Q. How long will a bar of soap last?
For one person showering every day, a well-drained bar should last for about one month.
Q. What is soap?
Real soap is the result of a natural chemical process called saponification, in which an acid (the oils and butters) and a base or alkali (sodium hydroxide--which is lye) is dissolved in a liquid, are brought together to form a salt (soap) + glycerine (by-product of the saponification process)
Q. Is there lye in my soap?
The answer is NO! Real soap cannot be made without lye (sodium hydroxide), but when the lye is mixed with the vegetable oils and liquid during the initial soap making stage, saponification begins. At the end of saponification, all of the lye has reacted with the oils to make soap. There is NO lye left in any of Vikarah Handcrafted soap bars.
Q. Aren't all handmade soaps the same?
The answer is NO!
Inspired by Ayurveda, we make our own formulations using, wild-harvested herbs, seeds, flowers, puréed vegetables & fruits, purifying clays & Eco-certified base oils & essential oils for their exceptional skincare benefits providing everyday aromatherapy and gentle exfoliation.
Nothing artificial, nothing synthetic, no GMO’s, no pre-made bases, just natural wholesome ingredients.
Q. Why are Vikarah soaps too pricey when there are handmade soaps available in the market at a very low price?
Some of the handmade soaps available in the market are made from pre-made, mass-produced soap base (where cheap fillers, lathering agents and hardening ingredients are added) melted down & a bunch of botanicals and fragrance oils are tossed in – labeling it ‘handmade soap’.
At Vikarah, we believe the skill of soap making is "science" rather than simply a craft. The science of soap making starts right from the selection of base oils & butters to the addictives (herbs, flowers, seeds, clays, essential oils, vegetables & fruits) where you know the quality, purity, and freshness of each ingredient. The rich soap mixture is then poured into wooden molds and allowed to set for 2 to 3 days and hand-cut & trimmed into unique bars. Finally, the bars are cured for 8 to 10 weeks on the racks. Each batch is carefully tested to make sure that the saponification process is complete and packed by hand - is undoubtedly unique!!
• Our vegetable & fruit soaps contain real pureed vegetables (carrot, cucumber & tomato), fruit juice (apple, pomegranate, papaya, banana & orange), fibers, peels, and zest!
• Our floral soaps are made with floral-infused oils and real flower petals!
• Our herbal soaps contain herbal infused oils and real herbs!
• Our clay soaps contain a copious amount of Eco-certified mineral-rich clays (Kaolin clay, Fuller’s earth clay, Calamine Powder & Bamboo Charcoal)
We do not skimp on the quality or quantity of ingredients used in our soaps.
Q. Are anti-bacterial soaps, a must for today’s pollution and environmental hecks?
No! Simply washing your hands with old-fashioned natural soap and water rids your skin of most fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Soap does not kill germs; it surrounds them and carries them away with water while rinsing.
Q. My eyes are burning when the foam accidentally touched my eyes. Which ingredient is causing this?? Is that safe for eyes?
Real soaps (Cold processed handmade soaps) irritate the eyes due to their basic ph and natural glycerin content in it. Rest easy, all our soaps are tested to ensure they are non-toxic even if they come in contact with eyes. You will likely tear and tears will wash out the soap. Then rinse clean with water. As a general thumb rule, it’s best to try to keep soap out of your eyes as much as possible.
Commercially available tear-free products are usually synthetic detergent bars (Syndets bar) with a toxic, numbing agent, where your eyes won’t even react when the foam gets into your eyes (senses are numbed). Tear-free skincare products are just a fallacy with outstanding marketing gimmicks.
Q. How do I store my soap between uses?
We recommend keeping your handcrafted, ayurvedic soap on a soap saver, safely out of the water after each use in the soap dish. A soap saver allows the soap to dry on all sides, so your soap will last much longer, and you won’t have soupy soap in the meantime.
Q. What is the best time to use Vikarah Handcrafted Soaps?
We recommend using once/twice, every day in the morning/evening during bath/face wash. Our soaps provide a very DEEP clean, without stripping the natural oils from your skin.
