Let's talk Natural Bar Soap
What kind of soap do you use when you shower? Out of all the different options, our favorite is 100% natural bar soap, so we're going to talk about it! Let's define what natural bar soap is and differentiate it from store-bought bar soap.
Natural soaps are made using various organic butters and oils. At Hudson Valley Skin Care, we love to use Castor Oil, Shea Butter, and Olive Oil. These ingredients create a moisturizing, cleansing experience perfect for sensitive skin. You might also find ingredients like different types of clays, oats, extracts, and more. These are added for extra skin benefits to help treat various skin conditions ranging from acne to eczema.
So, how is soap made?
Soap is made through a process called saponification. Saponification occurs when lye (a mixture of Sodium Hydroxide and water) is combined with oils, fats, and butters to turn the oils into salts. The fats and oils then react with the lye forming an exothermic reaction, producing heat. This mixture is poured into a mold to
Natural bar soaps are great for your skin and the environment. Let's look at some main benefits of natural soap and what it can do for your skin.
And why do we love it?
Soft, moisturized skin
Natural bar soap produces an all-star ingredient called Glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it's the perfect ingredient for hydrating your skin and keeping it soft and smooth. Store-bought detergent bar soaps tend to have the Glycerin removed and sold in other products.
Sensitive-skin approved
Natural bar soap is generally gentler on the skin than ordinary soaps making them sensitive-skin approved. There are no drying ingredients such as SLS; instead, our bar soaps contain soothing ingredients like organic locally sourced Oats.
Eco-Friendly Alternative
Natural bar soaps are a more sustainable choice than body wash that typically comes in plastic packaging. Aside from that, it's cleaner for our waterways to use natural bar soap since there are no added cleaning chemicals.
Better Ingredients
In general, natural handmade soaps tend to be more expensive than over-the-counter bar soap. This is because natural, handmade soaps usually contain higher-quality ingredients. For instance, most bar soap bought from a supermarket contains Palm Oil and cheap chemical ingredients. Natural bar soaps are made with more expensive ingredients which are way better for the skin, like Olive Oil, Shea Butter, and Oats. These ingredients are a lot more of a moisturizing base leaving the skin soft and not dry.
Hudson Valley Skin Care bar soaps are great for sensitive and dry skin. They contain lots of Glycerin and moisturizing, emollient-rich ingredients that help the skin retain moisture. We also love to add extra ingredients for extra skin happiness. Some of our favorite soap additives are:
Beer: Hops contain amino acids, which help moisturize and soften skin. The polyphenols in hops are thought to help combat skin redness and irritation.
Colloidal Oats: has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that could help improve skin dryness, scaling, and roughness. It also may reduce itchiness.
Goat's Milk: helps provide gentle cleansing. Rich in fatty acids help keep a healthy skin barrier for nourished and moisturized skin.
Natural bar soaps have many benefits for all skin types. They are a sustainable option when choosing your shower care products. Regardless of the kind of soap you currently use, try picking up some natural bar soap and seeing if you can feel the difference with your skin; we know you will!
