Is handmade soap bad for facial skin?
The benefits of handmade soap for facial skincare
Understanding pH in handmade soaps
pH stands for "potential of hydrogen" and is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Our skin's natural pH hovers around 5.5, making is slightly acidic. Handmade soaps have a pH higher than 7, making them naturally cleansing.
The skin's natural barrier
You may wonder why our skin's pH matters. Well, our skin has a natural protective barrier known as the "acid mantle." This delicate film acts as a defence against harmful bacteria, environmental pollutants, and moisture loss. When the skin's pH is in balance, the acid mantle functions optimally, keeping our skin healthy, hydrated, and protected.
Achieving the ideal balance
While handmade soaps boast a pH above 7, there's a way of creating a balance that respects your skin's needs. Through meticulous craftsmanship, the soap's formulation is perfected to achieve an ideal balance, resulting in a product that leaves your skin feeling refreshed, nourished, and pampered. The inclusion of superfat and other thoughtfully selected ingredients ensures the soap remains gentle on your skin, providing a truly indulgent and beneficial cleansing experience.
What is superfat?
Superfatting is a crucial technique in handmade soap-making that involves incorporating extra nourishing oils into the soap formula. These oils remain unreacted during the saponification process, ensuring that the soap retains their moisturising properties, which are beneficial for the skin. The careful selection of oil/butter types is vital as each offers unique qualities, such as coconut oil for lathering or cocoa butter for added richness, contributing to a luxurious and skin-friendly final product.
"My job starts early, so I don't have time for a skin care routine in the morning. I want something that is cleansing and hydrating at the same time, to give me the creamy lather, but leave the good oils to moisturise my skin. The only thing that can do this, is handmade soap" - Arwa Yousef
Benefits of superfat
Superfat is a boon for your skin with several advantages:
Gentle on the skin: The additional oils in superfatted soap act as natural moisturisers, keeping your skin soft and supple without causing pore blockages.Nourishment: These bonus oils enrich your skin with essential nutrients, ensuring a healthy and glowing complexion with each use.
Avoids over-drying: Unlike commercial soaps, superfatted handmade soap prevents your skin from feeling dry or tight after use.
Perfect balance: With the right amount of superfat, the soap maintains its cleansing efficacy while delivering a luxurious moisturising experience, striking the perfect balance for your skin's needs.
In the soap creation process, the careful selection of oil and butter types, such as coconut oil for lathering or shea butter for intense hydration, enhances specific properties of the soap, making it an artful and purposeful endeavour.
What is Glycerine and why we love it?
One essential ingredient we cherish is Glycerine, aptly called the "moisture magnet." Its value lies in its remarkable ability to nourish the skin, attracting and locking in moisture without clogging pores. This moisture-retaining attribute occurs naturally during the soap-making process, particularly in cases where saponification takes place at higher temperatures, resulting in higher Glycerine content in the final product.
Why Glycerine is removed from commercial soap bars?
Glycerine is removed from commercial soap bars primarily for economic reasons. Glycerine is a valuable and versatile ingredient with various applications in industries like cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food production. It has a higher market value as a separate product than when left in the soap. By extracting Glycerine from soap, manufacturers can sell it or use it in more expensive products, maximising their profits.
Additionally, removing Glycerine from soap can result in a harder and longer-lasting bar, which is more cost-effective for mass production. However, this process also makes the soap less moisturising and can lead to a dry and less effective product compared to handmade soaps that retain the naturally occurring Glycerine.
At Chalke Valley Soaps, we not only wholeheartedly preserve Glycerine in our soap bars, but we also take it a step further by actively boosting its production using advanced techniques. Our dedication to this valuable ingredient ensures an even higher level of moisture-locking Glycerine in every soap we create.
Natural additives
If handmade soaps are enriched with a range of natural additives, they may offer amazing benefits for your skin. For example, essential oils play a vital role, like Tea Tree oil exhibiting antibacterial and antiviral properties to treat acne, while Frankincense oil works wonders in reducing wrinkles and so on.
How about synthetic ingredients?
While at Chalke Valley Soaps, we are committed to using 100% natural products, it's essential to recognise that some synthetic ingredients can also be safe and effective for skincare. The key lies in the formulation and careful selection of ingredients. High-quality synthetic additives, when used responsibly, can provide specific benefits and serve various skincare needs. However, natural ingredients often come with additional nutrients and potential advantages that can be harnessed to promote overall skin health and well-being.
Are all handmade soaps good?
The short answer is no. While the term "handmade" might suggest purity and naturalness, the quality of handmade soaps can vary significantly depending on the formulation. Just because a soap is crafted by hand doesn't guarantee that it's free from harmful synthetic ingredients or properly formulated.
As a cautious consumer, it's essential to carefully check the ingredients before making a purchase. If you come across any unfamiliar components, a quick Google search can provide valuable insights. And if you ever have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to us; we're more than happy to help! Your skin deserves the best, and we're dedicated to providing you with truly nourishing and genuinely handmade soaps.
At Chalke Valley Soaps, our Glycerine-rich formulations are crafted professionally with great care to maintain harmony with the soap's natural pH, ensuring that they leave the skin feeling irresistibly soft and moisturised. To achieve this level of excellence, we collaborate closely with chartered chemists and botanists, leveraging their expertise to create all-natural bars that are not only nourishing but also incredibly moisturising. Our commitment to using high-quality ingredients and advanced techniques further enhances the efficacy of our handmade soaps.
Generations of soap makers
Generations ago, my own grandmother and great grandmother followed the age-old tradition of crafting their own soaps with natural ingredients. They relied solely on these handmade soaps for their skincare and haircare routines, and remarkably, their skin remained free of dryness and blemishes. The simplicity of their skincare regimen, devoid of elaborate toners or moisturisers, highlights the potential efficacy of handmade soap made with care and natural elements.
Despite not explicitly claiming to heal skin issues, the impact of handmade soap can't be overlooked. Personally, I have witnessed its miraculous effects as it resolved my persistent acne concerns. Moreover, numerous users with eczema or dry skin have expressed their satisfaction, claiming significant improvements since incorporating our products into their routines.
The complete skincare experience
While pH is essential, the real magic lies in the art of superfatting and Glycerine preserving. Handmade soaps with the right balance of nourishing oils can elevate your skincare game, leaving you with a pampered and happy complexion. When you indulge in our handmade soap, you embrace a holistic and luxurious skincare experience:
Gentle cleansing: Our meticulously balanced pH ensures effective cleansing without compromising your skin's natural barrier.
Nourishing properties: With the addition of superfat and glycerine preserving techniques, your skin receives an extra boost of moisture and nourishment.
Soothing botanicals: Essential oils and botanical extracts provide soothing and toning benefits to your skin.
So, in response to the main question, a resounding NO! Professionally formulated handmade soap is not bad for the face; on the contrary, it is the ideal daily cleanser that can elevate your skincare routine to a whole new level of indulgence and care. Embrace the luxury of our handmade soaps for a radiant and rejuvenated complexion that reflects the true beauty of natural skincare.
Written by Helga from Chalke Valley Soaps.