There is a particular kind of quiet you feel when you are in water, surrounded by green, with nothing urgent to do but breathe. It is the same quiet many of us crave at the sink, in the shower, or at the start and end of the day, when self-care can become either another task to rush through or a small ritual that restores us.
Aardvel was created for the second option: a conscious skincare ritual for those who choose intention over impulse. Founded by Jakob Slabbert and made on Waterval Farm in the Cederberg Mountains near Clanwilliam in the Western Cape, Aardvel is a South African artisanal skincare brand built on simplicity, care, and a deep respect for the natural world.
In this post, we will explore how mindful skincare rituals work in real life, why solid, waterless skincare bars make that easier, and how to build a routine that feels grounded, effective, and genuinely sustainable.
Mindful skincare rituals: what they are (and what they are not)
A mindful skincare ritual is not a perfect routine, a trend, or an aesthetic. It is a practice of attention. It means you do the same everyday actions, cleansing, washing hair, moisturising, with a bit more presence. The goal is not "more." The goal is better: better choices, better ingredients, better habits, and a better relationship with your own body and the environment that sustains it.
Mindfulness in skincare is the decision to treat daily care as a moment of intention, not a race to the next thing.
That intention becomes easier to access when your products are simple and trustworthy. Aardvel's solid bars are designed for that kind of clarity: waterless formulations, plastic-free packaging, and small-batch craftsmanship with pH-balanced formulations that are palm oil-free, cruelty-free, sulfate & paraben-free, and suitable for sensitive skin.
Why "waterless" and "solid" can feel more human, not less luxurious
Many of us were taught that skincare should come in bottles, and that "hydration" means adding more liquid products. But water in a bottle is mostly a carrier. Solid skincare flips the logic: you use concentrated ingredients and add water only when you need it, in the moment, in your hands.
This has two powerful effects:
1) It reduces noise in your routine
A solid bar is straightforward. You hold it, feel it, lather it, rinse it. There is less spilling, less over-dispensing, less clutter. That simplicity supports mindfulness because your attention can return to the experience of care instead of managing packaging.
2) It naturally supports sustainable habits
Aardvel's commitment is practical, not performative. With every product, you avoid plastic bottles, and your order supports reforestation. The brand's sustainability impact is built into the ritual: 1 order = 1 tree planted, 3 plastic bottles saved per product, and 100% plastic-free packaging.
Mindfulness and sustainability work well together because they both ask the same question: What do I really need?
The Cederberg connection: Buchu as a hero ingredient with deep roots
Aardvel's hero ingredient is organic Buchu grown in the Cederberg Mountains. Buchu holds a special place in South African botanical heritage and has been used for generations by the Khoisan people. In a world that often treats plants as marketing, it matters when an ingredient comes with real context: a landscape, a lineage of use, and a sense of respect.
Buchu is often chosen in skincare and scalp care for its clarifying, balancing qualities. If you want to go deeper into what makes it so distinctive, read Buchu Oil: The South African Secret for Clear Skin and a Healthy Scalp.
Aardvel pairs Buchu thoughtfully with other botanicals and functional ingredients like Rosemary, Lavender, Tea Tree, Rooibos, and Activated Charcoal, each chosen to support the bar's purpose while keeping the ritual sensorial and grounded.
A simple, mindful ritual you can actually keep (morning or evening)
The best ritual is the one you can repeat without willpower. Below is a practical routine that works whether you have two minutes or twenty. The structure stays the same; the pace changes.
Step 1: Set one intention (10 seconds)
Before turning on the tap, choose a single sentence. Keep it plain and honest:
- "I want to feel clear."
- "I want to treat my skin gently today."
- "I want to use less and choose better."
This is not about forcing calm. It is about showing up.
Step 2: Cleanse the body with a Soap Blok (slow your hands down)
Choose a bar based on what your skin is asking for right now:
- Buchu & Rosemary Cold Process Soap Blok for an invigorating, herbaceous cleanse that feels like a reset. If you love rosemary, you may also enjoy Rosemary in Skincare and Haircare: Nature's Invigorating Tonic.
- Buchu & Tea Tree Cold Process Soap Blok for a crisp, clarifying cleanse, especially if your skin tends to feel congested.
- Buchu & Charcoal Cold Process Soap Blok when you want a deeper-feeling clean. For more on this ingredient, read Activated Charcoal for Skin: The Ultimate Detox Ingredient.
Mindful technique: Lather slowly, then pause for one breath before rinsing. Feel the temperature of the water. Notice where you hold tension. Let your shoulders drop. The product becomes part of a practice, not just a function.
Step 3: Cleanse the scalp and hair with a Shampoo Blok (less product, more presence)
Hair washing is often where we rush most. Bring it back to basics: wet hair thoroughly, create a gentle lather, massage the scalp with fingertips, and rinse well. If you are new to solid haircare, Aardvel's guide is genuinely useful: How to Use a Shampoo Bar (Step-by-Step Guide + Tips).
Choose your Shampoo Blok by mood and scalp needs:
- Buchu & Tea Tree Shampoo Blok for a fresh, clarifying wash.
- Buchu & Rosemary Shampoo Blok for an energising, tonic-like cleanse.
- Buchu & Lavender Shampoo Blok when you want the shower to feel more like a wind-down ritual.
