Why Organic Soaps are Better for Your Skin

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