Q. Can I continue to use other skincare products, get facials, etc. in combination with Vikarah Soap?
It’s a personal choice. Some products/treatments can severely dry out or even damage the skin and counteract the balancing effects of Vikarah’s Soap. For best results, we recommend using our skincare products / Ayurvedic makeup in conjunction with Soaps.
Q. Within how many days I can see the results?
The answer differs for everyone. While most individuals notice an immediate improvement, for some it may take 2 to 3 weeks. Best results are always apparent when a complete Vikarah skincare ritual (appropriate for your skin concerns) is followed, which includes;
• Bathing your face & body thoroughly in warm water (preferably in the morning) with Vikarah Handcrafted Artisanal Soaps.
• Cleansing your face with Vikarah Cleansing Cream Range thoroughly in warm water (preferably in the evening/before bedtime)
• Spritzing your face and/or body with Vikarah Toner range to moisten the skin (in morning & evening after cleansing)
• Sparsely applying Vikarah Moisturizer/Sunscreen range to seal in the moisture; while your face & body is still damp (in morning & evening after toning).
• Completing your skincare ritual with Vikarah Face & Body Powder for a fresh, mattifying look (preferably only in the morning).
However, using Vikarah Mask and Scrubs 1 – 2 times a week will add up the results.
What we put into our body is as important as what we put on it. If your skin shows little or no results even after following the above-suggested skincare ritual, we advise you to consult with a Nutritionist or Natural Practitioner to address other issues such as diet, digestion & stress that may be causing your skin issues.
Q. My skin has been looking worse, why is that?
Switching to a simple, holistic, plant-based skincare routine may result in the releasing or ‘purging’ of accumulated impurities. This process is natural and temporary; we highly encourage you to stick to the ritual. Allow your skin to release built-up synthetics, preservatives, and toxins. Give it time & trust the process. How long this takes depends on your individual situation – your health, diet, digestion, stress and prior skincare choices.
Q. Can I no longer use the Soap after the use-by date?
We cannot guarantee the efficacy of the product after the expiration date; therefore we do not recommend use after this date.
Q. My skin is really sensitive/allergic. Will Soap work for me?
We know the frustration you feel when nothing seems to work! Our Soap is a 100% toxin-free formula that is impressively effective for sensitive, delicate skin with allergy & rashes. Ultra mild & safe for everyday use from day 1.
However, if you are unsure, we recommend you to check our transparent ingredient list (Ingredients Tab) to eliminate ingredients that may cause you a problem.
Q. Can I use this product while pregnant or nursing?
Yes, all our Vikarah products are formulated with safety in mind, especially for those who might be extra vulnerable – like pregnant/nursing women and babies. We carefully assess each of our ingredients in just the right amount to protect, nourish and hydrate; healthy for both you and your little bundle of joy!
If you're not sure what products are best for you, book in a skin consultation over the phone (+91 9606 659 349) or drop us an email at info@vikarah.com
Q. Are your products completely natural?
Yes, we are proud that our products are 100% free from artificial fragrances, colors, sulphates, parabens, fillers, mineral oils & any kind of nasty man-made synthetics. Vikarah is an Ayurveda based, results-driven brand precisely formulated with time-honored, ALIVE ingredients capable of achieving outstanding results.
Q. The product is slightly different in color & scent from the last one I bought. Is this normal?
Yes, when using natural ingredients, there can be a lot of variation year after year. Minor differences will almost always exist with a natural product, based on the batch of its harvest. At Vikarah, we deliver each product to you in its purest, most unaltered form – so you may see slight differences between batches but rest assured it is the same potent formula and ingredients that you love. We hope you’ll love our true colors!
Q. Are there any hidden ingredients? Is every ingredient listed on the product page and packaging?
We don't hide any ingredients - our products only contain the ingredients listed on the ingredients tab on the product page & packaging
Q. What has been added for the fragrance?
All fragrances in our products are comprised only of aromatic, natural, raw, custom blends of pure essential oils and extracts. They are completely free from nature-identical and synthetic fragrances.