If you are trying to move away from harsher surfactants, you may want to read The Benefits of Sulfate-Free Shampoo: A Kinder Cleanse for Scalp, Hair & Planet. Aardvel's approach is intentionally gentle, aligning with the brand's sensitive-skin suitability and pH-balanced focus.
Step 4: Moisturise with a Lotion Blok (seal the ritual)
Moisturising is often where a routine becomes either nurturing or forgettable. A solid moisturising bar invites you to slow down because you apply it with your hands and body heat. That physicality is part of the point.
Choose your Moisturising Blok based on what you want your skin to feel like afterward:
- Buchu & Tea Tree Moisturising Blok for a clean, balanced finish.
- Buchu & Rooibos Moisturising Blok when you want antioxidant-rich, comforting care. If Rooibos is new to your skincare vocabulary, read Rooibos for Skin: The Antioxidant-Rich Ingredient Your Routine Needs.
- Buchu & Rosemary Moisturising Blok for a more invigorating, wake-up feel.
If you are weighing up solids versus bottled moisturisers, Aardvel covers it well here: Lotion Bars vs. Traditional Lotion: Which is Better?
When you moisturise slowly, you do not just "hydrate." You reinforce the message: I am worth caring for, and I can do it without waste.
How to make the ritual last: storage that protects your bars (and your time)
Mindfulness is easier when your space supports it. A soggy bar that sticks to a dish is the kind of small friction that can knock a good habit off course. Keep your bars dry between uses and your bathroom tidy with simple tools designed for repeat rituals:
- Recycled Plastic Soap Tray to help your Soap Blok dry properly and stay neat at the basin or in the shower.
- Recycled Plastic Travel Case for weekends away, gym bags, and work trips. A reliable travel system is often what turns "I try" into "I do."
These details may seem small, but they matter. Mindful routines live or die on practicality.
Intention meets impact: the sustainability side of daily care
Sustainable skincare is often framed as a grand lifestyle overhaul. In reality, it is mostly made of small decisions repeated. Aardvel's model makes those repetitions count.
Plastic-free skincare, without sacrificing performance
Switching to solid bars can be one of the simplest ways to reduce bathroom waste. Aardvel's products come in 100% plastic-free packaging, and the brand estimates 3 plastic bottles saved per product. In other words, your everyday hygiene routine becomes an easy place to reduce plastic, without adding complexity.
Waterless products as a conscious choice
Because the bars are waterless, you are not paying to ship water or store it in plastic. You add water only when you lather, which often leads to a more mindful relationship with how much you use.
One order, one tree planted
It is hard to feel hopeful when environmental issues feel abstract. A concrete action helps. Aardvel's promise is simple: 1 order = 1 tree planted. The ritual becomes a reminder that care can extend beyond the self.
Choosing the right bar: a mindful way to shop (and a calmer way to own less)
One of the most underrated parts of a mindful skincare ritual is how you choose products in the first place. Shopping can be impulsive, especially when we are tired or stressed. Aardvel's range is intentionally focused, which supports a more thoughtful approach.
Try this quick checklist before you buy or restock:
- What do I want to feel? Calm, clear, energised, comforted.
- What do I want to simplify? Fewer bottles, less clutter, fewer steps.
- What does my skin and scalp need right now? Clarifying support, gentle care, balance.
- What values do I want my routine to reflect? Plastic-free choices, cruelty-free formulations, local craftsmanship.
When your answers are clear, your routine becomes quieter. That quiet is a form of luxury.
Aardvel's approach: small-batch craftsmanship rooted in place
There is something grounding about knowing where your skincare comes from. Aardvel is made in small batches on Waterval Farm, with the Cederberg landscape as both backdrop and source, especially through its organic Buchu. That sense of place matters because it encourages respect: for ingredients, for process, for skin, and for the people who use the products daily.
In an age of overcomplication, Aardvel's philosophy is refreshingly direct: simplicity, care, and deep respect for the natural world. The result is a skincare ritual that feels less like consumption and more like stewardship.
Bring it all together: a 3-minute ritual for busy days
If your day is full and your attention is scattered, you can still practice intention. Here is a condensed version you can repeat consistently:
- One breath before water touches skin.
- Cleanse with one Soap Blok, chosen for your current needs.
- Massage scalp briefly while washing hair, even 20 seconds counts.
- Moisturise slowly on elbows, hands, and any dry areas. Let body heat do the work.
- Place bars to dry properly so tomorrow feels easy.
Over time, this kind of ritual does more than improve how your skin feels. It changes how your day feels: more deliberate, less rushed, more aligned with the world you want to live in.
If you are ready to build your own ritual with solid, waterless skincare, explore Aardvel's bar essentials: a body-cleansing Soap Blok, a scalp-friendly Shampoo Blok, and a grounding Moisturising Blok that turns "I should moisturise" into "I want to."
References
- Cederberg Mountains and Clanwilliam, Western Cape (regional geographic context).
- Khoisan people (historical and cultural context for traditional plant use in Southern Africa).
- Buchu (Agathosma species) as a botanical associated with traditional use and contemporary personal care.
- Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) as an indigenous South African plant widely discussed for antioxidant content.
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly referenced as Salvia rosmarinus) in traditional topical and aromatic use.
- Activated charcoal as a commonly used cosmetic ingredient for cleansing-focused formulations.
