Suchi's Handcrafted Skincare Products

NEW PRODUCT - DASHAMOOLA

Dashamoola is a potent ayurvedic combination of ten incredible roots, some of which have powerful antioxidants, some of which are anti-inflammatory and so on. Dashamoola as powder or kwath is generally used for internal health.

We have used the dashamoola powder for external skincare in a gentle face and body soap.

If you'd like to know more: the dasha (ten) moola (roots) are generally those of Bilva, Agnimantha, Gambhari, Shyonaka, Patala (from large trees), and Brahati, Kantakari, Shalaparni, Prishniparni and Gokharu (from smaller shrubs).

One or two of them may vary by practioner, but this is more or less the general mix.

SANDALWOOD STORIES

What did the Vijayanagar kings and the outlaw Veerappan have in common? It was their shared love for sandalwood.

Back in the 13th century, the Vijayanagar empire had vast sandalwood resources in its territory, giving it greater leverage while trading for arms and horses.

Later, in 1792, Tipu Sultan declared the sandalwood tree as a royal protected tree. This practice was continued by the Maharajas of Mysore and subsequently by the Karnataka Government. The wood was so alluring, it even caught the eye of smugglers like the infamous Veerappan.

Every waft of chandan carries with it centuries of history, culture, tradition. You’ll find sandalwood carvings gracing temples, perfuming palaces, healing Ayurvedic patients, and sometimes even scenting traditional homes across Karnataka.

From beauty products to fragrances and handicrafts, Karnataka’s sandalwood continues to be a symbol of luxury and tradition. And that’s why our Sensuous Sandalwood soap carries the storied scent of a wood sought-after by kings, priests, Ayurvedic practitioners, and bandits.

So the next time you smell our sandalwood soap, you might just get a whiff of history!

PLEASE PASS THE (PINK) SALT!

Please pass the salt, not to season your plate of food, but to benefit your skin!

HOW and WHY?

Any form of sodium chloride transforms soap into a luxurious, smooth pebble like form that is oh so gentle on your skin.

At Suchi’s Soaps, we use Himalayan pink salt to make silky, rock-solid bars that last longer. They give your skin a creamy, lotiony feel and leave it feeling super fresh.

Pink Himalayan salt is known for its invigorating and soothing properties. It is a rock salt mined from salt beds in the Himalayas that have been protected from pollution and impurities since their formation many million years ago.

It is believed to be the purest form of salt available and is said to contain many minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron.

PAPER BUBBLE WRAP

A sustainable and eco-friendly packaging option with a beautiful honeycomb design, in line with the philosophy of our products.

While trying to avoid plastic bubble wrap (not always possible), we found that with this roll of paper bubble wrap, wrapping has never been easier and more secure.

It's continuous perforation and compact, light-weight, intuitive properties have made this 30 soap order from a dear customer in Mumbai a delight to pack.

Paper bubble wrap is generally made from recycled paper with a honeycomb-style pattern. It has been protecting our fragile products from travel damage.

We do sometimes miss the popping of the bubbles from the plastic bubble paper though!!😉

The "X" factor

Every product we make at Suchi's has an x-factor incorporated into it. Some of the top-up goodies in our 30-plus soap variants are milk cream, goat's milk, coconut milk, fruit, pink salt, charcoal, two types of turmeric, sandal wood powder, neem, tulsi...and the list goes on.

The combination of oils and the x-factor is a calculated and well researched formula, and depends on broad skin types, dry, normal and oily/sensitive.

The x-factor is added across all our products - shampoo bars, lip balms, lotions, body butters and underarm cream deos.

Based on customer feedback, these add ons have worked well. Do try our products and see if you feel the difference.

WE RECYCLE LIKE CRAZY!

Don't be surprised if you receive your consignment of our products in boxes that do not have "Suchi’s Handmade..." printed on them 😀

We try and reuse every box we receive in the process of today's inevitable online shopping.

