NATURAL HANDMADE SOAP BAR VS. COMMERCIAL SOAP – WHICH SOAP IS BETTER ?

WHAT IS NATURAL HANDMADE SOAP?

Natural handmade soaps are really amazing for the skin because they use all natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals at all. Typically handmade soaps are made of pure essential oils, butters, vegetable or carrier oils, plant extracts and vitamins with properties that are rich in antioxidants, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and nutrients which are essential to healthy skin.

Handmade soap retains all the moisturizing natural glycerin which also helps produce a rich luxurious lather without any foam boosters to make them lather. Such ingredients make a more moisturizing bar that provide greater benefits for the skin. 

Natural handmade soaps tend to be more expensive than commercial soaps because of the quality ingredients found in them. However, natural soaps need not always have more expensive ingredients which are better for skin such as glycerin, olive oil and cocoa butter.  

Natural handmade soaps do have many benefits and each will have slightly different effect depending on the oils chosen. For instance, soaps  specifically designed for dry skin will contain more glycerin and emollient ingredients which aid the skin in retaining moisture while other handmade soaps will function differently according to how they have been formulated. 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN PROCESSES USED FOR NATURAL HANDMADE SOAP?

There are three common methods you can use to make soap: melt and pour, cold process, and rebatching.  Each method creates amazing handmade soap without doubt, which is better than store-bought bars.

COLD PROCESSED

Cold process soap is made by combining oils and sodium hydroxide lye, which causes a chemical reaction called saponification. In the process, the ingredients are not heated, which allows them to conserve their beneficial and natural properties.

This type of soap is also less aggressive because of the oil involved and the skin retains its protective film after having been washed, which gives it extra hydration and defense. 

In cold process soaps, you get to choose the oils, scents, colorants, and any other ingredients.

MELT AND POUR

Melt and pour soap is a ready-made soap base composed of fatty acids, glycerin, and other natural ingredients.  The base is produced through the “saponification” process, that can be used with or without further chemical processing or customization.

Contrary to cold process soaps, melt and pour soap can be used immediately. All you have to do is melt the base, add the necessary ingredients, fragrance and colorants, and place it in a mold.

These bases often contain super-nourishing components like butter and glycerin which will enrich the skin. In fact, melt and pour soap is the easiest and quickest way to make a high-quality, professional bar of soap.

Their versatility makes them popular with soap-making beginners and they will also allow abundant creative options.  Another reason this is a preferred method is because they are a safer alternative to cold process soap because no lye is involved in the process of melt and pour soap making. No LYE is Involved in the process of melt and pour soap making.

REBATCHED SOAP

Rebatching soap is the process of taking previously made cold process soap, grating it, melting it down and adding other ingredients such as colors, fragrances or additives if desired, and then recasting it into molds.

Rebatching is actually to fix a batch of soap that you have made a mistake on.  It is also a brilliant way to prevent wastage and turn your valuable oils and fats into a useful product, even if mistakes have left the soap imperfect or unsafe to use. Rebatching is also good if you need to preserve the delicate scent or the healing properties of some essential oils.

 If your soap pH turns out to be too high, you can add oils or fats in small amounts until the pH reaches the safe level. If your soap is soft and oily, melting it back down and adding small amounts of lye solution can save it.

Rebatching is similar to the process of working with melt-and-pour soap – shred, melt, add and mold.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING NATURAL HANDMADE SOAP TO SKIN AND ENVIRONMENT?

Natural handmade soaps are made with care and normally in small batches. To make these soaps, the ingredients used are natural, specially selected and of top-quality. Pure ingredients like glycerin, essential oils, plant extract, clays, and herbs are used to create unique and natural formulas. They are gentle and safe on the skin, as most of the ingredients are plant based.

MOISTURISING

Natural soap is enriched with glycerin, a type of fat naturally found in plants  and this ingredient is highly prized for its moisturizing and hydrating abilities. In case you are not aware, many commercial soap companies remove the glycerin from their products to increase their shelf life or for some other purposes.

GENTLE 

Natural soap bars are generally gentler on skin than commercial soaps as they contain no chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate which can strip the skin of its natural moisture. Natural soaps contain glycerin are gentler in their cleaning action and also contain moisturizing glycerin which allows the skin to retain moisture and increase skin hydration and relieve dryness.

SCENT

The scent from natural handmade soap provides therapeutic benefits.  Unlike the synthetic fragrance in chemical soaps, the aromatherapy from the scent of essential oils can help in reducing stress and uplift mood. In addition, it soothes your skin and impacts it in a positive manner.

NO CHEMICALS

Natural handmade soap only uses natural ingredients and since they are made in small batches, due attention is given to their ingredients. The end result is no doubt natural soaps are better, gentler and safer for your skin.

Most commercial soaps are often manufactured with synthetic ingredients that may include parabens, petrochemicals and phosphorus, which irritate and dry the skin. Scientists even link some of these ingredients to hormone disruption and terminal illnesses.

EXTRA SKIN NOURISHING INGREDIENTS

As soon as you begin to use natural handmade soaps, you will see a different glow in your skin. The natural ingredients will  benefit your skin tremendously by keeping it smooth, soft, healthy and youthful.

