Natural VS Chemical Soap
Introduction
We are all trying to be healthier by being more cautious about what we eat and drink. We try to fit some workout into our busy schedule, we try to detox our body. But, what about the products we use? Are they clean? What does clean even mean?
Our skin is in constant contact with the external environment, and anything we put on our skin is absorbed into our body. So, we have to be careful about the products we use on our skin and hair.
People make natural and chemical soap in different ways, using different ingredients. Additionally, natural soap tends to be gentler on the skin, causing less irritation and it has more nutrients and antioxidants than chemical soap. It also is better for the environment and its made with better quality ingredients.
Natural Vs Chemical Soap ingredients
First of all, what’s soap?
We make soap by mixing water, fat (animal or vegetable) and lye (sodium hydroxide). Without these ingredients we wouldn’t have soap. Lye is important for soap making since it is responsible for the saponification process, so basically without lye we can’t have soap.
Most commercial or chemical soaps, have harmful chemicals that can cause our skin to feel extra dry or tight after a shower as it strips all the natural oils. They are also more like a detergent than an actual soap because of the high PH levels. However, Natural soaps usually use a lot of plant oils which allows the soap bar to actually moisturize our bodies since it is full of natural oils and glycerin.
A lot of attention and care are gone into making cold process soaps. They take a longer time to produce and they use specific ingredients that are healthy for the skin.
Some of the worst ingredients found in chemical soaps are:
Manufacturers add Sodium Lauryl sulfate (SLS) Also known as Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, to soap to make it lather but it’s toxic. It may cause skin, lung, and eye irritation. There are concerns that it may be toxic to our organs.
Parabens are used as preservatives for beauty products. A 2004 study found traces of intact parabens in the breast tissue of women. This shows how our body can absorb chemicals and retain them. It could also interfere with the functionality of our hormone systems.
Phthalates are used to make products spread easily and fragrances to stick and stay longer. However, they are harmful for the environment, and they can cause early puberty in girls and less sperm production in guys.
1,4 Dioxane, this chemical is in the list of carcinogens in California’s proposition 65 list of carcinogens.
This is just touching the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other harmful ingredients that we are using everyday in chemical soap without even realizing it.
What about natural soaps and the ingredients it contains?
Ingredients used in natural soaps are usually:
Healthy oils, like coconut oil, olive oil, unrefined organic Shea butter and grapeseed oil. These oils provide moisturization and nutrition to the skin. Even if you suffer from acne-prone skin, these oils are still useful for you.
Essential oils which soap makers use to scent the soaps instead of chemicals like perfume.
Natural biodegradable and nutritious ingredients like honey, Aloe Vera, oatmeal, orange, etc. Nature gave us these ingredients, they are helpful for our skin, non-toxic and don’t harm the environment
Natural soaps don’t have any SLS, parabens, harmful dyes and they are 100% biodegradable.
Natural Vs Chemical soap making process 
The way each soap is made is different. Chemical or commercial soaps are made in bulk by machines. The mass production can cause a lot of waste and pollutants. The factories working conditions are unknown so is the cleanliness. Additionally, some commercial soap manufacturers remove the natural glycerin from the soap and sell it to other companies or use it in other products like moisturizers to make more money. Removing the natural glycerin from soap causes your skin to dry out.
People making natural soap use fresh, locally sourced ingredients that nourish your skin. Since natural soaps are handmade it keeps carbon footprint low. People making Natural soaps usually care about health and the environment rather than just focusing on the profits. Buying natural soap can also help small companies grow and benefits their communities.
Wrapping up
So, which is better chemical or natural soap?
Staying healthy includes the products you use on your hair and skin, so choose ingredients that are good for you and stay away from the toxic, chemical ingredients in commercial soap like sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauroyl, tetrasodium etidronate, parabens and artificial coloring.
Commercial soaps could cause you to develop allergies and health problems on the long-run due to all the harmful ingredients it contains. The harmful chemicals could also be too harsh on sensitive skin, and cause premature aging of the skin.
Natural soaps use healthy oils which give your skin moisture and nourishment, healthy oils are also full of antioxidants. Some oils can even help fight premature skin aging and cause your skin to look younger.
So far, whether you are buying natural soap or making your own soap, natural seems like the way to go. As you know all the ingredients that is going into the making of your soap.
You can check our natural soaps here.
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