So, what’s with the controversy between commercial and natural soaps? Isn’t soap’s just soap? That is Not true!!!!
Soap has been around for thousands of years to be precise 2800 BC in Ancient Babylon; the ruins of Pompeii revealed a complete soap factory. Earlier the plains women made their soaps from rendered animal fats (they used every piece of the animal to survive the plains life!).
Handmade soaps have been increasing in popularity as now people are starting to look for ways to go back to basics in our fast-paced world of technology and STRESS! The technology-focused world, became educated about products they bring into their homes, for themselves and their children and started to look into natural “cures” for common body and skin issues.
So what’s the big deal about natural handmade soap vs commercial soap? Well you can be the judge for yourself!!!
Commercial Soaps what’s in them?
Many of the commercial soaps aren’t really Soaps… they are made with synthetic detergents.
Detergents originated in 1916 Germany, and the commercial “soap” we know today came into existence during WWII. Detergents are synthetic (often petroleum-based) cleansers that strip your skin of the natural oils that your body needs for healthy skin and can lead to skin disorders rashes, and eczema .
Do Commercial Soaps Contain More Than Just Soap?
Let’s say you do find a bar of so called real soap at the store, it might not be all that good for you. Much of commercial soaps contain chemical-based colorants, dyes, fragrances, lathering agents, preservatives, and other “ingredients” we can’t pronounce.
These are the ingredients list of this commercially available bar soap. This is a common ingredient deck for inexpensive grocery store soap.
- sodium cocoyl isethionate (synthetic detergent)
- stearic acid (hardener)
- sodium tallowate (sodium salt of cow fat)
- water sodium isethionate (detergent/emulsifying agent)
- coconut acid (the sodium salt of coconut oil)
- sodium stearate (emulsifier, also used as a cheap stabilizer in plastics)
- sodium dodecylbenzonesulfonate (synthetic detergent)
- fragrance (synthetic scent)
- sodium chloride (table salt)
- titanium dioxide (whitener)
- trisodium EDTA (stabilizer, used in industrial cleaning products to decrease hard water)
- trisodium etidronate (preservative, a chemical that is used in soaps to prevent soap scum)
- BHT (preservative)
What about The Other Ingredients, Like Lauryl Sulfate, Phthalates, & Parabens?
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)– a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc. Used as an inexpensive foaming agent that is in many cosmetic products for it’s cleaning and emulsifying properties. They behave similarly to soap. Like many other detergents, SLS is an irritant. It has also been shown that SLS causes eye or skin irritation in experiments conducted on animals and humans. The surfactant SLS is a known irritant.
- Phthalates– substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. Commonly used to create fragrances and added to Cosmetics to extend shelf life of a product. Phthalates are known to cause birth defects in lab animals.
- Parabens– another preservative used in cosmetics. Also known for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties. Bad for the environment and possibly for humans.
These undesirable chemicals are added to so many of our cosmetics and commercially manufactured soap products. They are cheap and they help the manufacturer keep their products from expiring on the shelf. Why? Money and Profit!!! They also serve a purpose in the final product as you can see from the list above, but at what cost? Human and environmental health is much more important than profit right? Do we really want to put these chemicals on our beautiful bodies, our children or pets.
Detergents are synthetic–made from synthetic surfactants, petrochemicals, and other cleaning agents.
Detergents are only good for one thing–removing oil. Detergents can be good for cleaning laundry, dishes, vehicles, but NOT for use on your beautiful skin!
Commercial detergent bars strip the natural moisturizing oils from your skin. So after your bath or shower with commercial soap you will always reach for that bottle of moisturizing lotion, only to put back the all that was washed down the drain by the commercial soap.
The label of ingredients on a bar of commercial soap has a long list of chemicals many of us do not understand or can even pronounce.
Whether or not these synthetic chemical additives are bad for you and the environment may be up for debate, but chances are you are better off without them.
What are Handmade Natural Soaps?
They are made of ingredients that nature provides, like pure plant-based oils, oats, raw honey, goat’s milk, coconut and other natural products.
- Handmade, natural soap is created in small batches by an Artisan whereas commercially available soaps and cosmetics are produced in a factory.
- Artisan style soaps are typically of a higher quality because the ingredients used are usually also higher quality and most importantly are natural and not harmful to humans or the environment.
- When you purchase handmade natural soap, you are supporting small business that care about what we use on our bodies. Mega-corporations care nothing about what is good for you and the environment except their profit.
- Handmade bar soap will never be made from synthetic detergents only organic, plant oils.
- Raw Honey, Coconut Oils, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, oils such as Jojoba, Argan, and ingredients of Collagen, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and other essential oils.
The long and caring process of making all NATURAL SOAPS without chemicals leaves you with a soap that you can use on yourself, children, and pets and know that they are safe and full of moisturizing, natural oils, Glycerin, naturally antibacterial, to keep skin moisturized hydrated, and vibrant.
Will you pay a little more for ALL NATURAL SOAPS… YES, BUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE WORTH IT!!!
What do you put on your Skin?
(Reference: Healthsolutions, Cosgrove&Lewis)