Rachel Winard is the founder of the Brooklyn-based brand Soap Walla. You would know her best as being the chef of the unbelievably popular organic deodorant cream, a product which has to be the top best-seller from the Amazingy shop. What makes it a guaranteed winner? Her promise to use the highest quality ingredients available and ensure that they are as effective and long-lasting as their conventional compatriot. She remains loyal to her philosophy that “If I refuse to put something in my body, I don’t want to put it on my body.” I recently got the chance to to pick her brain about her whole process, gain a glimpse behind the scenes, and find out what she envisions for the future of the now international buzz brand Soap Walla.

What sparked the idea for this brand? How did it all begin?

My skincare obsession started out of necessity. I have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune illness that can manifest itself in a number of ways. Like others who suffer from lupus, I get terrible skin rashes, hives, and irritated skin patches. When it was at its worst, I could barely use water on my skin without irritation. Soap Walla was born one late night in early 2002, after months of unsuccessfully hunting for face and body products that wouldn’t aggravate my skin. I tried everything on the market I could find, without luck, and finally decided to start making my own products that were as healthy and wholesome as possible. The product line grew from there.

Why did you choose the name?

“Walla” means maker or master in Hindi. A friend of mine who spent time in India, like I did (I spent 4 months traveling in India) named me the Soap Walla. I LOVED the name!

What is the best advice you can offer anyone looking to transition from conventional cosmetics to natural products?

Two pieces of advice: (1) Less is more! Our skin is incredibly intuitive. When we bombard our bodies with dozens of products on a daily basis, we create confusion and imbalance. When in doubt, or when your skin seems to be acting up, pare down your skin care regimen. (2) There may be an adjustment period while your skin gets used to these new, better products. That’s okay! But please make sure to use the highest quality ingredients you can find.

Could you tell a bit more about the main ingredients in your products and how you select them?

We look for the highest quality, least processed, most sustainably harvested ingredients we can. We purchase from small, medium and large farms all over the world. And we only work with farmers and suppliers who share the same principles that we do.

How would you describe the ideology behind your brand?

My philosophy is that our skin is our largest organ and for it to function at its best, we must feed it wholesome ingredients. If I refuse to put something in my body, I don’t want to put it on my body.

Could you give us a glimpse behind the scenes: what does a day in your life look like?

Sure! I get up between 4:30 and 5am and make myself a cup of coffee. I answer emails for a solid 1-2 hours before the day gets crazy. I try to practice yoga in the morning before I go to work, it helps me have a clear mind and I like feeling connected to my body. I go into the studio and work all day – I generally work on production, new product launches, take meetings, take press requests, take more meetings. I try to take an afternoon exercise class if I didn’t do anything in the morning, and I have a nice 20 minute walk home after work. When I get home, I immediately wash my face to get the grime and sweat off, then I start making dinner. If the weather is nice, we will take our meal onto the roof and eat al fresco. I try to be in bed by 8:30 or 9pm and read for a while before I go to sleep.

What can we find you doing on the weekends?

Kickboxing, shopping for food at my local farmer’s market, and hiking in the nearby mountains.

Name 3 of your favorite beauty products that you can’t live without:

Our Restorative Face Serum, Hydrating Facial Toning Mist, and Citrus Deodorant Cream.

How many employees you have now? In how many countries are your products distributed?

We are a team of 5 women. Soap Walla is sold all over the world, including North and Central America, all across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Difficulties you struggled with?

Self-doubt! I had a lot of worry that I wasn’t doing things right or that everything would just disappear tomorrow. Now that we are in our 6th year of business, I worry about that less. But I also have employees now and I want to make sure that they are well taken care of.

What you kept you going at the beginning?

My passion about what I was creating and how strongly I felt about our principles of creating the best products with the best ingredients, beautifully presented and at a price point that people could afford.

What is your favorite product of yours?

I don’t have a favorite product, but the one product I absolutely cannot live without is our Restorative Face Serum. My face drinks it in, and it doesn’t irritate my very sensitive skin.

What’s your favorite meal to cook at home?

I love to grill vegetables and bake brownies.

Special hidden talents?

I am a classically trained violinist, and I also studied trapeze for 5 years.

What is your favorite activity that you do together with your family?

I love to cook, so my favorite activity is to make a big meal for my partner, and my closest friends. Then to sit outside on our roof-deck and enjoy a lovely evening meal al fresco!

Your advice to the user of your brand?

Know that every product was made with so much love and attention during the entire process. Also, because we don’t use any unnecessary ingredients or fillers, our products are highly concentrated -a little goes a long way.

How was the reaction of you family / friends / colleagues when you came up with the idea of the brand?

They were thrilled! My friends and family members were the ones who really pushed me to launch Soap Walla.

Which seals of approval does your brand have?

We are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, we are certified vegan by PETA’S Caring Consumer Program, and we were named a Champion Company by the Environmental Working Group.

What makes your company environmentally conscious?

We take great pride in our focus on minimizing our environmental footprint, including:
* formulating products in such a way that won’t require lots of plastic packaging
* using finished materials (labels and boxes) that are locally printed/manufactured
* working with farmers and suppliers who practice sustainable farming and who utilize sensitive harvesting methods
* making everything in-house and working in small batches
* being a vegan line

Did you do crowdfunding or anything else to help raise money to start your company?

No. Soap Walla was self-funded since day one and I am proud to say that 6 years later, we still have never taken out a loan or money from others to keep ourselves afloat.

And what do we have to look forward when it comes to the future of your brand?

We are working on two new projects that I’m very excited about! We’ll be releasing a gorgeous intensive balm this October, and a third deodorant later in the year.

Next goals? Dreams? Visions?

I am going on a long holiday – 6 weeks – to help me refresh and to figure out what my next goals are, both personally and for Soap Walla. I’m very excited about it!