Handmade soap is a natural, enjoyable alternative to mass produced cleansers
Author: Wayne Hemrick
Next time you’re thinking that soaps handmade from all-natural ingredients in the old-fashioned way are too expensive, think a moment about the hidden costs in those cheaper, mass-produced products.
You’ll likely come to the conclusion that a little extra for handmade natural soap is well worth it.
What Goes Into Commercial Soap
The ingredients in mass-produced soaps from those huge, transnational corporations are things you probably don’t even want to think about. Most mass-produced soap contains animal products that were extracted by methods that more than likely weren’t exactly humane. In addition, these products are usually tested on animals who are trapped in laboratory cages and subjected to horrors that we couldn’t imagine.
You can vote with your dollar when purchasing personal health products like soap, so consider what you’re buying next time you’re at the store.
Now let’s talk about some of the unsavory ingredients that go into these commercial, corporate-produced soaps. Laureth sulphate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and methyl-parabens (a suspected carcinogen that gets stored in human tissues), for starters. Synthetic fragrances and petroleum for another.
Then there are the synthetic dyes to give their product eye appeal and useless and even harmful “fillers” that do no more than plump up the bar and make it look bigger.
When you break it down and realize what goes into the pretty packaging, it makes natural alternatives even more appealing.
Handmade, natural soap is made from plant oils and extract – ideally from plants that have been organically grown, or gathered from wild sources. Glycerin is taken from wholesome vegetable fats; this kind of soap is clear and has an amber color, and is an excellent moisturizer (unlike SLS, which creates an artificial lather and can actually cause your skin to dry out).
Vegetable oils are generally high in skin-healthy vitamin E and other anti-oxidants, just as nature made them. Scented soaps handmade from all-natural ingredients get their scent from floral sources and herbs that give off natural scents. In nature, these scents either attract beneficial insect pollinators or repel harmful ones – but they have absolutely no unhealthy effect on humans.
Yes, you do pay out a bit more for natural handmade soap – but all things considered, it is an excellent investment in your own health and well-being.
COOLER THAN HOT OATMEAL BATHS WITH REAL OATMEAL NOT THE PHARMACY PRODUCTS FOR BATHS. AVOID SOAPS THEY ARENT GOOD THEY WASH ALL OIL AWAY.MILK BATHS ARE GOOD ALONG WITH THE OATMEAL. CALENDULA IS GOOD IN OINTMENTS AND CREAMS..PRIMROSE OIL TOO ITS ALL TRIAL AND ERROR WHAT WORKS FOR AWHILE MIGHT NOT WORK LATER. wHAT WORKS FOR ONE PERSON MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU BUT WITH A BABY I WOULD USE ALL NATURAL PRODUCTS ALWAYS
handmade soap?
I read that most handmade soaps contain animal fat. This sounds disguesting. It is true? And if so how can you make handmade soap without it? I want to try and make some soap, never done it before, so I need a easy reciepe that does not require any odd machines. Thanks guys
if you look at Hobby Lobby or Micheals, craft stores, they have the kits to make soap, & you can choose what type of soap like gyclerin, or lye, to make.
O plan on gettign a kit for my son for arts & crafts this year for homeschooling.
what is the best handmade soap for a toddler with eczema?
I don’t know which is better oatmeal lotion, calendula creams, calendula ointments? Has anyone tried any of these products online? Also, looking for a handmade soap for eczema?What is the best soap selling these days?Can anyone help me?
Lavender or sage. Love the orange thought also.
Is handmade soap better for your skin?
I have heard that handmade soap isn’t as harsh on your skin as commercial made soap. Has anyone tried handmade soap? What do you think?
I want to make handmade soap at home without using lye or any chemical ingredients. Please suggest recipes.?
I want to make handmade soap at home without using lye or any chemical ingredients. I want beeswax as one of the ingredients in my soap.
Whats the best aromatherapy essential oil to use for handmade soap?
I was planning on making a small batch. Wondering what other soapers have liked in the way of aromatherapy essential oils (as oppossed to perfume fragrance) oil.
I know a lot of them aren’t suitable for handmade soap because of the termperature or expense. I was thinking of orange, patchouli or cedar.
Any suggestions?
Thanks all – be well
Tink
It is usually better because if the natural oils and no preservatives and allergenic parfum chemicals. I really like natural soap because ;
1. made from natural products.
2. less chemicals
3. good for people with reactions to parfums and preservatives.
4. smells beautifully natural instead of those really strong, lingering smells.
5. You can make them yourself.
6. delicate, no irritation for sensitive skin
I would suggest doing some research on what lye actually is. It is a necessary component in soapmaking and even if you use a melt and pour soap it contained lye at some point.
Good LUck