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Collaborative Herbal Handmade Soap Series Promote Skin Wellness and Community Inclusion
Hong Kong’s humid climate, coupled with the stress of urban living, has led to skin problems for many residents. Under the coordination of the Vocational Training Council (VTC) Community Engagement Unit (CEU), teachers and students from Health and Life Sciences Discipline of Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), as well as Design and Print Media team of Youth College, have joined hands with the Jockey Club Sun Workshop (Chuk Yuen) of the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (NLPRA), to co-create the Collaborative Herbal Handmade Soap Series, which was first showcased earlier this month at NLPRA’s "Vocational Services Expo 2026".
In this project, students from Higher Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science of IVE developed three unique handmade soaps infused with herbal formulas: Common Selfheal Spike Soap, Baikal Skullcap Root Soap, and Densefruit Pittany Root-bark Soap. Each soap is tailored to address specific skin needs. For instance, Common Selfheal Spike Soap helps reduce swelling and dissipate lumps; Baikal Skullcap Root Soap purges fire and detoxifies; while Densefruit Pittany Root-bark Soap dispels wind and relieves itching. The students provided the herbal formulations and advised the techniques of herbal extracts production, which were then adopted by the service users of NLPRA’s Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Service Centre to produce the handmade soaps. Also, students from Diploma of Vocational Education (Design and Print Media) of Youth College designed the packaging for the soap series. Emphasising sustainability, they created elegant and eco-friendly gift boxes without glue suitable for personal use or gifting. The Collaborative Herbal Handmade Soap Series will be available for purchase through NLPRA’s social enterprise platform.
This collaboration underscores the immense value of vocational and professional education and training, integrating professional knowledge and skills from diverse disciplines into a meaningful social initiative, empowering students to gain hands-on experience while giving back to the community. Students from Higher Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science of IVE expressed their excitement about participating in the development of herbal soap formulations and aspired to raise public awareness of Chinese medicines through this project.
Mr Kelvin SIN, Social Work Supervisor of NLPRA, commended the efforts of the VTC students and teachers. He remarked that the Collaborative Herbal Handmade Soap Series introduces innovative elements to existing handmade soap products by incorporating herbal formulas, highlighting the potential of Chinese medicines in improving skin health. He also emphasised that the handmade soaps are the fruits of the hard work of service users from NLPRA’s Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Service Centre, helping them gain valuable experience, boost their confidence, and foster community inclusion.
[Photo 1] The Collaborative Herbal Handmade Soap Series includes Common Selfheal Spike Soap, Baikal Skullcap Root Soap, and Densefruit Pittany Root-bark Soap, offering more options for people who care about skin health.
[Photo 2] Students from Higher Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science of IVE introduce the features of the handmade soaps at NLPRA’s "Vocational Services Expo 2026".
[Photo 3] Students from Higher Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science of IVE provide the herbal formulations and advise the techniques of herbal extracts production for the soap series, aspiring to raise public awareness of Chinese medicines through this project.
[Photo 4] Students from Diploma of Vocational Education (Design and Print Media) of Youth College design the packaging for the soap series emphasising simplicity and sustainability.
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