What Are The Ingredients In Natural Soap?
A better question would be “What ingredients are (NOT!) in Natural Soap?”
Natural Soaps Do Not Contain “Fragrance”. Fragrances came into being in part as a source for a cheaper alternative to natural scents. However, a large part of the imposters are made from petroleum by-products and contain known carcinogens, cause allergic reactions and most are officially classified as hazardous materials. You will find them listed on labels as “fragrance”, “essence”, “scents’ or “perfume oil” or the like. But that doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy natural scents. Opt for products scented with Essential Oils and say so on the label. Essential oils are oils extracted from plants and are more costly than their synthetic counterparts so there would be no reason for essential oil to be labeled deceptively. So you pick up a bar of melon scented soap. That sounds natural doesn’t it? Guess again! There are NO natural scents such as apple, blackberry, banana, cranberry, coconut, mango, melon, peach, pear, plum, strawberry, on and on. And to add to this, many of the products on the market labeled “Aromatherapy” do not contain essential oils at all but rather synthetic fragrance oils that do not have any therapeutic benefits whatsoever and may do more harm than good. So, how about choosing a “fragrance free” product? Fragrance free does not mean no fragrance added. It may mean that a fragrance has been added to cover up a smell so it has no odor. These same toxins are also in shampoos, conditioners, toothpastes, laundry products and household cleaning solutions.
A better question would be “What ingredients are (NOT!) in Natural Soap?”
Natural Soaps Do Not Contain “Fragrance”. Fragrances came into being in part as a source for a cheaper alternative to natural scents. However, a large part of the imposters are made from petroleum by-products and contain known carcinogens, cause allergic reactions and most are officially classified as hazardous materials. You will find them listed on labels as “fragrance”, “essence”, “scents’ or “perfume oil” or the like. But that doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy natural scents. Opt for products scented with Essential Oils and say so on the label. Essential oils are oils extracted from plants and are more costly than their synthetic counterparts so there would be no reason for essential oil to be labeled deceptively. So you pick up a bar of melon scented soap. That sounds natural doesn’t it? Guess again! There are NO natural scents such as apple, blackberry, banana, cranberry, coconut, mango, melon, peach, pear, plum, strawberry, on and on. And to add to this, many of the products on the market labeled “Aromatherapy” do not contain essential oils at all but rather synthetic fragrance oils that do not have any therapeutic benefits whatsoever and may do more harm than good. So, how about choosing a “fragrance free” product? Fragrance free does not mean no fragrance added. It may mean that a fragrance has been added to cover up a smell so it has no odor. These same toxins are also in shampoos, conditioners, toothpastes, laundry products and household cleaning solutions.
Natural Soaps Do Not Contain Phthalates. Phthalates are common ingredients in synthetic fragrance used in soaps and other products and have been in the headlines lately. You won’t find “phthalates” on any soap label. The ingredients used in fragrance are considered trade secrets and are exempt from labeling requirements. Phthalates have recently been linked to development problems in baby boys and obesity in men.
Natural Soaps Do Not Contain Synthetic Preservatives. You won’t find Parabens or BHT in Natural Soap. Common parabens include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. There are growing concerns about the use of parabens causing anything from contact dermatitis to cancer. BHT (BHA/BHT; Butylated Hyroxytoluene) is another common preservative used in soap, cosmetics and food and is known as an instigator for immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin.
Natural Soaps Do Not Contain Dye. Natural Soaps often contain herbs, spices and botanical for color or earth mined minerals and sometimes are plain and simply natural, no color added at all. Artificial colors have been shown to be carcinogenic, not only when ingested but also when applied to the skin.
Natural Soaps Do Not Contain Antibacterial Chemicals. You won’t see triclosan (which is actually classified as a pesticide) and other antibacterial chemicals on the label of natural soap. There are growing concerns about the use of antibacterial chemicals being absorbed through the skin and environmental concerns as well. If you are looking for a natural antibacterial soap Tea Tree Oil Soap is a safe bet.
Even many of the soaps labeled “Organic” contain synthetic fragrance and other synthetics in the products. And just because it is handmade soap does not mean “natural”. Many of the handmade soap makers use the artificial fragrances and artificial dyes for the cost savings and for you who insist on strawberry and raspberry scented soap. Also, many of the commercial soaps and some handmade soaps contain tallow or animal fat that can clog pores and irritate skin.
Everything you put on your skin has an affect. That’s why transdermal patches work so well. So, read the label and look for ingredients you do not want in your “Natural Soap” and other products.
Soap for Goodness Sake
