Heat, Humidity and Heavy Products Don’t Mix.
We keep skincare simple—and effective.
It’s summer time, and I don’t know about you, but I’m using soap, body butter, lotion bars, deodorant (of course) and foaming bath salts a lot since it’s been so hot. Dry, sun-exposed skin needs moisture and I’m washing my hands and body a lot more frequently.
At Simplí Artisan, we don’t believe in overcomplicating things—but we do believe in doing them right. “Simplí” is a Gaelic word for simple, uncomplicated and straightforward. But simple doesn’t mean basic or bland. When it comes to our products, simplí means purposeful, well-crafted and rooted in quality. This summer, we’re sharing a few truths behind some skincare trends and also why smart simplicity wins when it comes to body care in the heat.
Preservatives = Safety, Not Chemicals
There’s a myth that “natural” means “no preservatives,” but here’s the truth: If a product contains water, it needs a preservative. And ideally, if a product will come in contact with water—such as sugar scrubs—it’s wise to incorporate a preservative. Our foaming hand soaps, sugar scrubs and body butters are carefully formulated using a professional-grade, FDA-approved preservative to keep your skin safe from harmful bacteria.
Simpli Truth: Clean beauty isn’t about skipping science—it’s about using science wisely. Many uneducated and uninformed Pinterest bloggers are sharing DIY body product recipes without preservatives, which opens the door for bacterial contamination, skin irritation and potential health risks due to improper formulation and lack of safety measures. There are plenty of Reddit horror stories out there about products that were made without preservatives and they developed mold in just a few days (and that doesn’t include the growth of bacterial nastiness that you CAN’T see). That’s not only dangerous, but inexcusable. And to clarify: Vitamin E is NOT a preservative. It’s an antioxidant that has skin benefits but also aids to slow the rancidity of oils (ie: oxidation). Rosemary oil is also an antioxidant, not a “natural preservative.”
Yes, We Use Fragrance Oils—and Here’s Why
Essential oils are amazing, but they aren’t always practical. Essential oils tend to fade as artisan soaps cure, which is such a waste of oils (and money) if there isn’t much scent left once soaps are ready to use. And if someone isn’t aware, an essential oil can be harmful to an end user (two examples: 1) Pregnant women should not use essential oils such as clove, clary sage and oregano, which can stimulate the uterus and 2) the molecules in essential oils such as wintergreen, ylang-ylang and even peppermint can be toxic to cats, dogs and pet birds; these can be dispersed via diffusers as well as topical/skin exposure). Also people crave scent blends like “vanilla cashmere,” “ocean driftwood,” or “clean cotton”—and those don’t exist in nature. So while Simplí incorporates essential oils in some products, we also use high-quality, phthalate-free, paraben-free and formaldehyde-free fragrance oils that are safe, longer-lasting and body-approved.
Credentials Simpli Looks For: It’s important to choose fragrance oils that are IFRA-certified (International Fragrance Association) from reputable sources and made specifically for skin. That’s what we use in our product lines. Many fragrance oils also have essential oils as components along with the synthetic fragrances. But quality and safety is important, so (to repeat) we ensure oils have no harmful additives: NO phthalates, NO parabens and NO formaldehyde.
Botanicals Are Beautiful—But Not Perfect
You may think dried botanicals like calendula or lavender buds would add natural aesthetic elements in handcrafted soaps, but you would be incorrect: They don’t add scent and often the colors morph. Lavender buds in soap can look like mouse poop (so much for lavender’s pretty purple color) and the same is true for fruits and other foods in soap: Plant-based colors often turn tan as the soap cures. And while colorful powders like beetroot or hibiscus are a great concept to color soaps naturally, the chemical reaction of soapmaking (the saponification process) strips most of that color out. Saponification is essentially like a chemistry roulette wheel, and results can be unpredictable. In body butters, salts, scrubs and bath bombs, natural colorants can sometimes stain skin (things like indigo, spinach powder and turmeric), but it depends upon usage rates, incorporating a polysorbate (which emulsifies oils and colors in the water, preventing them from sticking to the skin or tub) and whether the item is a leave-on product (like body butter).