Paper bags, brown, white, grey, from grocery shopping, dry cleaners or printers, are all neatly ironed out and used to wrap the boxes from outside. Old newspaper sheets are rolled into tight balls and used as shock absorbers inside.

We do our bit to recycle and reduce waste, but things like bubble wrap and sometimes foam sheets are inevitable, because natural soaps tend to be soft and need that reinforcement.

Yayyyyy!
Our very first order from Shillong in the beautiful state of Meghalaya!

Kolkata is as far east as our products have travelled regularly so far, so when Meghalaya and Nagaland featured on our address labels this week, it was definitely an exciting new frontier.

So thrilling to send packages across the length and breadth of this country.

Thank you India Post, for the fabulous job you do.

Gifting season is here again 🙂
Orders have begun trickling in...remember to order early!!

Make a conscious choice to gift yourself or friends/family natural products from a range of:
*Soaps
*Shampoo bars
*Body butters
*Lotions
*Underarm cream deos
*Lip balms
*Foot scrubs
*Cleansing grains

We've been receiving enquiries on specific products that can address dry skin issues in winter.

Here are some from our range, specifically recommended for their high butter, fruit, honey content:
1. Raat ki Rani
2. Soaps in the fruit+cream range: peach, strawberry, coffee
3. Honey Almond
4. Manthan (with ingredients that go into panchamrit, including ghee)
5. Silky Milky, the goat milk soap
6. Papaya Honey Blast

Then there are the body butters, Creme Satin our all weather creamy lotion, lip scrubs and lip balms for dry, chapped lips.

Remember, natural products are safer, gentler and more moisturizing. Soaps contain natural glycerine and tend to prevent moisture from leaving your skin, while the other products are mild, soothing and long lasting.

DM for more information.

It's not late yet.
Talk to us to buy, for you or yours.
- Soaps
- Shampoo bars
- Cream deos
- Body butters
- Lip balms
- Cleansing grains
WhatsApp 9686602599

PLANNING IS AS MUCH FUN AS GIFTING!

We're democratic and very flexible like that. We give you the leeway to decide your gifting
budget, and help you put your hamper together, instead of boxing you into "these are our hampers, these are the rates..." pitch. 

Diwali is next month, so do start thinking about gifting natural. The product list is long, and some products need an early start, so we recommend a bit of early planning. Do send in your queries. 

Let's start having those fun discussions about what you want this year's gifts to look like - handmade paper bags, fabric potlis, or will it be boxes this year...

different

*NEW PRODUCT ALERT*
HONEY-COCONUT HAIR CONDITIONER – SULFATE AND PARABEN FREE

With coconut🥥 oil, a natural emollient, and honey, a natural humectant. Formulated to keep your hair soft and shiny.

Why condition your hair?
A conditioner is generally a creamy product that hydrates your hair to make it softer. It forms a layer along your hair shaft, making it easier to brush, manage and style. Shampoo does for the scalp what a cleanser does for the face, while a conditioner is like the moisturizer. It prevents dry, dull, breakage-prone hair.

However, you must remember that over-conditioning your hair is as bad as not conditioning it at all. If you notice the following signs, you’re probably over-conditioning.

1. Less volume, and heavy hair
2. Difficulty in managing and styling
3. Hair sliding off from your pins

For best results, here are some tips to apply our hair conditioner:

- First, rinse out every bit of shampoo from your hair.
- Make sure you don’t rub the conditioner into the scalp. Apply only to the shaft and all the way down to the edges.
- Run your fingers all the way down through your hair a few times to ensure even distribution.
- Leave the conditioner in for 2-3 minutes.
- Rinse off completely. Ensure that the hair strands are squeaky clean and no conditioner is left behind.

The amount of conditioner you use largely depends upon the thickness and length of your hair. But generally for short hair, about a teaspoonful of conditioner should do the job. 

DM for details!

Yes, of course gift a sibling, it is Raksha Bandhan, but also think of gifting that best friend you’ve grown up with and shared so many aspects of your life, or an older woman who’s been a role model, or a younger cousin you feel protective towards, or that teacher who made you feel safe in school…bandhans and promises of raksha need not be and are no longer just between siblings!

