Why we don’t make unicorn-glitter-neon-swirl soap

Not all handmade soaps are created equal. This deep dive reveals how synthetic ingredients (yes, even in handmade bars) can affect your skin, your hormones, and the planet.

 

When soap becomes a statement

If you've ever strolled through a soap market or scrolled through #handmadesoap tags online, you've seen them: neon swirls, rainbow layers, sparkly embeds, unicorn cupcakes... some even glow in the dark. These eye-catching designs dominate the feed, and it's easy to assume brighter means better.

But behind the glitter, there’s a story worth telling. One that matters not just to makers, but to customers too.

 

Bright doesn’t mean better

The allure of rainbow swirls and neon glitters is strong. These bars are fun to look at, even fun to photograph. But behind the vibrant aesthetics lies a cocktail of synthetic dyes, plastic-based glitters, and artificial fragrance oils. These ingredients aren’t just unnecessary; they can be harmful, especially for people with sensitive skin, eczema, allergies, or hormonal imbalances.

Many synthetic colourants used in soap making are derived from petroleum or coal tar and are not approved for use on mucous membranes or in lip products, yet they’re regularly added to soaps we use all over our bodies. Plastic glitter, while sparkly and fun, poses environmental risks, washing down our drains and contributing to microplastic pollution in waterways. According to a 2018 study published in Environmental Science & Technology, over 8 trillion microbeads enter aquatic environments every day in the US alone. Europe is catching up, with strict bans beginning to roll out, but handmade soap is still largely unregulated in this regard.

And artificial fragrance oils? They often contain phthalates and other hormone-disrupting compounds. These can linger on the skin and in the body longer than most people realise, contributing to long-term sensitivity or health issues.

It’s time we stop prioritising shelf appeal over safety.

The truth about synthetic soap additives

Let’s go deeper:

✖️ Hormone Disruption: Ingredients like artificial fragrance blends can contain hormone-disrupting chemicals such as parabens or phthalates. These can mimic oestrogen in the body, throwing off your natural hormonal balance, especially risky for children and teens. If you’ve ever wondered why gender confusion has surged over the past 30 years, this is a powerful place to start digging.

✖️ Skin Sensitivities: Synthetic colourants and fragrances are leading culprits behind allergic reactions, eczema flare-ups, and contact dermatitis. Even if a soap smells great or looks vibrant, your skin may disagree.

✖️ Environmental Impact: Plastic glitter doesn't just rinse away. It becomes microplastic pollution, harming aquatic life and building up in our ecosystems. Even synthetic micas, often mined unethically, carry a high human and environmental cost.

✖️ Unregulated Labelling: The term "fragrance" or "colour" on a label can mask dozens of undisclosed chemicals. As a consumer, you have little control over what’s actually inside unless a soap maker is fully transparent — and unfortunately, many aren’t.

But handmade means safe, right?

Not always. The assumption is understandable. Handmade soap should mean better care, more thoughtful ingredients, and higher quality. But the reality is more complex.

Many handmade soaps on the market today still rely on synthetic micas, FD&C colourants, plastic glitters, and artificial fragrances to compete visually with commercial bars. This can be misleading. Just because something is made in a small batch or poured into a cute mould doesn’t automatically make it skin-friendly or eco-conscious.

One example: a recent comment on our Instagram post shared how a child picked out a Halloween-themed handmade soap at a market that made his skin glow in the dark. That’s not a quirky bonus, it’s a red flag. If your soap leaves behind glowing particles or a neon tint, it’s time to question what’s inside.

 

What goes into that glow?

Glow-in-the-dark additives, synthetic dyes, plastic-based glitters, and artificial fragrances may meet safety thresholds in isolated doses, but they’re not as innocent as they look. These ingredients often contain phthalates, petrochemicals, and heavy metals, and their cumulative impact is something worth talking about.

A 2020 report by Breast Cancer Prevention Partners found that many fragranced beauty products (including handmade ones) contain undisclosed hormone disruptors like parabens and phthalates. These don’t just wash away. They absorb. And over time, they add up.

So while handmade soap has the potential to be safer and more nourishing, it all depends on what’s actually going in the pot.

Why this matters more than you think

We wash our bodies every day. That’s consistent exposure to ingredients that can either support or stress your skin and your system. And while a single exposure might not do visible harm, repeated daily use adds up, especially for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, or anyone with endocrine sensitivity.

