Our Story

Lastre Handmade began back in 1999. My name is Ricardo and I first started by creating melt & pour soaps, poultices, lotions and scrubs and after about 6 months, I began my journey into the world of cold & hot process soap making. I love all kinds of soap including soap made with tallow. I also enjoy supporting other soapers in the business.

Making soap and skincare products is one of my passions. I could soap 24 hours a day and 7 days a week if it were possible! I love the craft and in my 20 years of soaping, I’ve created some beauties and some serious train wrecks! It goes with the territory and its served as a plateau for improvement and there is always room for that! I am thoroughly grateful that I’ve never lost the interest to keep coming up with new creations. I did go into hibernation for about 7 years due to a loss but during that time, I continued to create handmade products for personal use which I shared with friends and family.

My inspiration for going public after two decades is thanks to the addition of our newest soaper; my daughter Anelisse Lastre! Together we came up with the first batch of soaps for our company launch. Anelisse has a natural sense of coordination and ability to effortlessly bring an idea into fruition and she injected much needed energy, creativity and vigor into Lastre Handmade. As a toddler, Anelisse would always gravitate to the soap closet as I called it. She would grab everything from soap bars, essential oil bottles, literally anything and everything she could get a hold of. She would shake them, try to open them and always placed her tiny nose onto whatever she held in her tiny hands. It brought tears to my eyes and so I gave Anelisse carte blanche as it was evident that this place was an oasis for her. The matriarch; Mommy(Silvia Lastre), is our springboard when it comes to the naming and design of our products. We truly are a family business!

We decided to launch the company showcasing just handmade soaps. We also craft lotions, creams, body butters, face and body scrubs, facial lotions and toners, foot lotions, Arnica treatment oil, massage oils and creams, clay masks, hand and body washes, hand and nail creams and more. We will gradually start introducing new soap bars and other toiletries into our catalogue as we move forward. We are excited here at the Lastre Handmade household and we always look forward to our next soaping adventure!

We are a family owned and operated business and our hope is that you enjoy our products as much as we enjoy creating them. Keep in touch and thank you for visiting!

October 2020