What's wrong with soap?

[SharonAnne]

I'd like to know why many avoid soap? Is it just the lye in it, or is there something else I"m missing?

TIA!

[amcal]

Well, both commercial and handcrafted soaps use lye, however, neither soaps contain lye in the final product.

The difference is that most commerical soaps contain a lot of synthetic detergents and other chemcials and they have had the natural glycerin stripped out of them which leaves a pretty harsh, chemical filled soap.

Handcrafted soaps do not contain synthetic detergents and chemicals and they retain all the natural glycerin so they are much more mild.

[SharonAnne]

So, a glycerin soap is okay....naturally speaking, I mean.

Thanks for the answer!

[rabbithorns]

Even glycerin can be an allergen (oddly enough); my son is allergic to glycerin. I use Ivory soap (for laundry) and Bee and Flower sandalwood soap(for the bathroom). Those are the only bar soaps I can be near because I can't handle fragrance because of my asthma. I love Dr. Bronner's but can't afford to buy it. Luckily the bar soaps I buy are affordable. I'm not sure why there's an impression that people don't use soap.

[staceyshoe]

Unless you purchase handmade soap, you are probably using synthetic detergent. I think sodium laurel sulfate is the worst ingredient in most commercial "soaps". It's a neurotoxin. All "glycerine soaps" I've seen are actually detergent with glycerine added. If you google "detergent vs soap" you'll get tons of info.

[SharonAnne]

thanks for the info everyone!

[anamama]

Also, some object to the tallow (sodium tallowate?) in most commercial soaps. I am sensitive to artificial fragrances, so part of why I prefer homemade soap is that I can get a truely unscented bar or one w/ only essential oils.

[amcal]

Originally Posted by SharonAnne

So, a glycerin soap is okay....naturally speaking, I mean.

Thanks for the answer!

I've recently seen someone post here that they use a glycerin melt and pour soap base that doesn't have detergents etc.... she did post the ingredients but I have to say that's the exception rather than the rule. If you look at most any soap supplier website that carries melt and pour (glycerin) soap, you should be able to get an ingredient list which most often contains lots of chemicals etc...

Soooo, naturally speaking, glycerin soap is not the most natural soap you can get but check the ingredients.

For natural soap, you can not beat handcrafted soap. Handcrafted soap contains saponified oils - no lye remains once the saponification process is complete - so basically you're washing with oils Plus, handcrafters, adjust the lye level so that some of the wonderful oils remain unsaponified, making a more mild and gentle bar. Plus.... you can get other wonderful things in handcrafted soaps - essential oils, clays, botanicals, honey, milks etc.... all things that are luscious for your skin.