Wembé Infuses Soap With Spirit of the Amazon

Photo credit: Wembé

In this tough economy, launching a new biz is probably the last thing on anybody's mind. But recession or no recession, personal hygiene continues to be paramount, right? Paraguayan company Wembé is still wet behind the ears—it officially launched last week at the New York International Gift Fair—but it's hoping to clean up well with its nascent line of all-natural, mostly organic soaps, which fit snugly in the palm of your hand with a comfortable heft. The handmade, deliciously aromatic bars distill the spicy flavors of the Amazon, with native ingredients like black clay, yerba mate, passion fruit extract, and fresh avocado. Missing in action? Parabens, artificial dyes, synthetic fragrances, and all that chemical crap.

Lather up with the Seaweed Cleansing Blend, which is chockfull of aquatic vegetation and moisturizes without clogging pores. For sloughing off dead skin, try the Loofah Exfoliating Blend, made with chunks of the hardy vegetable sponge. For a completely stripped-down experience, Clean Face dispenses with the fancy flavors while doubling as a makeup remover (you can thank olive oil for helping with that).

My personal favorite has to be the vitamin-infused Mango Cleansing Blend, which comes with embedded fibers for light exfoliating and smells like a tropical getaway. Hey, times are tough, and with summer fading fast, it's my last chance to squeeze in a luxury staycation.

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