Why it’s time to switch to shampoo bars
Solid conditioners and other multi-purpose household products, too. Hildra Gwee of Postcard presents us with a low-waste opportunity
I’ve always wanted try to bath bars – shampoos, conditioners, soaps, you name it. I never got around to it, so maybe here’s my chance?
Hildra Gwee, the founder of Postcard (formerly Oasis Beauty Kitchen) in Singapore, makes it sound easy to try items and improve our habits.
That’s because Postcard is “a human-made personal care brand of transformative self-care supplies from effective formulations, using simple ingredients taken from nature,” she describes – and she’s had a lot of experience creating and testing their products since they launched in 2018. She knows what it’s like to add them to her routine, too.
Here are Hildra’s tips for transitioning to solids and a more mindful lifestyle.
How to not get confused about “green” words and messaging
Hildra: “I think a good first step is to always find out about who’s behind the brand, and why they started it.”
Why a low-waste, vegan lifestyle is doable
“It’s always beneficial to start small and remember that no one is perfectly ‘sustainable’! Consider your daily habits and begin by changing just one that you can realistically maintain.
“For example: switching to a reusable coffee cup for your daily morning coffee. When you think about the collective impact over a year, it’s easier to visualise the difference it can make.”
All-time favourite ingredients for personal care products
“I don’t have a favourite ingredient, but I do appreciate natural oils and butters as they are unprocessed and retain the best natural nourishment for our skin and scalp.
“My personal favourite is the Secluded Lagoon Facial Oil that is a blend of argan, grape seed and geranium oils. It’s so soothing and moisturising on the skin, even eczema-prone skin. It’s my skin saviour and the reason why I started the business in the first place.”
Tips for first-time users of solid shampoos and conditioners
“They’re really easy to use, actually! Simply wet your hair thoroughly, and rub it directly on your scalp and hair. To ensure that the bar stays solid for longer, it’s best to avoid using it under running water, and to also let it dry on a draining soap dish.”
How to use and maximise low-waste, vegan personal care products for the different rooms in our home
“It’s helpful to use multi-purpose products at home. For example, I use a head-to-toe bar for my shower (it takes care of my hair, face and body, and declutters my bathroom shelf space).
“For cleaning, we use a product that we also sell on our store called the Black Soap: an olive-oil based cleaning product that can be diluted and used to clean our floors, surfaces and even laundry. It’s efficacious, natural and affordable since we don’t have to get so many different products.”
The products we’ll always find in her own personal care kit
“I use everything from Postcard, from my daily skincare to bath care (all solids! I am a true convert to solid) and deodorant.”
The one type of low-waste or vegan personal care product she believes anyone can't go wrong with
“My personal conviction is to switch to solid bath products. It is truly zero-waste, lightweight, and provides a luxurious natural experience that matches a liquid one.”
More on Postcard
If you were familiar with Oasis Beauty Kitchen before its rebrand to Postcard, know that you’ll still have a lot to look forward to.
“Rebranding really made us take a step back and think about why we exist as a business, what impact we want to have, and what sets us apart from other brands,” Hildra says.
“We focused on what truly matters to our customers, and those insights guided us through the entire process. It was a lot more thought and analysis than we put in when we first started back in 2018!
“The biggest challenge in rebranding was the concern that our existing customers might not like the new direction and even a change in the range.”
Check out their products and you might actually like where they’re going.
3 “what” questions for Hildra
Q#1: What does Postcard have that Oasis Beauty Kitchen does not?
“The brand direction we decided to take with Postcard focuses a lot more on the experiential, sensorial side of things, as opposed to just emphasising on the natural or sustainable features of the products,” she answers.
“We wanted the experience of using our products to be elevated and transport you to different moments – a form of escapism, all while staying true to being conscious of the impact on our environment.
“We think that Postcard can be a lot more aspirational and less of a ‘farmer’s market’ brand. We have a vision to take it global.”
Q#2: What were you surprised to learn about starting and running a low-waste, vegan personal care brand?
“I’m pleasantly surprised and encouraged to learn that people are willing to adopt better habits with regards to being more aware about what they put on their bodies, and also choosing lower-waste options if possible. My challenge was to make it accessible and convenient to encourage wider adoption.”
Q#3: What comes to mind when you think of personal care, and “conscious” personal care?
“Anything that makes you feel good, like you’re looking after yourself well. ‘Well’ means that you have done the work to ensure that you’re using good quality, safe and healthy products that don’t cause you harm in the long run. And if those products don’t harm the environment that you wish to preserve, even better! Choices can’t be made simply on price alone.”