How to Reduce Stress Naturally: 7 Simple Practices for a Calmer Life

How to Reduce Stress Naturally

Modern life has a way of piling on pressure with deadlines, family responsibilities, constant notifications, and the quiet expectation to “keep up.” While stress is a normal part of being human, chronic stress can leave us feeling drained, disconnected, and overwhelmed. The good news is that nature offers gentle, effective ways to restore balance, here are some ideas on how to reduce stress naturally.

Below are natural, accessible practices that support a calmer mind and a more resilient body.

Create Small Rituals of Stillness
You don’t need an hour-long meditation session to feel grounded. Even two minutes of intentional stillness can reset your nervous system.

Try:

Sitting quietly with your eyes closed
Taking five slow, deep breaths
Placing a hand on your chest and noticing your heartbeat

These micro‑moments signal to your body that it’s safe to relax.

Use Aromatherapy to Shift Your Mood
Essential oils have been used for centuries to support emotional wellbeing. Scents travel directly to the brain’s emotional centre, making them powerful tools for calming the mind.

Soothing oils include:

Lavender for relaxation
Bergamot for lifting low moods
Eucalyptus for clearing mental fog

Add a few drops to a warm bath or use them in natural self‑care products, such as our Aromatherapy product range.

Spend Time Outdoors
Nature is one of the most reliable stress relievers. Even a short walk can lower cortisol levels and improve mental clarity.

Try:

A slow stroll in a local park
Sitting under a tree with a cup of tea
Gardening or tending to houseplants

The combination of fresh air, natural light, and gentle movement works wonders.

Move Your Body in Ways That Feel Good
Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. Gentle exercise helps release endorphins — your body’s natural mood boosters.

Consider:

Yoga or stretching
A calming evening walk
Dancing around the kitchen
Light strength exercises

The key is consistency, not intensity.

Nourish Yourself with Calming Foods
What we eat can influence how we feel. Certain foods support a steadier mood and calmer nervous system.

Helpful choices include:

Herbal teas like chamomile, lemon balm, or peppermint
Magnesium-rich foods (almonds, leafy greens, dark chocolate)
Oats and whole grains for sustained energy
Warm, comforting meals that feel grounding

Small dietary shifts can make a noticeable difference.

Set Gentle Boundaries with Technology
Constant notifications keep your brain in a state of alertness. Creating small boundaries helps you reclaim mental space.

Try:

Turning off non-essential notifications
Keeping your phone in another room while you sleep
Setting “screen-free” pockets of time each day

Your mind will thank you for the quiet.

Prioritise Rest and Sleep
Stress feels heavier when you’re tired. Creating a soothing bedtime routine can help you unwind more easily.

Ideas include:

A warm bath
Soft lighting
A calming scent
Reading instead of scrolling

Think of it as preparing your body for deep, restorative rest.

Final Thoughts
How to Reduce Stress Naturally isn’t about overhauling your life — it’s about weaving small, nurturing habits into your day. When you give yourself permission to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with simple pleasures, you create space for calm to return.

If you’d like to try some of our products to help reduce stress, take a look at our shop here or our subscriptions here.

02/10/202530/04/2026

Clear Skin, Naturally: 5 Reasons Why Teens Should Switch to Natural Soap

Clear Skin Naturally

Teenage skin is constantly changing—hormones, stress, and environmental factors can lead to breakouts, oiliness, and sensitivity. While many teens reach for harsh cleansers packed with chemicals, there’s a gentler, more effective alternative: natural soap.

At La Zouch Soaps, we craft handmade, vegan soap in the heart of the National Forest using nourishing ingredients that support healthy, balanced skin. Here’s why our natural soap is a game-changer for teenage skincare.

handmade shea butter soap with pink grapefruit and may chang essential oils

At La Zouch Soaps, we believe skincare should be kind, clean, crafted with care, and clear skin naturally. Here’s why our handmade, vegan soaps are perfect for teenage skin:

Gentle on Sensitive, Changing Skin

Teen skin is still developing, which means it’s more prone to irritation. Natural soaps, especially those made with nourishing oils like shea butter and olive oil, cleanse without stripping the skin’s protective barrier. No harsh detergents, no artificial fragrances, just pure, plant-based goodness.

Fewer Breakouts, More Balance

Many commercial soaps contain synthetic ingredients that clog pores and disrupt the skin’s natural balance. Our soaps use essential oils like pink grapefruit and bergamot, known for their antibacterial and balancing properties. These help regulate oil production and reduce the risk of acne without drying out the skin.

Hydration Without the Heaviness

Teen skin needs moisture, but not the greasy kind. Natural soaps hydrate with ingredients like coconut oil and mango butter, which absorb easily and leave skin soft, not shiny. Plus, they help soothe inflammation and redness, common in acne-prone areas.

No Nasties, Just Nature

We believe skincare should be clean and ethical. That’s why our soaps are:

Vegan and cruelty-free
Free from parabens, sulfates, and palm oil
Handmade in small batches with food-grade ingredients

This means fewer irritants and more peace of mind for teens and their parents.

