F.A.Q
I get lots of questions about releases and soap in general…
So let’s get those out of the way in one easy to digest page! :)
HOW CAN I BUY YOUR SOAP?
Thank you for asking! I sell all my soap in releases, which means that instead of inventory available in the shop 24/7, it’s all released in a collection on a specific day. Because of this, you will often see “Sold Out” on the “Lather Up” page.
It’s not because I am no longer making soap, it’s because I am in between releases, and it’s all been sold. Typically, my soap sells out quickly on the same day it’s released, with many of the more exclusive designs being sold out early in the release time.
Signing up for the email newsletter, as well as setting a timer on the day of the release are both good ways to make sure you are ready when I unlock the page.
HOW DOES RELEASE DAY WORK?
Great question! Release day has historically always been a Saturday, and goes “live” at 12:00 noon est. This has now shifted to Friday evenings at 8 pm EST to help us pack and get orders out by Monday. You may see me mention on social media that the Gertie Level Cheeky Charm Club peeps have a pre release shopping hour, which starts at 7:00.
So, on a typical release day, you will see the “Sneak Peaks” up until around 5:30-6:30 am. I then take the page down to update inventory. The page is then uploaded as a password protected space at 7:00 pm, and the Cheeky Charm Gertie Level members have first crack at all the new soaps. At 07:45, I take the page down again, and reset some inventory for everyone else, and the page goes live at 8:00 pm sharp for everyone else.
(This password can be found by the Cheeky Charm Gertie Level folks on their members page. The page password and discount codes change every month. )
OH NO! I CHECKED OUT TOO FAST, AND CLICKED LOCAL PICKUP, NOW WHAT?
Don’t fret, this happens all the time, you will just get an invoice from me as we are packing up orders. If you catch it before I do, just shoot me an email. It happens, and it’s nothing to woory about!
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET THE SOAP I WANT, CAN I MAKE MULTIPLE PURCHASES AND WILL YOU COMBINE SHIPPING?
Heck yes I can!
I encourage folks to do this, though if you want to be nice to me and the cheeky team, please only pay for shipping on One of your orders, and click local pickup for the rest. It makes it easier on the back end to not have to track who got a refund for shipping they overpaid.
I DIDN’T GET THE SOAP I WANTED, WILL YOU MAKE IT AGAIN?
Short answer is, maybe?
Long answer is… I treat soap as my personal artistic medium. I like to use it to express myself, and while I do bend to the seasons for releases, it’s often just what ever crazy design floats through my head. Some designs, like the Woodgrain, Gardenia, Beer Soap, or Watermelon, seem to stay pretty similar, but those have so far been my only consistent repeats.
HOW MUCH DO YOUR BARS OF SOAP WEIGH?
On average, all soap that leaves here weighs at Least 5 ounces, often a little more. If a particular design/soap is under or over that, I usually note it in the description as that usually comes with a price differential also.
WHAT IS HAND MADE SOAP?
Soap is made from a combination of water, lye (sodium hydroxide), and oils. When these ingredients are combined, a chemical reaction takes place called saponification. During the saponification reaction, the triglycerides (fats and oils) react with the lye producing glycerol and soap. When hand made soap is properly prepared, mixed, and cured there is no lye remaining in the soap after saponification.
WHY SHOULD I USE HAND MADE SOAP INSTEAD OF COMMERCIAL SOAP?
Generally speaking, hand made soap does not include any additives, synthetic preservatives, or other chemicals unnecessary to the saponification reaction. Commercial soap typically isn’t “soap” at all, and instead is made from synthetic detergents. These detergents are popular as they form suds easily when mixed with water, however they may strip the natural oils from your skin as they clean, leaving your skin feeling dry and tight after use. All of the additives found in commercial soap may cause your skin to become dry, irritated, or otherwise damaged. Hand made soap is crafted from primarily natural products and fats, and does not include any detergents, phthalates, or parabens. It is 100% biodegradable, and many ingredients are often organic.
Today, there are very few true soaps available on the commercial market. As soap is such an important part of everyone’s daily routine, choosing soap that is hand made reduces the amount of synthetics and chemicals you are exposed to. Choosing soap from Cheeky Goat Soapery also helps reduce waste and reduce the chemicals we release into the environment. We pride ourselves on being hand-made, detergent-free, plastic packaging free, palm free, and having a low carbon footprint.
CAN I USE HAND MADE SOAP IF I HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?
Hand made soap is typically very gentle on the skin, and does not include any detergents or synthetic ingredients like those found in commercial soap. We cannot guarantee that you will not have irritation or a skin reaction to hand made soap, and encourage you to test it in a small area of your skin if you are prone to skin reactions. We also sometimes offer fragrance-free soaps, which is recommended for those with more sensitive skin.
