SOAPARTSF

For Yumi Bennett, making soap is more than a passion; it’s a mission. The owner of SoapArtsSF, Yumi is a regular at the Saturday Market; introducing customers to her natural line of soaps and skin care products. 

Unlike other processes used to make soap, some which can be quite volatile because of the presence of lye, Yumi’s cold processed soap is not only safe to make and use but is completely natural. “Commercial soaps and other skincare products can have dangerous ingredients in them,” she says. “I spend a lot of my time educating consumers about what they are putting on their skin and how they can not only use healthier products but reduce waste at the same time.

All of SoapArtSF’s products use packaging that is non-toxic, reusable, recyclable or biodegradable. For those not familiar with cold processed soap, it blends oils and butters, carefully adding sodium hydroxide to alter the pH to make it soap. This process is called saponification, which is when lye is no longer present. The entire soap making process from start to finish takes four to six weeks; definitely a labor of love and a test of one’s patience for anyone who has tried to make soap before.

“I make artisan natural soaps and skincare products,” Yumi says. “Many people are looking for products that are free of chemicals, sulfates, detergents and toxins. I use all-natural raw ingredients, mostly vegan and palm free, creating a new level of natural soap that is not only easy on your skin, but also good for the environment. 

Yumi was drawn to The Market at Parkmerced because as a resident she enjoys meeting her fellow neighbors and the feeling of community the weekly market creates. “I think a lot of residents don’t really know about the depth and breadth of products available at the market yet.”

Your can learn more about SoapArtSF’s line of products and the inspirational story behind it at www.soapartsf.com.

Click here to learn more about the happenings at The Market at Parkmerced and bring your fellow makers and friends!