Millions and millions of people fall prey to catchy slogans, hidden messages, vivid imagery, and well-thought out wording. Everyone is out to make a buck and have you think that you are getting the most “natural” product available.
Did you know that Companies are not allowed to use the word soap unless it is truly a REAL handcrafted bar of soap? That is why you see some many “beauty bars” and “dry skin cleaners” and “anti-aging moisturizing bars.” These soap imposters are cleverly labeled to draw attention away from the fact that they are basically detergents. What's the big deal?
Detergents are manufactured by combining chemicals (including petroleum) in a slurry mixer. These chemicals that make up the common "beauty bar" are doing more harm than good. They are incredibly drying to start and can often slow down the body's ability to fight off bacteria or heal from cuts and scrapes. MOre alarmingly, some of these ingredients are know to harm the nervous system, interfere with human development and disrupt hormones. THere may even be some know carcinogens in there!
A natural handmade soap is well, completely natural. It may or may not be organic but it definitely will not have a single synthetic ingredient in it! Essential oils, natural butters, and other natural oils can be added in to change the benefits of the soap as well as the natural scent. There is nothing else in there. No preservatives, no synthetic fragrances, no chemical compounds, nothing! Just pure, natural ingredients from the Earth.
Natural soap is made from a chemical reaction between water, lye (also known as sodium hydroxide), and fats/oils. These fats and oil are turned into soap and glycerin by a chemical process called Saponification. This process, when completed properly, leaves you with pure, natural soap, glycerin, and some residue from the natural ingredients in the individual recipe. Handmade soap is almost always made in small batches.
