Even if you don’t break out in a full body rash, the chemicals used to make conventional soap will most surely dry your skin. Unfortunately, many people wait until itchy, dry skin is a problem before making the switch to natural soap. Many people also use additional products to replenish and moisturize the skin after using conventional soap.
What most people don’t know is that soap you buy in stores is made with animal fat and chemicals. These chemicals strip your skin of its natural oils. That’s why many times you take a shower, you do not actually moisturize and your skin feels tight or dry.
Natural Soap or Chemical Detergent?
The next time you walk down the soap aisle at your favorite store enjoying the fresh, clean scents and the bright colorful packaging, pay attention. Look at the labels. Most manufacturers have removed the ‘good’ stuff that occurs in the soap making process, and replaced it with synthetic lathering agents and harsh chemicals. These cheap, plentiful detergent bars are not only bad for your skin, but they’re also bad for the planet.
What’s so bad about it?
Large commercial soap manufacturers make it a practice to remove the glycerine that is produced during the saponification (soap-making) process. The glycerine is a highly profitable substance, often sold to other companies who use it to make lotions and moisturizers, which your skin, now dried out from the harsh detergent ‘soap,’ desperately needs.
Most commercially produced bars contain synthetic lathering agents, artificial colors, and a slew of chemicals we can’t even pronounce. Antibacterial and antimicrobial soaps often contain triclosan. Triclosan is a toxic chemical that is known to cause cancer. According to the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP), manufacturers of a number of triclosan-containing products claim that the active ingredient continues to work for as long as 12 hours after use. Consumers are, therefore, exposed to triclosan for much longer than the 20 seconds it takes to wash their hands or face.
These nasty chemicals and toxins are now finding their way into our eco-system. Every time that lather goes down the drain, those pollutants are going with it. A recent report by the UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) revealed that synthetic chemicals from soap, body washes, shampoos and other healthcare products were sneaking through the filters at water purification plants. The list of offenders included phthalates, which are linked to reproductive disorders in both humans and animals, and parabens, a preservative, which links to cancer.
Always remember that your skin, your body’s largest organ is porous and absorbent. It absorbs whatever it comes in contact with. Prolonged use of chemical products will cause the body to store the chemicals in body fat or in the brain. With enough accumulations of toxins in the body, illness can occur.
Natural Soap makes a difference
All natural organic handmade soap does not strip your skin of it’s protective natural oils. Sure, these soap bars generally cost more than the detergent bars you’ll find at your supermarket. But the difference is these soap bars are actually good for your skin, and for the planet as well. And you probably will save on buying additional moisturizers. Natural soaps are made with essential oils and nourishing organic ingredients rather than chemicals. Using quality all natural products like ours is the best way to go when it comes to skincare.
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