Grounded Ingredient Guide
What goes into your soap and skincare matters. This guide explains ingredients and traditional soapmaking terms you may encounter throughout Grounded Holistic Apothecary. Individual formulas vary, so always check the ingredient list on the specific product page.
Ingredients We Use + Why
Tallow
Tallow is rendered beef fat traditionally used in soap and body care. In cold-process soap, it contributes to a firm, long-lasting bar with a rich, creamy lather. In leave-on body care, it provides a rich, emollient feel. Explore our handcrafted tallow soaps and tallow body butters.
Carrier Oils
Carrier oils are plant-based oils used as part of a skincare formula or to dilute concentrated aromatic ingredients such as essential oils. Different oils contribute their own texture, glide and skin feel to a finished product.
Botanicals
Flowers, herbs, leaves, roots and other plant materials may be incorporated into Grounded formulas or used as infusions. Depending on the formula, botanicals can contribute color, aroma, texture or simply reflect the traditional plant-inspired character of the product.
Botanical Infusions
An infusion is made by steeping selected plant material in an oil so oil-soluble components from the botanical become part of the infused oil. We use botanical ingredients thoughtfully according to the individual formula.
Bentonite Clay
Bentonite is a naturally occurring clay used in some soap formulas for its distinctive texture and cleansing feel. Clay can also contribute slip, color and a softly polished feel to a bar.
Found in: DESERT SPUR Tallow + Bentonite Clay + Patchouli Soap
Kaolin Clay
Kaolin is a fine, gentle clay commonly used in handmade soap and skincare. In soap, it can contribute a silky feel, subtle natural color and a smooth cleansing experience.
Honey
Honey is a naturally occurring humectant, meaning it attracts water. In handcrafted soap and body-care formulas, it may contribute to texture, lather and the overall sensory character of the product.
Sea Salt
Salt can add texture and a gently exfoliating feel to certain formulas. In cold-process soapmaking, salt can also contribute to a firmer bar.
Essential Oils + Aromatic Ingredients
Essential oils are concentrated aromatic plant extracts used in selected Grounded products for fragrance and sensory experience. Not every product contains essential oils, and we also offer unscented products for customers who prefer formulas without added scent. Always review the specific product ingredient list.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that helps attract and retain moisture at the skin's surface. It is commonly used in skincare formulas designed to support a hydrated, comfortable skin feel.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 commonly used in skincare. It is valued in cosmetic formulations for supporting the appearance of smoother, more even-looking skin.
Charcoal
Activated charcoal is used in selected soap formulas for its deep natural color and distinctive cleansing character. It also gives handcrafted bars a striking mineral-rich appearance.
Found in: DEEP CLEAN Tallow + Charcoal Soap, MOONLIGHT DETOX and PURPLE REIGN
Magnesium
Magnesium is featured in our topical magnesium collection. These products are designed for external body-care use and are formulated to be incorporated into a simple massage and self-care routine. Follow the directions on each product and apply only to intact skin. Explore Grounded Topical Magnesium.
Featured Ingredients + Product Pairings
The ingredients below are used in selected Grounded formulas. Each formula is different, so always review the complete ingredient list on the individual product page.
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid known for its distinctive red-orange color. Grounded uses astaxanthin-infused apricot oil in a concentrated facial-oil blend alongside complementary botanical oils.
Why we use it: To give our facial serum its focused antioxidant character and complement a nourishing, oil-based skincare ritual.
Baobab Oil
Baobab oil is a plant-derived oil pressed from the seeds of the baobab fruit. It adds emollient richness to handcrafted body-care formulas.
Why we use it: To complement the creamy character of a tallow-based soap and contribute to its thoughtfully selected oil blend.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees. In an anhydrous balm or body butter, it helps give the formula structure and contributes to a rich, protective-feeling finish.
Why we use it: To support texture and consistency while complementing tallow and botanical oils in selected leave-on formulas.
Found in: GROUNDED SPIRIT, HEAVENLY HUG and SERENITY Tallow Body Butter
Beetroot
Beetroot is a richly colored botanical ingredient recognizable by its natural red-pink hue. It brings distinctive botanical character and color to selected small-batch formulas.
Why we use it: To give our beetroot-inspired lip ritual its recognizable ingredient story and naturally vibrant visual identity.
Found in: LIP SCRUB Un.Beet.Able
Ginger
Ginger is an aromatic botanical with a characteristically warm, spicy scent. Depending on the formula, Grounded uses ginger to help create an expressive sensory profile.
Why we use it: To add warmth and aromatic depth to soap and body-care rituals.
Found in: ALL THAT JAZZ Tallow + Ginger + Jasmine Soap and GINGER OIL Aromatic Body Oil
Gotu Kola
Gotu kola is a leafy botanical with a long history of traditional use. In Grounded’s collection, it gives a handcrafted tallow soap a distinctive botanical identity.
Why we use it: To create an ingredient-focused soap that pairs botanical character with the familiar floral-herbal aroma of lavender.
Jasmine
Jasmine is prized for its lush, recognizable floral aroma. Grounded pairs jasmine with warmer and brighter notes to give selected formulas a layered scent experience.
Why we use it: To add expressive floral character and complement ginger and ylang ylang in an aromatic cleansing ritual.