Whether you have dry, aging or sensitive skin, using natural soaps is always better. The ingredients used to make natural soaps have elements that prevent skin harshness and improve skin elasticity .

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

The natural ingredients in most handmade soaps are biodegradable. Meanwhile, the synthetic ingredients in commercial soaps, such as phosphorus, will drain into rivers and lakes and harm fish and other living things. 

As handmade soaps are also usually done locally and in small batches,  the production process is more ethical and better for the environment without toxic smoke or chemicals from the large scale production.

GREEN HERBOLOGY NATURAL SOAPS

At Green Herbology. we have been providing all-natural and crafted soaps to our customers and just recently 12 new natural soaps were added into our soap list. Our soap bars come with special blends of nutrient-rich and cruelty-free ingredients together with therapeutic essential oils which will benefit your skin.

Our functional ingredients are skin-nourishing, soothing, moisturizing, hydrating, softening and conditioning  which help to treat skin dryness, sensitivity or irritation.

Our soaps are also suitable as wedding gifts, door gifts, festive gifts, corporate gifts, party gifts or any other gifts. Giving soaps as gift is a great idea because people love receiving soaps and soaps are fit for any occasion and budget.

And if you are planning to choose our soaps as your OEM business, you have come to the right place. Your bulk soap purchase will come with plastic seal so that you can rebrand and repack your products with your own product packaging design. Do visit our website or chat with us for more information. ➡️➡️

https://greenherbology.com/product-category/natural-product/body/handmade-soap/

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF OILS COMMONLY USED IN NATURAL SOAP MAKING?

Using different oils will give your soaps different properties, the common oils being jojoba, avocado, argan and sunflower oils, can be used up to 10% in soap recipe. When used in higher concentrations, the bar of soap can become too soft or the soap can even go rancid prematurely.

On the other hand, essential oils can also be added to soaps for their natural scent and therapeutic effects. Essential oils are reputed to have their own benefits for the body and mind and these oils have a concentrated, potent aroma that can be used to scent soaps. Each essential oil has its own unique smell, which can be combined with other essential oils to create a custom scent.

When choosing different carrier oils or essential oils for soap making, it is important to consider their properties, fragrance and how they will work with other oils in your soap recipe. Some essential oils have a very strong scent that can be overpowering, while others are more subtle and can be combined with others for a perfect scent.

We all know that each essential oil has different therapeutic properties, which can be used to target specific skin issues so when choosing an essential oil for soap making, it is important to consider its medicinal values and how it will benefit your skin.

HOW TO COLOUR NATURAL HANDMADE SOAP? 

Adding color to homemade soap is to enhance the appearance of the soap.  It is also a matter of finding out what ingredients to put in to color your handmade soap naturally and at the same time enjoying the benefits.

Adding activated charcoal powder is great for acne, and by adding black color to your soap, it signifies an element of exfoliation as well.  Neem leaves makes a pretty green color can be infused in your soap for its soothing and calming properties and good for sensitive skin.  Beetroot color your soap naturally with its sweet and beautiful touch of soft red.

Clays are also a great way to add that natural and pleasant color to your soap without worrying about bleeding which will give you crisp, clean lines in your soapy designs.  Moroccan red clay makes a beautiful orange/red color and at the same time also draws out impurities of the skin.

MICA POWDERS ARE THE BEST COLORANT FOR SOAP

Mica powders are natural mineral which are known for their shimmering and glittering  properties, are the safest colorants for soap for these reasons: 

COLOR OPTIONS

Micas are available in an endless variety of colors and can also be mixed  together to create custom blends.

NO COLOR MORPHING

Certain micas morph or fade in cold process soap. Therefore, you should choose color-stable micas that are naturally colored to avoid fading in cold process soap. However, micas work great in melt and pour soap, with no possibility of morphing.

NO COLOR BLEEDING

Because micas are a natural mineral, they are considered non-bleeding colors and are stable in cold process and melt and pour soap making.

EASY TO BLEND

Micas blend easily in soap bases. You can evenly disperse the mica with a stir stick, spoon or even an electric mixer. 

SAFE TO USE

Because it is naturally produced,  it is a particularly well-loved ingredient among most beauty brands, and is safe to use on almost all skin types with little to no side effects.

Micas are perfect for coloring natural handmade soaps and they work excellent in any melt and pour soap bases.  At Green Herbology, you can find a wide range of sparkling and beautiful mica powders, which are very flexible and safe to use in your beauty products including soap making. Please visit our website ➡️➡️ https://greenherbology.com/product-category/raw-material/mica/

WHAT ARE THE COMMON AND NATURAL ADDITIVES IN NATURAL SOAP MAKING?

Additives are the additional ingredients that you can add into your soap.  Different from embeds, additives tend to be of the herbal, cosmetic or medicinal purposes.  Additives add texture and dimension to your soap creations, that being said, what you put in will, invariably, appear.  

You can use additives to change the properties of your soap, either to improve the quality of the bar, add additional beneficial properties for your skin, or just for some great visual effects.

