Why use Natural Soap?

WHAT IS SOAP?

Soap simply isn’t what it used to be. Many so-called soaps on supermarket shelves share more in common with washing powder than actual soap. Most body cleansers, both liquid and solid, are actually synthetic detergent products or synthetic soaps. These unnatural products are robbed of their most valuable ingredient, glycerin, right after the saponification process. A wonderful needed natural humectant, glycerin attracts moisture to your skin and is renowned as a soothing protecting emollient. Unscrupulous soap manufacturers separate the glycerin from the soap to sell or use in other more expensive products. With the growth of industrial manufacturing, the small handmade soap makers were pushed out by bigger companies who capitalized on being able to extract valuable glycerin, which could be sold or used in other more lucrative products. For example, glycerin is an essential ingredient for nitroglycerin, the explosive used in dynamite, and there was much demand for it at the beginning of 20th century. The glycerin-free soap became a by-product, was mixed with cheap synthetic ingredients to imitate true soap, and was sold much cheaper than traditional handmade soap makers could compete with. They then often add synthetic ingredients, detergents, foaming agents and chemical fragrances to the glycerin-lacking soap to simulate the properties of what was removed. Soaps without glycerin are drying and harsh and using them can cause excessive itchy, ashy and dry skin.

Soaps come in different sizes and shapes, scented or unscented, with or without any colorants. There are moisturizing soaps, facial soaps, deodorizing soaps, antimicrobial soaps, beauty bars, and so many others. We all use soaps daily when washing our hands during the day or in the shower. However, all soaps are not created in the same way. In general, there are two types of soap, the handmade natural soaps, and the commercially made soaps. True soap is created by mixing together oils or fats and lye. The reaction that takes place is called saponification and the result is a combination of soap and glycerin. Using olive oil will leave elements of olives, using coconut oil will leave elements of coconut, and so on. Other natural ingredients can of course be added, like Shea butter for skin nourishment or oatmeal for exfoliant properties. Nothing should be removed and no synthetic chemicals need to be added, this true soap is just fine as it is. There was once a time when all soap was handmade. The traditional way to create it was, and still is, called the cold process. Once the soap mixture has been prepared it’s poured into molds to saponify for a day, taken out to dry for a day, and then cut into bars of soap and left to cure for a month or more. Although I utilize the hot process method, which creates a more rustic bar and the lye is cooked out much faster in addition to the curing process being shortened. THE DANGERS

Just take a look at the list of ingredients for an average bar of soap in your local store. It could contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), an anionic surfactant used in laundry detergent that will dry out and irritate your skin. It may also have sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), a cheap foaming agent that can become contaminated with the suspected carcinogen Dioxane while being manufactured. If it’s labeled as antibacterial it probably contains triclosan. This chemical is classified as a pesticide by the Environmental Protection Agency. Three quarters of antibacterial liquid soaps and a third of antibacterial bar soaps contain triclosan, which is thought to be contributing to increasing bacterial resistance across the world. This chemical finds its way into our waterways, disrupting the photosynthesis of algae, building up in the fatty tissue of fish and carrying on up the food chain. A 2008 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found triclosan in the urine of 75% of the people surveyed. To add insult to injury, over 40 years of FDA research has concluded that antibacterial soaps are really no better than just washing with real soap.

Did you know that most mass-produced soap contains animal fat? Animal fat is inexpensive being a by-product of the meat industry. Animal fat ingredients include lard, tallow, and stearic acid. Unless clearly stated as vegan, most soap and skin care products contain some of these animal based ingredients. I enjoy the opportunities to be able to educate people how they can be kinder to animals, the planet and their own health, just by paying a little bit of attention to the ingredients in their skin care products. When a product is vegan, it does not contain any animal or animal derived ingredients. A product is cruelty free if it, or any of its ingredients, are not tested on animals.

ALL of Adenla Handcrafted Essential soaps are vegan and cruelty free!

SKIN'S BENEFIT

Natural soaps might have a high entry price in the market, but that’s because they offer numerous benefits when it comes to your well-being and health. There are so many natural oils, butters, plant extracts and exfoliants that can be used in real soap, ingredients that are genuinely good for your skin and overall health. Take coconut oil, with it’s moisturizing and disinfectant properties combined with a dose of vitamin E, essential for heathy skin. Coconut oil is the base for all of my handcrafted soaps and I really love how it makes my skin and hair feel.Then there’s Shea butter, with its skin healing properties that have been held in high regard since the time of the Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. Natural antibacterial and antifungal properties can be drawn from eucalyptus, while peppermint leaves can act as a decongestant and create a fresh invigorating scent. Real soaps don’t have to just clean you, they can make you healthier and make you feel a whole lot better too. Natural soaps are made using various natural sources, which also includes organic ingredients. These soaps are usually made by blending butter and plant-based oils that are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients. Moreover, natural soaps can be enriched with many other essential ingredients that originate from the earth, such as clays, salts, botanical extracts, and essential oils. Did you know that real handmade soap is actually moisturizing and great for those with dry skin, sensitive skin and eczema? Individuals with sensitive skin will especially feel and see the difference brought by using natural handmade.

I have customized at least 20 different types of soaps with amazing ingredients that include calendula flowers, moringa powder, lavender buds, basil, oatmeal, and fruit and veggie purees that truly nourish and enrich the body's largest organ. These are the kind of natural ingredients that your hair, body, and skin need. I believe wholeheartedly that if an ingredient is good internally, then not only is it safe, but beneficial for the external as well. With many different combinations and options, whether or not they are organic, there is always an ideal natural soap for everybody. Everyone's skin is different and has different needs at different times and being aware of the needs and catering to them is the conscious and responsible way to be. I love helping people see what may have never been seen before and having the knowledge of a skin care professional allows me to create beautiful healing blends. It's all about quality when handcrafting natural soap. I also cannot think of a better way to flood your senses using beautiful aromatherapy, moisturizing your skin, and also embrace life’s uniqueness, than by using some wonderfully simple natural soaps. Your skin will definitely notice the difference!