Jul 25, 20206 min read

Commercial Soap vs Handmade Soap

Updated: Apr 19, 2021

Whenever we talk about the difference between Handmade soap and commercial soap, the very first thing that comes in mind is

“Handmade soaps are expensive"

True, they are… but I am sure after reading this blog, you won't mind paying more for your safety and environmental safety.

For now, let’s concentrate on how a handmade soap is different from the one you buy from the store.

Please go thru the ingredients of a very famous mild soap and one of our Nettle Yarrow soap.

Why we chose this particular soap?? Because one of our esteemed customers gave us the feedback for this soap, that it is very much the same as “mild commercial soap”. The only difference he found is, he didn’t feel like to use lotion or moisturizer after bath using our Nettle Yarrow Soap, while he never felt the same with store-bought “this mild soap”.

Let's Compare ingredients of our Nettle Yarrow soap with Commercial mild soap

Natural Soap Ingredients

Saponified Oils - Coconut Oil, Olive Pomace Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Castor Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Canola Oil
Beeswax
Non-nano Titanium Dioxide
Nettle Leaves
Yarrow (Brinjsav)
Green Rhassoul Clay
Annato Seeds Infusion
Chamomile Blue Essential Oil

Commercial Soap Ingredients

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate - This is nothing but a Detergent and Emulsifier. It dries out skin and has no beneficial properties for the skin
Stearic Acid
Sodium Tallowate Or Sodium Palmitate
Lauric Acid
Sodium Isethionate - Is foam enhancer
Water
Sodium Stearate - Is another ingredient that strips the skin of all of its oils
Cocamidopropyl Betaine - Is a synthetic surfactant
Sodium Cocoate Or Sodium Palm Kernelate
Sodium Chloride
Tetrasodium Edta & Tetrasodium Etidronate- Are chelating agents and preservatives that can irritate the skin
Maltol - It's a fragrance which can be harsh on sensitive skin and skin conditions
Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)

Commercial Soap is made from Petrochemicals, detergents, hardeners and synthetic lathering agents that are not biodegradable and do pollute our water. In contrast, Natural soap is biodegradable is safe for our earth and does not pollute rivers.

Handmade soaps are naturally made soaps that are safer for your skin, compared to commercial soaps. These soaps are made of Oils, Butters and additives from natural sources.

The best reason to use handmade soap is its ingredients. To know more about ingredients, please visit our ingredients section. The natural ingredients incorporated in our hand made soaps add a healing touch to your daily skin routine. Homemade Soaps' ingredients are grown from the earth itself and are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients that are healthy for your skin.

Handmade soap contains glycerin and is a humectant that attracts moisture from the air to the skin. It’s produced naturally during the soap-making process. Glycerin is one of the amazing things that make handmade soap so marvellous! However, glycerin is removed from Commercial Soaps and is used or sold in making creams and lotions.

Commercially prepared soap isn’t skin-loving and can leave the skin feeling dry without glycerin.

Now If you ask me, “Is homemade soap not made with lye?? Who wants to put lye on their skin???” Agree! I too definitely don’t want to put it on my skin. If correctly calculated, no lye is left in the soap.

After emulsification of lye and oils, saponification begins.

This process turns the lye and oil into soap.

No lye comes into contact with the skin because there is no lye in the final bar – it’s now soap! All real soap is made with lye to start with, even clear melt and pour soap (commonly referred to as ‘glycerin soap’).

However, Melt and Pour Soaps are also not fully considered handmade soaps, just because you can add fragrances and colours, doesn’t make it handmade.

These bases are prepared in the factory or wherever, and we don’t know what ingredients are used while making soap bases. It might have some chemical to keep it intact.

Did we bother to know or ask??

I will still consider it better than commercial soaps just for one thing, that it has glycerin in it.

Benefits of Handmade Soap

1. It's A Gentle Soap:

Commercial soaps dry your skin out and can be very uncomfortable when used long term, especially for children and older people. The chemicals in these soaps dehydrate your skin and cause itchiness. These soaps also have an allergic reaction in your skin.

Handmade soap, on the other hand, tends to be much gentler on the skin. It is perfect for those who have sensitive skin and also fantastic for every single person – Parents, Adults and Kids. Handmade soaps naturally moisturize the skin, keeping your skin soft.

2. Eco friendly Soaps:

Handmade soaps are far more biodegradable than their antibacterial counterparts, and they do not contain synthetic chemicals. They are also considered environmentally friendly as no pesticides and chemicals are used in its creation.

You have a range of personal care cleansers to choose from, that harms the environment. All commercial soaps are made of disturbing synthetic and chemicals detergents that are non-biodegradable due to their branched hydrocarbon chains.

3. It's a Safe Soap:

The most alluring quality of the handmade soap is their harmless effect on your skin. The handmade soaps improve your skin condition. It might relieve from itchiness, dryness, and skin conditions like eczema, and acne.

The chemical in soap removes natural skin oil, which protects and lubricates the skin. These soaps also might lead to breakouts or dry skin. Chemically infused soaps are like slow poisons what we are giving to our skin. These types of soaps will not affect you in a day or month, but it will have its effect after years of usage.

4. It's a Glycerin Soap:

Glycerin is a precious humectant that softens and maintains water balance by attracting moisture to your skin. Glycerin is an essential ingredient in soap, and in handmade soaps, glycerin is created during the making process. Glycerin is settled in between the soap molecules, attracts moisture and draws it deep into your skin to keep it hydrated. The low pH due to glycerin makes sure your skin remains fresh throughout.

But, mostly in commercial soaps, the glycerin is completely extracted and is added in other products like gels and lotions. It makes your skin dry and flaky with time. So, the customers are forced to buy soap for cleansing and another product for moisturizing.

Now you must be sure about which soap is best for skin.

Lets take a step further to know more -

COMMERCIAL SOAP Production

Mass Produced: Large Multinational Companies produce most commercial soaps, and have factories all over the world. This mass-production results in a considerable amount of environmental waste and damage, which affects the living conditions of thousands of people worldwide.

Factory-Made: Commercial soaps are made by machines in less suitable conditions. Most consumers remain unaware of the working conditions and cleanliness of the factories where their soap is made.
Commercial soap is produced especially for large scale in factories. Money is the only interest of these companies, and they won’t commit themselves to natural soap-making due to higher production costs for mass-producing.

NATURAL SOAP PRODUCTION

Locally Produced: Natural soaps are usually locally produced with locally sourced fresh ingredients. These local soap makers benefit small communities financially, and they also have a very minimal carbon footprint.

Handmade: Handmade, natural soaps are rising in popularity since it’s enjoyable and pride to make. Soaps are not only beneficial in use, but consumers also have the opportunity to meet the person who produced their soap. They get to educate themselves on the ingredients used in the soap by a soapmaker.
Made with Care: Soap making is almost like baking, with many making the comparison because of the time and mixing of ingredients required. It requires a certain amount of love and attention to make every batch. As there is no chemical involved, it takes a good time to cure for 4-6 weeks. It has its natural lather and properties as a Natural Soap. For this reason, most natural soaps are consciously created by people who are passionate about health and the environment.

So, commercial brands are not called soap because they are detergents and do not meet the legal definition of soap.

Why do these commercial soap companies add undesirable chemicals to the soap? Because they are cost-effective ( of course which means more profit) and they also provide the soaps with a very long shelf-life.

Bath or shower is everybody's every day's task. Keep in mind, our skin is the body's largest organ and is like a sponge which absorbs many different chemicals.

Read The Label On A Bar Of Your Favorite Commercial Soap!