Soap Goes Organic

How to Choose All-Natural Organic Soaps for Sensitive Skin

Nowadays it seems everywhere you look you can find organic alternatives. Consumers have many more choices than ever before when it comes to choosing pesticide and chemical-free products. Beyond fruits and veggies, organic products include clothing, baby food, teas, and even…soap!

What is organic soap?  Manufactured according to USDA approved standards, organic soap lacks the often irritating chemical and detergent based ingredients found in most personal care products.  Organic soap components are often found in plant-based renewable resources that have been produced in a chemical-free natural environment, and typically in a fair trade manner.

Today shoppers can discover organic soap alternatives in bar soaps and shower gels, floor and laundry cleaners, and even pet shampoo. As consumer demand for these all-natural solutions increases, so do the natural soap offerings for personal and homecare.

How to choose the right organic soap? Make sure you understand the process and ingredients that go into each bar. Organic soaps are often crafted by master soapmakers who take pride in their art. They use top-notch ingredients found only in nature, including pure essential oils. They begin by mixing small batches for a long period of time, allowing the soap mixture to thicken slowly. Then they add in special botanical concentrates, herbs, and spices. The soap is then poured into a mold and allowed to harden for several days. Once removed from the molds the bars are allowed to cure for weeks. This painstaking process often results in the highest quality, mildest, yet effective all-natural soap.

Natural soaps often include special healing or soothing essential oils like lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, and rosemary.  A good moisturizing solution for frequently dry and sensitive skin is a combination of soothing oatmeal and lavender natural soap, or aloe baby soap. People with more oily skin are likely to find relief with citrus or tea tree oil selections.

All natural soaps are commonly produced without SLS – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This foaming agent is commonly found in most mass-produced bar soaps, gels, detergents, shampoos, and even toothpaste.  Certainly an important ingredient, SLS performs many cleansing functions. The downside is often debated, though, among all-natural soap enthusiasts. They claim that SLS can lead to skin/scalp irritation on sensitive individuals and even irritation of the gums after brushing. To avoid these potentially uncomfortable side effects, natural, organic bar soaps and shampoos are recommended. Dry/sensitive scalps benefit from aloe/lavender combinations, while oily scalps can often be remedied with citrus shampoo bars.

In recent years, the popularity of antibacterial soaps have skyrocketed. Along with this soar in popularity is an increase in the debate over how helpful antibacterial soap really is. Some researchers claim that antibacterial products are contributing to the emergence of more skin irritations as well as drug-resistant superbugs.  They claim that, when overused, antibacterial agents – often considered quite harsh – can lead to bacteria -attracting skin irritations including eczema. Some believe that antibacterial agents can rob the skin of needed fatty acids, moisture, and amino acids. This would results in dryer and rougher skin. And finally, some lab studies suggest that use of antibacterial products kill off sensitive bacteria, leaving behind hardier strains such as E Coli and staphylococcus aureus that may live longer. So, who do you believe? You don’t have to be a strict purist to believe that falling back on nature’s bounty and choosing organic products is the safe route when navigating the antibacterial soap debate. According to organic soap proponents, healthy living goes hand-in-hand with limiting overall chemical contamination from our daily use products. Fortunately, the choice to go organic gets easier and easier, as more products find their way to the market every day.