Why handmade soap ? / Why natural soap ?
When soap is made traditionally handmade, it naturally produces glycerin as part of the process. This is very positive as it will leave your skin more moisturised and looking healthy.
However, commercial soap is often made with glycerin removed as it can be sold seperately and used for different applications. Soap devoid of glycerin though can leave your skin dry and itchy, looking far from its best.
Why use natural soap ? / Is natural soap better ?
Aside from leaving your skin moisturised and looking healthy because of the glycerin content, if it is scented it is usually with essential oils which add further benefits to your skin. Green Laurels soap uses natural oils and shea butter for instance that is very moisturising and kind to your skin. Check out our range of natural soap here.
Some commercial soap tends to use harsh chemicals that can by drying or irritating to your skin.
Does natural soap kill bacteria ?
Soap traps dirt in tiny bubbles when you wash, known as micelles which wash away with water, removing the dirt from your body.
Does natural soap expire ?
It is said that handmade natural soaps improve with age. However as our handmade soaps are made from natural ingredients with no preservatives it is a good idea to use the soaps within 12 months of purchase. Scented soaps are best-smelling used within 3 months from being removed from the box. After this time, they don’t ‘go off” but you may notice some changes as the natural soaps age.
Does natural soap contain lye ?
If lye hasn’t been used somewhere in the process then it isn’t soap! However, once something called the ‘saponification’ process in soap making is complete there is no longer any lye left in the soap.
Basically when you mix the natural oils such as Olive Oil and coconut oil, which are acidic together with the lye, which is alkali a ‘salt’ is formed which is the soap.
Can natural soap be made without lye ?
As mentioned above, lye is the key ingredient, and without it, you haven’t got soap. Any product that is defined as, and called soap, must have gone through saponification. Without lye the oils would stay as they are. Some people create soap only by using a ‘melt and pour’ process, this uses a pre-made base that has already gone through saponification.
Is natural soap better ? / Why natural soap is better ? / Why handmade soap is better ?
Large commercial companies are able to manufacture hundreds of thousands of bars at a time, mass producing soap using cheaper ingredients, often the ingredients are synthetic substitutes.
Some of the moisturising benefits of soap are lost in commercial soap such as the removal of glycerin in the process meaning soap that is drying and far less moisturising for your skin.
If you look at the label on commercial soaps it is often possible to find they contain things like parabens and sulphates which are thought to be best avoided.
Natural soaps though use natural ingredients such as olive and coconut oil, she butter and more which have a lot of good moisturising benefits to the skin. Check out our range of natural soap here
What is natural soap made of ?
Three main ingredients go into soap making, oil/fat, lye and water. Once these are all mixed together they have to cure for 4-6 weeks, letting the water evaporate from the process, making the bar firmer. Natural soap often contains essential oils as they too have many benefits for the skin.
Why handmade soap is expensive ?
Handmade artisan soap is usually more expensive than mass produced commercial soap. This is for many reasons such as quality more expensive ingredients, smaller batch sizes, time to make.
Just like cheese or a fine wine, soap takes time to make. Once made, it has to be stored at room temperature to ‘dry out’ and harden properly. The drying process can also time in turning the soap and tending to it where necessary.
Which natural soap is best for dry skin / best for skin ?
Soap that has been made from natural oils such as Olive oil, which provides deep hydration, preventing water loss and is soothing for the skin. Coconut oil, a natural emollient which aids in nourishing and softening the skin, reducing dryness and allowing your skin to retain moisture.
and shea butter, a rich nut butter containing natural antioxidants and fatty acids. Shea butter restores the barrier of your skin and is deeply hydrating, and great for dry skin.
Some that contain Aloe Vera are even more moisturising and kind to the skin.
The glycerin in all natural soaps adds to the moisturisation.
An advatage of Green Laurels soap is not containing sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate as both are considered skin irritants.
Can I use Natural soap on my face ?
The natural oils are very moisturising so is fine to use on the facial area too.
Some mass produced commercial soap can be very drying, leaving irritated or even sore skin which has led to people avoiding it on their face. The ingredients in natural soap help to keep the skin moisturised and nourished and many contain antioxidants too.
Which natural soap is best for eczema ?
It is worth speaking to your GP and seeking their advice if you are unsure about which products to use on your skin.
Natural soap as mentioned above is very moisturising because of oils such as Olive, coconut, shea butter and the glycerin that is produced in the soap making process. Aloe Vera soap has the added benefit of actual aloe vera scraped from the leaves of the plant including vitamins A, C, and E.
What natural soap is best for acne ?
It is worth speaking to your GP and seeking their advice if you are unsure about which products to use on your skin.
It is said that soap containing tea tree, or lavender can be helpful in cleaning the skin.
Customer Feedback said this about Tea Tree, honey + Charcoal Soap “This soap has worked wonders on my daughters teenage skin, she is very impressed and wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to anyone with spots/acne prone skin”
Want to treat yourself to some natural soap ?