Natural Soap - Why Use It?

The word “natural” has taken a hit as of late. Some companies use it to hook worried consumers, while their labels tell a different story. This has made some people understandably mistrustful. But at W Natural, we’re really proud to say we truly offer all-natural soap, and that matters. 

Why? Because soap isn’t as easy to find as you think at your average local store. Sure, you can find “body wash” and “body bars”, but these aren’t called “soap” for good reason. 

All-natural soap contains saponified oils. Hopefully these oils have their glycerin retained, like ours do. Glycerin has some moisturizing properties, but what it’s really great at is protecting your skin. If you’re not using an all-natural soap, all bets are off.

Think about it - have you ever used a body wash that claimed to be moisturising, only to find yourself desperately rubbing gobs of lotion into your skin afterward? That creamy, perfumed body wash was really no better than commercial laundry detergent. Your natural oils have been stripped, and your skin barrier has been compromised.

From time immemorial, soap was something humans made to wash themselves, to keep their skin fresh and healthy. But in last century or so, the process has become very industrialized. Synthetic ingredients, detergents, dyes, and perfumes are dripped into vats by machines. These insidious formulas hide behind well-known brand names and convincing marketing. 

And now we see increased incidences of eczema, rashes, allergies, and all manner of sensitivities. Consumers just like you now have to seek out creams, lotions, and other remedies to cure the problem. It’s no wonder! We’ve stopped using natural soap, and started using detergent with a ton of potentially harmful additives.

It’s also important to consider toxicity. Used on occasion, synthetic detergents may not be toxic, but consider what happens over time. Your pores soak up those ingredients, which accumulate as you continue using it. It’s your body’s responsibility to offload this toxic buildup, not the company you bought it from. If you ask us, that’s just not fair.

So the question isn’t really, “why use all natural soap?”, it’s “why not?” The process is time-tested and reliable, the ingredients come from nature, and in many cases, it’s less expensive than “luxury” body washes and bars. More than that, it’s the way it’s supposed to be.

It may take time to make the switch and see the difference. But you can start today by rejecting any cleansing products that contain:

Phthalates

Parabens

SLS and SLES

Triclosan

Dioxane

DEA

Artificial fragrance

Alcohol

Formaldehyde

The range of endocrine disruptors and irritants in our products is widening. You can rehabilitate your skin using all-natural soaps that include:

Plant oils with glycerin retained

Essential oils like clove, citrus, and peppermint

Aloe

Oats

Herbs

Clays

Roots

Shea, mango, and cocoa butters

Of course, it must be said that even natural ingredients can trigger a sensitivity. Discontinue use of any product - natural or not - that doesn’t agree with your skin. 

The process by which your soap was made and the ingredients within absolutely matter. Washing isn’t just the first step in grooming and hygiene; it’s the most important one. Spend less money on products to compensate for what your wash took away, and start using an all-natural soap that will cleanse, protect, and nourish your skin. That way, you can look and feel great - naturally. 

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Handmade Soap: Why Everyone’s Using It, And Why You Should, Too

In a world of free two-day delivery and rapidly-evolving technology, “handmade” isn’t a word that has the cachet it used to. After all, what can humans produce that machines can’t make better, faster, more cutting-edge?

If you think about it, quite a bit. Off the top of our heads, we’d say art. Life-enriching creativity is best left to the living. And making soap is an art (and a science) that huge, automated companies get wrong all of the time.

Here are a few major areas where big business just can’t match handmade soap makers:

Scent  

The most nefarious item on an ingredient list is usually one familiar, not-that-science-y word: fragrance. Companies are not required to provide a list of ingredients they use to create a fragrance. Therefore, any ingredient they don’t want you to know about can be added to your soap and protected under the guise of “fragrance”.

Have you ever used an app to measure the toxicity of a product, or looked a product up on a search engine like the Environmental Working Group has? If so, you know that “fragrance” can take a seemingly simple cream or soap from “relatively harmless” to “DANGER”.

Very few handmade soaps use fragrance. They rely instead on citrus peels, herbs, and essential oils. Nothing is hidden because they have nothing to hide!

Moisture

We love fresh air. Who doesn’t - we all need to breathe! The air also contains moisture that can be drawn in and used to hydrate your skin. All you need to make this process happen is glycerin. Unfortunately, most mass-produced soaps strip out their glycerin. Because glycerin is such an effective humectant, companies want to save it, set it aside, and use it to sell you lotion.

Handmade soaps will retain glycerin. This way, you get a really good bar of soap that doesn’t rob your skin of moisture, which means you’ll use fewer other products. It’s cost-effective for the consumer, but it also means that makers of handmade soap get a loyal, valued customer base without compromising their integrity. It is honest business done right.

Testing

If you use plant-based, time-tested ingredients humanity has relied on for ages, you don’t need to test on animals. Animal testing on the whole isn’t more reliable than other methods. This is why many countries have banned animal testing on products like soap. 

Yet still many companies can legally turn you and the animals into their own personal science experiment. They cram a ton of synthetic ingredients into a product and test it on animals to mixed results. In the end, it’s not always completely safe for you to use, either. Was it really worth it? 

Handmade soap is “tested” on humans. We make sure it gets you clean, is pleasant to use, takes care of your skin, and doesn’t contain anything toxic.

It just makes sense

You buy soap to enhance, cleanse, and beautify your skin. Handmade soap contains only ingredients that were selected for this purpose. On top of that, the soap making process has endured for thousands of years. Each maker adds a bit of their own inspiration and intuition to each batch. 

