Healthy Living: Natural Soap
Many people today are turning to natural soap, as opposed to commercially made soaps that are filled with a host of artificial ingredients. Mainstream soaps contain harsh, chemical detergents that can dry out the skin. Natural soap is a gentler, eco-friendly alternative.
Natural Soap is Better for You
Natural soap is vegetable based and cruelty-free. Other kinds of soap often contain lard or tallow (animal fats). It may seem grotesque to cleanse yourself with animal fat, but indeed many people do–sometimes unknowingly. Vegetable based soaps replace the animal fats with plant based oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil and shea butter, which are good for your skin.
Most natural soaps also incorporate pure essential oils rather than fragrance oils for scent. Fragrance oils contain chemical, human-made ingredients that may irritate the skin. By contrast, essential oils are extracted from plants like vanilla, peppermint, sage, and sandalwood and are known to have therapeutic benefits.
If youve decided natural soap is for you, beware when buying. Many soap manufacturers are trying to capitalize on the popularity of natural products and claim that their products are natural when they may in fact only contain a natural smell. Read labels, look for the words 100% natural and hand made, and by all means, purchase from a reputable source.
