At fairs, I always get the question of “Why would someone want to use natural handmade soaps instead of commercial soaps?”
This is the question that I am asked the most at fairs or in real-life selling. Why would someone choose natural handmade soaps over less expensive commercial soaps? There are many reasons why handmade soaps are better for your skin, your wallet, and the environment.
For the record, all of our soaps are handmade with natural, eco-friendly ingredients and time-tested methods.
So read on to learn what differentiates handmade soaps from commercial soaps, why they are better for your skin, and why handmade is best!
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Why are Natural Handmade Soaps Better?
There is a reason why these last few years natural handmade soaps have grown in popularity. They used to only be available in specialty stores or at fairs and now, they are available in most stores.
The jury is still out regarding why these handmade soaps are better than commercial soaps or is it? For many, after trying handmade soap only once, there is no going back to commercial soap, the difference in price is definitely compensated by the benefits.
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Actual Soap, not a detergent
As you are walking down the bath and body aisles, you see colorful packages selling different soaps, body shower,s and countless other products with different scents and textures. The looks, the scents, the claimed benefits are all enticing you to buy, but what are you buying exactly?
Here’s the catch, commercial soap is in fact a detergent, not a soap. These soaps are made with chemicals, which can be harsh on your skin, especially if it is sensitive. But don’t take my word on it, let’s see what the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in the USA has to say.
“Today there are very few true soaps on the market. Most body cleansers, both liquid and solid, are synthetic detergent products. Detergent cleansers are popular because they make suds easily in water and don’t form gummy deposits. Some of these detergent products are marketed as “soap” but are not true soap according to the regulatory definition of the word.” source
So, if commercial soaps are detergent, then what is the difference with natural handmade soaps? I guess the next logical question is what is soap? Soaps are a combination of fats and an alkali, such as lye, when mixed together go through a chemical reaction, to create soaps.
After a curing period of 4 to 6 weeks, what’s left in the bar of soap is soap, glycerin, and water. If you have not yet heard of it, glycerin is a natural and great humectant for the skin, this ingredient is a huge factor in the moisturizing properties of the soap.
I keep hearing “but I do not want lye on my skin!”, well, neither do I. A well-formulated soap recipe has no lye at the end of the soap-making process. Actually, a soap with lye at the end, is not safe for the skin!
Skin-loving ingredients
Actual Soap, not a Detergent
As you are walking down the bath and body aisles, you see colorful packages selling different soaps, body showers and countless other products with different scents and textures. The looks, the scents, the claimed benefits are all enticing you to buy, but what are you buying exactly?
Here’s the thing. Every soapmaker has its own recipes, a combination of butter and oils that together create awesome bars of natural handmade soaps. In our soaps, I use a combination of some or all of these oils, depending on the soap and the results I am seeking:
Olive Oil – not only great for cooking, but olive oil also offers great benefits for the skin
Coconut Oil – will contribute to lather
Shea Butter – helps with moisturizing and skin irritation
