Your questions , my answers

My soaps last 12 months from the time you receive them, provided they're stored dry on a draining soap dish. Without synthetic preservatives, their shelf life is shorter than industrial soaps — that's the price of natural. A soap left wet permanently softens; a soap that dries between uses lasts much longer.

Three major differences. First, the natural glycerin is preserved: it's a powerful moisturiser that industrial manufacturers extract and sell separately. Second, the oils aren't denatured by heat — their vitamins and fatty acids remain intact. Finally, the 5% surgras leaves part of the oils unprocessed, so they continue nourishing your skin during use.

Yes, and that's exactly why I make them. Sensitive, atopic or reactive skin is often irritated by sulfates and synthetic fragrances in industrial soaps. My soaps are surgras, sulfate-free, paraben-free, no chemical fragrance. That said, every skin is unique: if you have a specific dermatitis, check the ingredient list of each soap (available on its product page) and test on a small area first.

During saponification, lye turns oils into soap. Surgras 5% means we dose oils slightly above what's needed: 5% of the vegetable oils are not transformed and stay free in the soap. They nourish your skin during use and soften the soap's effect. That's what distinguishes a gentle soap from a stripping one.

My ingredients overwhelmingly come from organic farming or equivalent supply chains (responsible agriculture, local suppliers). The soaps themselves don't carry an official "organic" label yet — that certification is long and costly for a small artisanal business. But I personally vouch for every ingredient I use, and I can tell you exactly where each one comes from.

Some soaps contain essential oils (lavender, citrus, eucalyptus…) which can trigger reactions in very sensitive skin or during pregnancy. The full ingredient list of each soap is available on its product page. If you're looking for a soap without essential oils, check Castille or Tallow-Avocado — neutral and ultra-gentle.

Wet your hair and the shampoo. Rub the bar directly on your scalp (not on the lengths) or work up a lather in your hands and apply it. Massage, then rinse thoroughly. During the first uses, your hair may feel heavier — that's a transition period while your scalp rebalances after sulfates. It passes within 2 to 3 weeks.

I prepare and ship your order within 3 to 5 business days. Delivery times after that: France 2 to 5 days, Romania 1 to 3 days, other EU countries 5 to 10 days. You'll receive an email with the tracking number as soon as your parcel ships.

You have a 14-day European right of withdrawal from the date of receipt. For cosmetic products, returns are only possible if the product is unused and packaging is intact (standard hygiene rule). Return shipping is at your cost, except in case of error on my part. For any question before returning, write to me: contact@maassenbeauty.com.

My labels are minimal, printed on recycled and 100% recyclable paper. Soaps ship in biodegradable cardboard, padded with kraft paper (no plastic, no polystyrene). My goal: that you can compost or recycle every part of the packaging without guilt.