Shop to save your skin
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2005-04-01 09:49

"That's just what we'd like our customers to feel," says Han Yao, manager of the scented-soap shop, Poshlife. "We sell soap like desserts."

Poshlife specializes in the personal luxury of handcrafted aromatic soaps. The silky rich soaps are blended with pure herbal oils and come in different shapes, smells and colors. The prices for regular bars, similar in size to the mass-produced commercial soap sold in supermarkets, range from about 40 yuan (US$4.8) to 150 yuan.

However, shoppers are not deterred by the prices. "Commercial lines of soap may be cheaper to buy but they are not such good value for your money," says Han. "More often than, a consumer winds up spending more money than they have to by purchasing overpriced creams and lotions to alleviate dry skin. They are kept in the dark that it is the soap they are using that is making their skin condition worse." Many people during winter suffer from dry and sensitive skin. Magazines and television have advertisements for seemingly hundreds of products that are claimed to cure or relieve skin-related problems.

However, the overwhelming majority of these products are essentially nothing more than chemically created detergents.

"Mass-produced soaps are generally made from animal fats, added synthetic chemicals for color and texture, artificial fragrances, and preservatives are finally added to maintain long shelf-life," Han explains. "Did you know that commercially made soap goes through a chain of factory processes that remove the naturally produced glycerine? The glycerine is then either sold or used as a by-product for other toiletries." Poshlife's soaps are imported from Birmingham in England. They are natural handmade soaps that don't contain chemical additives.

Delicately aromatic creamy bars can moisturize the skin with infused herbs, plant oils, coconut, vegetable butters, and other organic oils. There are no artificial fragrances or synthetic colors.

Opening hours: 10am-10pm Address: B1, Raffles City, 268 Xizang Rd M.

Tel: 6340-4299