A Small Change that Respects Nature
Our world is facing ever-growing challenges of pollution and excessive plastic use. That’s why the trends in natural cosmetics are returning to their essence — back to nature itself.
In this article, we explore why solid cleansing and care products — bars and solid shampoos — are becoming increasingly popular and how their use supports sustainability and reduces waste.
From Liquid to Solid:
A Step Forward in Natural Care
Most bathrooms today are filled with liquid shampoos and gels, usually packaged in plastic bottles. Yet there’s a simple, effective, and eco-friendly alternative — solid cosmetic products. These are more than a passing trend; they’re a thoughtful step back toward nature.
They contain no added water, are more concentrated, last longer, and require no plastic packaging.
Discover the Difference Between Classic and Syndet Formulations
Classic soaps have a long tradition and strong cleansing power, while modern approaches rely on syndet formulations — gentle cleansing ingredients suitable for daily care of the body, face, and hair, helping maintain the skin’s natural pH balance.
For those who value true tradition, classic soaps are made through a time-honored process — a chemical reaction between fats (such as plant oils or butters) and lye (sodium hydroxide). This results in a product with a higher pH (around 9–10), which effectively removes grease but can feel slightly harsh on sensitive skin. It’s perfect for washing hands but may dry out the face, body, or scalp.
Syndet bars, on the other hand, are the result of a modern approach. They are not produced through saponification but are made from mild surfactants such as Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate — a cleanser derived from coconut oil. With a lower pH (between 5 and 6.5), closer to the skin’s natural level, they are gentler and less aggressive, making them ideal for everyday use, even on sensitive skin and hair. Once you try them, you’ll understand why they have become the new classic in natural care.
Both classic and syndet bars have their place in modern skincare: the former excel for hands and body when deeper cleansing is needed, while syndet bars better preserve the skin’s natural balance, offering softness and comfort — perfect for the face, scalp, and daily use.
How to Switch to Solid Cosmetics:
Practical Tips for Sustainable Care
- Storage: After use, allow the bar to dry completely.
- Use: Wet your hair or skin, glide the bar directly or lather between your hands, apply the foam with gentle circular motions, and rinse thoroughly.
- Travel: Solid products are ideal for travel — no liquids, no worries, and minimal space in your luggage.
- Combination: Complete your sustainable care routine — a facial bar, a solid shampoo, and a shower bar.
- Sustainability: One solid shampoo can replace two to three bottles of liquid shampoo, meaning less packaging and less waste.
A solid form means less packaging and longer durability:
one bar can replace two to three bottles of liquid shampoo or soap.
Plastic waste remains one of the greatest challenges of our time. In Europe alone, more than 10 billion plastic bottles for cosmetics are used every year. Solid products represent a step forward — plastic-free, often wrapped only in a small cardboard box or paper, both easy to recycle.
In addition, they bring other environmentally friendly advantages:
- less water used in production,
- a lower carbon footprint during transport,
- and a longer product lifespan.
Choosing a solid shampoo or bar is a choice that respects the sea, the land, and people — values that the Sečovlje Salt Pans embody every day.
Eco-Friendly Cosmetics:
Less Packaging, Less Waste, More Awareness
When we talk about eco-friendly cosmetics, it’s not only about packaging — it’s about a complete approach, from formulation to the final product. At the Sečovlje Salt Pans, sustainability is understood as a continuous journey of improvement. Wherever possible, we turn to glass, paper, or solid, packaging-free formulations.
For products that require protection from air or light, we use non-composite plastic packaging made from a single material, making it easier to recycle. In this way, we seek a balance between product quality and respect for the sea, which inspires us.
Lepa Vida is more than just a cosmetic brand – it continues the story of the sea and salt that we tell at the Sečovlje Salt Pans. Each product embodies respect for nature, crafted with care for the environment and inspired by the centuries-old tradition of salt-making.
Through the Lepa Vida sustainable skincare line, we want to show that daily care can be more than a routine – it can be a conscious connection with nature and the sea. Formulated with brine, sea salt, and salt-pan mud, these eco-friendly skincare products gently care for your body while honoring the environment from which they originate.
Salt-pan Mud, Salt, and Brine:
Gifts of Nature from the Sečovlje Salt Pans
In the heart of the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, tradition and nature intertwine. Here, where the sun, wind, and sea create salt, brine and salt-pan mud are also born – both rich in minerals and microelements.
Salt-pan mud stimulates microcirculation and supports the natural regeneration of skin and scalp, while sea salt enriches the formulations with vital minerals. Magnesium, calcium, and zinc help maintain the skin’s balance, support renewal, and bring a feeling of freshness and purity.
The Lepa Vida Solid Cosmetics Collection
Our range of solid cosmetics offers a variety of bars designed for different skin and hair types – a simple way to reduce plastic and embrace sustainable living:
- Face Cleansing Bar with Salt-pan Mud – gently purifies and detoxifies, suitable even for sensitive skin.
- Solid Shower Bars – available in three versions: Salt & Activated Charcoal, Salt & Poppy Seeds, and Salt & Shea Butter. Naturally cleansing and kind to the skin.
- Solid Shampoos with Salt-pan Mud – for dry, normal, and oily hair. Free from sulfates, silicones, and mineral oils. Enriched with salt-pan mud, panthenol, and plant oils, they nourish the scalp and restore natural shine.
- Classic Soaps – traditionally saponified with a higher pH, perfect for deep cleansing of hands and body. Long-lasting and naturally effective.
By choosing solid shampoos and bars, you choose less plastic, less waste, and more nature. Throughout November, Lepa Vida solid shampoos are available at 20% off – a perfect opportunity to take a small, meaningful step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Choosing a solid shampoo or soap bar may seem like a small act, yet every conscious choice makes a lasting difference. Less plastic, less waste, more awareness – these are the actions that matter. With the Lepa Vida sustainable cosmetics line from the Sečovlje Salt Pans, your daily routine becomes a ritual of respect – for nature, for the sea, and for yourself.
Let your self-care carry the scent of the sea –
of calm, beauty, and mindful choice; of that part of the sea that stays with us and gently reminds us
how simple it can be to be part of something greater, more beautiful, and more sustainable:
