About us | FAQ

Founded in 2018, Hasan Cosmetics offers a collection of handmade products crafted using traditional methods and premium, natural and herbal ingredients. Our range is known for its softness, richness, and skin-friendly properties. With naturally soothing, anti-itch, and antiseptic benefits, our formulations are designed to nourish and protect, honoring nature and heritage in every batch.

Our Story

Kia ora | Welcome | Asalamualaikum

Hasan is the founder of Hasan Cosmetics Collection, a proudly local business based in Howick, New Zealand. A Syrian-Kiwi originally from Aleppo, Hasan brings together the heritage of one of the world’s oldest soapmaking cities with New Zealand’s love for natural living.

With an MBA, over 25 years of experience in manufacturing, logistics, procurement, sales, and business development, and multiple professional certifications, including Cosmetic Formulation Science as well as other industry-required safety and handling certifications, we bring together strong commercial expertise with a deep commitment to quality and safe production. We blend traditional craftsmanship with modern formulation knowledge and safety standards, supported by studies in Supply Chain that strengthen both our technical and operational capabilities. We work as a team, alongside a certified beauty consultant and makeup artist, bringing practical beauty expertise and real-world customer insight into every product line.

The journey began with a simple school project: when Hasan’s son came home needing to make soap. That moment sparked memories of traditional family methods from Aleppo and inspired Hasan to build something meaningful in their new home in Aotearoa.

The first collection launched in 2018 and quickly gained praise from customers in Howick. Since then, Hasan Cosmetics has grown into a trusted brand across New Zealand and Australia, with loyal customers continuing to order from overseas.

Every product is handcrafted using time-honoured techniques and premium plant-based ingredients, combining Mediterranean heritage with New Zealand’s natural purity. Hasan’s formulations are known for their simplicity, richness, and effectiveness, clean, honest skincare made with care, cultural pride, and integrity.

Aleppo, a city with over 8,000 years of continuous habitation, ranks among the world’s oldest cities. Flourishing as a trading hub for millennia, it gained fame as the terminus of the legendary Silk Road, which connected the East and West until the advent of maritime trade routes in the “Age of Sail.” Tracing the origins of Aleppo soap, also known as ‘Savon d’Alep’, ‘Laurel Soap’, or ‘Ghar Soap’ (with ‘Ghar’ meaning Laurel in Syria), is challenging as its history predates recorded documents. Legends suggest it was used by historical figures like Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra and Syria’s Queen Zenobia.

In Syria’s Aleppo, one standout product has been its distinctive soap, a legacy preserved and passed down by generations of merchant families. Hasan continues this tradition, crafting this highly valued soap using the original formula and methods, maintaining its unique qualities and production process.

Only the Best

FAQ

What does Hasan Aleppo Soap offer?

Hasan crafts a diverse array of high-quality products, including luxurious shampoo bars, body bars, and creamy soaps, all featuring natural ingredients and made with artisanal, handmade techniques.

What makes Hasan Aleppo soap a better choice?

Our authentic, premium Aleppo Soap, with a history spanning over 2500 years, stands out as the oldest hard soap bar formula in existence. Crafted traditionally, our soap outshines contemporary alternatives. Experience the remarkable difference with Hasan’s Aleppo Soap shampoo and body bars, noticing the exceptional quality from the first use. Suitable for all skin types and universally safe, our numerous customers have expressed appreciation for its natural, plant-based ingredients and Hasan’s unique, heritage-infused blend.

Switching tips & using info

Switching to a shampoo bar like ours offers a unique experience compared to liquid shampoos. Here are some useful tips for this transition:

When you start using our natural shampoo bars, you’ll notice your scalp producing less oil, allowing more days between washes. It might take a few washes for your hair to adapt to the natural ingredients and texture of our shampoo bars. Traditional liquid shampoos can strip your scalp of natural oils, causing it to overproduce oil and necessitate frequent washing. Our shampoo bars help break this cycle!
Standard liquid shampoos contain gums, thickeners, and silicones that can accumulate in your hair. Our Hasan Aleppo Soap shampoo bars, free from synthetic detergents like Sodium Laureth Sulfate, produce a rich, indulgent lather. Initially, the soap may not rinse out as quickly, so thorough rinsing is essential. For best results, apply the bar directly to wet hair to create a rich lather.
Our bars are crafted with an olive oil base and superior plant-based ingredients, including essential oils, providing a robust conditioning effect. The oils are saponified, ensuring they cleanse without leaving any oily residue, keeping your scalp clean and moisturized.
About soap and eyes: Our natural soap is non-toxic, made with 100% natural ingredients, and free from fragrances, preservatives, and chemical lathering agents. This makes it a safer choice compared to commercial shampoos and soaps. Some customers have even preferred our soap over medicinal shampoos.
Remember, our soap is for external use only. In case of eye contact, flush the eye with cool water until any irritation subsides. Ensure your hands are clean before doing so and remove any contact lenses.
To extend the life of your shampoo bar, store it in a dry area of your bathroom or shower, allowing it to fully dry between uses. A soap holder can help prevent it from sitting in water, prolonging its use.

Why Aleppo soap?

Aleppo soap, particularly of premium quality, is among the most sought-after and luxurious soap bars available. Its versatility extends to soothing and relieving itchiness associated with various scalp and skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other forms of dermatitis. Sensitive skin, often prone to reactions and dehydration, requires the most gentle care, which is where the 100% natural composition of Hasan Aleppo Soap excels. Its restorative and soothing properties make it an ideal choice for gentle skin care. While not a medicinal product, this simple, natural olive oil-based soap is suitable for all skin types. Crafted using a traditional method and a unique herbal formula, Hasan Aleppo Soap promises an unparalleled experience.

Benefits of Aleppo soap

Hasan Aleppo soap, with its antiseptic, soothing, emollient, moisturizing, and hypoallergenic properties, offers a myriad of benefits for your skin. Suitable for all skin types, including the delicate skin of young children, it’s a versatile addition to any family’s skincare regimen. Made exclusively from 100% natural, plant-based ingredients and free from animal fats, Hasan Aleppo soap is an ideal choice for anyone seeking a skincare product without artificial preservatives.

Key benefits

Aleppo soap’s foremost benefit is its deep moisturizing effect on the skin. Its natural composition makes it suitable for all skin types, including those with specific concerns. For individuals dealing with psoriasis, acne, or eczema, Aleppo soap can alleviate itching by hydrating the skin effectively. The blend of olive and laurel oils in the soap aids in restoring skin’s suppleness and softness, contributing to a more youthful appearance. Additionally, it can double as an anti-dandruff shampoo by moisturizing the scalp and reducing flakiness.

When applied as a facial mask and allowed to dry, Aleppo soap serves as an excellent treatment to diminish imperfections and refresh tired skin. Furthermore, its qualities make it an ideal shaving foam, easing the razor’s glide and soothing skin prone to razor burn.

What can it be used for?

Shampoo: Considering a switch from commercial shampoos and conditioners to something more natural and eco-friendly? Hasan Aleppo soap bars are an excellent choice for hair care, functioning as both shampoo and conditioner. They’re more convenient than traditional bottles and gentler on your hair. For shiny, clean hair, simply massage the soap into your scalp, lather, rinse, and repeat as needed.

Body Wash: Hasan Aleppo Soap is also ideal for your regular body cleansing routine. Stay tuned for an expanding range of body bar options.

Hand Soap: For everyday hand washing, Hasan Aleppo Soap is a superb choice, offering gentle yet effective cleansing.

Baby Skin and Intimate Care: Our soaps, especially those with lower laurel oil content, are gentle and ideal for sensitive skin, making them perfect for babies and intimate care.

Face Wash/Face Mask: Use Aleppo soap daily for washing your face, suitable for any skin type, including sensitive skin. Leave it on for about a minute for an enhanced effect.

Shaving Cream: The antibacterial properties of laurel oil make Hasan Aleppo Soap an excellent shaving cream. Create a lather with a shaving brush or in your hands for a smooth shave.

Keep an eye out for more varieties of these natural products and their diverse uses!

Is it okay to use body soap on my hair?

We advise against it. For hair care, we specifically recommend using the ‘shampoo bar’. Body soap and hair soap are formulated differently, and therefore, body soap should not be used as a substitute for hair soap.

Are your soap and shampoo bars environmentally friendly?

Yes, Hasan Aleppo Soap is committed to being eco-friendly and generates minimal to zero waste. Our products are packaged in recyclable paper, offering a sustainable alternative to the plastic bottles used for commercial shampoos.

What is the role of lye (caustic soda) in your soap?

“I believe in informing our well-informed consumers thoroughly.”

In the final product of “Hasan Aleppo Soap,” there is no lye present.

To delve into the technical aspects: soap cannot exist without lye. A product must contain Lye (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or wood ash) to be rightfully called ‘Soap’. Anything made without lye is not actually soap, but rather a detergent. The process of soap creation is known as saponification, where lye and oil molecules react and transform into soap and glycerin. Proper soap-making ensures that the lye is completely consumed in the saponification process, converting oil into soap.

Can you deliver orders internationally?

Absolutely! For those interested in purchasing Hasan Cosmetics Ltd products from outside New Zealand, please reach out with your inquiry, specifying the quantity and your location, so we can connect and arrange the details.

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