Washing our hands has certainly climbed several rungs on the priority ladder in recent weeks and months, making soap more important than ever in our daily lives. We chatted with Rocky Mountain Soap Company CEO Karina Birch about the science of soap, and how natural products can make all the difference in destroying the COVID-19 virus while promoting skin health. —Vita Daily
Hi Karina! Tell us a bit about yourself to start.
I am proud to be the co-owner and CEO of Rocky Mountain Soap Company. My husband, Cam, and I nurtured the company from its days as a 300-square-foot shop in Canmore to a full e-commerce platform, 13 retail stores and 16,000-square-foot workshop. My interest in natural beauty started when I was a young girl who loved smearing avocado on her face and putting egg in her hair—now I get to do the grown-up version of that every day. I spend my time directing our business’s strategy, product development and brand. Since the beginning, our goal has been to build a business centred around the core purpose of removing toxins from the world. To do this we’ve put our focus on a culture that fosters kindness and a creative approach to product development. In addition to running a rapidly growing company, I’m also raising three rapidly growing children. To maintain my sanity, I take advantage of having some of the best skiing, hiking and biking in the world on my doorstep, to keep me active and balanced.
What sorts of ingredients do you use in your products?
Rocky Mountain Soap Company is an all-natural soap and skin-care provider, but we’re much more than that. We care about facilitating a healthier, simpler life through the creation of products that are good for you and good for the planet. We work hard to find natural ingredients that are safe, healthy and can be processed naturally. Every ingredient that goes into our products is chosen because it adds value to our skin’s health. We pick ingredients based on how we want them to smell, feel and, most importantly, benefit our skin, hair and body. At Rocky Mountain Soap Company we use simple, natural ingredients. We also love being our own guinea pigs—before we send our products out into the world we test each one on humans, never animals. At Rocky Mountain Soap Company we take pride in the fact that all of our products are hand-made in Canmore and we do our best to source ingredients locally, to support our neighbourhood farmers and communities.
What is "real" soap?
Soap, made from lye, takes four to six weeks to cure and has a pH of eight to 10 (alkaline), which helps the skin find balance. Rocky Mountain Soap Company makes soap that is superfatted. This means some oils are left intact, rather than being converted into soap. This helps keep hands soft and hydrated.
What are the main differences between hand sanitizers and natural soaps? In light of staying healthy, does one work better or differently than the other?
Firstly, it’s important to understand that germs adhere naturally to the oil in our skin, making them difficult to remove with only water. But when you add soap, it makes all the difference. Rocky Mountain Soap Company’s natural soap contains a pH of eight to 10. The higher pH means that the soap is more alkaline, which viruses hate. When we wash with natural soap and water, dirt and germs are lifted from our skin and washed down the drain. When it comes to hand sanitizer, it will kill any germs on our hands but will not lift or remove dirt or the fatty coating on our hands, which is where viruses live. Hand sanitizer would be your most effective option if you do not have access to soap at that time, as long as it contains at least 60 per cent ethyl alcohol as per the Health Canada guidelines.
Why is regular soap effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19?
It’s quite simple: for centuries soap has been a source of comfort, keeping us healthy by killing germs and washing them down the drain. Soap cleans because it has two ends of the molecule: one is oil loving and one is water loving. When we wash with soap and water, soap is able to lift and dissolve dirt while destroying the fat layer of viruses, leaving you with clean, healthy hands. Simple, natural ingredients are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and it’s even better to know that you’re not releasing toxins into the environment.
What are your top hand-washing tips?
Right now, staying safe and keeping our hands clean is a huge priority. Washing for at least 20 seconds and lathering the soap between your fingers, under your nails and all over your hands ensures that all of the persistent germs are actually coming off. Using a nail brush is the best way to get under longer nails, but gently scrubbing your nails on your skin during the hand-washing process can ensure the soap gets under there to do its work.
Any advice for hands chapped and dry because of all the washing?
At Rocky Mountain Soap Company our goal is to craft soaps that are as moisturizing as possible. During the creation process, some of the oils are left intact, rather than being converted into soap. We also use organic fair trade (unrefined) shea butter in our soaps, which is extremely hydrating and provides several skin benefits. With this being said, when we’re washing our hands as much as we are now, hands get dry. We recommend following up with a hand butter. Our hand butter is made with organic avocado oil, beeswax and rosehip oil, which are all extremely hydrating, penetrating skin’s fragile layer and helping to soothe dry, rough, cracked hands.
Finally, tell us about your efforts to support frontline workers in Canada.
When the COVID-19 pandemic escalated over a very short period of time, our purpose was to put people first. One of the first things we did was ramp up production on our Nomad Hand Sanitizer and donated the first batch of 500 to women’s shelters in Alberta, AARC and medical offices. We also have our Community Bar, where every month $1 from each purchase is donated to a local organization. For the month of April, proceeds went to shelters and frontline workers in Canada.
Win! A Rocky Mountain Soap Company Healthy Hands Prize Pack!
We have a winner! Congratulations Alison H. of Vancouver, B.C., who won a Rocky Mountain Soap Company Healthy Hands prize pack valued at $110!
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