Love love love Soapwalla!  Rachel Winard, company owner and beauty product chef kindly sent us free samples of the following products:  Deodorant Cream, Almond Luxe Body Polish and Eucalyptus Organic Soap Bar so we put them to the test, and here’s what we think.

Soapwalla’s Deodorant Cream is fantastic. Do you know how hard it is to find an organic deodorant that really works, and isn’t prohibitively expensive? Well, this one fits the bill. It feels and smells great, and so will you! Since it’s handmade and filled with organic ingredients, of course it’s going to cost more than any of the mass-produced, conventional brands filled with not-so-body friendly ingredients. I just ordered some and can’t wait to receive it. A little is all you need…(2 oz, $10).

The Almond Body Polish is also highly concentrated, so you can use it sparingly. The sweet scent of organic almond oil is powerful and refreshing each time you open the jar. There’s a hint of cardamom and organic raw sugar in the mix…free of sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens or harsh, synthetic ingredients. Exfoliating is one of the keys to keeping skin fresh and smooth; I thoroughly enjoyed treating my body to this delicious concoction; (8 oz, $35).

Like the entire Soapwalla line, the Eucalyptus Organic Soap Bar is vegan, and long-lasting. This bar actually feels sleek and clean, the texture is amazing, and it leaves no soapy residue. The Eucalyptus oil has antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic qualities, while the Shea butter penetrates skin and moisturizes.  You’ll feel like a brand new clean machine. And hey, another perk — soap bars are more planet friendly than liquid soap; (4 oz, $7.50)

Soapwalla is created in the kitchen of Brooklyn-based, Rachel Winard (at right) …when she’s neither at the sink nor post office, she can be found performing original violin compositions around New York City, maintaining a daily ashtanga yoga practice or hanging upside down on a trapeze!

The story behind Soapwalla Kitchen is unique so I asked owner Rachel Winard to share a little bit with us…

AC:  Rachel, how are your products an expression of your lifestyle?
Soapwalla was born directly from my lifestyle choices, specifically my intention to treat lupus (an inflammatory autoimmune illness) with natural, homeopathic remedies. I also firmly believe that we must treat our skin with the same kind of respect and diligence that we do our other systems. If we wouldn’t put something in our bodies, we shouldn’t be putting it *on* our bodies either.

AC:  What’s the greatest challenge in running your business?
Time management! Because I am a one-woman business, I’m the chef, IT person, administrator, publicist, bookkeeper, and shipper. As a result, there are always six thousand things vying for my attention. I’m working on carving out small spaces of time that are just mine.