What is natural soap?
Natural soap is a type of cleanser that is made of oils, fats and alkali in a process known as saponification. Unlike "regular" soap, natural soap is made exclusively of natural ingredients such as olive oil or shea butter.
The term "natural soap" is not regulated by any standard or organization, therefore any soapmaker can easily claim that their soap is natural without being scrutinized.
Benefits of natural soap
Natural soap has several benefits, both for your skin but also for the environment.
- Gentle on your skin. Without the toxins or synthetics, natural soap is less likely to irritate your skin.
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Eco-friendly and sustainable: The ingredients in natural soap are often biodegradable. Also, they can be packaged in paper, which means less plastic.
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No synthetic fragrances: Naturally derived fragrances mean no parabens and less likely to interfere with hormones.
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Deep moisture: Due to the naturally created glycerin, natural soap leaves your skin hydrated and less prone to dryness.
Instead of relying on a long list of cleansing agents, thickeners, stabilisers and other ingredients often needed in traditional soap products, natural soap is made from oils, water and lye.
What to think of when choosing natural soap
The word "natural" on its own doesn't tell you very much. Since there is no single universal definition, two products described as natural soap can be very different.
Therefore, it is important to look at the ingredient list.
Pay attention to what oils and butters are used, what type of fragrance is added and whether additional ingredients such as clays or exfoliants have been added. You should also choose a soap based on how you intend to use it and your skin type. A heavily exfoliating bar, for example, might be great for certain parts of the body but less suitable as an everyday soap for sensitive areas.
We usually recommend doing these steps:
- Always check the ingredient list: What is the purpose of each ingredient and does it include stuff that is not really needed?
- Consider your skin-type: If you have dry skin, choose a soap bar with lots of superfat. If you have oily skin on the other hand, go for soap bars with exfoliants such as turmeric or kaolin clay.
- Always test and feel the soap bar out: Every persons skin is different and you won't know which soap bar is for you until you have tried it. Try it in the shower and see how your skin reacts.
Can you use natural soap daily?
Natural soap can be used much like any other soap. Wet your skin and the bar, work up a lather using your hands or directly on the body, finally wash and rinse with water. As always, the amount of showers you take with the natural soap depends on your skin. However, due to the naturally hydrating features of natural soap, showering with it once a day is totally normal.
How is natural soap made?
Natural soap is made through a chemical reaction called saponification. The soapmaker starts by choosing a combination of oils and butters. Different oils contribute different characteristics to the finalized soap, such as hardness, foam and how the soap feels on the skin. Read about what oils we chose and why here.
The oils are then combined with lye and water. Once mixed in the correct proportions (very important!), the saponification process starts. The original ingredients are transformed into new substances: soap and glycerin.
After this, the soap is poured into moulds, given time to harden, cut into bars and left to cure. This curing period allows the excess water to evaporate and the natural soap bar to come into its final shape and form.
What's the difference between natural soap and "regular" soap?
There isn't really one product called "regular soap".
Real soap is made as explained above, through oils, lye and water being blended together. Other "soaps" are cleansing bars made using synthetic surfactants instead. These products, such as liquid body wash or shower gels are not actually soap.
So the difference is that its two completely different things that have the same purpose. One is natural, the other one synthetically made.