Do you understand the difference between pure natural soap versus beauty bars? If not, then let me enlighten you. There are literally thousands of “bar soap” products on the market. These are products that you use to cleanse your skin. Many of these products are called “beauty bars”. You will find all sorts of bars made for men, women, children, heck even pets!
There’s soap that floats, and beauty bars that moisturize, exfoliate, fight acne and more. You will discover simple names like ivory. There are also yummy names that makes you wonder if the company is selling a bath product or a piece of candy.
To better explain things, let’s see what the Federal Government has to say.
What Is Pure natural Soap
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Source: FDA.gov
Whether a product is a “soap” in the traditional sense, or is really a synthetic detergent, helps determine how the product is regulated. So, let’s take a look at how “soap” is defined in FDA’s regulations;
To meet the definition of soap in FDA’s regulations, a product has to meet three conditions:
- What it’s made of: To be regulated as “soap,” the product must be composed mainly of the “alkali salts of fatty acids,” that is, the material you get when you combine fats or oils with an alkali, such as lye.
- What ingredients cause its cleaning action: To be regulated as “soap,” those “alkali salts of fatty acids” must be the only material that results in the product’s cleaning action. If the product contains synthetic detergents, it’s a cosmetic, not a soap. You still can use the word “soap” on the label.
- How it’s intended to be used: To be regulated as soap, it must be labeled and marketed only for use as soap. If it is intended for purposes such as moisturizing the skin, making the user smell nice, or deodorizing the user’s body, it’s a cosmetic. Or, if the product is intended to treat or prevent disease, such as by killing germs, or treating skin conditions, such as acne or eczema, it’s a drug. You still can use the word “soap” on the label.
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As you can see, for a product to be considered true soap, its primary ingredients should consist largely of fatty acids. These fatty acids must be the ONLY material that results in the products cleansing action. If the product contains synthetic detergents, then although it can still be called “soap”, it’s not true soap in the sense that it should only consist of fatty acids.
Now you may be asking why does it matter rather it’s called soap or beauty bar? Or why should it matter if it has synthetic detergents in it or not. So long as it cleans, that’s all that should matter right?
Well sure, if you do not care what you are putting on your skin. So long as you are getting clean, then nah, it does not matter.
But if you are concerned with what you are applying all over your body. If you care what you use on a daily basis. If it concerns you the effects it can have on your health or skin. Then yes, it should matter.
Did you know that back before “mass production” became popular that many families created their own bath & beauty products? The few companies that did produce soap, made products that consisted of primarily fatty acids.
In a sense, true pure and natural soap was the most common body cleanser available on the market.
The Decline Of Pure Natural Soap
Heinrich Gustav Magnus, a scientist, developed a synthetic chemical back in 1833. This chemical is commonly known as “Isethionic acid” and a common fatty acid esther known as “Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate” is derived from this chemical.
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate is a biodegradable anionic surfactant and is also typically the MAIN ingredient in what is known as “Beauty Bars”. Some common uses of surfactants is that they may act as wetting agents, detergents, emulsifiers, foaming agents and dispersants.
To break it down for you, a guy back in the 1800s created a chemical that helps water spread (wetting agent). This chemical washes away dirt and grime (detergent). It mixes well with other ingredients (emulsifiers), that produces bubbles (foaming agents). When used, it breaks down the bodies own natural oils so that they can easily wash away (dispersants).
This chemical is now used as the PRIMARY ingredient in many bath products available on the market today.
Now we go back to pure natural soap. Soaps that consists of primarily fatty acids, already produce all the same effects as this widely used chemical. True soap consists of fat, oils or butters. These ingredients will need to go what is called the saponification process. This is where one combines fats, oils or butters and sodium hydroxide (another natural product derived from wood ash). Once the saponification process has completed, then one has what is considered true, pure natural soap.
When making homemade soap, a person can of course add additional ingredients. These extra ingredients will determine if the soap is still “pure natural soap” or just another chemically bath product.
Let’s consider essential oils for a moment. 100% Pure essential oils can be used to create a pure natural soap that smells refreshing, energizing and fabulous.
One can add other natural ingredients such as clays and salts to give it extra cleansing capabilities, but so long as it consists primarily of fatty acids, it is still deemed to be pure natural soap.
But when one adds synthetic ingredients, like fragrances that primarily consist of man-made chemicals then the soap is no longer pure and natural.
This does not necessarily mean that all bars of “soap” are unsafe if they are ridden with man-made synthetics. One just needs to use caution when using a certain soap or beauty bar.
The best way to determine if a product is safe for you to use, is for you to conduct diligent research on the ingredients in the product. You can do this by using google as your tool, and knowledge as your guide. This article can’t cover the key points you’ll want to learn if you wish to research bath & beauty products, but if it’s something you desire to learn more about then you’ll love the Scents & Beauty business course.
The scents & beauty business course provides a plethora of fabulous information. It was created to guide others whom desire to know more about the bath & beauty industry. If you desire to learn more about the benefits of using pure natural products, then you’ll want to take the course. It also provides helpful information about the proper way to research modern bath & beauty products. This helps you become a more informed and educated consumer.
Oh, and did I mention that you’ll receive access to more than 20 years of fabulous bath & beauty recipes? These recipes are some of my best recipes that I have formulated over the past 20 years. I do not share them publicly, but I do share many of them with those who choose to participate in The Scents & Beauty Business Course. Click here to find out more about it, I hope you join us today!
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