Natural Soap

Natural cleansers are typically biodegradable and do not use animal testing or animal based products for their soaps.

Common Ingredients

The most common types of natural soaps are milk-based or based on vegetable oils. These are combined with lye and often other ingredients to produce the soap.

Common ingredients in natural soap include:

• Olive oil
• Avocado oil
• Coconut oil
• Palm oil
• Sunflower oil
• Shea butter
• Aloe Vera
• Natural clays
• Essential oils
• Ground pumice

There are dozens of other natural ingredients available in various types of soap. Tea leaves, medicinal extracts, flowers, plants, fruit extracts, oat and grain derivatives, and herbs may be used to create unique soaps of different textures and scents.

Process

There are several different ways to make natural soap. The cold process, whereby the ingredients are blended without heat to achieve the necessary ph balance, is quite common. Other methods include semi-boiled and full-boiled. Semi-boiled soaps are mixed and then heated before being place in molds. Full-boiled soaps are heated as they are mixed.

The process for transparent soaps, also referred to as glycerin soaps, requires the addition of an ingredient such as alcohol to change the composition of the soap.

Forms

Shape

Soap made naturally can be found in rectangular bar form just like typical drugstore soaps. The exact size and shape of the bars may not be the same, as the bars are usually hand cut. Other forms include round bars, oval bars, square bars, soap stones, mini-bars, and specialty soaps -- molded in floral or other shapes or designs.

Liquid Soap

Although bar soap is probably the most common type of natural soap, many companies also produce natural liquid soap as well. These may be designed as hand soaps or body washes. Due to the mild nature of naturally-derived soaps, many natural liquid soaps can be used for multiple purposes, such as Lobsterman's 3-in-1 organic soap, which can be used as a hand soap, body wash, and shampoo.

Special Skin Care Needs

The many different variations of natural soap can meet special skin care needs as well. Although most types are mild, there are extra-gentle soaps designed for [Baby Skin Care| babies]] or those with extremely sensitive skin. Extra moisturization from ingredients like shea butter is available in many soaps for those with dry skin.

For people suffering from acne or oily skin, some types are made with ingredients such as dead sea minerals, sulfur, peppermint, and tea tree oil to treat and prevent acne. Glycerin soaps, which are more drying, are also often used for acne.

Shopping

There are so many different kinds of natural soap available; you may want to experiment with sampler packs from various companies to find the ones you like best. Natural cleansing bars and liquid soaps are typically higher in price than their synthetic counterparts. Expect to bay anywhere from $1 to $5 or more per bar depending on the type of soap, size, and ingredients.

You can find natural soap in natural health and beauty stores, specialty stores, and from many small companies and online retailers. You can find a few brands, such as Tom's of Maine available at standard department and drugstores, as well as the health and beauty section of many grocery stores.

Online retailers include:

• Clearly Natural
• Woodsprite Soap
• Chandler's Soaps
• River Soap Company
• Just Soap