Address
Stone Mountain, GA
Questions & answers
Everything you want to know
before your first order
Real answers about ingredients, safety, and what makes handmade skincare different.
01 — Why BLN
What makes BLN different from drugstore or commercial skincare?
Commercial skincare is formulated for mass production. Stabilizers, synthetic preservatives, and artificial fragrance exist to extend shelf life and reduce cost, not to benefit your skin. BLN products are made in small batches by a formulator trained specifically in natural skincare, not adapted from a mass-market recipe.
Founder Roxana David studied at the School of Natural Skincare International and the Natural Cosmetic Formulation Club, and holds a Health Coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. That training shapes every formula: ingredients are chosen for what they do for skin, not for how long they survive on a warehouse shelf.
No sulfates, no parabens, no synthetic fragrance. Every bar, butter, and serum contains ingredients you can read, pronounce, and look up. That transparency, backed by real formulation training, is the difference.
Where are your products made, and who makes them?
Every BLN product is handmade in small batches in Stone Mountain, Georgia, by Roxana, the founder. Not a contract manufacturer. Not a production facility. One person who formulates, makes, and tests every product on his own skin before it reaches yours.
That hands-on process is what makes the difference you feel. Roxana sells in person at Atlanta arts and crafts markets specifically because hearing directly from customers and watching someone experience the difference for the first time is what drives every formulation decision.
When you buy BLN, you are buying something made by someone who genuinely cares what goes on your skin.
Is Body Love Nature cruelty free?
Yes. No BLN product is tested on animals at any stage, not during formulation, not during production. Every ingredient is chosen for its benefit to human skin, and that process has never involved animal testing. BLN is cruelty-free by both practice and principle.
02 — Ingredients
What ingredients do you use in your soaps and body butters?
Ingredients vary slightly by product, but every BLN formula is built from the same foundation: plant-based oils, raw butters, and therapeutic-grade essential oils. No synthetic ingredients at any stage.
Bar soaps are made with distilled water, organic coconut oil, olive oil, aloe vera oil, palm oil, castor oil, and sodium hydroxide. Every scent comes from therapeutic-grade essential oils, never synthetic fragrance.
Body butters are made with raw shea butter, organic raw cocoa butter, organic coconut oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, vitamin E oil, and arrowroot powder. The arrowroot gives the butter a lighter, non-greasy finish without any synthetic thickeners or fillers.
The full ingredient list for every individual product is listed on its product page so you can read exactly what goes into the specific bar or butter you are considering.
Are your products truly natural and organic or is that just marketing?
No marketing. Every ingredient in a BLN product is plant-based, raw, or minimally processed; there are no synthetic chemicals, artificial preservatives, petroleum derivatives, or lab-created fragrances anywhere in the formulas. What you read on the ingredient list is exactly what goes into the product.
Not every individual ingredient carries a certified organic label; olive oil and palm oil, for example, are natural but not certified organic. Coconut oil and cocoa butter are. Rather than make a blanket claim, the honest answer is this: every ingredient is chosen because it is genuinely good for skin, not because it is cheap, shelf-stable, or easy to source.
That standard has never changed.
Do your soaps contain lye? Is lye safe?
Every real bar soap, handmade or commercial, requires lye (sodium hydroxide) during production. There is no soap without it. The lye reacts with oils during the cold-process saponification process, and that reaction is what creates soap.
What matters is what remains in the finished bar. By the time a BLN soap completes its 4 to 6 week curing period, the saponification reaction is complete. No lye remains in the bar you hold in your hand. What remains is pure soap, natural glycerin, and the conditioning oils chosen for that specific formula.
This is true of every cold-process soap in existence; the lye is a process ingredient, not a finished product ingredient.
What makes cold-process soap different from commercial soap bars?
The most important difference is glycerin. When oils and lye react during saponification, glycerin is produced naturally as a byproduct. Glycerin draws moisture to the skin and is one of the most effective natural humectants available.
Commercial soap manufacturers extract that glycerin during production and sell it separately, it is worth more as a standalone ingredient than it is left in a bar of soap. What remains in a commercial bar is a detergent base, synthetic lather boosters, and artificial fragrance.
Cold-process soap retains every drop of glycerin naturally, which is why skin feels different after the switch. You are not just cleaning your skin, you are leaving something beneficial behind every time you wash.
03 — Skin type and product fit
How do I know which product is right for my skin type or concern?
Start with what your skin needs most. Dry skin benefits from richer, oil-heavy formulas like a whipped body butter, which absorbs slowly and holds moisture longer than a lighter lotion. Oily and combination skin generally do better with a lighter bar soap that cleanses without stripping natural oils, since over-stripping is what often triggers more oil production in response.
Sensitive, reactive skin should start with the gentlest formula in the line, free of any added essential oil scent, to rule out fragrance sensitivity first.
If you are unsure, the ingredient list on each product page is the most reliable guide. Match the ingredients to what your skin responds well to, not the product description alone.
Are BLN products good for all skin types?
Most BLN products are formulated to work across skin types because the ingredient base avoids the two most common irritants: synthetic fragrance and sulfates.
That said, “good for all skin types” is a claim worth being specific about rather than just stating. Dry skin, oily skin, and sensitive skin each respond differently to the same formula, which is why product selection matters more than blanket reassurance.
If you have a specific skin concern, a patch test on a small area before full use is the most reliable way to confirm a new product works for you, regardless of how it is marketed.
Will switching to natural soap cause breakouts or skin purging?
Some people experience a short adjustment period when switching from detergent-based commercial soap to glycerin-rich natural soap. This is not the same as an allergic reaction.
Commercial soap often strips oil aggressively, which can cause skin to overproduce oil in response. When that stripping stops, skin needs time to recalibrate, and some people notice temporary changes in texture or breakouts during that window.