Lavender
Lavender is known for its soft floral-herbal aroma. Grounded uses lavender essential oil in selected formulas to create a familiar, comforting sensory experience.
Why we use it: To bring a gentle botanical aroma to both cleansing and leave-on body-care rituals.
Found in: GOTU LAVENDER Soap and HEAVENLY HUG Tallow Body Butter
Lemongrass
Lemongrass has a fresh, citrus-herbal aroma. Grounded uses lemongrass essential oil to brighten an earthy botanical blend without relying on synthetic fragrance.
Why we use it: To bring a lively top note to a rich tallow-and-botanical-oil body butter.
Found in: GROUNDED SPIRIT Tallow Body Butter
Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil is a lightweight botanical carrier oil pressed from rosehip seeds. It contributes emollient richness and glide to selected leave-on body-care formulas.
Why we use it: To complement grass-fed tallow and other botanical oils while helping the finished formula leave skin feeling soft and conditioned.
Found in: GROUNDED SPIRIT, HEAVENLY HUG and SERENITY Tallow Body Butter
Amla
Amla, also called Indian gooseberry, is a fruit-derived botanical used in selected Grounded formulas.
Why we use it: To give an unscented tallow soap and a botanical hair-and-scalp oil their distinctive ingredient character.
Found in: RADIANT C RENEWAL Soap and RESILIENT ROOTS Hair, Beard + Scalp Oil
Black Cumin Seed
Black cumin seeds come from Nigella sativa, an aromatic flowering plant. The seeds and their oil bring a distinctive earthy botanical profile to selected formulas.
Why we use it: To complement baobab and Palo Santo in a richly aromatic tallow soap.
Found in: PALO SANTO SACRED FUSION Soap
Blue Butterfly Pea
Blue butterfly pea is a vividly colored flower used to bring botanical detail and natural visual interest to handcrafted formulas.
Why we use it: To add a recognizable botanical identity to a bright citrus tallow soap.
Found in: CITRUS SUNRISE Tallow + Citrus Soap
Blue Spirulina
Blue spirulina is a naturally vibrant ingredient valued in handcrafted soap for its striking blue tone.
Why we use it: To give a jasmine-scented tallow soap its memorable color and botanical character.
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is a colorful tropical fruit used in selected soap formulas for botanical character and visual detail.
Why we use it: To complement jasmine petals and the warm floral aroma of a handcrafted tallow soap.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit has a bright, fresh citrus aroma used to lift selected Grounded body-care blends.
Why we use it: To create an upbeat citrus sensory experience in rich body butter and mineral salt scrub formulas.
Found in: GRAPEFRUIT GROVE Tallow Body Butter and GRAPEFRUIT GROVE Body Scrub
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon essential oil is a concentrated aromatic ingredient with a crisp citrus profile.
Why we use it: To bring a bright top note to cleansing formulas and complement softer floral aromas.
Found in: LEMON DROP Tallow + Lemon + Neroli Soap
Powdered Eggshell
Finely prepared eggshell adds mineral-inspired texture to selected cleansing and exfoliating formulas.
Why we use it: To contribute gentle physical texture to occasional exfoliating rituals.
Found in: PURE PRESENCE Soap and LIP SCRUB Un.Beet.Able
Rose Petals
Rose petals bring soft botanical texture and a familiar floral identity to selected handcrafted formulas.
Why we use it: To reinforce the floral character of a warm vanilla-and-rose cleansing ritual.
Found in: NOSTALGIA Tallow + Vanilla + Rose Soap
Magnesium Glycinate
Citrus–Hibiscus–Ginger–Turmeric Infusion
Cold-Process Soapmaking Terms
Cold Process Soap
Cold process is a traditional soapmaking method in which fats and oils are combined with a sodium hydroxide solution to begin saponification. The freshly made soap is then allowed time to harden and cure before use.
Lye / Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, commonly called lye, is necessary to make traditional bar soap. During properly formulated soapmaking, sodium hydroxide reacts with fats and oils through saponification to create soap.
Saponification
Saponification is the chemical reaction that occurs when fats or oils react with an alkali such as sodium hydroxide. This reaction transforms the starting ingredients into soap and glycerin.
Curing
Curing is the resting period after cold-process soap is made. During this time the bar becomes harder as excess water evaporates and the finished soap develops the qualities associated with a well-cured handcrafted bar.
Superfat
Superfat refers to the portion of fats or oils intentionally left unsaponified in a soap formula. Soapmakers carefully calculate a formula's superfat as part of balancing cleansing, hardness and the finished skin feel of the bar.
Trace
Trace is a soapmaking stage when the blended oils and lye solution have emulsified and the soap batter begins to thicken. Soapmakers use the appearance and consistency of trace to help determine when a batch is ready for the next steps.
Lather
Lather is the foam and bubbles created when soap is worked with water. The size, creaminess and persistence of lather are influenced by the particular fats, oils and other ingredients used in the formula.
How to Choose a Grounded Formula
Start with the product itself rather than choosing an ingredient in isolation. Each Grounded formula combines ingredients for a particular texture, aroma and experience. Review the complete ingredient list on the product page, especially if you have known sensitivities or prefer unscented products.
Browse all Grounded products, explore our tallow soap collection, or visit our FAQ for answers about ingredients, product care and how to use Grounded products.
This guide is provided for general ingredient and product education. Grounded products are cosmetic/body-care products and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.