Why do people still use handmade soap? It’s less irritating, more moisturizing, kinder, and practical. Do yourself - and your skin - a favor by sticking to handmade soap. 

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Buying Natural Soap? Here’s What You Should Know

Buying soap. It seems like a small decision, one that will have little influence in the grand scheme of things. Yet this decision may carry much more weight than you thought. If you’re thinking of buying or have bought natural soap, there are three things you should know.

1. You’re making the right choice.

Big brands may not respond personally to consumers. Their markets are so huge, it’s just not a top priority. And we hate to say it, but the safety and efficacy of their formulas aren’t always a top priority, either.

But do you know what these huge companies do respond to? Declining sales. That’s what prompts them to go back to the drawing board, to listen to customer feedback and suggestions. We believe that everyone’s better off considering and responding to the demands of their customers from the very start.

When you buy natural soap, you’re voting with your dollars. You’re telling the market that ethically sourced, all natural ingredients do matter to you. And we love you for that alone. You want nontoxic, plant-based soap, and we’re happy to make it for you, plain and simple.

2. Your skin will love it.

Pop quiz time! What beneficial purpose does diethanolamine serve in your soap? Companies that sell soap sometimes use it to create more lather or maintain a product’s pH. But all it does when it hits your skin is get absorbed through your pores, where over time it could contribute to serious illness.

What beneficial purpose does saponified coconut oil, lavender essential oil, or rosemary serve? These are skin moisturizers, mood boosters, and anti agers. That’s it! No harm done. When you buy natural soap, you’re buying a product intended to cleanse and condition skin. There’s no fine print to read, no long names to research. It’s formulated to do one thing and one thing only: leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on your day (or night!).

Not to mention, a good natural soap will contain glycerin - a very important ingredient for skin that most companies take out. We leave the good stuff in for you.

3. You have a positive impact on the planet.

Like us, you may have wondered what happens when you rinse. All that soap goes right down the drain. With natural soap, this isn’t a point of concern. But with mass-produced soap full of unnecessary ingredients, it’s become a problem. 

These toxins can elude filtering and end up in the water supply. There’s no long-term research available on some of the chemicals that have become prevalent in recent years. We worry about the impact these ingredients will have on the health and environment of everyone - not just those who purchased that product. It’s like secondhand smoke, except we’re not precisely sure what the outcome will be.

What we are sure of is that our natural soap contains ingredients that came direct from the earth, and won’t do unknown damage going back in. Furthermore, there’s no need to test natural soap on animals, so we don’t. This not only saves both company and consumer money, but reduces the amount of cruelty taking place on the planet. 

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks for doing the best thing for yourself - and everyone else - by buying natural soap!

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Bath Bombs: Heaven-Sent or Hype?

A perfumed, fizzy, dreamy swirl of colors in the tub. Bath bombs have taken off in a major way. Some unleash clouds of glitter into your bath, and some contain other treats inside, from quartz crystals to tub toys. Are bath bombs just another novelty, or are they really good for your skin? Are they all-natural? To decide, let’s first see what they’re typically made of.

Sodium bicarbonate and citric acid: 

These two natural ingredients work together to make the bomb “explode” into a fountain of fizz. As far as skin goes, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can be helpful for restoring or maintaining your skin’s pH balance. It can also be exfoliating, but be wary of DIY tips you see online: you should never use it to scrub your face.

Citric acid is, of course, derived from citrus fruits. Because it’s an alpha hydroxy acid, it can help clear pores and brighten skin.

Butters and oils: 

A good bath bomb will contain ingredients that aren’t just cool to look at, but really great for your skin. Shea butter, cocoa butter, olive and jojoba oils - the possibilities are endless. The drawback is that unfortunately for some, certain oils and butters can clog pores.

Dyes and fragrances: 

Ideally, your bath bombs’ fragrance will come from quality essential oils. Synthetic colors can be tough to avoid, and a lot of popular bath bombs contain them. They will not, however, stain your skin, and a good bath bomb also won’t stain your tub.

That’s because they also often contain a surfactant. This could be an SLS cleansing agent, so beware if you have a known sensitivity. Some bath bombs skip these and stick to the basics: baking soda, citric acid, butters and oils.

Bath Bomb Benefits: 

They look cool and smell nice, but how can they help? Assuming you’ve read the ingredients and are ready to dive in, taking a soak can have an impact on your day (or night) depending on what’s inside.

For one, bath bombs are great for those who have trouble getting to sleep. There are the obvious sleep-inducing effects of a warm bath, but immersing yourself in certain essential oils can help you, too. Look for bath bombs that contain lavender, bergamot, vetiver, and chamomile if you have trouble calming down at night.

Hot baths can also temporarily improve your circulation. This effect can be maximized by the inclusion of oils like peppermint, sandalwood, cypress, and frankincense. This is a great complement to the warm water, giving skin a glow.

And of course, there are few ways better than a fancy bath to relax you and make you feel good. Bath bombs with jasmine, rosemary, and cinnamon can give your mood a noticeable boost with regular bathing.

The bottom line is that bath bombs are an awesome way to pamper yourself and detoxify. They can even be great for your skin, mood, and sleep cycle. But if you have sensitive skin, check your labeling thoroughly. Like anything else, the pretty package can host ingredients that you want to avoid. Even natural ingredients have the potential to be irritating. And if your bombs release flower petals or glitter, make sure you’re in the mood to clean it up!

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