Why Shea Butter > Palm 🌱
If you’ve spent any time in the skincare aisle, you’ve seen palm oil lurking on a lot of labels. It’s cheap, it’s everywhere, and it’s one of those ingredients that just kind of shows up uninvited. But here at Lavish Earth, we decided to politely show palm the door because we’ve got a better guest of honour: shea butter.
Palm Oil: Common but Not King
Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils in the world, mostly because it’s inexpensive. But common doesn’t always mean best. When it comes to skincare, palm does the basics like it firms up soap, adds some texture, but it doesn’t bring much else to the table. Plus, its production has been tied to deforestation and habitat loss, which feels pretty far from the cozy, earth-loving values we live by.
Shea Butter: The Upgrade
Now, let’s talk shea. This ingredient is rich, creamy, and absolutely packed with vitamins and fatty acids that nourish your skin. Vitamin A, E, and F keep things smooth and moisturized, while the natural anti-inflammatory properties help soothe dryness and irritation. In short, shea doesn’t just show up - it goes above and beyond.
When you lather up with shea-rich soap or smooth on shea lotion, you feel the difference immediately. Palm can’t deliver that same velvety softness. Shea is like a full Sunday dinner when palm is more like a bag of chips.
Community Impact Matters Too
Here’s something I love: shea butter is harvested in a way that uplifts local communities, especially women-led cooperatives in West Africa. Choosing shea means your skincare routine supports livelihoods, not just skin cells. It’s beauty that gives back.
Final Thoughts
Palm oil may be common, but shea is the champion. When we say Shea > Palm, we mean it in every way: for your skin, for communities, and for the earth.
👉 Experience the difference from our soaps and lip balms to our incredibly popular triple whipped butters — all proudly palm-free, and all powered by shea.
Why Small Batch Matters 🧼✨
“Small batch” gets tossed around a lot these days from coffee to candles to craft beer. But what does it really mean when we say Lavish Earth is small batch? Spoiler: it’s not just a cute phrase. It’s the heartbeat of how we work, and it’s the reason your skincare feels different the moment you open the jar.
Freshness First
When you make something by the hundreds of thousands, it sits. On pallets, in warehouses, on trucks, on store shelves. By the time it reaches you, the ingredients aren’t as vibrant as they once were.
With small batch production, we’re constantly making fresh lotions, soaps, balms, and creams in amounts we can control. That means what you’re putting on your skin hasn’t been hanging around collecting dust — it’s been blended, poured, or wrapped recently, while the ingredients are at their best.
Hands-On Care
Every batch that leaves our studio has been touched by human hands from carefully weighing, mixing, checking, and packaging. There’s no faceless assembly line here. Each soap bar swirl, each balm, each whipped butter has the fingerprints of care all over it (not literally, don’t worry 😅).
We aim for consistency in the chaos. Our lotions and creams are uniform and reliable, while soaps carry their own unique swirl patterns and colours - no two bars alike, like little works of art.
Less Waste, More Love
Small batch also means less waste. We make what we need, when we need it. There aren’t giant tubs of leftovers or rejected runs ending up in the trash. It keeps our footprint smaller and our quality sky high.
Why You Can Feel the Difference
People often tell me, “I can just feel there’s something different about your products.” That’s small batch. It’s the extra attention, the freshness, the care that’s been poured into every single item. It’s skincare made like food : something you’d actually want fresh, not sitting in a warehouse for months.
Final Thoughts
For us, small batch isn’t marketing fluff. It’s the core of our values. It means better products, fresher ingredients, less waste, and more heart in every bar and bottle.
👉 Next time you lather, swipe, or smooth on Lavish Earth, know it came from a batch small enough to matter — and big enough to care for you.
Why We Love Squalane ✨
Squalane is one of my favourites to work with. No drama, no games, just steady hydration and good vibes. It’s the friend who remembers your coffee order, the ingredient that quietly does its job and makes everything around it better.
What is Squalane?
Squalane is a lightweight oil that usually comes from olives or sugarcane (ours is the sugarcane one!). What makes it special is how close it is to your skin’s own natural oils. Instead of sitting awkwardly on top, it blends right in - your skin basically says, “Oh hey, I know you. Come on in.”
Why Skin Loves It
For dry skin: it locks in hydration without heaviness.
For oily skin: it helps balance oil production so you feel less shiny.
For sensitive skin: it’s feather-light, soothing, and rarely irritating.
It’s smooth, gentle, and a great choice for absolutely everyone.
Where You’ll Find It
We use squalane in our serums and face care products because it’s the perfect hydrator. It layers beautifully under makeup or sunscreen, plays nicely with actives like niacinamide, and doesn’t leave you greasy. It’s the secret sauce that makes our formulas feel weightless but effective.
Final Thoughts
Around here, squalane is our quiet powerhouse. It doesn’t shout about its benefits, but it shows up every time with balance, glow, and hydration. If you’ve ever felt like oils were too greasy or moisturizers too heavy, squalane might just be the ingredient your skin’s been waiting for.