Endocrine disruptors mimic hormones in the body and can interfere with growth, metabolism, and reproductive health. Studies have shown links between certain synthetic fragrance compounds and issues such as early puberty, fertility problems, and thyroid disruption. While big beauty brands are increasingly pressured to reformulate, the handmade world often flies under the radar, unregulated and unchecked.

The problem doesn’t stop with us. These ingredients don’t disappear when we rinse them off. They go down the drain, into our soil, our water, and our wider environment. Many micas are mined unethically, often involving child labour. Plastic glitters contribute to the growing crisis of microplastics in the ocean, where they’re ingested by marine life and eventually make their way back into our food chain.

We’re not just washing our hands, we’re shaping our ecosystem.

The colourful cost of visual trends

Let’s talk about what makes these soaps so visibly appealing. Soap makers who use neon pinks, bold purples, or glow-in-the-dark swirls are usually adding lab-created micas or pigments. These micas may be labelled “cosmetic grade,” but they’re still synthetic, and many contain heavy metals or are stabilised with additives not intended for daily use across large surface areas like full-body washes.

The demand for highly pigmented, highly styled soaps has also led to unsafe formulation shortcuts. Some makers use excessive hardeners to support intricate designs, which can lead to overly harsh bars. Others over-fragrance to mask the chemical smell of additives.

We get it, everyone wants their soap to stand out. But when style comes before safety, we have a problem. Our skin is an organ, not a canvas.

Not calling you out, but lifting you up!

This isn’t about shaming other soap makers or taking the fun out of formulating. We’re not against creative expression, colour, or even a bit of sparkle. But we are in favour of making smart, conscious choices, especially when those choices impact your customers’ skin and the planet we all share.

There are alternatives. If you love bold colours, look into naturally dyed clays, botanical infusions, or mineral-rich powders like indigo, madder root, charcoal or spirulina. For shimmer, consider ethically sourced mineral dusts without plastic fillers, or even light-reflective plant powders. And if you enjoy fragrance layering, essential oils offer a rich, complex world of scent without the synthetic load.

Yes, high-quality natural ingredients often cost more. But that’s not a reason to compromise. It’s a reason to price your products according to their true value. Our soaps cost more because they’re filled with ingredients that nourish, soothe, and respect both the skin and the soil. If your customers understand what’s in your bar, they’ll understand the price tag too.

This is about raising the standard, not pointing fingers. The more we learn, the better we can do. And the better we do, the more trust we build in our products, our practices, and the future of handmade skincare.

Our ingredients, our values

At Chalke Valley Soaps, our ingredients are chosen for a reason. We work only with natural clays, herbs, botanicals, and essential oils. No synthetics, no bull***t. That means the colours you see in our bars come from natural sources like French pink clay, Brazilian purple clay, green spirulina, turmeric, and calendula, not artificial dyes.

It also means our soaps smell like real plants, not bubblegum or pumpkin spice. You won’t find anything artificial in our formulations, because we’re not interested in creating soaps that win likes, we want to create soaps that support your skin and the planet.

And for our makers and students, this also means learning the art of true natural formulation. It’s not just about what not to use, but how to make something extraordinary from nature alone.

 

Slow, sustainable, and honest

Our soaps aren’t mass-produced. They cure slowly, in fresh air, over weeks. We package them without plastic. We source our botanicals responsibly and hand-mix our batches in small quantities. It’s slower, yes, but it’s worth it.

We believe in long-lasting bars, not temporary trends. And we believe that real soap doesn’t need glitter to shine.

Interested in learning more about natural ingredients?

Get your copy of our bestselling e-book Natural Soap Additives to explore the botanical alternatives to artificial colours, scents, and additives. You’ll find tips, supplier links, and guidance to keep your soaps 100% natural and beautiful.

Natural Soap Additives - The Ultimate Guide for Soap Makers

If you’re ready to take your learning even further, our full online course teaches you how to formulate, troubleshoot, and master every part of natural soap making, from beginner basics to advanced techniques. No synthetics, no fluff, just real, transformative knowledge in 100% natural handmade soap style.

The Botanical Soap Making Course

 

With all my heart, sending lots of bubbles,