A SOAP maker from Bromsgrove is soaking up the feeling of success after washing away most of her competition to net a major international award.

Lisa Turner runs The Wrinkly Elephant Company, which won a bronze award for its 'Simply Lemongrass Soap' in the hard bar soap category at the eighth annual 'Free From' Skincare European Awards.

Despite having launched her business less than a year ago, Lisa has already won a string of awards.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled that one of my handcrafted soaps has been chosen from hundreds of wonderful natural and ‘Free From’ soaps to win this bronze award.”

Lisa swapped her career in education for selling natural handmade soaps after discovering her creative side.

The business has grown from strength to strength and offers a range of handcrafted soaps and shower steamers.

“I am passionate about natural ingredients and reducing our plastic use” she added.

The Wrinkly Elephant can be found at thewrinklyelephant.com and also on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The awards were founded by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, director of the ‘Free From’ awards, and Alex Gazzola, a journalist and author specialising in allergies and ‘free from’.

They were launched in 2012 to encourage and reward manufacturers of skincare products that are ‘free from’ some of the allergens, ingredients, additives and artificial fragrances which consumers with skin sensitivities, health concerns, as well as ethical, personal and environmental values, would like to or need to avoid.

They feature a long judging process which included a rigorous month-long assessment by experienced skincare testers.