What is Castile Soap, is it vegan?

If you’ve been roaming around the aisles of beauty stores or shopping online, you may have chanced upon Castile soap. Given that there are so many different types of body washes out there, it’s easy to get confused with the variety and to know for sure which may or may not be vegan.

Luckily we found a brand that not only makes these amazing Castile soaps, but their product is 100% vegan too. We got all the information from Vedi Herbals about their Castile Soap, and believe us, it’ll be your bathroom staple soon!

So, just what is this Castile Soap?

When deciding what would be the most nourishing and gentle formula for their body soap line that would be suitable for everybody’s skin, even a baby - Vedi Herbals decided that the age-old way of making soap was the best course of action. In fact, they went back to the 11th-century method of making an olive oil based soap from the region of Castile in Spain, where the soap gets its name.

Not only does Spain produce some of the best olive oil in the world, but the Castile soap method of cold pressing ensures that it is also the most natural too. As mentioned on the Vedi Herbals site their ‘Cold process soap has no added detergents, which strip the skin of its natural oils. It is made through a chemical reaction between lye and oils.

Cold process soaps are better for the environment, healthier for the skin and can be made incredibly moisturizing. They are bio-degradable.’ No trace of lye remains in the soap after the manufacturing process is completed.  

When asked about why Vedi herbals chose to make Castile soap, Sourab Agarwal, director of Vedi Herbals replied saying “Because Castile soaps are truly 100% natural, bio-degradable and can be used in various ways, such as pet wash, babies soap, household purpose, face wash, and many more. Also because one of the ingredients in our Castile soap is Hempseed oil, which is very good for the skin and the planet.”

The brand is also completely cruelty-free, their products all go through the ‘Indian Standard’ testing procedures. Sourab Agarwal ensures that “Our well-qualified lab personnel have 10 yrs. of analytical experience, they perform the tests by following Indian standard specification and validate the product as per ICH guideline. Our products are not tested on Animals as they are cruelty-free.” With the exception of one product, all their offerings are vegan, which is clearly marked on the packaging – this includes their Castile soap range.

Why use Castile soap?

Castile soaps are naturally hypoallergenic, paraben & phthalate free and Laureth sulphate free, making it perfect for those who have hyper-sensitive skin. Vedi Herbals' Castile soaps use ingredients that are all 100% organic and ethically sourced. Of the 6 variants, the unscented Castile liquid soap (Rs 439) is one of their best selling. Since it is also fragrance-free, it’s suitable for everybody including babies and even your pets!

The four main ingredients in Vedi Herbal’s Castile soap are organic cold pressed olive oil, coconut oil, Hemp Seed Oil and Castor Oil – all four of these have great moisturizing properties.  According to the International Olive Council, Olive oil is rich in Vitamins A, D, K and E - which helps to soothe disorders such as acne, psoriasis and seborrheic eczemas.

Coconut oil as we know has a wide range of benefits such as being naturally antibacterial, antifungal, moisturizing, cleansing and conditioning. All of which you want in your daily soap. Hemp seed oil is rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are essential fatty acids that the skin requires for healthy cell production. Finally, castor oil, which hasn’t been getting its due praise, but really should because it is fantastic for your skin and hair. Castor oil is high in vitamin E, protein and omega 6 which helps care for aging skin that tends to lose these essentials over time.

If you’re not too keen on the liquid soap, they also have Castile bars, that are just as good. Both the liquid soap and bars come in luxurious scents such as Tulsi, Peppermint, Lavender, Lime & lemon and our favourite the Himalayan Cedarwood and patchouli. These fragrances come from essentials oils that are added to the soaps during the manufacturing process.

Busy households, with lots of residents, will love this one since it is suitable for all skin types and ages. So, if you’re looking for a soap that not only cleanses but also nourishes, then look no further. 

Like this?

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Feature Image courtesy shutterstock.com.  All Internal Image courtesy Vedi Herbals