A Simple Routine That Works

Teenagers don’t need a 10-step skincare routine. A gentle cleanse with natural soap morning and night can make a big difference. Add a light moisturiser with SPF and you’ve got a routine that’s effective, affordable, and easy to stick to.

Final Thoughts

Teenage skin deserves kindness. By choosing natural products, teens can enjoy clearer, calmer skin without compromising on ethics or quality. Whether it’s our exfoliating oatmeal bar or our active charcoal / citrus soaps for oily skin, La Zouch Soaps offers a range that’s perfect for every teen.

Ready to help your teen clear skin naturally and get their glow on? Explore our Teenage/Oily/Combination Skin collection here. Or order a subscription here.

25/09/202530/04/2026

Why Handmade Soap Doesn’t Dry Your Skin: The Amazing Science Behind the Suds

Why Handmade Soap Doesn’t Dry Your Skin

If you’ve ever washed your hands or body with commercial soap and felt tight, itchy, or dry afterward, you’re not alone. That’s a common complaint, and one of the biggest reasons many people are making the switch to handmade soap. Unlike mass-produced bars, handmade soaps are often celebrated for being gentle, nourishing, and moisturising. But what actually makes handmade soap better for your skin? And why doesn’t it leave your skin feeling dry? We explain below why handmade soap doesn’t dry your skin.

handmade shea butter soap with lavender and bergamot essential oils

handmade shea butter soap with eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils

handmade shea butter soap with rose geranium essential oil

1. Glycerin: The Skin-Loving Ingredient That Stays

One of the key differences between handmade and commercial soap is glycerin. Glycerin is a natural byproduct of the soap-making process (saponification), where oils or fats react with lye to form soap. It’s a humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air to your skin, helping to keep it hydrated.

In many commercial soaps, glycerin is removed and sold separately for use in more expensive lotions or creams. This leaves behind a bar of soap that can clean the skin but often strips it of moisture.

In contrast, handmade soap retains its natural glycerin, making it much gentler and more moisturizing. This is one of the biggest reasons handmade soap doesn’t dry out your skin. (BTW, La Zouch Soap contains so much glycerin it sets the security scanners off at airports!). This is the main reason why handmade soap doesn’t dry out your skin.

2. Better Ingredients: Oils That Nourish, Not Strip

Most handmade soaps are made with plant-based oils and butters like olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, and more. These ingredients don’t just cleanse the skin, they also nourish it.

Each oil used in handmade soap has different skin benefits. For example:

Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and has a mild, soothing effect.
Coconut oil offers cleansing power but is often balanced with more moisturising oils.
Shea butter is deeply moisturising and helps soothe dry or irritated skin.
Mango butter is loaded with rich fatty acids and is highly moisturising.

Because handmade soap recipes are carefully formulated, the oil-to-lye ratio is designed to leave a bit of extra oil in the final bar — a technique known as “superfatting.” This means there’s a slight excess of nourishing oils that remain after the saponification process, which helps moisturise and protect your skin.

3. No Harsh Detergents or Synthetic Additives

Many commercial soaps are technically not soaps at all — they’re classified as “syndet bars” (short for synthetic detergent bars). These bars often include harsh detergents, foaming agents (like SLS or SLES), preservatives, and artificial fragrances that can strip the skin’s natural oils and lead to dryness or irritation.

Handmade soaps typically avoid these harsh ingredients. They may include natural essential oils, botanicals, clays, and herbal infusions, offering a gentler, more skin-friendly cleansing experience. With fewer irritants and no synthetic detergents, handmade soap is much less likely to leave your skin feeling dry or stripped.

4. Customisable for Skin Needs

Another benefit of handmade soap is that it can be tailored to different skin types. Whether you have dry, oily, sensitive, or acne-prone skin, there’s likely a handmade soap formula suited for you. Soap makers often create specialty bars with oatmeal for soothing, charcoal for detoxifying, or coconut milk for gentle exfoliation and added creaminess.

This level of customisation ensures that the soap not only cleans but also supports your skin’s specific needs, helping it stay hydrated and healthy.

5. Handmade Soap Supports Skin Barrier Health

Your skin’s natural barrier, the outermost layer that holds in moisture and keeps irritants out , can be disrupted by harsh soaps. Handmade soap, rich in natural fats and glycerin, supports this barrier rather than damaging it.

Over time, switching to handmade soap can actually improve your skin’s texture, hydration, and resilience, especially if you’ve been using drying commercial soaps for years.

kelp soap.
why handmade soap doesn't dry your skin

Conclusion

Handmade soap isn’t just a luxury, it’s a return to how soap was originally intended to be: simple, natural, and beneficial for the skin. With nourishing oils, retained glycerin, and none of the harsh additives found in many commercial products, handmade soap helps cleanse without drying, making it a smart choice for anyone who wants to treat their skin more gently.

Whether you’re battling dryness or simply looking for a more natural skincare option, give handmade soap a try, your skin will thank you. So now you know why handmade soap doesn’t dry your skin!

Take a look at our natural soaps here and or subscriptions here and start helping your skin today!