Soap is one of the most essential and widely used products for personal hygiene and skin care. However, not all soaps are created equal. There are two main types of soaps: commercial soaps and artisanal natural soaps.
What are the differences between them, and which one is better for your skin? Let’s find out.
What are Commercial Soaps?
Commercial soaps are mass-produced by large companies using machines and low-quality ingredients, such as animal fats, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, and chemical additives.
Commercial soaps also contain sodium hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda, which is a strong alkali that reacts with fats or oils to make soap. Sodium hydroxide increases the pH of the soap, making it more alkaline and foamier.
What are the Disadvantages of Commercial Soaps?
Commercial soaps may seem cheap and convenient, but they have many disadvantages for your skin and health. Some of the drawbacks of commercial soaps are:
They can be harsh and drying on the skin, especially for sensitive skin types. Sodium hydroxide can strip the natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry and irritated.
They can cause allergic reactions, rashes, or infections due to the synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, and chemical additives. Some of these chemicals can also be absorbed into the bloodstream and cause hormonal imbalances or other health problems.
They can be harmful to the environment, as they contain non-biodegradable ingredients that can pollute the water and soil. They can also contribute to animal cruelty, as some of them are made from animal fats or tested on animals.
What are Artisanal Natural Soaps?
Artisanal natural soaps are handmade by local soap makers using natural, organic, and biodegradable ingredients, such as plant cocoa pod ash, oils, shea butter, essential oils, honey, aloe, oatmeal, etc. Artisanal natural soaps do not contain sodium hydroxide, but rather use plant materials (husks, shells, or barks of plantains, palm tree leaves, cocoa pods, and shea trees) that are burned until they form a dark ash and then combined with the oils and shea butter to form the soap. This process makes the soap more acidic and less foamy.
What are the Advantages of Artisanal Natural Soaps?
Artisanal natural soaps have many advantages for your skin and health. Some of the benefits of artisanal natural soaps are:
They are gentle and moisturizing on the skin, as they contain natural oils and shea butter that nourish and hydrate the skin. They also have a lower pH and are more acidic, which makes them more compatible with the skin’s natural pH.
They have natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that can help to treat various skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and fungal infections. They can also help to exfoliate the dead skin cells, unclog the pores, and brighten the complexion.
They are safe and healthy, as they do not contain any synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, or chemical additives that can cause allergic reactions, rashes, or infections. They are also free from animal fats or animal testing and are cruelty-free.
They are eco-friendly, as they are made from locally harvested ingredients that are organic and biodegradable, and do not pollute the water and soil. They are also more sustainable, as they support local communities and small businesses.
What You Need to Know
Commercial soaps and artisanal natural soaps are two different types of soaps that have different ingredients, processes, and effects on the skin and health. Commercial soaps are mass-produced by large companies using machines and low-quality ingredients, such as animal fats, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, and chemical additives. They also contain sodium hydroxide, which makes them more alkaline and foamier. Commercial soaps can be harsh and drying on the skin, cause allergic reactions, rashes, or infections, be harmful to the environment, and contribute to animal cruelty.
Artisanal natural soaps are handmade by local soap makers using natural, organic, and biodegradable ingredients, such as plant cocoa pod ash, oils, shea butter, essential oils, honey, aloe, oatmeal, etc. They do not contain sodium hydroxide, but rather use plant materials that are burned until they form a dark ash and then combined with the oils and shea butter to form the soap.
Artisanal natural soaps are gentle and moisturizing on the skin, have natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, are safe and healthy, and are eco-friendly and sustainable. Therefore, artisanal natural soaps are better for your skin and health than commercial soaps.
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