
What is a pebble soap?
A pebble soap is a solid soap shaped like a river pebble: rounded, edgeless, small enough to sit in the palm of your hand. At Sternartica each pebble weighs 90 g, nearly as much as a classic bar: it is the same cold-process, superfatted and organic paste, poured and unmoulded by hand in my workshop in Drôme Provençale. The shape changes, and the gesture with it: the travel pouch, the guest bathroom, the small gift that does not look like a bar of soap.
Why the pebble shape changes the gesture
It sits in the hand
No corner that crumbles, no bar that slips away. Your palm follows the curve and the shower gesture becomes softer.
It dries quickly
No flat face stuck to the holder: the pebble drains on every side and dries between two showers, as long as it stays out of the water jet.
It travels
No bottle, no liquid, nothing to declare in the cabin. One pebble in its case and your toiletry bag really does get lighter.
Our 5 pebble soaps
The five pebbles use the formulas of my five 100 g bars. Same soap paste, same cold process, same four to eight week cure: 90 g instead of 100, and a rounded shape. Choose by skin type first.
Clair de Lune
Sensitive skin, babies
No fragrance, no essential oils, no declared allergens. Organic shea butter and oat.
The 100 g bar →
Amaraterra
Combination and oily skin
Red clay, palmarosa and eucalyptus. Purifies and rebalances, without drying.
The 100 g bar →
Elixir
Oily skin, visible pores
Activated charcoal and peppermint. The black pebble: it regulates sebum at the source, with immediate freshness.
The 100 g bar →
Grenada
Dull or dry skin
Carrot macerate, apricot oil and mandarin. The orange colour comes from annatto, no added dyes.
The 100 g bar →
Nostalgia
Exfoliating, once or twice a week
Organic grape seeds and AOP fine lavender. Skin stays smooth, the bathroom smells of Provence.
The 100 g bar →Pebble or 100 g bar: which one?
| The pebble | The 100 g bar | |
|---|---|---|
| The shape | Rounded, edgeless, fits in the palm | Rectangular, the classic grip |
| The weight | 90 g | 100 g |
| Where it lives | Travel pouch, guest bathroom, and the shower too | The shower, every day |
| The formula | Identical. Same soap paste, same cold process, same four to eight week cure. | |
| The price | 8,50 € | 9,90 € |
| The right moment | Trying a scent, giving a gift, travelling light | Settling into a daily routine |
How to make a pebble soap last
- Wet the pebble and glide it straight over the skin, or work up the lather between your hands.
- Rinse the pebble after use: leftover lather is what eats it away fastest.
- Set it away from the shower stream, on a holder that lets the water drain.
- If your bathroom stays damp, a magnetic soap holder keeps it suspended so it dries on every side.
Federica
Founder, Sternartica
The pebbles are the same soap paste as my 100 g bars, poured into a rounded mould. 90 g instead of 100, and a shape that sits in the palm. I make them in small batches in my workshop in Drôme Provençale and wrap them one by one in FSC-certified paper printed in France. It is the format I most like to give: it fits in a pocket, it cannot spill, and you can see at once what is inside.
Pebble soap: frequently asked questions
The ones people actually email me.
What is a pebble soap?
What is the difference between a pebble soap and a classic soap bar?
Which skin types are pebble soaps suitable for?
Can a pebble soap be used on the face?
How long does a pebble soap last?
Can I take a pebble soap on a plane?
Are pebble soaps organic?
How are they packaged?
Does a pebble soap make a good gift?
Where are your pebble soaps made?
The Solid Pause
Want to go further?
My maker’s advice to choose the right solid cosmetics and make them last.
Cold-process saponification: why it changes everything for your skinNot all soaps are equal, even when the label says 'natural'. What cold-process saponification changes for...Read the article
Which soap for oily or combination skin? A guide to choosing wellOily skin that is stripped produces even more sebum. Here is how to choose a soap...Read the article
Natural soap for fragile and baby skin: what to really checkNot all skin tolerates the same soaps, and labels can be misleading. What to really check...Read the article

