Olivia Olive Oil and Aloe Soap Review

Whenever I visit my parents in Pinellas County, Florida, I always make sure to make a stop at nearby Tarpon Springs. When you drive to Tarpon Springs, and make the turn that leads to the Sponge Docks, you suddenly feel as if you've stepped into another world. Having been settled by Greek fisherman and sponge divers, Tarpon Springs is rich with Greek culture. Lots of Greek restaurants and gift shops, and many Greek products can be found on grocery shelves and stores where housewares are sold.

It may be a stereotype, but I've never met a Greek woman with bad skin. In fact, all of the Greek women I've known have had flawless complexions. One of their secrets, evidently, is the use of olive oil in skin products.

Tarpon Springs is home to a large, traditional Greek soap factory. In addition, most stores in this area sell Greek soaps and skincare products. I've been tot he factory store and also bought Greek soap off the shelves. My favorite, so far, is the line of soaps made by Olivia - a company imports its products from Greece.

Olivia olive oil soaps have no dyes. When you open a package of Olivia, you'll be faced with a dark brown/green bar. Not attractive, but who cares? Less additives has got to add up to a product that's better for my skin. Once you get the bar of soap wet and work it into a lather, you'll fall in love. This soap produces a really thick, luxurious lather that doesn't go limp or fall flat. It rinses off cleanly and leaves your skin feeling really clean and clear. It doesn't, however dry your skin out. Interestingly enough, it doesn't clog your skin, either, even though it's made with an olive oil base. I have really sensitive skin and am apt to break out with most oil-based soaps or skin products. This soap is the exception. Probably because it's completely natural, and free of dyes and additives, I'm able to use it without worry of breaking out. If anything, my skin has never been better since I started using this soap, exclusively.

I'm getting down to my last bar, and have noplans to go to Florida again until August, so I'm happy to see that there are several ways to order this fantastic soap online, including via Amazon.com At about $1.50- $3 a small bar, it's not the cheapest soap, but why be cheap about something as important as soap? Also, I find that this soap lasts a lot longer than regular commercial soaps, which seem to melt after almost no time.

Olivia makes several different soaps, all with olive oil as their main ingredient. I like the olive oil and aloe bar, but their lavender soap is also great. These soaps also make great little gifts - perfect as stocking stuffers at Christmas.

Olivia gets bonus points for coming in non-glossy cardboard packaging that's recyclable. Yay for planet earth!