Why Organic Soaps are Better for Your Skin
If I say “bathroom necessity,” what’s the first word that comes to
mind? Soap, perhaps? Using soap has become a daily essential, but how
did this cleansing bar get invented?
In ancient Babylon, around 2800 B.C., a crude formula for making soap
was written up, composed solely of water, alkali, and cassia oil—three
simple, natural ingredients. However, soap has evolved to the point
where we need chemists to interpret the components for us. From sodium
tallowate to pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, the
soap of the twenty-first century has got it all. But soaps with harsh
chemicals like these are brutal on sensitive skin and should generally
be avoided even by those with non-sensitive skin. Read on to find out
how natural, organic soaps can benefit your skin.
Citrus Soaps
Florida Citrus Sunshine
South Africa Grapefruit
Ingredients of Natural Soaps
Without chemicals, what does natural soap have? Natural soap is made
of organic ingredients that are beneficial to your skin without any
side-effects (more on that later). Let’s talk about some of the basic
components of natural soap. Organic
jojoba
oil – a major constituent of natural soap, is a natural antioxidant,
meaning it reverses skin problems, moisturizing and rejuvenating your
skin. Olive oil – another component, is laden with nutrients and
antioxidants, invigorating damaged skin. The multi-faceted coconut oil
is a brilliant moisturizer, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and antibacterial!
Any soap with coconut oil is sure to work wonders for your skin. Aloe
vera – a popular natural option these days, which helps regenerate and
hydrate skin. Vitamin E – an antioxidant as well, but also acts as a
catalyst for collagen production in the body. This is significant
because collagen is the building block of a large number of bodily
nutrients and is the substance responsible for keeping your skin looking
young! So What’s Up with Commercial Soaps? You may ask yourself – Sure,
organic ingredients are great but why should I use natural soaps if
regular soap will yield me the same results? Yes, they’re cheaper but…
On the surface, you may believe that commercial soaps are cheaper and do
the job well, so why not? Regular soaps are also mass produced, and
thereby cheaper, but that’s hardly a reason to compromise with your
skin. Harsh ingredients… Today’s soaps are more similar than ever to
harsh detergents used to clean clothes and are best suited to removing
deep, imbedded oil and dirt. Your skin doesn’t this level of harshness.
Added moisturizing chemicals… As mentioned above, natural soaps have
ingredients that already act as moisturizers. Then why do commercial
soap companies claim to add lotions and synthetic moisturizers to
hydrate your skin if soap should naturally perform that function anyway?
Staying true to being a commercial product, modern soap makers remove
glycerin from their soaps, which is a moisturizer, to include it in
higher-end products to increase profits. Smart, right? For the
commercial soap makers, yes. As for you, not at all. Stick with natural
soaps which offer you the best of all organic products free of
commercial manipulation.
Suggested Organic Soaps
Brazilian Oil Soap
Almond-Hazelnut Soap
Brazilian Coffee Scrub Soap
Brazilian Espresso Soap
Your Skin and Soap
Take your soap seriously; you’re using it all over your body every
single day. Though you may believe your skin serves as an impenetrable
barrier for your body, in actuality, it is a semi-permeable membrane
that allows some substances in and out, including chemicals from your
soap. Though, it seems that you wash all the soap off your body after a
shower, small amounts still remain on your skin, allowing chemicals to
penetrate into your bloodstream. In natural soaps, you won’t find
harmful chemicals such as parabens, and sodium lauryl sulfate, which is a
skin irritant. However, you’re sure to find these substances on the
ingredient list of your standard supermarket soap. So do your skin a
favor and switch over to natural soap. Your skin will be healthier,
naturally moisturized, and free from harmful chemicals. Natural soaps
may be a little more expensive than regular soaps but the extra
investment is surely worth it. When you notice a change for the better
in your skin, you won’t regret handing over a little extra money for
this healthy change.
John Gower is a writer for NerdWallet, a personal finance website dedicated to helping people save money with advice on the
best coupon sites – so you can save on that organic soap!
Lavender Jasmine Soap
Jasmine Lilac Soap
Jasmine Grandiflorum
