Soapwalla Chef Rachel’s Morning Routine… Exposed!
Ayo! The series continues with a very exciting entry: Soapwalla’s very own Rachel has shared her routine with you guys…because you asked. Isn’t it cool, how that works? You asked us, so we asked her, and she said yes! Soapwalla is a brand that needs no introduction around these parts: We love her deodorant and her body oil, we love her vibe, we love that she sells her stuff on Etsy with a profile pic of her playing a violin, and we love that she makes her stuff by hand in Brooklyn. She’s just good peoples. Here’s how she starts her day. Not surprisingly, she gets crafty in her kitchen…
Name: Rachel
Age: 33
Current weather: Humid & 80s with a side of natural disaster.
Hair: Wavy, fine and often uncooperative
Hair: Wavy, fine and often uncooperative
Skin: Insanely sensitive. Tends toward dry. My trademark lupus butterfly rash is almost always present at some level.
Before the shower…
I dry brush my skin daily. It really wakes me up and makes my skin feel fantastic!
In the shower…
I’m like Siobhan and Alexandra — I don’t wash my face in the mornings. I oscillate between a toning tea I’m making (which I’m SUPER excited about! It’s in the final stages of perfection) and pure rose water, which gently remove any nighttime oiliness without causing tightness or redness, but other than that I gently splash water on my face and air dry. Twice a week, I apply a mask (one of several I’m researching for Soapwalla), the bases of which are either clay or oat powder. Sometimes I’ll add in mashed-up fruit — papaya and avocado are favorites — but that depends on what I have in the fridge. I shampoo and condition only every third day — my scalp gets way too unhappy if I shampoo more frequently. Since I often have blisters on my scalp (thanks to the lupus), I have to be very careful about what I use. I currently switch up John Masters Zinc and Sage shampoo/conditioner with my own concoctions. I’m also interested in trying Yarok haircare products but haven’t yet.
I suds up with Soapwalla’s lavender and french clay and crushed saffron & kaffir lime soap bars. Those two are perfect during the summer months. Once a week I exfoliate with my Almond Luxe body polish.
Outside the shower…
I add a smidge of argan or jojoba oil to my damp hair and apply a volumizing sea salt-based spray I’ve been working on. And I apply my luxurious body oil and restorative face serum before my skin is fully dry — I LOVE applying oil to slightly damp skin. I must admit that I rarely use sunscreen on my face. I have yet to find a natural one that doesn’t make my skin feel funky, although the closest I’ve found is Vive Sana. A quick application of Soapwalla’s deodorant cream, and a dab of one of the million lip balm samples I have spread around the apartment, and I’m ready to go!
Finishing Touches…
After a quick spritz of an essential oil combination I created, I’m done. I rarely wear make-up — only if I have to. On occasions where I do need a little something, I swear by RMS living luminizer and Zuzu mascara.
More to come soon, people! Get excited, and feel free to comment on her awesome routine in below.
Thanks for this Rachel, I love your deodorant!
Do you (or Alexandra or Siobhan or anyone else) have suggestions for body lotions or oils, and soaps/body washes that don’t have any nuts in them? I’ve been dealing with a mysterious and constant allergic reaction for the past few months (fun) and am trying to cut out nuts from my skin / body care.
Any help would be so appreciated!
Hi Ali!
Sorry to hear about the allergic reaction. That’s no fun. I’d recommend a pure jojoba oil (not mixed with anything else) to start, at least until your skin calms down. Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax and is most closely resembles the sebum that our skin naturally produces. Another good nut alternative is apricot kernel.
Let me know if you have additional questions!
Rachel, Soapwalla Chef
Rachel, just started using your deodorant cream and it is great. I was not getting the results i wanted from the options at the store. Seriously, THANK YOU!! I was getting smelly in the afternoon with the old stuff, now no smell at all – even in humid, hot Florida where I live!
I am trying to move to everything clean, but I have been issues finding hair care products that doesn’t leave my hair oily. I have oily hair, sensitive skin and a dry scalp. I could only go a month or so on clean soap before my hair was a total oil slick and I had to give up. I was only using shampoo on my head, conditioner on the ends. Any suggestions from anyone out there?
I read two beauty blogs, this and intothegloss.com. Oh, the joy when intothegloss does a “topshelf” and nomoredirtylooks does a “routine” (they’re basically the same idea)! It’s so helpful to learn what, how much, when and why real people use their preferred products. I actually prefer them to straightforward reviews. So thanks!
@Julie… I’ve struggled finding clean shampoos/conditioners that I liked. I’ve tried ‘em all (well mostly except some of the pricier ones) and my thick, wavy/curly hair was a nightmare…a greasy, stringy, lifeless mess. I’ve started using the Desert Essence Lemon Tea Tree Shampoo & Conditioner for oily hair (http://www.desertessence.com/hair-care/lemon-tea-tree-shampoo) and I’m liking so far. It suds like conventional shampoos which I adore since my hair is so thick, it actually feels like it’s cleaning as opposed to the cleaner/non-sudsy ones. So far, not so much grease and more shine & life. We’ll see if it lasts :)
Thanks so much Rachel, I’ll try Jojoba !
All the products you are developing sound great! I will have to check out the toning tea when it comes out.
So someone that I would love to see expose her morning routine is Suzanne LeRoux. She is the creator and genius behind One Love Organics, which is an amazing skin & hair care line. She basically revolutionized the idea of “simple” body care. I think that she would be great for this series.
@Michelle – thanks for you reccomendation! I will try that one.