay Leaf

Rich in aromatic compounds (cineole, eugenol) and mild antioxidants, bay leaf can help freshen the skin’s surface and support a balanced feel. In wash-off products, it contributes to a clean, clarifying sensation while its spice-herbal scent adds warmth. Traditionally used in steeps and infusions, it’s popular for oily or congestion-prone skin types.

Chamomile

Oats contain beta-glucans, lipids, and avenanthramides that are soothing and water-binding. In cleansers they cushion the skin, reduce the “tight” feel after washing, and help dry or reactive skin feel comfortable. Gentle enough for frequent use and great for balance.

This blue-green algae is naturally dense in proteins, carotenoids, and minerals. In soap and masks it can help the skin feel conditioned and resilient, lending a soft green hue. Its antioxidant content supports the skin’s barrier from everyday environmental stressors.

Oat

Spirulina

Coffee

Turmeric

Activated Charcoal

Carrot

Pumpkin

Banana

Kelp

Aloe Vera

Rice Water

Kawa Kawa

Sea Salt

Sea Buckthorn Oil

Clove

Natural Luffah

Cocoa Powder

French Clays

Butters

Chamomile flowers are rich in apigenin and bisabolol, known for calming, comfort, and reducing the appearance of redness. Chamomile infusions or powders lend a soft, comforting cleanse that suits easily-irritated or wind-exposed skin.

Ground coffee provides natural, biodegradable exfoliation that helps lift dull surface cells for a smoother feel. Caffeine and phenolic antioxidants help skin look more awake and toned in leave-on products; in soap, coffee primarily polishes and deodorizes while adding a deep, roasty aroma.

Turmeric contains curcuminoids with antioxidant properties that can brighten the look of skin over time. In wash-off formats it imparts a golden hue and supports a more even-looking tone. It’s a favorite for dull or uneven skin; note it can lightly tint fabrics.

Pumpkin brings natural enzymes, fruit acids, and vitamins A & C. In gentle scrubs or soaps it helps smooth texture and brighten the look of dull skin while leaving it cushioned. A seasonal favorite for glow and softness.

Naturally rich in beta-carotene (a vitamin A precursor) plus sugars that improve rinse-off glide, carrot juice can promote a fresh, healthy glow. It imparts a warm colour and supports softer-feeling skin, especially when paired with emollient fats.

Ultra-porous carbon is known for its oil-mopping feel in cleansers. In soap, charcoal helps decongest the surface and leaves skin feeling extra clean without harsh scrubbing. Especially useful for combination or blemish-prone skin. Non-abrasive and fragrance-free.

Banana peel extracts are valued for mild antioxidants and natural sugars/minerals that support surface hydration. In soap they can lend a silky lather and a conditioned, less “squeaky” feel post-rinse.

Kelp adds trace minerals (iodine, magnesium), alginates, and polysaccharides that bind water on the skin’s surface. It’s excellent for a bouncy, hydrated feel and is often chosen for stressed urban skin thanks to its antioxidant profile.

Aloe gel is a humectant, pulling and holding water at the surface, while soothing the feel of heat and dryness. In cleansers, it tempers surfactants, leaving skin soft, cooled, and comfortable. Ideal after sun/wind exposure.

Fine sea salt in soap creates a dense, spa-like bar that feels clarifying yet mineral-rich. Trace elements support a refreshed feel, and the salt matrix can gently polish without grit. Great for oily or humid climates.

Kawakawa is a taonga plant in Aotearoa used traditionally for skin comfort. Infusing it into olive oil delivers emollients plus soothing lipid-soluble compounds, helping dry, chapped areas feel settled and nourished. Beautiful in balms and soaps for sensitive, weather-exposed skin.

Rich in starches, amino acids, and inositol, rice water helps smooth and soften, giving a velvety after-feel. Traditionally used to promote shine and evenness, it pairs well with gentle exfoliants for a refined look.

Exceptionally high in carotenoids, vitamin E, and omega 7 (palmitoleic acid), this vibrant orange oil supports barrier comfort and a radiant look. A few drops can transform the after-feel of a cleanser, especially on dry or mature skin.

Clove’s eugenol provides a warming, spicy aroma and strong antibacterial activity. In small amounts within blends, it provides a purifying sensation and an energising scent.

A plant-fibre exfoliator that physically lifts dead surface cells, helping cleansers reach fresh skin and improving product absorption afterwards. Best used 1–3× weekly to avoid over-exfoliation; promotes smoothness and clarity.

Butters are occlusive emollients rich in fatty acids and antioxidants. Shea soothes and improves suppleness and cocoa adds firmness and protective lipids with a subtle cocoa scent. In soap, they boost creamy lather and reduce post-wash tightness.

Mineral clays help clarify by exchanging ions and absorbing surface oil/impurities.
• Green: Most oil-absorbing; ideal for oily or congested areas.
• Red: Gentle, mineral-rich; supports a warmed glow on normal to dry skin.
• Pink: A soft blend (often red + white); great for sensitive or combination skin.
• Golden/Yellow: Mild brightening feel; nice for dull or tired complexions.
All leave skin feeling refined and smooth without harshness when used appropriately.

Cocoa is rich in polyphenols that help defend against environmental stressors. In masks or soaps it lends a silky slip and comforting chocolate aroma while supporting a soft, conditioned finish.

Raw Honey

Bentonite Clay

Swellable volcanic ash clay prized for “slip” and deep-clean feel. It binds excess oil, refines the look of pores, and gives shave/cleansing bars extra glide.

A natural humectant with enzymes and low pH that supports a soft, dewy after-feel. In soap it enhances creamy lather and moisture retention; in masks it can leave skin feeling cushioned and calm.

Essential Oils

Mica Powder

Fragrance Oils

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that offer natural aroma and functional benefits. In skin and body products, they enhance the sensory experience and provide soothing, balancing, or invigorating effects depending on the blend. They’re versatile, highly potent, so only a few drops are needed, and a thoughtful alternative to synthetic fragrance.

Mica powder adds vibrant, pearly color and a luxe shimmer to our soaps. It disperses easily, stays bright and stable (good light/heat resistance), and won’t bleed like many liquid dyes. A tiny amount goes a long way, and shades blend beautifully to create custom hues without affecting scent or texture.

Fragrance oils deliver consistent, long-lasting scent with a far wider palette than botanicals. They’re formulated for performance (reliable hot/cold throw, stable aroma in soaps and bath products), with predictable batch consistency and cost. Many used are phthalate-free and IFRA-compliant.