Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap

I bought this initially because they have an almond scent.  I love almond-scented things and it’s hard to find them.  So when I found a bottle of this stuff at Whole Foods and my friend said she’d heard good things, I thought “Why not?” and took the plunge.

Two years later, and the love affair is still going strong.

You can use this stuff to clean pretty much anything.  You can wash fruits/vegetables, you can do laundry with it, you can clean floors, etc.  I wash my makeup brushes with it and I also use this when I have to handwash clothing.  You can brush your teeth with this but I really don’t recommend it.  It tastes exactly like you would imagine brushing your teeth with soap would taste.

Freshman year of college, I managed to cover my suede Converse with mud after tromping around at an outdoor concert that happened to also feature ankle-deep mud.  I was worried that my shoes (which were only a few months old at the time) would be ruined but lo and behold this washed all of the mud off.  

I’ve used this as a traditional soap but since I prefer to use lavishly scented body washes, I mostly use this to get my makeup off.  My eyeliner is terrifying enough that sometimes it takes two washes around my eyes to get it all off, but luckily this soap is mild enough that it doesn’t irritate my skin.  (Yes, olive oil works much better but I strongly dislike the feel of it on my face.)

So far, I’ve tried the Peppermint, Almond, Rose, Eucalyptus, and Citrus scents.  I recommend them all except for Citrus because that one smells like floor cleaner.  That’s fine if you plan to use it as floor cleaner, but since I use this as soap, I didn’t like it.  There’s an unscented version if you have extra-sensitive skin.  Peppermint might be a bit much to use to wash your face because it will leave that menthol-y burn.  Try the eucalyptus if you want something similar that’s a big milder.  I buy the 32oz bottles which are gigantic and somewhat clumsy.  Buy a small bottle first and then if you like it, save the bottle and pour the soap from the larger one into the smaller one :)

Dr Bronner’s soap is made from plant oils.  They are certified organic, free trade, and cruelty-free.  

I pay around $14-$16 for these from Amazon because I have Prime and don’t have to pay shipping.  They’re slightly more expensive at Whole Foods.  I’ve seen them at Kroger (in the organic products section), Target, American Apparel, and Urban Outfitters.

On a final note, the labels on these things are fantastic.  You can read the slightly insane religious/philosophical ramblings of the late Dr Bronner.  It’s great entertainment.