If you’ve ever stood in front of a shelf of natural soaps and thought, “They all look the same. How do I know which one to choose?” ... you’re definitely not alone.
Many natural soaps may look similar at first glance, but once you look closer at the ingredients and how they’re made, the differences can be huge.
Some soaps rely on cheap fillers. Others focus heavily on fragrance. And some can leave your skin feeling dry or tight after a shower.
Viva La Body soaps were created with a different philosophy.
Our bars are built around a nourishing base of plant oils and butters, then customised with clays, essential oils and natural exfoliants to create different experiences in the shower.
If you’re new to Viva La Body, this guide will help you understand:
- What makes these soaps different
- Why the ingredients matter
- How to choose the right bar for your skin
Key Takeaways
- Viva La Body soaps are made from plant oils and butters that help cleanse without stripping the skin.
- The bars are palm oil free and instead use nourishing oils like safflower and macadamia.
- Natural colours come from mineral-rich clays rather than synthetic dyes.
- Scents come from essential oils instead of synthetic fragrances.
- Different bars offer different experiences, from gentle everyday cleansers to exfoliating scrub soaps.
What Makes Viva La Body Soap Different
1. A Skin-Loving Oil Base
Every Viva La Body soap starts with the same nourishing blend of plant oils and butters:
- High oleic safflower oil
- Coconut oil
- Shea butter
- Macadamia oil
- Cocoa butter
- Castor oil
Each ingredient plays a specific role.
Coconut oil helps create cleansing bubbles. Shea butter and macadamia oil help soften and moisturise the skin. Cocoa butter adds hardness so the bar lasts longer, while castor oil boosts the creamy lather, and high oleic safflower oil adds a silky, lightweight conditioning feel while keeping the formula gentle and deeply moisturising.
The result is a soap that cleans effectively without stripping your skin.
Many mass-produced soaps rely heavily on palm oil or inexpensive fillers. Viva La Body instead focuses on skin-supportive oils rich in natural fatty acids, creating a gentler and more nourishing bar.
2. Palm Oil Free
Palm oil is extremely common in soap because it creates a hard, inexpensive bar. However, palm oil production has been linked to deforestation and biodiversity loss in some regions of the world. A big no for us!
Viva La Body soaps skip palm oil entirely and instead rely on cocoa butter and plant oils to create a creamy, long-lasting bar.
It’s a small ingredient choice that reflects a bigger philosophy.
3. Naturally Coloured with Mineral Clays
The soft colours you see in Viva La Body soaps don’t come from artificial dyes.
They come from mineral-rich clays such as:
- Red Brazilian clay
- Pink French clay
- Purple Brazilian clay
Clays have long been used in natural skincare because they help gently cleanse, smooth and balance the skin while also giving the soap its natural colour.
4. Scented with Essential Oils
Many soaps rely on synthetic fragrance oils to create strong scents. Viva La Body soaps instead use essential oils such as:
- Lavender
- Lemon myrtle
- Spearmint
- Sweet orange
- Patchouli
- Rose geranium
Essential oils create more natural scent profiles that feel fresh and botanical rather than overpowering.
5. Plastic-Free Exfoliation
Some Viva La Body bars include gentle exfoliation using ground walnut shell.
Unlike plastic micro-beads that were once common in exfoliating products, walnut shell is fully biodegradable and naturally derived.
It gently polishes the skin without harming waterways.
6. Australian Botanical Ingredients
Some bars also feature beautiful Australian botanicals such as lemon myrtle and macadamia oil.
These ingredients are known for their refreshing properties and add a subtle native botanical element to the soaps.
How Natural Soap Is Made
Viva La Body soaps are made using a traditional process called saponification.
During this process, plant oils react with sodium hydroxide to create soap and naturally occurring glycerin. The sodium hydroxide disappears during the reaction, leaving behind the finished soap bar.
One of the benefits of traditional soap making is the glycerin created during the process.
Glycerin helps draw moisture to the skin, which is one of the reasons handmade soaps often feel gentler than many commercial soap bars.
How to Choose the Right Viva La Body Soap
Because all Viva La Body soaps share the same nourishing base, the biggest differences come from the botanicals, essential oils and textures added to each bar.
Here’s a quick guide to the Viva La Body soap range and how to choose the right bar for your skin.
1. The Hydrator: Soft, earthy and nourishing
The Hydrator combines patchouli and rose geranium essential oils with red Brazilian clay.
It’s a beautiful everyday bar if you’re looking for something gentle and nourishing for normal to dry skin.
2. Tone & Smooth: Exfoliating and refreshing
Tone & Smooth includes ground walnut shell, making it one of the exfoliating bars in the range.
Lavender essential oil and mineral clays help refresh and smooth the skin.
3. Balance Bar: Gentle and calming
The Balance Bar blends rose geranium essential oil with pink French clay.
It’s a lovely everyday option if you prefer something simple and calming.
4. Daily Detox: Fresh and uplifting
Daily Detox combines lemon myrtle and lemon-scented eucalyptus, creating a bright and refreshing scent.
Perfect if you enjoy a crisp, energising shower.
5. The Athlete: Scrubby and invigorating
The Athlete pairs citronella essential oil with ground walnut shell to create a deep-cleansing exfoliating bar.
Great for post-workout showers or active days.
6. Wake Up Bar: Warm citrus energy
Wake Up Bar blends cinnamon bark, sweet orange and patchouli to create a warm citrus scent that feels energising.
A great way to start the day.
7. Super Fresh: Cooling and minty
Super Fresh contains spearmint essential oil, giving the soap a crisp and cooling scent.
Perfect if you love that ultra-fresh feeling after a shower.
Finding Your Favourite
If you’re new to Viva La Body soaps, the best way to discover your favourite is simply to start with the scent or experience that appeals most to you.
Some people prefer a gentle everyday bar. Others love scrubby exfoliating soaps. And some gravitate towards bright citrus or cooling mint scents.
The good news is that whichever bar you choose, they all share the same nourishing base of plant oils and butters designed to give you a creamy cleanse without unnecessary additives.
Sometimes the biggest difference in a natural soap isn’t what you see on the shelf, it’s how your skin feels when you step out of the shower.
We hope you love them as much as we do! And if you can't choose, you can get the full lucky 7 collection here at 15% off.
Lots of love,
Ellie (Chief Smell Officer) x
Frequently Asked Questions
Are natural soaps better for your skin?
Natural soaps are typically made with plant oils and retain the glycerin created during soapmaking. Many people find they leave skin feeling softer and less tight than detergent-based soap bars.
What makes Viva La Body soaps different?
Viva La Body soaps use a nourishing base of plant oils and butters, natural mineral clays for colour and essential oils for scent. They are also palm oil-free and plastic-free.
Do natural soaps still lather?
Yes. Oils like coconut oil and castor oil create a rich, creamy lather while still cleansing the skin effectively.
How long does a natural soap bar last?
With proper care, a natural soap bar can last several weeks. Keeping the bar dry between uses helps extend its life.