Where to Buy Natural Soap in Lithia, FL

Why people out here go looking

Plenty of people in Lithia, FishHawk and Valrico start reading soap labels for a reason: a kid with dry skin, a new baby, or just being tired of a shower full of ingredients they cannot pronounce. Florida humidity, chlorine from the pool and a lot of time outside are hard on skin, and that sends people looking for something simpler.

There is nothing wrong with the big box aisle, but it is hard to ask a shelf a question. Here is how to shop for natural soap without getting fooled by the word on the front of the bottle.

1. Read the back, not the front

Words like natural, clean and gentle are marketing. There is no single official definition behind them. The ingredient list on the back is where the real information is. If a maker will not tell you what is in a product, that tells you something.

2. Ask what plant-based means for that product

Plant-based usually means the oils and butters come from plants. Ask the shop what oils they use, what gives the product its scent and color, and what the product is made without. A shop that makes or curates its own line should be able to answer quickly.

3. Smell it before you buy it

Scent is personal, and a description online never quite matches the real thing. Buying in person lets you smell the bar, feel the lotion and decide whether you will actually use it. That alone saves a lot of half-used bottles under the sink.

4. Start small if your skin is touchy

If you have sensitive skin, eczema or allergies, try one product at a time and patch test it first. If you have a skin condition, your doctor is the right person to ask about ingredients. A good shop will not pressure you to buy the whole line at once.

5. Think beyond the shower, and about gifts

Once people switch their soap, the next question is usually laundry and cleaning products. Ask whether the store carries home and laundry products so you can keep things simple in one stop.

Soap, lotion and butters make easy gifts for teachers, neighbors and hosts. Ask whether the store puts together gift sets. It beats another candle from the big box store.

6. Store bar soap so it lasts

Bar soap that sits in a puddle melts away fast, and Florida humidity does not help. Keep bars on a draining dish, out of the direct stream of the shower, and let them dry between uses. Buying a few bars at a time and keeping the extras in a dry cabinet is an easy way to stock up without waste.

Our pick: Magnolia Soap and Bath Co.

Full disclosure: Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. is an East of Tampa advertiser, which is why they are named here and others are not.

Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. sells plant-based soap, skincare and home products made without the harsh chemicals that send some people looking for an alternative in the first place. You can smell the whole wall of it from the door. This is the Lithia store.

Not sure what you are after? Call the store, tell them what you are looking for, and they will point you to it.