Handcrafted Soaps in All their Glory
After avoiding soap for years because my ridiculously sensitive skin would yell and complain loudly for several hours after using (commercially made) soap, an attentive and caring reader of this blog called my attention to handcrafted soap.
Not only did she convince me there was a huge difference between handcrafted soap and commercially made soap, she even sent me some so I could try for myself.
She was absolutely right.
I became an instant convert and haven't looked back in 7 years.
The Difference Between Handcrafted and Commercially Made Soap
I know you're curious, so here's a brief explanation of why handcrafted soap has more to offer us folks with sensitive skin (and, well, folks with all types of skin).Handcrafted soap has a natural content of glycerine (which is quite a skin-loving ingredient). You may call it glycerol or glycerin, but we are indeed talking about the same substance.
During the production of commercially made soap, it is common practice to separate out the glycerine. This is partly because glycerine is a useful ingredient that can be sold for other uses, but also because the soap will stay harder and not tend to go quite as mushy if left in a wet soap dish.
I'm betting it is not to avoid soft soap with a tendency for mushiness, but to be extra profitable that commercial soap manufacturers separate out the glycerine, but, hey, I could be wrong.
Meantime, the natural glycerine content of handcrafted soap is what makes it less harsh and less drying for skin.
These Handcrafted Soaps
Which brings me to the picture at the top. See all those fabulous soaps up there? They are all fragrance free, include exclusively natural colorants, and were all lovingly made.But I didn't make them.
They were handcrafted especially for me by a colleague and the talented lady who wrote this book with me.
I can't wait to get serious with them and can hardly decide where to start!
More Links'n'Stuff
About Glycerine (on this blog)
Glycerine- Uses and PropertiesGlycerine, Glycerites and Preservative Power
Find Soap by [M] Botanicals right here
The original post about the reader (and fellow blogger) who sent me handcrafted soaps (on this blog)
Comments
I am a retired research/formulation Chemist, and since my retirement have been making vegetable oil based soaps and teaching to small groups.
Every thing I teach is based on the application of scientific principals to making soap , which is no more than the application of Saponification chemistry.
I start my teaching module by reading the label of a very popular commercial cleaning bar and explaining the purpose of each component emphasising that there is nothing wrong with them , they are just not SOAPS or Saponified vegetable oils.
We then go on to make beautiful soap based on Olive oil, Rape Seed Oil , Coconut Oil , never Palm oil and other selected easily available vegetable oils . To add essential oils , ,natural exfoliants , charcoal clays or spices (Turmeric is very popular) is always a.
matter of choice.
I have found out that amongst commercial Hand made soap people there is a range from makers of very high scientific ability to those with no understanding what so ever of what they are doing. David Press MRSC.
@David Press - Thank you for your enlightening and informative comment. I believe your soapmaking classes are the kind I would enjoy immensely!
@Helen Woloski — How wonderful you have been making your own soaps for so long. I have made many shampoo bars, but not CP soap :)