The desire to look attractive and present oneself in the best light is inherent in all of us. For taking care of the looks and skin of one’s body, soap is one of the most basic products.
When we take a bath, we use soap on our skin, and the quality of the soap often determines our skin’s health. Therefore, the kind of soap you use directly impacts your skin. But aren’t we heavily influenced by our purchasing decisions? Packaging, marketing claims, and glitzy advertisements can sometimes be our only information providers. It is therefore high time for us to become aware of what is being introduced to our skin.
While all soaps look similar, a conscious beauty shopper sees them differently. Generally, a consumer who is knowledgeable about soap will be able to distinguish handmade soap from commercial soap. By reading labels, asking questions, and looking beyond attractive packaging, we will be able to do a better job of making spending decisions. What’s better, homemade soap or commercial soap? Check it out!
Table of Contents
What do commercial soaps contain?
Here are the ingredient lists of some of the most popular soaps on the market today. Many of the ingredients have chemical-sounding names, and there are a lot of them. Take a look at some of the health risks associated with these ingredients.
- Triclosan
Are you aware that this ingredient is a pesticide? Yes, it is an attractive option for soap makers because of its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, but it’s not healthy for you. You may experience skin irritation, eye irritation, lungs irritation, and hormonal disruption with triclosan.
- Parabens
There has been a lot of buzz about this name for a while, and there is a good reason for it. Human hormones can be mimicked by parabens, which can interfere with normal bodily functions. The compound has also been associated with breast cancer.
- Fragrance/Perfume
There is no ingredient as sneaky as this one! In terms of fragrance, perfume, or ‘parfum’, there is no official regulation, so manufacturers are free to use almost anything under this label. People with migraines and asthma may also be affected by strong fragrances.
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS is another name for this chemical. There are nitrosamines in this compound that can cause respiratory problems and kidney damage. Furthermore, it can damage and irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs.
- PEG-6
Several personal care products contain this potentially carcinogenic compound. Reports also suggest that it may contribute to breast cancer among women.
Other than these, antibacterial soaps may seem like a good idea at first, but in the long run, they actually do more harm than good. In consequence, antibiotic resistance increases, and superbugs emerge against which current medicines are ineffective.
Commercial soaps are harmful on more than just a personal level – they affect the environment as well. They are often made in large factories, which generate large amounts of waste that pollute our water, soil, and natural resources.
With such harmful chemicals used in commercial soaps, are you still looking forward to using them on your skin? The advantages of handmade soaps listed below might change your mind for good.
Advantages of handmade soaps
Handmade soaps have various advantages over commercial soaps. Not only are they free from any harmful chemicals, but they also don’t harm the environment as well.
- They contain glycerin
Glycerin is produced during saponification. The glycerin on your skin will retain moisture from the air and keep your skin soft.
In commercial soaps, glycerin is extracted from them. That is why after using a commercial soap, your skin feels extremely dry as it takes up all the natural oils from it.
- Essential oils are used for fragrance
Pure essential oils cleanse the skin while adding valuable nutrients and antibacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory qualities.
As mentioned above, commercial soaps use chemicals for the fragrance that can lead to severe health problems in some people. Essential oils are beneficial to the human body, however, some people are allergic to a few. These soaps are also used in aromatherapy. Essential oils are also used as massage oil blends in aromatherapy.
- These are environmental friendly
Natural handmade soaps are far more biodegradable and contain fewer synthetic chemicals than their antibacterial commercial counterparts. Moreover, no pesticides or chemicals are used to create them, so they are considered environmentally friendly.
The ingredients used in commercial soaps are harder to decompose, so they remain in the environment and pollute water, air, and soil, and pose harm to animals, plants, and humans.
- Wide range of choice
Most organic soaps are produced locally in small batches. Having small batches allows for a greater variety of products as well as easier control. The scent or style of each batch can easily be changed without retooling all the large factory equipment. Thus, these soaps are also easily customizable.
There is a great deal of change in color, shape, size, graininess, scent, batch size, and more so that the consumer has a maximum choice. Organic soaps are even available in coffee, peppermint, cinnamon, or fruit scents!
If you are a soap maker, you can contact various cosmetic box packaging suppliers to sell you handmade soaps in customized boxes.
- They are cruelty-free and animal-friendly
Another great advantage of natural, organic soap is that you can rest assured no animals were harmed during the testing or production stages. Most soaps contain only plant-based ingredients (there are a few soaps that contain animal fat as an ingredient). Since they are organic, they do not require large-scale facilities and factories that harm the environment in large quantities.
Conclusion
We think you now might have a clear answer to our question, “Handmade Soaps vs Commercial Soaps. Which is better?” Of course, the answer is “Handmade soaps”. There is no doubt that these soaps are made from natural ingredients, thus they are not harmful to the environment and living beings. So, make a wise choice, keep your skin healthy along with contributing to environmental conservation.
