Every ingredient, explained
A Saraku bar has between two and five ingredients, and you should be able to say what each one is for. Here is the full list across the soaps and the hair oil, what each does, and the list of things we leave out on purpose.
In the soaps
The base of every bar
Pure coconut oil(පොල් තෙල්)
Saponified coconut oil gives a rich lather that works even in hard water and contributes lauric acid, a fatty acid with documented activity against the bacteria involved in pimples. Because our soap is hot-processed and never has its glycerin removed, the bar leaves skin soft rather than tight.
In: Coffee Lemon Soap, Carrot Soap, Aloe Vera Soap, Guavora Soap
Gentle exfoliation and brightness
Ground coffee(කෝපි)
Finely ground coffee loosens the dull, pigment-holding surface cells so fresher skin shows sooner, without the scratching of salt or shell scrubs. Its caffeine and chlorogenic acids act as mild antioxidants and give the temporary tightening people notice after a coffee wash.
Vitamin C for dark spots
Lemon(දෙහි)
Lemon supplies vitamin C and citric acid, both of which help slow the enzyme that makes melanin. In a rinse-off soap the effect is gradual and gentle, and the sun-sensitivity risk of raw lemon juice does not apply because the soap is washed away within a minute.
Beta-carotene for dull, dry skin
Carrot powder(කැරට්)
Dried carrot is rich in beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor, and in natural sugars that hold moisture. In soap it gives a soft orange bar that suits dry, dull and uneven skin, and is gentle enough for children and for underarms and other dark, easily irritated areas.
In: Carrot Soap
Calming, for sensitive skin
Aloe vera(කොමරිකා)
Aloe vera gel is mostly water bound with polysaccharides that soothe redness and support the skin's own moisture. We use it in place of coffee for people whose skin is oily or blemish-prone but stings and reddens with any exfoliation.
In: Aloe Vera Soap
Traditional antibacterial botanical
Guava leaf powder(පේර කොළ)
Guava leaf has a long record in Sri Lankan household medicine for skin and is studied for its antibacterial and antioxidant tannins. In the Guavora bar it supports even skin tone and is paired with neem and aththora for skin prone to patches in the heat.
In: Guavora Soap
Traditional antifungal botanical
Neem(කොහොඹ)
Neem leaf is one of the best known plants in South Asian skin care and has been studied for antifungal and antibacterial activity. We include it for the fungal patches known locally as aluham (tinea versicolor) that flare in sweaty weather. Persistent or spreading patches should still be seen by a doctor.
In: Guavora Soap
Traditional Sri Lankan remedy for aluham
Aththora(අත්තෝර)
Aththora is a plant used in traditional Sri Lankan medicine for fungal skin conditions. It gives the Guavora bar its herbal character. We describe it as a traditional use, not a medical claim, and recommend a doctor's advice for any infection that does not settle.
In: Guavora Soap
In the herbal hair oil
The carrier oils
Coconut and king coconut oil(පොල් තෙල්, තැඹිලි තෙල්)
Both penetrate the hair shaft better than most oils and reduce protein loss from washing and heat. King coconut oil is lighter, which keeps the blend from feeling heavy on fine hair.
Vitamin C for the scalp
Amla (nelli)(නෙල්ලි)
Amla is among the richest natural sources of vitamin C and has been used for generations for hair strength and to slow premature greying. Infused into oil it conditions the scalp and hair root.
Scalp circulation and dandruff
Fenugreek, curry leaves and rosemary(උළුහාල්, කරපිංචා, rosemary)
Fenugreek seeds add proteins and mucilage that condition the scalp; curry leaves are a traditional remedy for hair fall and greying; rosemary is studied for improving scalp circulation. The combination is what customers report as less shedding after a few weeks.
Fragrance, cooling and softness
Clove, savendara (vetiver) and olive oil
Clove gives a light natural scent and warmth, vetiver root cools the scalp, and olive oil rounds out the blend with oleic acid for softness and shine.
What we leave out, and why
✕ Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate
The foaming detergents in most bars and face washes. They strip the skin barrier, which is what causes the tight feeling and rebound oiliness.
✕ Parabens
Preservatives needed by water-based products. A dry bar of true soap does not need them, and they are a common irritant on sensitive skin.
✕ Synthetic fragrance and colourants
"Parfum" can hide dozens of compounds and is the leading cause of allergic reactions to skincare. Our bars smell of what is in them.
✕ Triclosan and other antibacterial additives
They remove helpful skin bacteria along with harmful ones. Coconut oil's lauric acid does the useful part of that job without the collateral damage.
A note on claims: the botanicals above are described by their traditional use and by published laboratory studies of the plants, not by clinical trials of our bars. Results vary from person to person, and a skin infection or rash that does not improve should be seen by a doctor.