In a world flooded with synthetic and harmful products, Salt City Soapworks is building a skincare company rooted in science, sustainability, and a whole lot of Utah salt and beeswax.
Founded by former geophysicist Lauren Tyson, the Salt Lake City-based brand blends her scientific insight with a deep appreciation for natural ingredients. “I want our ingredients to be local and recognizable so people know exactly what they’re putting on their skin,” Tyson said.
Salt City Soapworks launched in 2021 after Tyson began making soaps for the holidays. Her products quickly gained a loyal following, and she is now working on expanding wholesale and corporate gifting opportunities with a strong focus on sustainability. To help scale her business, she decided to pursue a master’s degree with the Master of Business Creation (MBC) program at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. Through the program’s tailored, online format, she applies what she learns directly to Salt City Soapworks, streamlining sustainable operations and driving growth.
As the business grows, one constant remains: a commitment to clean, high-quality ingredients sourced close to home.
At the core of each soap and scrub is unrefined Redmond salt, a mineral-rich powerhouse with over 60 naturally occurring elements. “That salt was deposited during the time of the dinosaurs,” Tyson said. “It’s protected under layers of bentonite clay, which means the salt hasn’t been exposed to modern pollution. It’s pure enough to eat and acts as both a preservative and a detoxifier in our products.”
But salt isn’t the only Utah-grown hero in Tyson’s formulations. Another ingredient used is local beeswax. As a beekeeper, she’s equally intentional about sourcing beeswax for her lip balms and lotion bars.
“Beeswax absorbs and retains fat-soluble chemicals like pesticides, and there’s very little regulation around that in the skincare industry today,” she said. “So, I want to know exactly where the bees are foraging.” Often, that means rendering wax herself, sometimes late at night in her kitchen.
Salt City Soapworks offers a curated line of salt soaps, shampoo bars, salt scrubs, beeswax lip balms, and lotion bars, each thoughtfully packaged in compostable muslin, reusable glass jars, or metal tins. Beloved by everyday customers and businesses alike, the brand is gaining traction for both its core product line and its custom corporate gift sets, event swag, and client appreciation bundles, all available with personalized packaging.
“These gifts aren’t just practical, they’re sustainable,” Tyson said. “And when you buy from us, you’re not just supporting our small business, you’re supporting the Utah salt industry and local beekeepers, too.”
From its roots in geology to its commitment to clean skincare, Salt City Soapworks stands out by keeping ingredients simple, local, and transparent. For a product line that’s as kind to the planet as it is to your skin, browse the full collection, or design your own custom gift set online.
Learn more about Salt City Soapworks at www.saltcitysoapworks.com or follow along on Instagram @saltcitysoapworks.
Lauren Tyson is the founder of Salt City Soapworks.
