A short history of soap — and why we chose Kinsale salt, minerals, and goat’s milk
By Tracy | Naturally Balanced, Kinsale
If you live in Ireland (and especially near the coast), you’ll know this feeling: your skin can be fine one day, and then the wind turns, the showers get hotter, the pace picks up… and suddenly your hands, arms, and legs feel dry again.
That’s one of the reasons I wanted Naturally Balanced soaps to exist.
Not as “just soap”, but as a simple daily ritual — something practical that you’ll genuinely use, that leaves your skin feeling clean, soft, and comfortable. And because we’re in Kinsale, it felt right to let this place shape the range too — especially through locally harvested Kinsale salt, a beautiful, honest ingredient we can stand over.
This soap range is now launched, and it’s intentionally small:
- Mineral Soap
- Goat’s Milk Soap
- Kinsale Salt Exfoliating Soap
Three bars. Three different needs. Same Naturally Balanced approach: simple, effective, and made with care.
A little history: soap has always been about daily life
Soap is one of the oldest everyday essentials we have. Long before skincare was a trend, soap existed because people needed something reliable for washing — hands, bodies, clothes, everything.
I love that, because it fits the Naturally Balanced way of thinking: the best wellbeing habits are often the simplest ones. The ones you do without needing motivation.
And soap is one of those habits.
What makes a good bar of soap today?
When I’m choosing a bar for myself (or making one I’d be proud to put our name on), I’m always thinking about the same things:
1) How does it feel on the skin?
Clean shouldn’t mean tight. A good bar should leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, and comfortable — not stripped.
2) Does it work with real Irish skin and weather?
Wind, rain, coastal air, indoor heating, busy days — the bar has to suit life as it actually is here.
3) Is it simple enough to become a ritual?
If it’s fussy, it won’t last. A bar that’s easy to use and enjoy becomes part of your routine without effort.
That’s the heartbeat of this range.
The Naturally Balanced Soap Range
Three bars, three purposes
1) Kinsale Salt Exfoliating Soap
Why Kinsale salt belongs in this range
Kinsale salt is more than a “nice ingredient”. It’s a reference point. It’s local. It’s part of the landscape here — the harbour air, the coastline, the sense of being by the sea.
In this bar, we use locally harvested Kinsale salt because it gives a gentle exfoliating feel — the kind of polishing that helps skin feel smoother and fresher, without needing harsh scrubs.
This is the bar for:
- skin that feels a bit rough or dull
- arms/legs/hands that need smoothing
- anyone who loves that “fresh finish” feeling after washing
How to use it (important):
This is best a few times per week, not necessarily every day — especially if your skin is sensitive, freshly shaved, or irritated. Use with warm water, lather, massage gently in circular motions, rinse, and follow with your favourite body oil if your skin needs it.
2) Mineral Soap
Simple, clean, everyday
Mineral Soap is for the person who wants a straightforward bar that fits into daily life: wash, rinse, go — but still with that Naturally Balanced “soft skin feel”.
It’s part of the same idea as our Kinsale salt bar: mineral-rich simplicity, with a practical, clean finish.
This is the bar for:
- everyday handwashing
- shower use when you want something uncomplicated
- people who love a clean, fresh bar that still feels gentle
If you’re the kind of person who wants one bar in the shower that you can rely on, this sits nicely in that lane.
3) Goat’s Milk Soap
Comforting, creamy, and skin-softening
Goat’s Milk Soap is the comforting one.
It has a creamy texture and is designed to leave skin feeling soft and comfortable, which makes it a really good everyday option — especially if your skin tends to feel dry after washing.
This is the bar for:
- daily shower/bath use
- skin that wants comfort more than exfoliation
- anyone who loves a creamier lather and a softer finish
It’s gentle in feel, simple to use, and it fits the Naturally Balanced philosophy perfectly: easy ritual, real results.
Why we chose these ingredients
(and what you’ll feel from them)
I’ll keep this part simple, because the goal is to help you understand what you’re using — not overwhelm you.
Glycerin-rich base
Glycerin is one of the reasons some bars feel nicer than others. In simple terms, it supports that comfortable, soft skin feel after washing — especially important in Irish weather and with frequent handwashing.
Kinsale salt
This is our local signature. Kinsale salt brings:
- gentle exfoliation (a smoothing feel)
- a fresh finish
- a real sense of place — because it’s not a random ingredient, it’s from here
And I love that. It keeps the range rooted, not generic.
Goat’s milk
Goat’s milk is traditionally loved in soap for its creamy, comforting feel. In our range, it’s the “soft landing” bar — the one people reach for when they want their skin to feel soothed and cared for.
How to choose the right bar
If you want it really simple:
-
For smoothing and gentle exfoliation:
Kinsale Salt Exfoliating Soap (a few times per week) -
For daily, straightforward washing:
Mineral Soap -
For a creamy, comforting everyday bar:
Goat’s Milk Soap
And if you’re not sure: start with Goat’s Milk for daily use, and add Kinsale Salt a couple of times a week when you want that extra smoothness.
How to make your soap last longer
This is the boring advice that actually makes a difference:
- Let your bar dry between uses
- Use a draining soap dish (not a puddle)
- Keep it out of direct running water in the shower
A bar that stays dry lasts longer and performs better.
FAQs
Can I use the Kinsale Salt Exfoliating Soap every day?
Most people will prefer it a few times per week. If your skin is sensitive or irritated, keep it gentle and less frequent.
Which one is best for dry skin?
Goat’s Milk Soap is usually the most comforting daily option, and you can follow with a body oil if you want extra softness.
What’s the difference between Mineral Soap and the Kinsale Salt bar?
Mineral Soap is your straightforward everyday clean. The Kinsale Salt bar is the one with the gentle exfoliating “polish” feel.
A personal note from Kinsale
I wanted this range to feel like Kinsale in a small way — not as a marketing line, but as something true: coastal air, salt, simplicity, and that feeling of coming back to yourself.
Kinsale salt is a beautiful reference point for me because it reminds us that everyday wellbeing doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as using a bar you love, taking an extra minute in the shower, and letting that be your reset.
That’s what these soaps are for.