Q. How do I know the ingredients in your products are truly safe?
As a company, we are committed to transparent labeling practices and educating our customers about why each ingredient is used in our product line. We also work closely with our suppliers ensuring not only our products are safe but we actually know the source of origin.
Q. Do you sell samples of the Soap?
At this time we do not offer samples. However, you are welcome to request samples of any of our products with any product purchase (for order value #5000 & above) from our website. Drop your request at info@vikarah.com and we will be happy to answer you.
Q. Do you work with bloggers, vloggers & influencers?
We love to work with bloggers and influencers. However, due to the large volume of requests we receive from bloggers, vloggers and other outlets, unfortunately we cannot address every inquiry or meet every request. That said, we do look through all of the inquiries we receive at info@vikarah.com and will contact you if we feel there is a good fit. We may be back in touch to ask for your viewership stats, links to your social media pages (if not already provided), and any other information you think would be helpful for us to consider in our review of your request.
We really do appreciate your interest in our brand and our mission towards the Holistic Beauty Rituals.
At Vikarah Holistic Beauty Rituals, we cautiously choose every ingredient that enters our Cottage. We are certain that all our ingredients adhere to the following standards.
Freshly Made Everyday – In our cottage, products are Make-To-Order (MTO) items that are manufactured individually according to the customer's request. We believe that our valued customers deserve nothing less than fresh and vibrant, effective and nutrient-dense products for their skin and hair care. That is why we produce in small batches and ship everything from our Cottage right into the hands of our Customers. We do not stock up our shelves!
Toxin-Free – Clean formulas with potent nutrients and active botanicals designed for visible results.
Handcrafted – Every product is made from scratch, by hand, daily in our Cottage in Bangalore, India. This allows for us to have full control over our supply chain - meaning we study our suppliers, handpick each ingredient, mix them together, pour them, package them up and ship them straight to you! When we claim that our products are clean we are able to offer unparalleled transparency.
Certified Organic Ingredients – Our hydrosols and essential oil blends are USDA organic certified.
Conscious Colour – We are committed to creating a Clean Makeup Range of products that are conscious of people, planet and process. Our colourants are naturally derived, ethically sourced and purely processed for maximum colour, performance and safety of our consumers. Our titanium dioxide and iron oxides are non-nano, Ecocert + COSMOS certified. We refuse to partake in unethical sourcing practices. We’ve worked very hard to find ingredients that are safe, pure and powerfully pigmented - so that your skin is happy, you are healthy and you need not sacrifice high-performance colour in any circumstance!
Recyclable Packaging – What is good for the skin should also be good for our planet. Our Packaging is done in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) containers which are easily identifiable by their #1 recycling codes. PET does not contain Bisphenol-A (BPA). PET is lightweight, strong, safe, shatterproof, and is the most widely recycled plastic since it can be recycled multiple times and turned into a variety of different products/containers.
Cruelty-Free – Dedicated to 100% cruelty-free practices and products from day one. We do not test our products on animals at any point throughout our production process and nor do our ingredient suppliers.
Transparent - All the ingredients used in our formulation so that you can make the most educated decisions possible. No outsourcing, no distributors and no warehouses are involved in our trade operations. We proudly keep our trails transparent!
Ayurvedic – Rooted in the Science of Ayurveda to evoke a sensorial experience
Sustainably Sourced – Hand-in-hand with farmers and producers to source our ingredients in a way that’s beneficial to their communities and the planet.
Wild Crafted – We procure organic, wildcrafted andalive ingredients wherever possible with a palpable energetic vibration.
Curated for Unique Skin-Hair Needs - That transforms and enhances your authentic beauty.
Handpicked Ingredients – Ingredients have been carefully chosen for their greater ability to cleanse, protect, heal and rejuvenate individual skin/hair care needs.
100% Biodegradable – All the ingredients used in our product line are raw, unadulterated and biodegradable. It will not cause any harm to the water bodies, soil and any life forms.