Ground Walnut
Part of our Ingredient Glossary — educational information about raw materials we may use in our products. We don't sell raw ingredients.
We've been grinding walnut shells for exfoliation since our early days, and after 25+ years, we've learned exactly how fine to make them. Too coarse and they scratch. Too fine and they don't do anything. We hit that sweet spot where they buff away dead skin without irritation.
These come from English walnut shells that would otherwise be agricultural waste. After the nutmeats are harvested, the shells get cleaned and ground to our specifications. Unlike synthetic microbeads that never break down, walnut shell particles are completely biodegradable and won't accumulate in waterways.
What makes ground walnut shell special is its irregular particle shape. Smooth plastic beads just roll over skin, but these jagged little pieces grab dead skin cells and lift them away. You'll find them in our Oregon Coast soap where they work with sea salt for serious exfoliation, and in our Oregon Orchard bar where they provide just a whisper of texture alongside the fruity scents.
We control the particle size carefully in our formulations. In salt bars like Oregon Coast, we use slightly coarser pieces because the salt is already doing heavy lifting. In gentler bars, we go finer. It's this kind of attention to detail that makes our exfoliating soaps effective without being harsh.
