Handmade Soap Facts

How many people know what soap really is? Several of the cleansing bars that you buy at the store, for example, are detergents-and not soaps at all. They are called syndet bars, or synthetic detergent bars. They are made from synthesized chemicals and are usually much harsher than soap. Detergents contain petroleum distillates rather than oil. On the other hand, true soap is made from natural oils (such as olive, coconut and palm) and is a gentle cleansing product more appropriate for use on skin than is detergent.

Soaps, unlike detergents, are made by combining sodium hydroxide or lye, oils and water in a process known as "Saponification". Some people may question the use of lye in handcrafted soap. The fact is that all soap is made with lye. What needs to be made clear is that once the process of saponification is complete, the lye and oil molecules have combined and chemically changed into soap and glycerin. There is no lye present in the finished bars of soap.

The oils in our soaps are put there for a specific purpose. The coconut oil creates a wonderful lather. The olive oil is used for a high quality, long lasting bar. Canola and Palm oil carry nutrients to the skin, and the safflower oil make a creamy bar.

Glycerin is a skin soothing emollient that adds to the goodness of handmade soap. In commercial soaps the glycerin is removed for sale to the cosmetic industry to sell separately, sometimes at a higher price than the soap itself! Glycerin is important to skin care because it is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air, which in turn moisturize your skin. A whole 1/5 of a bar of our soap is glycerin.

Most soaps have artificial ingredients to scent or color. Some handcrafted soap is scented with fragrance oils. These are synthetic chemicals that are mixed together to imitate a particular scent. They have contributed in many cases to chemical sensitivity in some people. They also have no aromatherapy benefits. The scents in our soaps should come only from essential oils, which are steamed or pressed from plants. Essential oils are the fragrance emitting components of plants and are at the heart of aromatherapy. Not only do they smell good; they have many beneficial effects on the body, mind and spirit.

The coloring in our soap should come from nature as well. The petals of Lavender and Rose can be used. Earth Pigments can also be used, which are simply finely ground rocks. This makes the colors rich and earthy, rather than artificial looking.

About the Author

Yvonne Takhtalian, C.N.H.P, H.I. spent the past 10 years developing and improving Vita-Myr Natural Products helping thousands like you heal gum disease and gingivitis. She just released a new line of 100% Natural Vita-Myr Soaps to compliment her Vita-Myr Mouthwash & Toothpaste. Find out more about effective natural relief of gum disease at http://www.vitamyr.com/ or email questions/comments to Yvonne at mailto:vitamyr@mindspring.com Copyright © 2004 Vita-Myr® International Inc All rights reserved. Natural Products For Healthy Living ®

---

Better Links Directory

Cosmetic Dentistry and Teeth Whitening

Maybe you are ready to get rid of your old... Read More

Belly Fat and Cellulite Realities and Remedies

About Consumer products: As a scientist coming from the... Read More

Look Natural ? Wear Makeup!

Have you ever considered how difficult it is to look... Read More

Gray Hair Remedy: Is there Such a Thing?

None of us want to go Gray but we have... Read More

8 Spray Tanning Tips

With the recent surge in the popularity of tanning, many... Read More

Why Use A Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon?

Beverly Hills is Mecca of all people looking for plastic... Read More

Tanning Booths - Safer Than You Think!

Visiting a tanning booth to tan may be safer than... Read More

Sun Protection

The skin has a defence mechanism against sun-damage, in the... Read More

Achieve that Perfect Whiter Brighter Hollywood Smile!

So you are looking in the mirror this morning and... Read More

The Skin Care Benefits of Azulene

Azulene is a constituent of the volatile oil obtained by... Read More

Color Contact Lenses for Light Eyes - What Works Best?

You may ask why a person with naturally blue or... Read More

Soothing The Itch - Natural Remedies For Itchy Skin

Has your scalp or skin ever been uncomfortably itchy? Do... Read More

The Benefits of Shea Healing Butter

Shea HEALING butter is a high performance lotion, and cream... Read More

Brow Lift Information

As you age, your skin becomes slack and loses its... Read More

Face Off

The other day, I indulged in one of my many... Read More

A Beginners Guide to Colored Contact Lenses

Today, colored contact lenses has slowly become a fashion that... Read More

The Role of Alpha Hydroxy Acids

You have probably heard a lot about AHAs, or alpha... Read More

Japanese Hair Straightening

By now, I'm sure you've heard of the hair straightening... Read More

Ten Low-Cost Ways to Look Good for Your Man (and for Yourself!)

Face it ladies; the reason you want to look nice... Read More

Color Contact Lenses - an Easy Way to Change Your Look!

Want to change something about your appearance? How about your... Read More

Taking Photos While Youre Protecting Your Skin

If you're a shutterbug like me, and you enjoy taking... Read More

Tanning Bed Pillows - A Great Addon to Your Tanning Bed Experience!

Remember the last time you were on a plain vanilla... Read More

Can You Get Fuller Breasts From Herbal Breast Enlargement Supplements?

There have, in very recent years, been a flood of... Read More

Buying A Wholesale Tanning Bed

The tanning industry is showing no signs of stopping. If... Read More

Best Plastic Surgeon for the Money

If you have made the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery,... Read More