👉 You can meet squalane in our face care line — where hydration finally feels effortless.
Compostable Tubes 101 🌍
I absolutely love it when people notice and start chatting about our lip balm and deodorant tubes. At Lavish Earth, we’ve chosen compostable paperboard tubes, and let me tell you, they are game changing.
Why Compostable Matters
Traditional plastic tubes stick around for centuries. Toss them, and they’re basically fossil fuel souvenirs for future archaeologists. Compostable tubes, on the other hand, break down naturally - right alongside carrot peels and coffee grounds. They do their job, then return to the earth. No guilt, no landfill buildup.
But Are They Durable?
Yep. These aren’t flimsy paper straws that collapse halfway through your drink. Compostable tubes are sturdy, pressed paperboard built to last through daily use. Toss one in your bag, keep one in your pocket, wherever they go, they hold up.
And because we’re sticklers for details, our lip balm tubes come sealed with compostable shrink bands. That way, you know they’re fresh and protected, without sneaky plastic sleeves.
The Feel-Good Factor
There’s something grounding about using products in earth-friendly packaging. It reminds you that what you put on your body and what you put back into the planet both matter.
Small Swap, Big Impact
For us, this isn’t about greenwashing or chasing buzzwords. It’s about designing products that line up with our values. If we can nourish your skin and cut back on single-use plastic at the same time, that’s a win.
Final Thoughts
When you swipe on lip balm or deodorant from one of our compostable tubes, you’re making a small change with a big impact. It’s skincare you can feel good about for your skin and for the earth.
👉 Find out more about our lip balms and deodorants in compostable tubes - sturdy, sustainable, and zero guilt.
How to Decode a Lotion Label (The Lavish Earth Way)
Ever looked at a lotion ingredient list and thought, “Water, glycerin, cetyl alcohol… sounds like a science test”? You’re not alone. Let’s break it down using our Argan & Avocado Hand & Body Lotion as a real-world example. Knowing these ingredients = skincare confidence. ✨
💧 Water (Aqua)
The foundation of virtually every lotion—it’s the solvent that makes everything else possible.
🌿 Argania spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil & Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil
These are your antioxidant-rich, skin-loving heroes! Argan oil is great for elasticity and glow; avocado oil nourishes deeply. They’re also lightweight on the skin, making the lotion absorb fast.
🧈 Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit
A creamy classic that moisturizes without greasiness. Think soft, supple skin without any oily feel.
🌊 Glycerin
A humectant—it pulls moisture into your skin, keeping things feeling fresh and hydrated.
🧾 Vegetable-based emulsifying wax (Cetearyl Alcohol + Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate)
Emulsifiers help blend your oil and water together (so the lotion doesn’t separate). Plant-based, so they keep the formula natural!
🛡️ Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
An antioxidant that protects both your skin and the product itself—double-duty hero.
🧴 Preservative: Ecocert Natural Blend
This keeps your lotion safe from bacteria and extends shelf-life—all while avoiding nasty parabens or formaldehyde releasers (YES, you read that right - there are tons of cheapo preservatives out there that are designed to release formaldehyde to preserve the product and that just full body shiver gives me the creeps!)
🌸 Essential Oil or Fragrance
Lavender Bergamot? Orange Sorbet? Tropical Coconut? Banana & Ginger Lily? Essential oils or clean fragrances create the vibe you love—while staying skin- and nose-friendly.
👀 Pro Tips for Reading Lotion Labels
Know the hero oils (argan, avocado, shea)—these have real benefits.
Humectants like glycerin hydrate by drawing moisture in.
Emulsifiers & waxes = texture and stability, not harmful fillers.
Preservatives matter—natural ones like ours keep things fresh without parabens.
Fragrance matters—ask yourself if it’s essential oil, vegan fragrance, or fake chemical. Choose what aligns with your skin and values.
TL;DR Lavish Earth makes lotion to be felt and understood, not just slathered on. Our ingredient choices are intentional—from texture and moisture to scent and sustainability.
Bar Soap Is Back, Baby — And Ours Is Built Different
Let’s get one thing straight: not all bar soaps are created equal. If your childhood memories involve tight, squeaky skin and soap that doubled as a punishment on your skin, we feel you.
But handcrafted bar soap? That’s a whole other story — especially the way we do it at Lavish Earth.
First of All: Yes, Bar Soap Can Be Good for Your Skin
Our bar soaps are made the traditional way (cold process!) with a nourishing blend of plant oils, essential oils, and a lot of love.
No weird detergents. No sketchy foaming agents. No industrial dryness.
What’s In Our Bar Soap? Only the Good Stuff.
🧈 Shea Butter — For softness, richness, and creamy lather. Shea is your skin’s best friend.
🥥 Coconut Oil — Gives big bubbly lather and helps cleanse without being harsh.
🌿 Castor Oil — The secret sauce for stable, silky bubbles. It also brings gentle moisture.
