What Is In Commercial Soaps And Can They Harm Your Skin?

One of the biggest appeals of a natural skin soap is found in making a difference in the world through buying ethically, conscious of your skincare decisions on the environment.

By buying from small businesses that sustainably source ingredients, you are making a tangible positive difference, but outside of the ethical case for natural soaps, they are also better for your skin.

The main reason for this is that they lack a range of common ingredients that can really harm your skin, cause irritation and in some cases contribute to or exacerbate skin conditions such as eczema.

Here are some common irritants found in commercial mass-market soaps and the harm they can cause your skin.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

One of the most common of these irritants is sodium laureth sulphate (SLS), which is a common detergent that binds to the oil and dirt on our faces and strips it from the skin, which also acts as a foaming agent that creates the characteristic bubbles you feel on your skin.

This has the side effect of stripping the positive, protective oils from your skin as well, leading to redness, dryness and irritation.

Parabens

A common preservative type, parabens are typically used to prolong the shelf life of soaps, cosmetics and skincare products.

They are a common cause of skin sensitivities and allergies through their repeated use. This is why some people with sensitive skin will sometimes notice increasingly negative reactions to certain cosmetics or soaps.

Choosing a natural soap will be free of parabens by design, using natural ingredients again.

Synthetic Fragrances

A key part of the experience of using soaps is the smell, but the unfortunate reality is that so many fragrances are derived from petroleum derivatives, which are known to exacerbate allergic and inflammatory reactions in people who have sensitive skin.