Ask for our traditional-looking gift potlis, stuff them with our honest, down to earth skincare products…and gift away on Raksha Bandhan…or any time you’re in a mood to gift 😊

MONSOON SKINCARE

What are your monsoon specific products, is a question we frequently get asked with the onset of the rains.

Let’s take a look at some issues that are generally associated with this season:

- A higher ambient humidity. This can heighten sweating, presenting a fresh set of challenges
- If your skin is on the oily side, it could lead to more frequent break-outs because of higher sebum production
- Fungal infections that are more common because of the humidity. The sudden shift from high temperatures to moist weather conditions affects the skin’s ability to preserve moisture. As a result, skin can blister, get red, itchy and dry.
- Increased sweating tends to cause smelly underarms.
- Dull, frizzy and sometimes unmanageable hair. This can be managed by using sulphate free shampoos.

Natural soaps gently wash away body impurities without disturbing the skin’s natural pH balance, which is important for the skin to guard against bacteria, pollutants and dryness. They contain beneficial oils and butters that hydrate and rejuvenate the skin.

Some recommended products from our repertoire are:
- Honey Almond
- Forest Fragrance (with neem, tulsi, etc)
- Kastoori: Wild Turmeric
- Charcoal (for oily and combination skin types)
- Papaya Honey
- Cream deo for long lasting underarm protection
- Sweet Feet: a foot scrub for that Friday night or weekend pampering especially if you managed to get your feet dragged into a few rain water puddles during the week
- Crème Satin: A lotiony skin moisturizer

Most issues can be sorted out by good skin care, hygiene and staying hydrated. Try and use natural products whenever possible to reduce the side effects of the monsoon on your skin.

RICE BRAN OIL: THE INDIGENOUS GENIUS

Cold process soaps are commonly made by combining skin-friendly vegetable oils in carefully calibrated proportions.

A soaper's most favorite oil typically is olive oil, a staple in cold process formulations. It’s a thick oil that moisturizes the skin and creates creamy lather in soap.

You’ll be surprised to know that a very good substitute for expensive and alien (to us in India) olive oil is a widely and more easily available local oil…our very own rice bran oil.

In our workshop, we use it copiously because we love the way this oil feels and performs in the handmade soaps and other skin care products we make.

Just like olive oil, rice bran oil has high amounts of essential nutrients, vitamin E, antioxidants and squalane. Squalane has a gentle effect on the skin, alleviates discomfort and nurtures it.

Extracted from the germ and the inner husk of the rice grain, rice bran oil also has a thick, moisturizing consistency, very similar to olive oil. 

What’s more, it consumes minimum food miles as India is a leading producer of RBO. It is as local as local can get, and to us this is yet another attractive feature of this wonderful, versatile oil. 

HAWT CHOCOLATE!
A delight for the skin and the senses, good for your face and body.  

Chocolate - a natural, soothing healer. Introduces antioxidants to the skin to keep it soft and glowing. Many salons offer chocolate facials, because the antioxidants help ward off acne-friendly bacteria. Chocolate's prime ingredient, cacao, is packed full of elements such as flavonoids and theobromine. Also iron and magnesium.

Besides cleansing, this soap protects your skin from drying out. Like all our soaps do. Richly moisturizing and ideal for normal to dry skin types.

Called HAWT CHOCOLATE! this natural soap contains moisturizing vegetable oils, butters and of course cocoa.

Safe and secure for your skin, this soap is 100 percent pure, natural, made using the cold process method, free from sls, parabens or chemicals.

Go on, gift yourself, your friends or family.

SWEET FEET - A FOOT SCRUB

Fragrant, nourishing, exfoliating, moisturizing.

A natural foot scrub with sugar crystals for when you want to pamper your hard working feet. Ideally once a week.

Apply to moist feet, scrub until the mixture becomes creamy and your feet feel squeaky clean, wash off, pat dry and simply enjoy the softness.