What Makes a Soap Truly Natural? A Guide to the Best Natural Soap in the UK
When we say “natural soap”, it’s easy to picture a bar that feels pure, simple, and kind to the skin. But with so many brands using the word natural, how do you know what truly is — and what’s just clever marketing?
At Annings of Dorset, we keep things simple. Each bar is handmade in the UK with ingredients you can understand — plant oils, nourishing butters, essential oils, upcycled seashells from British fisheries, and locally sourced beeswax. No complicated synthetics, no shortcuts.
Here’s what to look for in a truly natural soap.
Ingredients you can recognise
The heart of every bar is its oils and butters. Our soaps are made with:
Olive oil — a time-honoured base that cleanses without stripping.
Coconut oil — for a gentle lather and light freshness. Clinical studies show that natural oils like coconut, jojoba, and almond can significantly improve skin hydration in people with dry or irritated skin.¹
Sunflower oil — rich in vitamin E to soften and protect.
Shea butter — deeply moisturising, giving each bar a creamy richness. Shea butter is valued for its ability to calm inflammation and support the skin barrier in dry, sensitive skin as shown in clinical research on plant oils.²
Local beeswax — adds firmness, helps the bar last longer, and connects each soap to the landscapes around us. Reviews of human studies on beeswax show it supports the skin barrier, helping reduce moisture loss and soothe dermatitis.³
To this, we add scallop shell powder, a natural mineral rich in calcium, repurposed from British fisheries. What once went to landfill is now given a second life in our eco-friendly soaps.
Naturally scented with essential oils
Instead of synthetic perfumes, our soaps are scented only with essential oils.
Take our Neroli & Palmarosa Soap:
Neroli oil, distilled from bitter orange blossoms, offers a fresh, calming fragrance.
Palmarosa oil, with its gentle floral notes, balances and uplifts.
Together they create a subtle, natural scent — nothing harsh, just clean, botanical notes that complement your daily ritual.
Gentle on sensitive skin
Because our soaps are made from natural oils, butters, beeswax, and clays, they’re kinder to skin that reacts to harsher formulas. By working with the skin’s natural barrier and microbiome, they help maintain balance rather than disrupt it.
Free from harsh synthetics
We don’t use sulphates, parabens, or artificial fragrances — the things that often dry and irritate skin. Instead, every ingredient has a purpose: cleansing, nourishing, or scenting in a way that works with your body, not against it.
Sustainability woven into every bar
Natural doesn’t stop at ingredients. For us, it includes the way a soap is packaged and made.
Plastic-free from the very start.
Compostable packaging, printed on carbon-captured paper.
Upcycled shells from British fisheries, helping to reduce waste.
Locally sourced beeswax, supporting small producers close to home.
The Annings difference
To us, a truly natural soap is one that respects both the body and the environment. With olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, shea butter, local beeswax, clays, and essential oils, each bar reflects the care and integrity we stand for.
If you’re searching for the best natural soap in the UK, look for ingredients you can trust, packaging that respects the planet, and a story rooted in care. That’s what we offer in every Annings bar.
Discover our full collection of natural soaps — handmade in the UK with local beeswax, upcycled seashells, and pure essential oils here
FAQs
What does ‘natural soap’ mean in the UK?
Natural soap is made with ingredients you can recognise — oils, butters, clays and essential oils — without synthetic detergents, parabens or artificial perfumes. At Annings of Dorset, it also means plastic-free packaging, palm-oil-free recipes, and a sustainable approach to every bar.
How can I tell if a soap is truly natural?
The easiest way is to check the ingredient list. If you see names like olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter and essential oils, that’s a good sign. Long chemical names such as sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) usually indicate synthetics. Transparency and clear sourcing matter too.
Are natural soaps better for sensitive skin?
Many people with dry or reactive skin find natural soaps gentler because they avoid harsh foaming agents and synthetic fragrance. Ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil and sunflower oil are known to support the skin barrier and keep moisture locked in.
What is the benefit of scallop shell powder in soap?
Scallop shells are naturally rich in calcium carbonate, which provides gentle exfoliation while helping to support the skin’s balance. By upcycling shells from British fisheries, we also reduce waste and give this natural mineral a new life in our soaps.
Do natural soaps lather as well as regular soaps?
Yes — a good natural soap creates a creamy, rich lather thanks to oils like coconut and olive. The bubbles feel softer and more nourishing on the skin, without the need for synthetic foaming agents.
Is Annings soap vegan?
Most of our bars are completely plant-based. Some contain local beeswax, which we always list clearly so you can choose what’s right for you. All of our soaps are palm-oil-free and never tested on animals.
References
Vaughn AR, Nguyen M, Van Skiver M, et al. Pilot study on the effects of natural oils on skin barrier function in xerotic skin. (2018). 32 participants; coconut, jojoba, almond oils improved hydration. ResearchGate link
Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(11):244. PMC link
Nong Y, et al. A Review of the Use of Beeswax in Skincare. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023. PubMed link