getting soapy with SAABOON (GIVEAWAY)

Earlier this year I popped by Urban Juice Press for the first time (great folks!) and noticed they had a shelf of vegan soaps labelled SAABOON. Then on a visit to ISO Spa (more on that in a future post), I saw SAABOON again. Then I spotted it at Whole Foods. Then several of my Instagram followers mentioned they were loving SAABOON's natural deodorant. This Ottawa brand was going big and I wanted to find out more.

I met up with owner and product wizard Joulian (such a fantastic guy!), and I asked him how he got started dabbling in natural soap making. He explained that for many people, big brand commercial soaps are irritating on the skin, largely because they contain loads of detergents, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives. Basically nothing that does the skin any favours. And multiply the irritation a bunch of times over for sensitive folks or those with eczema or psoriasis.

Joulian felt there had to be a better way so he got down to work on his first soap base. He set out to create a product that was natural, gentle, and plant-based (vegan), because he wanted everyone to be able to use it. You won’t find any synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances or colours, animal products or by-products, or preservatives in SAABOON. He hand selects every single ingredient for its beneficial properties, so you can be sure you're using the good stuff. He began with a single soap base and before long he'd created 12 different varieties.

Joulian realized many commercial skin and body care products were just as disappointing as commercial soaps, so he decided to tackle that too. His company has evolved from SAABOON Handmade Vegan Soap to SAABOON Handmade Vegan Skincare, but every single product is still crafted by hand by Joulian himself. now has a beautiful range of

I was lucky enough to try a whole slew of SAABOON's products and I loved them so much I simply had to share them with you. That's right: I have a SAABOON vegan skincare set to give away!

Here's what's up for grabs, from left to right: BODY balm, AIR soothing bath salt, NUDE lip balm, ELEMENTAL face oil, UTILITY natural deodorant, COFFEE BREAK soap, HIMALAYAN soap.

BODY balm, $16.99: this little tin of BODY balm is quite the multi-tasker. Are you gardener with chapped hands? A cyclist with a sore tush? A runner with banged up toes and cracked heels? Got some razor burn?This is the stuff to reach for. It's moisturizing but not at all greasy, and absorbs quickly into the skin. A little goes a long way so this tin will last for ages.

AIR soothing bath salt, $14.99: SAABOON has 3 types of bath salt, and AIR is their unscented variety. It's perfect for sensitive skin and sensitive noses, and is equally lovely if you're an essential oil fiend (like me) and love to create your own bath time blends. AIR is crafted from a combination of Dead Sea salt, Epsom salt, baking soda, and oat flour; great for soothing the skin or relaxing tight, achy muscles. Fellow runners, this is *THE* stuff to get!

NUDE lip balm, $5.99: I. Love. This. Stuff. I'm never without my little tube of NUDE: I keep it in my purse, throw it in my gym bag, take it to yoga, and apply it before every single run. My lips always feel dry and this little tube helps a ton. I've especially noticed how it prevents windburn on my longer runs. It's scent-free and made with avocado butter, cocoa butter, castor oil, and candelilla wax.

ELEMENTAL face oil, $19.99: If you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you've probably noticed I'm wholeheartedly in love with beauty oils/skincare oils/whatever you want to call them. As a former skincare trainer, I'm a staunch believer that the right oil can do a world of good for any skin type, including oily folks: oils can balance the skin, clean it effectively, and hydrate not both the surface and the deeper layers. This ELEMENTAL face oil has a slightly smoky/herbal scent that leans a bit masculine if you will, though I believe anyone can use/wear any scent they like. It was extremely gentle on my sometimes finicky skin, and the cap has a super tight seal so I won't have to worry about this one when I travel.

COFFEE BREAK soap, $5.99: I *love* coffee in skincare. It's rich in antioxidants (you'll spot it in some fancy eye creams) and it's a natural exfoliant. It can tone the skin and even out blotchy areas, and it's also incredibly soothing on skin troubled by acne, eczema, psoriasis, and more. It's even deodorizing: it can absorb and neutralize strong odours (that's why you sniff coffee beans when you're shopping for perfume - it's like an olfactory reset button). COFFEE BREAK is great for all skin types and you can even use it as a shampoo. Great for camping!

HIMALAYAN soap $5.99: Artisanal soap made with Himalayan Pink Salt?! Yes please! Himalayan Pink Salt is mined and harvested from the ancient salt beds deep under the Himalayan Mountains. This salt is rich in over 80 minerals and is considered to be the purest form of salt available. In soap, it's known to help relieve skin rashes, relax the body, stimulate circulation, and soothe sore muscles. Use HIMALAYAN to clean, moisturize and lightly exfoliate your skin, especially if you have an oily or combination complexion.

UTILITY 100% natural deodorant, $14.99: Oh UTILITY. This was my hands-down favourite of the whole SAABOON bunch. I've been on a mission to trash my nasty antiperspirants and replace them with natural deodorant, AND THIS ONE WORKS. I've worn it spinning class, to warm yoga, and on long runs, and it handled all that without, uh, breaking a sweat (sorry guys, sorry). But seriously, I think this might be the product that makes Joulian famous one day. It's just that good. It works for both men and women and is formulated with hardworking antibacterial ingredients like baking soda, tea tree, and lemongrass to keep you feeling (and smelling) fresh. And it doesn't leave a white mess on your clothes! As Jay-Z said: Magna Carta, Holy Grail.