NATURAL INGREDIENTS

Adding natural ingredients will give that extra edge to your soaps. This could include dried herbal leaves, orange or lemon peels, ground coffee, spices and other plant extracts.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essentials oils are what you need to add to make your soaps to smell wonderfully. Essentials oils come with various skin benefiting properties besides providing aroma to make you feel lifted and rejuvenated. Make sure you choose pure and natural essential oils from Green Herbology such as Lavender, Peppermint, Sweet Orange, Rose Geranium and lots more here ➡️ https://greenherbology.com/product-category/raw-material/essential-oils/

If you want to naturally scent your handmade soap, essential oils are still the best choice. These highly scented flower and plant essences are extracted directly from the plant and come in a range of pleasant scents. Although essential oils are both natural and plant-based, using these for soap making requires both care and precision and the amount needed for soap making is a balancing act and you need several trials and errors before reaching your pleasing scent.

VITAMINS

You can also add vitamin such as Vitamin E to melt and pour soap to get the moisturizing and nourishing properties, but be careful of the amount.  Unlike cold or hot process soap, melt and pour soap bases have already undergone saponification therefore, if you add too much, your finished soap will feel greasy or oily.

COLORS

Without additives, handmade soap’s natural color remains as an off-white to a creamy color. If you want to color your soap, you need extra ingredients. You can use natural colorants to infuse color into your soap such as plant extract powder or clay.

SCENTS

Actually, soap does not need any scent to get your skin clean and healthy. But we all like pleasant smell therefore you can still use essential oils or fragrance oils if you want.

Essential oils are mostly plant-based, and if you like you can combine them to create custom aromas. Most fragrance oils are synthetic so when selecting these oils, look for skin-safe options.

DIY YOUTUBE VIDEO – HOW TO MAKE MELT AND POUR SOAP HARDER WITH BEESWAX

People find soft melt and pour soaps go smoother on the skin. However, a softer soap dissolves more quickly in water. If you have the right ingredients, you will also know how to make your melt and pour soap harder so that it can keep a firm shape and last longer, and if you are not sure, no worries, here is how you should do it.

To make melt and soap harder, you can add ingredients like beeswax. These is one of the ingredients that help evaporate excess water.

You can also leave the soap out in a dry location with a fan on it for a few days. This might also help evaporate some of the excess water too.

WHAT DO YOU NEED ?

300g of Soap Base: Click to buy➡️ https://greenherbology.com/product/opaque-glycerin-soap-base-sls-sles-free/

5g beeswax: Click to buy➡️  https://greenherbology.com/product/white-beeswax/

10g of oatmeal (we do not sell this)

10 drops of Vanilla Essential Oil: Click to buy➡️ https://greenherbology.com/product/vanilla-essential-oil/

Ethanol alcohol (to remove bubbles ): Click to buy➡️ https://greenherbology.com/product/vanilla-essential-oil/

5 drops of Vitamin E: Click to buy➡️ https://greenherbology.com/product/vitamin-e/

HOW TO MAKE ?

Melt soap base in microwave

After melting, add beeswax, stir until dissolved

Add oatmeal, Vitamin E and Vanilla essential oil

Stir again until well mixed together

Pour into soap mold, let it harden and it is ready to use !

NATURAL HANDMADE SOAP VS COMMERCIAL SOAP? THE FINAL WORD

We all know that the best reason to use handmade soap is of course, the natural ingredients. These ingredients incorporated in your handmade soaps add a healing touch to your daily skincare routine. Homemade soaps ingredients are rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins, and nutrients that are safe and healthy for your skin.

The store-bought commercial soaps are just chemical and synthetic based. Often the ingredients used to add fragrance and foam to these commercial soaps will also have the tendency to irritate and dehydrate your skin and at the same time create itchiness. The moisturizing glycerin in these soaps is usually stripped out for other purposes. Thereafter, synthetic detergents, foaming agents and chemical fragrances will be added to the commercial soaps to replicate the essential properties which were removed.

Handmade soaps, on the other hand, tend to be much gentler on the skin. These soaps use pure essential oils, clay, vegetable oils, plant extracts and body butters that are rich in antioxidants, vitamin, and nutrients that are necessary to maintain healthy skin. Essential oils are added for their aroma and therapeutic properties and sometimes, along with the oils and vitamins, clays are also added to make customized, nutrient and luxurious soaps.

Handmade natural soaps are usually made in small batches with details and care and usually high quality ingredients are used to create unique formulas. Each handmade soap bar is not only natural but functional, safe, luxurious and gentle to the skin. Especially if you are suffering from skin sensitivity, you will definitely find natural handmade bars to be nurturing, beneficial and suitable for your skin. 

All together, the essential oils, butters and clays added into the soap contain special types of therapeutic and healing properties which will automatically make your handmade soaps valuable that naturally moisturize your skin, keeping it soft and supple. 

Natural handmade soaps do not contain any synthetic ingredients, which can be absorbed by the skin and might just get into the bloodstream causing unnecessary problems. Therefore, natural handmade soaps are indeed perfect for everyone including children.