Kindness is a Revolution: Friendly Soap, Riot Women & Navigating (The) Change

Here at Friendly Soap HQ in Hebden Bridge, we’ve been thinking a lot about change - the kind that sneaks up quietly, reshapes our routines, and asks us to meet it with a little courage and humour.

So when the BBC’s Riot Women arrived on our screens, filmed right here in the Calder Valley, we watched closely. The series celebrates women rediscovering themselves through friendship, music, and unapologetic joy. 

Whether you’re picking up a guitar for the first time in decades or navigating the waves of perimenopause, we’re celebrating women navigating change with courage, laughter, and kindness.

Why Natural Body Care Matters During Menopause

Let’s be honest - menopause is natural, but it’s not always easy. It can creep in quietly: sleepless nights, sudden heat or skin that just doesn’t feel like it used to.

During perimenopause, hormone levels shift and skin can become drier, thinner, and more reactive to harsh ingredients. That’s why it’s worth checking what’s on your bathroom shelf.

Photo: Tim Green - Wikimedia

"From One Menopausal Woman to Another..."

In the opening episode, soon-to-be-retired police officer Holly Gaskell (played by Tamsin Greig) finds herself calming Kitty Eckersley (above played by Rosalie Craig), who’s just rampaged through a local supermarket, knife in hand.

Holly says, “I’m just asking, from one menopausal woman to another.” It’s a moment that cuts through the chaos - funny, honest, and completely relatable. Because perimenopause and menopause? They’re the great leveller.

World Menopause Day

Recently, we had World Menopause Day - a day of focus and fact-finding and a jumping-off point to find out more about navigating this stage in life. 

Whether it’s through music, laughter, or a small act of self-care, Riot Women celebrates women finding power in transition. And at Friendly Soap, we’re proud to do the same - crafting simple, natural products that can support you through life’s changes.

We believe what you put on your skin matters. Our bars are made with nourishing plant-based oils like rapeseed, coconut, and shea butter. They cleanse gently, without parabens, sulphates, or artificial fragrances - just pure, biodegradable ingredients that are kind to your skin and kind to the planet.

How Does Menopause Change Skin?

If your usual shower gel suddenly leaves your skin tight or itchy, that’s your skin asking for a gentler touch. As oestrogen levels drop, the skin’s barrier can weaken, making it more sensitive to synthetic perfumes and detergents.

That’s where switching to a natural bar soap can make a real difference.

🪷 Lavender Soap - for calm evenings and restful moments.
💛 Shea Butter Soap - creamy, nourishing, and deeply hydrating.
🌿 Aloe Vera Soap - fragrance-free and soothing for delicate skin.

These aren’t just products - they’re small, mindful rituals that remind you to slow down and treat yourself kindly.

The Riot Women Connection

Watching Riot Women, we couldn’t resist matching each of the show’s brilliant, complex characters with one of our Friendly Soap bars. Because they all remind us that midlife isn’t an ending - it’s a remix.

From One Woman to Another

Menopause isn’t something to fix - it’s something to move through with awareness and compassion.

Here at Friendly Soap, we’re proud to support that journey with products made for real skin, real women and real life.

Because when you treat your body kindly, it has a way of returning the favour. 

All episodes of Riot Women are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.