Today, there are many types of soap and many types of natural soap. Unfortunately, the word "natural" is used loosely and sometimes too arbitrarily in the field of the cosmetics industry and commercial marketing... But if we stick to the original meaning of the word, "natural" means made with natural ingredients , with raw materials from nature.
However, much of what we are sold and bought today as "natural soap" in pharmacies or commercial establishments is actually made with the famous parabens and chemical derivatives created in a laboratory. Why does the industry use this type of components? Simply because they are much cheaper to produce. For this reason, a bar of industrial soap costs €3 and ours costs €6 and our profit margin is lower. The explanation is simple, it does not have much mystery.
- But that's why I always say that it's important that we carefully read the composition of the products we buy for our skin care. And in this sense, I would tell you that "Something that you cannot eat, do not put it on your skin either". Of course there are exceptions to this. In our case, for example, we have sulfur or active carbon soap, which have excellent properties to combat acne; but that we would never eat, right….?
But in general, in most of the formulations we make for dry skin, the ingredients we use could be eaten: olive oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil, argan oil, oats, honey, cinnamon, coffee, aloe vera, chamomile, calendula. . They are natural ingredients.
- So, to overcome this debate about natural soap, if it really is natural or if it is not... my recommendation is that we always look for soap made with Vegetable Oils, and that we also do a little research on the properties of each of these for the skin oils. Later we will talk in depth about this as well.
But in addition to a soap made with vegetable oils, it is important that we look for a soap made in an Artisanal way. Why? For several reasons. First of all, because in this way we will be promoting local commerce and local consumption. But above all because a handmade soap will normally have Extra Virgin Olive Oil as a fundamental ingredient. And this is something that the industry finds difficult to use because of what we said before: because of its high price. Normally, they resort to other types of fatty oils such as palm or soybean oil. Therefore, the key to having healthy skin would be to use a soap made by hand and made up of natural ingredients such as Vegetable Oils and Waxes. But we will have to try different types and see which one is the most suitable for our skin. Because there are many types of handmade soap depending on the ingredients or vegetable oils that we have used.
VEGETABLE OILS: - As the years go by, the regeneration of the skin becomes slower, it loses more water, therefore it becomes more fragile and fine.
- Vegetable oils provide fatty acids and other compounds, especially necessary to slow down the aging process caused by age, and also provide elasticity to our dermal tissues, and make the epidermis stay moist for longer, and therefore it is much healthier.
- If we decide to apply the pure vegetable oil on the skin, it must always be done when it is slightly damp, it is preferable to use it at night. If you think we are going to see the properties of the most common vegetable oils in natural cosmetics or at least the ones we use most frequently.
- Apart from olive oil, which is the basic ingredient and which provides a fundamental moisturizing base, we can talk about other vegetable oils such as Avocado, Sweet Almonds, Calendula, Wheat Germ, Argan or Rosehip. These oils are obtained by cold pressing of the pulp and bone of the vegetables and the 1st pressure is considered the oil with the highest purity.
- Avocado: It is an excellent antioxidant ideal as an anti-wrinkle treatment, for the eye contour, emollient, for dry, rough and rough skin. It favors the production of collagen, and counteracts stretch marks or small wrinkles. Even though it is a dense oil, the skin absorbs it very easily, since its composition is close to that of our skin. It can also be useful to enrich creams or as a make-up remover, providing hydration to mature skin.
- Calendula: Oil obtained by maceration in a vegetable oil (usually Almond or Avocado) in the flowers of Caléndula officinalis. It is an excellent oil for sensitive and irritated skin, it is a very moisturizing oil but also analgesic and soothing. Ideal for problems of psoriasis, dermatitis... It can also be used for baby's skin with irritation or rashes caused by the diaper, dermatitis, or to soothe sun irritations and insect bites.
- Wheat Germ: Wheat germ oil is the vegetable oil with the highest amount of vitamin E existing in nature, there are also other vitamins such as A and D, as well as linoleic, oleic and lecithin fatty acids. It is a preventive oil in the formation of wrinkles, it will also help to minimize them, improves dryness, relieves itching, sun-damaged skin and inflammation.
- Evening Primrose: properties similar to Rosa Mosqueta or Argan. - Castor: repairs tissue damage, and powerful anti-stain treatment.
- Rosehip and Argan: Rosehip is photosensitive. As you know, these two oils are above all excellent regenerators of skin tissue. Its great value is found in the fact that they vitalize and invigorate the innermost layers of the skin, activating the cells that form collagen and elastin, thus providing firmness and elasticity to the skin. They are very useful in the treatment against deep wrinkles, in the prevention of stretch marks, improves blood circulation and moisture in the skin. But they are also super effective for treating burns, stains or superficial wounds.
- Soaps made with vegetable oils contain Natural Glycerin inside, which is the basic nutrient of our skin.