This is not universal, and it is not something every person experiences. If breakouts continue beyond two to three weeks or worsen, that is a sign the product is not the right match for your skin, not a sign to push through discomfort.
What should I expect when transitioning to natural skincare?
The most common change people notice is how their skin feels immediately after washing. Commercial soap often leaves skin feeling tight or stripped, which many people mistake for “clean.”
Natural, glycerin-rich soap leaves a different feeling, softer and less tight, because the natural moisture barrier is not being stripped away. Give your skin two to three weeks before judging a new routine.
Skin needs time to adjust to a different cleansing process, especially if it has been using detergent-based products for years. Introduce one new product at a time rather than switching your entire routine at once, so you can track how your skin responds to each change individually.
04 — Sensitive skin
Are BLN products safe for sensitive skin?
Most BLN products are formulated without the three ingredients most commonly linked to skin irritation: synthetic fragrance, sulfates, and artificial dyes. Scent comes only from therapeutic-grade essential oils, and every formula is built from plant-based oils and raw butters rather than detergents or synthetic additives.
Chamomile and Oats and Goats Milk and Honey are the two bars most often chosen by customers with reactive or easily irritated skin, since both are formulated with calming, minimally fragranced profiles.
Even so, sensitive skin reacts differently from person to person. A patch test before full use is always the most reliable way to confirm a new product is right for you.
Can I use these products if I have eczema or rosacea?
This is not something BLN can answer with a medical claim. Eczema and rosacea are diagnosed skin conditions, and what works for one person’s flare-up can trigger another’s.
What can be said honestly: BLN formulas avoid sulfates and synthetic fragrance, two ingredients frequently identified as triggers for both conditions, which is why some customers with eczema or rosacea have chosen to try our gentler formulas.
If you have a diagnosed skin condition, talk to your dermatologist before introducing any new skincare product, BLN included. A patch test on a small area, away from any active flare-up, is the right first step before deciding if a product belongs in your routine.
How do I patch test a new soap or body butter?
Apply a small amount of product to the inside of your forearm or behind your ear. Leave it undisturbed for 24 hours without washing the area. If you notice redness, itching, swelling, or irritation at any point, discontinue use and rinse the area thoroughly.
If no reaction occurs after 24 hours, the product is likely compatible with your skin. For a bar soap specifically, lather a small amount, apply it to the test area, and rinse after about 30 seconds the first time.
This lets you observe how your skin responds before committing to a full wash or application.
05 — Safety and pregnancy
Are BLN products safe to use during pregnancy?
This is not a yes or no that BLN can answer responsibly without your doctor involved. Base ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter are generally well tolerated during pregnancy.
The real consideration is essential oils. Some essential oils, including clary sage, rosemary, and certain citrus oils, are commonly flagged as ones to avoid or limit during the first trimester specifically.
Before using any BLN product during pregnancy, review the full ingredient list on the product page with your OB or midwife. That conversation, not a blanket claim from us, is the right way to decide what belongs in your routine during pregnancy.
Are these products safe for babies and young children?
The base formulas, plant oils and raw butters with minimal ingredients, are generally gentle. The real consideration is essential oil concentration, not the base. Many essential oils are considered too potent for babies under three months, and caution is generally recommended through around age two.
The Unscented Body Butter is the most straightforward choice for very young children, since it removes the essential oil variable entirely. For any scented product, check the ingredient list and consult your pediatrician first, especially if your child has known skin sensitivities.
06 — Products
How long does a bar of handmade soap last?
With proper care, a cold-process bar typically lasts several weeks with daily use. The single biggest factor in how long a bar lasts is how it is stored between uses, not the formula itself.
A bar that sits in standing water dissolves significantly faster than one left to dry on a draining surface.
What is the difference between a body butter and a regular lotion?
Body butters contain no water. Conventional lotions are typically 60 to 80 percent water, which is why they absorb quickly and feel lighter, but also why they evaporate faster and require more frequent reapplication. BLN body butters are whipped blends of raw shea butter, organic cocoa butter, and plant oils, with arrowroot powder added for a lighter, non-greasy finish.
Because there is no water to evaporate, body butter absorbs more slowly but delivers deeper, longer-lasting moisture. A small amount, about the size of a dime, is enough for both arms.
Applying to slightly damp skin right after showering helps the oils absorb faster and lock in more moisture.
Do your products have an expiration date or shelf life?
Yes. Because BLN products contain no synthetic preservatives, shelf life is shorter than what you would find in a commercial product. As a general range, soap bars are best used within about 12 months, and body butters and serums within about 6 to 9 months of opening.
Store products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If a product changes noticeably in scent or texture, that is a sign it has reached the end of its useful life and should be discontinued.
How should I store my products to make them last longer?
Keep soap bars on a draining soap dish, not in standing water. Water exposure between uses is the single biggest cause of a bar wearing down faster than expected.
For body butters and serums, store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and away from bathroom humidity if possible, since heat and moisture both shorten shelf life for products without synthetic preservatives.
07 — Orders and shipping
When will my order be processed and shipped?
Orders are typically ready to ship within 2 business days of being placed. BLN keeps a small rotating inventory of around 20 items at any given time, which allows for fast turnaround without sacrificing the small-batch, handmade quality of each product.
Once your order ships, you will receive a confirmation email with information about your product being shipped.
What forms of payment do you accept?
BLN accepts all major credit and debit cards through a secure checkout.
Can I buy BLN products in person?
Yes. Roxana sells BLN products in person at arts and crafts markets throughout the Atlanta area. It is a great way to smell the bars before you buy, ask questions directly, and pick up products without waiting on shipping.
Follow BLN on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming market dates and locations, announced in advance.
