Natural, sustainable and chemical-free soaps are hard to find locally; so Geelong tattoo artist Scott Hay made some himself.
When you imagine luxury, your mind may not immediately turn to the bathroom. But that’s exactly where Highton resident Scott Hay, co-founder of Lather Lust, believe relaxation and rejuvenation begins.
After seeing pictures of handmade soap bars gracing social media back in 2018, Scott was inspired by the creativity that could go into creating different soaps, both on the design front and when it comes to ingredients that you’re putting on your body.
A professional tattoo artist by trade, Scott only moved to refresh traditional handmade soaps earlier this year with his new luxury bar soap venture, Lather Lust, after the pandemic highlighted that washing your hands is pretty darn important.
“2018 just wasn’t the right time to start a new business venture as I was already very busy in the job role I was in,” Scott explains.
“Fast forward three years and here we are, the time is right and what better way to start a soap business than during a pandemic? Hygiene is so important in general, but even more so during the type of pandemic we have been faced with since it began.”
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Bringing the importance of hygiene into sharp relief, the timing of the launch has allowed Scott and his three co-creators to bring a little bit of joy to the simple act of washing, making handwashing and bathing a more luxurious experience.
While commercially available soaps can be harmful to your skin, filled with chemicals and artificial preservatives that may dry out and damage your skin, Lather Lust does the exact opposite. Made from skin-friendly and organic ingredients, Scott’s soaps are gentle on your skin, eco-friendly, and help retain the essential oils in your skin to keep it fresh, young, and soft.
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Definitely on the luxe end of the spectrum, the soaps are crafted from natural ingredients and are not only good for the environment – compared to body wash, bar soaps aren’t contained in plastic, and require less energy and water to create and break down more easily – but are even better for your skin. As a bonus, they’re such jaw-dropping creations that you almost want to take a bite of out them (don’t).
“We use natural ingredients, that clean, that rejuvenate and leave your hands and body feeling fresh after using lather lust products,” Scott says.
“Our premium handmade soaps have additives in them that are great for the skin. We can’t tell you too much about our recipes, but what we can tell you is that you won’t be disappointed with our products. As we evolve our recipes, will be getting even better for you and your skin.”
If you’re looking for a soap with spirit-lifting aromatic qualities, the Lavender handmade soap range isn’t just an easy way to add a little sophistication to your bathroom. Rich in colour, this soap infuses lavender oil, which, when applied to the skin, can lessen acne, help lighten skin, and reduce wrinkles – all while smelling amazing and bringing a sense of calm.
For soap that not only smells delicious but also helps in preventing and fighting skin problems like wrinkles, acne, pigmentation and dark spots, the lemon and lime and Coco Mango should be your go-to. Lightly scented, these bars have additives that benefit the skin, while also being rich in antioxidants which tend to detoxify the skin to a great extent. There’s also citric acid present in both soaps that can slough off dead skin cells and gently exfoliate your skin.
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Divine on the skin, there’s also the pink guava handmade soap range which smells amazing and is packed with antioxidants that may protect your skin from damage, which can slow down its aging process, helping prevent wrinkles, as well as the lightly scented sweet mandarin soap range which has additives that contain anti-septic and sedative properties. This can be beneficial for acne, congested and oily skin, insomnia, nervous tension, scars and mild skin disorders.
Our absolute favourite of the Lather Lust range though is the espresso handmade soap. From its luscious smell to its dark creamy colour, the bar is rich in antioxidants that help to protect your skin from free radical damage and ageing. Using Lather Lust’s coffee soap may help decrease the appearance of sunspots, redness and fine lines thanks to the chlorogenic as well as melanoidins found in coffee.
“We want people to experience soap in a different way, nice and colourful soap bars, that don’t only smell and look great, but they are extremely good for your health and skincare too,” Scott says.
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Rejuvenating your skin with every wash, Lather Lust not only offers a wide range of various soap products (ranging from large soap bars and medium and small circle bars) but also includes various stunning handcrafted bath accessories. Think ceramic and bamboo soap holders, exfoliating loofahs and wooden scrub brushes to complete your luxury washing process and elevate your bathroom interior.
“From older style bathroom or to the new modern designed home, we are sure we have soap or accessories that will match where you live!”
Soothing your senses and skin, Lather Lust is passionate about championing a clean beauty journey that will leave you with healthy, glowing skin and a lesser carbon footprint, but also about supporting locals as much as possible.
“We are a local business with big intentions,” Scott reveals.
“From here, it would be great to see it [soap products] in a lot more stores! Make our team grow and employ local staff to help with demand, we want one warehouse then two and then twenty.
“We want this business to be long lasting and sustainable for the future, creating absolute masterpieces of premium homemade soap and handcrafted bath accessories for everyone to enjoy.
“Cleaning hands one pair at a time.”
Creating the crème de la crème of all things scented and soothing right here in Geelong, Lather Lust tick all the boxes when it comes to beauty routines: fabulously tactile; easy to use; and infused with essential oils, body-safe fragrances and activated ingredients to refresh your skin.
Thinking about returning to the solid soap fold? You can find, love and lather these luxury soap products online at www.latherlust.com
You can also find Lather Lust products at several local stockists, including Ruby & Leo, Cyril Cooke, IGA Highton, East Fruit Market, Darriwill Farm, and The Village Store.
