The Magic of Mud: The Power of New Zealand Volcanic Clay
The Magic of Mud: The Power of New Zealand Volcanic Clay.
Sometimes, getting a little muddy is exactly what your skin needs.
At Muddy Bar, we believe some of the best ingredients for our skin come straight from the earth. That’s why every Muddy Bar is enriched with New Zealand volcanic clay, a naturally derived bentonite clay valued for its cleansing and oil-absorbing properties.
But what exactly makes volcanic clay so special? And why has this earthy ingredient become such an important part of our handmade soap?
Let’s get a little muddy and find out.
What Is Volcanic Clay?
Volcanic clay is a naturally occurring mineral-rich clay associated with volcanic landscapes. At Muddy Bar, we use bentonite clay, a fine mineral clay that brings a unique combination of cleansing, oil-absorbing and gently exfoliating properties to our cold process soap.
It’s also what gives Muddy Bar its distinctive connection to the earth.
While we love the word “mud”, after all, it’s right there in our name. What we’re actually putting into our soap is carefully selected volcanic clay.
From Earth to Skin Naturally.
That’s the idea behind Muddy Bar.
Why Put Volcanic Clay in Soap?
Mud has been used in skincare for generations, and bentonite clay is particularly valued for its ability to absorb excess oils and bind with impurities.
When incorporated into a handmade soap bar, volcanic clay can help create a beautifully smooth cleansing experience while leaving skin feeling fresh, clean and balanced.
And because every Muddy Bar is made using the traditional cold process method, the clay becomes part of a carefully crafted bar alongside nourishing oils and butters.
1. Helps Cleanse Away Excess Oil and Impurities
One of the reasons bentonite clay is such a popular ingredient in skincare is its ability to absorb excess oil and bind with impurities.
In a soap bar, this makes volcanic clay a wonderful addition for anyone who enjoys a thorough, refreshing cleanse.
Whether you’re washing your hands after a day in the garden, cleaning up after getting your hands dirty, or simply stepping into the shower, clay adds an extra earthy touch to your everyday cleansing routine.
2. Naturally Mineral Rich
Volcanic clay is naturally mineral rich, containing minerals such as silica, calcium and magnesium.
While soap is a wash-off product, we love incorporating naturally occurring mineral ingredients into our bars. It adds to the character of the soap and brings a little piece of New Zealand’s volcanic landscape into your daily routine.
It’s skincare with a connection to the earth, and that’s something we can get behind.
3. Provides Gentle Exfoliation
The naturally fine particles of clay can provide gentle physical exfoliation, helping to lift away surface build-up and leave skin feeling smoother.
Combined with our carefully developed cold process soap formula, volcanic clay helps create a cleansing bar with a beautifully silky feel.
For us, it’s one of the things that makes a clay soap feel different from an ordinary bar.
4. Leaves Skin Feeling Fresh and Refreshed
There’s something incredibly satisfying about a really good cleanse.
Volcanic clay contributes to the cleansing experience while our combination of oils and butters helps create the creamy, luxurious lather Muddy Bar is known for.
The result is a bar that leaves your skin feeling clean, fresh and ready for whatever comes next.
Because sometimes a little mud is exactly what you need.
5. Helps Create a Balanced Cleanse
Because bentonite clay is known for absorbing excess oils, it can be a great ingredient for creating a fresh and balanced-feeling cleanse.
That’s part of what makes volcanic clay so versatile in handmade soap. It can be incorporated into everyday bars while adding something special to the way the soap looks, feels and performs.
And let’s be honest, we also think it makes for a pretty great story.
Why Choose Muddy Bar?
Muddy Bar was born from our love of New Zealand’s incredible landscapes and our passion for handmade soap.
Every bar is enriched with New Zealand volcanic clay and made using the traditional cold process soap-making method.
We combine our volcanic clay with carefully selected oils and butters to create beautifully crafted soap with a creamy lather and a luxurious feel.
We don’t add clay simply because it sounds good on a label.
It’s part of what makes Muddy Bar, Muddy Bar.
Handmade Cold Process Soap
Cold process soap is a traditional method of soap making where oils and fats are combined with a lye solution and transformed into soap through a process called saponification.
Unlike hot process soap, the mixture isn’t cooked. Our bars are then carefully cured for several weeks, allowing them to harden and develop their characteristic long-lasting bar and creamy lather.
The result is handmade soap that’s as much about the process as it is about the finished product.
Made in New Zealand
We’re proud to make our soap here in New Zealand.
Our products combine local and imported ingredients, carefully selected for their qualities and the role they play in our formulas.
Our volcanic clay is at the heart of the Muddy Bar story, bringing a distinctive connection to the mineral landscapes that inspire us.
More Than Just Soap
We wanted to create something different from an ordinary bar of soap.
Something that looked beautiful.
Something that smelled incredible.
Something made with quality ingredients.
Something that connected people with the earth.
That’s Muddy Bar.
Get a Little Muddy
From mineral-rich volcanic clay to nourishing oils and butters, every Muddy Bar is designed to turn an everyday necessity into something a little more special.
From Earth to Skin Naturally.
So go on.
Get a little muddy.
Your skin might just thank you for it.