Reasons to Get Rid of Conventional Soap
It feels good to be clean! Unfortunately, if you use conventional soap, you could actually be doing yourself more harm than good. Here are a few reasons to ditch the typical soap and opt for organic soap instead.
Vague Labeling
Have you ever wondered what is in your bar or bottle of soap? What makes it lather with so many bubbles or smell like spring flowers? The labeling requirements for soap products are fairly lax, allowing companies to include a myriad of questionable chemicals in their products. On the other hand, homemade and organic soaps typically follow clear labeling policies, with no hidden or mystery ingredients. You can be sure that what you see is what you get.
Parabens, Triclosan, and Other Scary Words
Parabens are synthetic chemicals used in many soaps for their antifungal properties. Unfortunately, they have also been linked to hormone disruption and cancer. Triclosan is the active ingredient in most antibacterial soaps. The FDA has cited concern that triclosan could lead to problems such as infertility, obesity, and cancer. Additionally, Methylisothiazolinone is used in numerous cosmetic and soap products, even though it is known to be toxic to humans. Simply put, conventional soap is not made with the health of its users in mind. Alternatively, organic soap is made mostly from oils and glycerin, which clean, nourish, and moisturize the skin without toxic effects.
Sulfates and Your Skin
Conventional soaps are made with detergents (sulfates) that strip the skin of its natural oils. As a result, these soaps leave you with “clean” skin that is actually dried out and starved for moisture. Glycerin is a natural derivative of the soapmaking process. Instead of drying skin like sulfates, glycerin softens and moisturizes skin. Unfortunately, most commercial soap companies remove the glycerin from their soap. After you use a quality organic soap, however, the glycerin remains on your skin, keeping it moist and soft without the use of other moisturizers.
Sustainability and Social Ethics
Unlike smaller organic soap companies, conventional body care companies do not have a direct connection to their customers. For this reason, their actions do not show the same concern for the well-being of their customers. Do you know if your soap was made by child laborers? Or if the ingredients used were responsibly sourced? Soapmakers who use their own products and sell them to friends and family have a high accountability for the conditions of their production and the ingredients they use. This results in products that are better for customers and for the environment.
More and more people are rejecting chemical-laden conventional soap. Instead of accepting the claims in commercials, consumers are opting for organic soap made with sustainable ingredients. The good news is, giving up your current soap doesn’t mean you have to give up being clean. If you are interested in replacing your conventional soap with products that are better for you and for the world, check out our full selection of organic soap here.