DO YOU TEST YOUR PRODUCTS ON ANIMALS?
While a household critter may occasionally wander into the studio during a soap-making spree, our products are NEVER tested on animals. We have a fantastic support structure of family and friends who are more than willing to be our ‘guinea pigs’ and try out our soaps!
DO YOU USE ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN YOUR SOAP?
We have two main recipes, one of which contains animal products and the other which is vegetarian based in oils. Our standard non-vegetable only recipe includes lard and lanolin as one of the oils used for saponification. Our non-veggie oil only soap may also contain milk, yogurt, or honey. All our soaps contain silk and fresh raw goat milk from our Cheeky Goats.
If you are interested in soap that is non animal fat based, look for the salt bars in our product titles as that indicates that the soap is made with all vegetable based oils as the main ingredients. All of our products are palm-free. Each soap also has it’s own unique page in the web store which contains a full list of ingredients. If you have questions about a recipe or ingredients please reach out to us through the “Contact” link at the top of the page.
HOW LONG WILL A BAR OF HAND MADE SOAP LAST?
The life expectancy of your bar of soap will vary depending on how often you use it, and how it is stored. The typical life-span of a bar of hand made soap that has been cured is around 3-4 weeks or longer, assuming daily use! You can help extend the life of your bar of soap by ensuring that it is stored in a soap dish or other well-drained location where it is not sitting in standing water, allowing the bar to dry completely between uses, and using a wash cloth or shower puff to apply soap to your body instead of rubbing the bar of soap directly on your skin. The longer soap has been allowed to ‘cure’, meaning the older the bar of soap is, the longer it tends to last! Soap does not “go bad” or expire (arguably, it actually improves with age), so there’s no reason to throw away those old bars!
DO YOU ALLOW REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES?
Unfortunately, due to the nature of our products, we do not offer (typically) offer refunds, and we never can offer returns, or exchanges. If there is a problem with your order or you feel like a mistake was made, please reach out to us immediately and we will do our best to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY SHIPMENT?
Domestic orders ship using US Priority Mail or First Class Mail. Our orders are generally processed and mailed out within 1-5 business days. If multiple orders are placed, we will make efforts to combine orders to reduce shipping costs.
You will be provided with a tracking number once your order ships. Please use the tracking number to check for updates as to when you can expect your package. Cheeky Goat Soapery is not responsible for packages that are missing, stolen, or otherwise misplaced by USPS. Please make sure your address is up to date and correct when completing your order. If you notice an error in your address or information after you have placed an order, please reach out to us using the “Contact” link immediately.
CAN I BUY YOUR SOAP IF I DON’T LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES?
At this time… no. 🥺 The Stringent cosmetic laws in other countries are such that even selling/shipping to them could land the company, and me, in serious trouble.
IS HAND MADE SOAP CONSIDERED A COSMETIC PRODUCT?
All soap produced by Cheeky Goat Soapery is not considered to be a cosmetic product. Our soap is intended to be used to superficially cleanse the skin, however does not claim to be moisturizing, antibacterial, or to leave behind a residual fragrance on the body. While users of hand made soap may prefer how their skin feels after using it versus commercial soap, or may feel that they experience a benefit from using hand made soap, we do not make any claims that our product is intended for use other than as soap.
To determine whether or not soap is considered a cosmetic product by the Food and Drug Administration depends on a few factors, namely what it’s made of, what ingredients cause it to clean, and how it is intended to be used. Per the FDA’s definition (per 21 CFR 701.20):
To meet the definition of soap in FDA’s regulations, a product has to meet three conditions:
What it’s made of: To be regulated as “soap,” the product must be composed mainly of the “alkali salts of fatty acids,” that is, the material you get when you combine fats or oils with an alkali, such as lye.
What ingredients cause its cleaning action: To be regulated as “soap,” those “alkali salts of fatty acids” must be the only material that results in the product’s cleaning action. If the product contains synthetic detergents, it’s a cosmetic, not a soap. You still can use the word “soap” on the label.
How it's intended to be used: To be regulated as soap, it must be labeled and marketed only for use as soap. If it is intended for purposes such as moisturizing the skin, making the user smell nice, or deodorizing the user’s body, it’s a cosmetic. Or, if the product is intended to treat or prevent disease, such as by killing germs, or treating skin conditions, such as acne or eczema, it’s a drug. You still can use the word “soap” on the label.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT AREN’T ADDRESSED HERE, SHOOT US A MESSAGE AT CHEEKYGOATSOAP@GMAIL.COM, OR USE THE CONTACT ME LINK!
Special thanks to my sister at Caprica Soapery for letting me use much of your excellent FAQ for my own website