What We Do Instead: We will add some botanicals and natural plant material as visual interest in soap (ex: dried dill, tea leaves, coffee grounds, cranberry seeds) and sprinkled on top of soaps once poured into molds. Surprisingly some natural ingredients do retain their color (pumpkin, carrot, spinach powder, cocoa, clays), but often the colors of plant materials are not super vibrant and often fade. Simpli Artisan uses skin-safe colorants when a pop of color is desired—but our focus is always quality over flash. Quality mica powders are a mix of naturally occurring minerals with FDA-approved colorants—the same micas used in global makeup brands for cosmetics such as eyeshadow and lipstick. Furthermore, the vendor we primarily use has ethical business practices for sourcing/supply chains, anti-child labor practices and no testing on animals.
The Truth About Solids in Summer
Artisan solid deodorants, lotion bars, body butters and balms are trending for sustainability, portability and simplicity (they can be put into containers that are recycled and used more than once)—but here’s what many brands won’t say: they melt. Natural butters and waxes are temperature-sensitive; coconut oil can melt at 75 degrees; shea butter and mango butter can melt around 85-90 degrees). That’s not a flaw—it’s chemistry. But if they do melt, they will re-harden. Some products—such as those that incorporate shea butter—may feel a bit “granular” after melting and re-solidifying. That is just a crystal structure that forms if the product cools quickly. It will still perform as intended.
Simpli Care Tip: Keep your skincare products in a stable, cool place. Not in your beach bag, not in your car. At home or in an insulated travel pouch works best. Simplí Artisan has reformulated our body butter, lotion bar and deodorant recipes to not only perform better—in our opinion—but also they incorporate some higher melt point ingredients. But bear in mind, generally speaking, that this may not be the case for all artisan body products; lip balms are a great example (most are comprised only of oils, butters and wax).
Body Butters: Emulsified vs. Anhydrous and What Works Well in High Temperatures
Not all body butters are created equal—and that’s not a bad thing, just something most people don’t realize. At Simpli Artisan, we primarily make emulsified body butters, and here’s why that matters:
Emulsified butters are made with a blend of oils, butters, water, glycerin and an emulsifier to bind them all together. This makes them lighter, faster-absorbing and more heat-stable for warmer months. Simplí’s body butter is almost like a mousse, and it absorbs into the outer layer of the skin pretty quickly.
Anhydrous butters (made with oils and butters only) are richer, but can feel heavier and take longer to absorb—which can provide a protective barrier against moisture loss in harsh winter conditions, but they often feel greasy on the skin’s surface.
Simpli Tip: Use emulsified butters for quick hydration, especially in humid or warm weather. Save heavier, anhydrous products for deep winter skin replenishment; those take longer to absorb and sit on the skin’s surface.
Bath Salts: A Spa-Worthy Reset for Skin, Body & Mind
After a long day in the sun—whether it’s poolside, at the ballfield or doing yard work—there’s nothing better than a long soak. But baths are not just a cold weather indulgence. Our foaming bath salts combine skin-conditioning salts and magnesium with plant-based bubbling agents (naturally derived from palm, coconut and citrus) that provide a creamy foam for a relaxing, skin-softening treat that’s gentle and effective. An added benefit: The aromatherapy while you relax in a tub of silky, foaming warm water is divine….and deserved after being in the heat. For purists, we also have your more traditional bath salts—no fizz, no foam, but wonderful salts, minerals, potassium and magnesium.
Simpli Soak Tip: Add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salts to warm, running bath water. Step in and let the stress fade, and step out with softer, happier skin. The magnesium sulfate as well as detoxifying sea salts should make your body feel better overall as well.
Trends will always shift. But at Simplí Artisan, we stay steady: no hype, no shortcuts. We’re proud to keep things simple because more isn’t always better. We believe that each ingredient should serve a purpose, not just fill a label. And that’s smart no matter the season.
DISCLAIMER: Regulations set forth by the FDA prohibit bath and body companies from making health-related claims about their products. Thus: Simplí Artisan makes no medical claims for any of its products. This blog piece is a culmination of research from many reputable sources providing information on the tested properties of specific ingredients so that you [the consumer] can make your own decision as to whether you’d like to incorporate it into your skincare routine.
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I WILL GET OFF MY SOAP BOX NOW. Thanks for reading. ~Julie
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