Natural handmade soap is at the top of the skincare list and gains the attention of skin caretakers everywhere.
Our skin’s texture, appearance, and health are important and the world of skincare products is filled with lofty promises and hyperbolic claims.
Skin is considered an organ. I don’t know about you, but for me, that makes me feel more vulnerable.
The fact that this porous organ can actually let toxins into our bodies and bloodstreams gives serious consideration to the skincare products we all use.
Nothing like getting a sunscreen recall notice after slathering it all over your loved ones for a whole summer.
Kinda keeps you up at night.
Not only do skincare products need to do the job that we hired them to do, but they also need to make us feel like we have done the best for ourselves.
The one product that is used day in and day out by just about everyone on the planet is soap.
Without even thinking we lather up, get the grime off, and feel renewed.
It is easier than ever to buy or make natural handmade soap.
But what about the lifelong love affair you’ve had with your favorite commercial soap?
Many handmade soap makers would have you believe that rock hard, affordable, strongly scented bar of soap is the worse thing you could put on your skin.
We are a pretty passionate tribe.
But, let’s find out why they might think that, and if they are even right.
What is all the hullabaloo about non toxic bar soap?
Toxic is a real buzzword these days.
Used to describe everything from masculinity to relationships, and the food we ingest.
But what about finding a nontoxic bar soap that you feel good about using on your skin?
Can toxins really be found in a bar of soap?
First, let’s define toxic. It’s a pretty weighty word.
tox·ic: /ˈtäksik/
1. poisonous. "the dumping of toxic waste" 2. very harmful or unpleasant in a pervasive or insidious way.
"a toxic relationship"
Whoa. Clearly, we can see this word demands some attention.
I believe that words have meaning.
If someone throws around a word like toxic or non toxic for the purpose of striking fear into the hearts of soap users, I have one word for them.
Relax.
Remember…toxic means poisonous.
Although there are some ingredients in commercial bar soaps that should be considered seriously before rubbing them all over our skin, to claim that a bar of soap you get at the store is poisonous is….
…a little hysterical don’t you think?
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at soap and what it really is.
Natural Soap vs commercial Soap: A Little Unknown Fact..that is Crazy Pants
For better or for worse, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is THE government agency that oversees public safety in the use of things like food and medicine.
Drugs are the only products in which they regulate the ingredients.
Cosmetics and soap product ingredients are left up to manufacturers and retailers to protect their customers.
Above all, the FDA is a stickler about labeling.
Any product created by small handmade soap businesses or large manufacturers better have clear and honest labeling.
And here is why.
The FDA clearly states their definition of soap, solely based on ingredients, and anything that does not meet that criteria are considered a “soap product.”
There is one teensy weensy little caveat by the FDA when it comes to soap and soap products.
And it’s kind of important.
They don’t regulate soap. Only soap products.
Depending on the labeling and marketing claims of those “soap products” it either makes them a cosmetic or a drug.
Now, it can be regulated by the FDA.
Clear as mud?
Hang in there.
This gets more interesting because you’re about to learn something you might not like to hear.
Here goes.
The commercial soap you buy at the store is not soap. It’s a soap product.
To be more clear…it’s considered a detergent by the FDA.
When was the last time you used laundry detergent on your skin when you realized you were out of soap?
My guess is never.
My guess is also that laundry detergent is harsher than commercial bar soaps even though they are categorized as the same thing, so take a deep breath.
But what on earth does the FDA consider soap and who is looking out for you?!?
"Ordinary soap is made by combining fats or oils and an alkali, such as lye. The fats and oils, which may be from animal, vegetable, or mineral sources, are degraded into free fatty acids, which then combine with the alkali to form crude soap. The lye reacts with the oils, turning what starts out as liquid into blocks of soap. When made properly, no lye remains in the finished product."
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/frequently-asked-questions-soap
Now, the FDA passes the buck on regulation…right on over to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
This is where natural handmade soap lives!
According to the FDA, this is any and all soap that is made with fatty acids and alkali.
Period.
Nothing more and nothing less. This can’t easily be said when you look at the label of a commercial bar of soap.
Fatty acids like olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, and all the vegetable oils.
Fatty acids like beef tallow, lard, or other animal fats.
Then, an alkali such as lye which when mixed with the fatty acids will solidify and neutralize and become the most amazing bar of soap that ever touched your skin.
For the sake of this post I won’t geek out on science or how mixing these two elements makes soap.
We are simply talking about the detergent ingredients and the regulations that differentiate natural handmade soaps from commercial bar soap products.
AKA…detergent.
Which legally can still be labeled as soap, so try not to feel too deceived.
The bottom line is both products do the job of cleaning our bodies.
It really is just semantics, but the difference in products is notable when it comes to the benefits for our skin.
The benefits of natural soap that will make you a user for life.
With all the many options and price points for bar soap, the benefits of natural soap are many.
With this in mind, the definition of natural soap for the purpose of this post is the definition set forth by the FDA.
Fatty acids, alkalies, and all that jazz. Not commercial bar soap products.
This needs to be said because, in the world of handmade soap makers and buyers, there is some debate as to what constitutes “natural” soap.
But we have it straight from the powers that be, that without all the extra additives that make it a soap product or detergent….it’s soap.
Without further ado. The benefits of natural soap.
1. Extremely mild and soft on the skin. Even with synthetic fragrances (here comes the debate), handmade bar soaps are some of the mildest, moisture protecting, and soft bars of soap you can use on your skin. ( Nevertheless, if you have extra, extra sensitive skin, a natural handmade bar soap made without any fragrance at all is the best bet.)
2. Minimal ingredients. A handmade bar of soap will have oils, lye, water, some body-safe colorants, and either a body-safe synthetic fragrance or natural essential oil. You should be able to read and recognize the label!
3. You get to support the handmade community! That’s great for YOUR community.
4. The WIDE variety! It’s huge. The scents are endless
5. They are so pretty. I use this one last because a lot of people might not care about that. Generally speaking, as a handmade soap maker, I can’t deny the looks on faces when I hand over a very unique smelling and looking bar of soap. It’s magic.
Natural handmade soap vs commercial bar soap is entirely up to you.
All things considered, they are both perfectly acceptable products that clean skin.
Nevertheless, if you want a truly nurturing experience and want to do something really nice for yourself, use the natural handmade soap.
Your skin will thank you.