🌾 Rice Bran Oil — Full of antioxidants and vitamin E, this oil is underrated and oh-so-luxurious.
🫒 Olive Oil — Gentle, soothing, and amazing for sensitive skin. It makes the bar hard and long-lasting.
Superfatted? You Bet.
We superfat our bars at 5%. That means there’s 5% more oil than the lye needs — so the final soap still has nourishing oils left behind to moisturize your skin as you wash.
Translation: It cleans you without stripping you. Your skin stays soft, not squeaky.
Scented with Care
We use:
💐 Essential oils (lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, citrus — all the classics)
✨ Or safe, phthalate-free, paraben-free, vegan fragrance oils when we need a scent that essential oils just can’t do (hello, I’m looking at you, you beautiful bar of Sweet Pea goodness!).
Everything is made with sensitive skin and noses in mind. (Because no one wants their hands to smell like fake flowers or chemical candy.)
Why Choose a Bar Over a Bottle?
Less waste. No plastic. Just a simple recyclable/compostable paper wrap.
More concentrated. One bar lasts longer than most bottled body washes (hey! Please use a soap dish to maximize life of your bar - if it gets a chance to drain, it’s got so much more life in it!).
Better for your skin. You’re getting real oils, not synthetic detergents.
Easy to travel with. No leaks. No TSA stress. Just toss it in a tin and go.
TL;DR: Our Bar Soap Is a Tiny, Bubbly Work of Art
Made for real skin, real life, and real good vibes.
If you’ve sworn off bar soap before — try ours. It’s the kind your skin actually wants to invite to the shower.
Skincare Terms That Sound Made Up But Aren’t (And What They Actually Mean)
Let’s be honest — skincare marketing is full of words that sound like someone typed with their eyes closed and said “that’ll do.”
You’ve seen them. You’ve googled them. Let’s break them down, real-talk style.
pH balanced lotion with humectant, non-comedogenic oils, and occlusive shea butter (did you catch all that?!)
1. Sebum
No, it’s not a villain from Star Trek. It’s your skin’s natural oil. Too little? Your skin’s dry. Too much? Your forehead’s a Slip ’N Slide. Argan Oil is awesome because it absorbs quickly. Jojoba oil is great because it mimics your sebum without being a jerk about it.
2. Comedogenic
Fancy word for “might clog your pores.”
Coconut oil? A little comedogenic. Jojoba? Usually not.
Translation: Know your skin type, and don’t panic if your bestie swears by something your face absolutely hates.
3. Occlusive
Sounds like a wizard spell. Actually just means it forms a barrier that locks in moisture. Think candelilla wax or shea butter. Occlusives are your winter skin’s best friend (unless your skin says “nah,” in which case we listen to her).
4. Humectant
Not a space alien. Just an ingredient that pulls moisture into your skin from the air. Glycerin and snow mushroom extract are both humectants. They're like little hydration magnets.
5. pH-balanced
This just means it won’t mess with your skin’s natural acidity. Your skin has a pH around 5.5 — just a bit on the acid side of things. All our leave-on products are pH balanced to 5.5 (because the fact of the matter is that the nature of a bar soap is that it is alkaline. To get around this, we “superfat” our formula with extra shea butter to leave skin soft and hydrated)
At Lavish Earth, we try to keep the jargon light — and the skincare legit.
But hey, if you ever need a glossary with a side of sass, we’ve got you.
Why We Choose Both Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils at Lavish Earth
When it comes to scent, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach — especially in skincare. At Lavish Earth, we’re all about creating products that smell amazing and feel great on your skin. That’s why we lean on a mix of natural essential oils and carefully selected fragrance oils.
Essential Oils are from plants, herbs and flowers - natural, earthy and fresh aromas.
The Magic of Essential Oils
About 80% of our products are scented with pure essential oils. Why? Because they bring that earthy, fresh, and natural aroma that we love — straight from plants, flowers, and herbs. Essential oils aren’t just about scent; they often carry skin benefits too. Plus, if you’re sensitive to synthetic chemicals, they’re usually a much gentler choice.
When Fragrance Oils Step In
But sometimes, essential oils just can’t do the whole job. Maybe we want a scent that’s tropical, candy-sweet, or just a little quirky — something nature can’t quite provide. That’s when we turn to high-quality, phthalate-free, paraben-free, and vegan fragrance oils or flavors. These are specially formulated to be safe for sensitive skin and noses, and they let us get creative with scent profiles.
Sensitivity Is Always Top of Mind
Whether it’s essential oils or fragrance oils, our number one priority is your skin and your nose. We avoid anything harsh, irritating, or full of hidden nasties. We want you to enjoy your skincare routine without any worry.
In a nutshell:
We’re proud to keep it mostly natural but never compromise on your experience. Because skincare should smell good, feel good, and be good for you.
If you’re curious about any of our scents or ingredients, just hit us up — we love talking all things natural and nourishing!