All Natural, All the Time: 5 Reasons Natural Soaps Are Best
As we go about our everyday lives, we pick up a lot of dirt and grime, carrying it on our skin. Washing our hands and taking showers helps clean off the nasty stuff…but what happens if there’s bad stuff in the soap?
Our skin is our largest organ, where we absorb most of the toxins in our bodies. Cleaning off potential toxins is crucial to maintaining health, but that also means we need to ensure our soaps and personal care products are toxin-free, too.
The movement to ditch the chemical lifestyle has been gaining traction in recent years, and rightfully so. Many of the products we thought were getting us clean and healthy were part of the problem. Turning to natural alternatives, especially natural hygiene products, has grown in popularity.
We understand that there is a lot of information out there about what is good and bad about natural soap, so we wanted to set the record straight. We put together five reasons why natural soap is an excellent option for your personal care needs.
1. Kind to your skin
Unlike many big box store products, natural soaps don’t use harsh chemicals and detergents that strip your skin of moisture. Natural soaps typically have moisturizing properties that cleanse your skin of dirt and harmful oils but protect it from being overly stripped.
Synthetic soaps are often full of toxic chemicals that your skin absorbs. Parabens and sulfates are common ingredients in off-the-shelf products but can cause reproductive issues and endocrine disorders and increase the risk of certain cancers. Synthetic fragrances and dyes are also linked to endocrine and hormonal issues and are known to dry out your skin and irritate skin disorders.
Natural soaps don’t contain any of these ingredients. They use ingredients that have been around for centuries that don’t leave you worrying about your health. Your skin will be clean, hydrated, nourished, and safe.
One of these trusted ingredients is glycerin. With its use in soap spanning centuries, glycerin is one of the best moisturizing ingredients for the skin, but it also cleans your skin well. It is a great ingredient that creates a mild soap for sensitive skin or just anyone looking for a gentle product to get you clean.
2. Kind to the Planet
Natural soaps offer a more environmentally-friendly option to swap into your hygiene routine. Using natural ingredients and not manufactured synthetics means there is no hazardous chemical waste in the production of soap that can pollute waterways and soil.
Chemical soaps often contain petroleum-based ingredients. Petroleum is a byproduct of crude oil production, and its widespread use in various products supports an industry that contributes to carbon emissions.
Natural soaps don’t rely on industries that pollute the environment or ingredients that create chemical waste. They use what Mother Nature has provided for thousands of years.
3. Kind to Animals
Many natural soaps on the market are also cruelty-free. Since the ingredients are safer for the skin and have been around for centuries, testing them on animals is unnecessary.
Animal testing is a cruel practice that sees our furry friends getting poked and prodded, often ending up with adverse reactions to new synthetic ingredients. These poor animals don’t know what is happening but are in pain at the hands of big corporations using harmful ingredients.
Natural soaps aren’t tested on animals, and many don’t need testing. They use ingredients known to be safe, which means keeping our skin protected while protecting helpless animals.
4. Kind to Skin Conditions
Many natural soaps use ingredients known to have unique properties. These can help to treat and alleviate a wide range of skin issues and conditions.
Pine tar is one of these magic ingredients because it’s antibacterial, antifungal, antipruritic, and anti-inflammatory. Studies have found that pine tar may also encourage new cell growth. Did you know that pine tar soap can help soothe psoriasis? It has also been shown to be helpful with eczema, dermatitis, dandruff, sensitive skin, and more. If you are looking for natural relief for psoriasis, the best soap for eczema, or an anti-dandruff shampoo, look for naturally therapeutic ingredients like pine tar.
5. Kind to the Nose
Sure, it sounds funny, but natural soaps often smell great. Whether it’s a smell fresh from the ocean, the flower fields, or the forest, there is sure to be a natural scent that your nose and skin will love.
These fragrances are not the synthetic alcohols we discussed earlier, wreaking havoc on your skin's hydration of hormones. These lovely smells come from essential oils and the natural ingredients themselves.
Using a natural soap is like being transported into nature, leaving you smelling fresh and feeling clean.
Many soap options are available on the market, all claiming to do so much. Many of them are full of unsafe ingredients and created through questionable production practices that can leave you wondering if there is something better out there. Natural soaps are the better choice.
Before you scroll through endless options from unknown sources, start with experts who have been making and selling natural soaps for over a century. Packer’s Pine leads the industry in natural soaps and shampoos, and we know that the healthier, happier option is right for you.
