Next time you’re shopping at your local supermarket, take a look at what ingredients are actually put in what we commonly refer to as ‘soaps’. Often you’ll find that they aren’t actually labelled as soap on the packs; large conglomerates tend to use terms such as ‘moisturising bar’. But if you do look at the ingredients, you’ll notice that chemically processed soaps and soap-derivatives can have side effects that you might want to avoid.
This is because they can never be legally claimed as soaps mainly because of the ingredients they contain and which are basically nothing but detergents! The makers of these products have diligently removed the “essentials” in manufacturing a soap and replaced that with harsh synthetic lathering chemicals; and to say the least, these scented appealing beauty bars are not only harmful for your skin but are abrasive for this planet too.
Why are these Soaps Bad for Us?
Often manufacturers of these kinds of products will remove the glycerin that is produced during the soap-making process. The glycerin is actually a health-promoting substance and is great for the skin. So much so that it is one of the main ingredients found in moisturisers and lotion that we ironically use to treat our skin after the soap has dried it up, or worse.
Artificial colors/fragrances and synthetic lathering agents such as Sodium Laurel Sulfate can inflame skin for certain people and can be very damaging to the eyes, particularly for young children.
According to a study conducted by the National Coalition against the misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP), the ingredients found in some type of synthetic soaps are even capable of causing cancer. There are lots of reasons why you should not use antibacterial soaps anymore.
As well as being potentially harmful to human health, antibacterial soaps can also damage the environment. Triclosan, which is found in many of these soaps, is understood to leave trace amounts even after being treated and eventually finds its way to bodies of water. Being an unnatural chemical, it disrupts the process of photosynthesis for algae and other plant life.
What can be Used as Alternative?
Handmade natural soaps are the best option! Handmade soaps have balanced cleansing and moisturising properties which helps with cleaning and also takes care of your skin. One such example is goat’s milk soap. Goat Milk Soap is great for people with sensitive skin and has many dermatological benefits. It helps heal your skin allergies and prevents the usual rashes that might occur due to everyday exposure to the dust by helping to maintain our skin’s natural moisture.
To sum it up, natural soaps are preferable despite being harder to find and much less popular by antibacterial soaps. Check out Be Enchanted for a full range – you’re sure to notice the benefits!
