Why do regular bar soaps dry me out?
October 17, 2013
How come my sensitive skin can tolerate handmade bar soaps but regular bar soaps dry me out?
Soap is fascinating stuff and the same ingredients can take bar, liquid, gel, paste or foamer forms. But of all the forms soap can take, properly made and formulated handmade bar soaps are always the mildest soap that can be made. Here are three reasons why:
- Handmade soap has no measurable free caustic. Excess caustic in mass market soap insures an extra long shelf life and helps the bar foam more. Downside: your sensitive skin will get dried up and irritated!
- Handmade soap has extra oils in them. These help to moisturize tender skin. However the more moisturizing a bar soap is the less it foams. It is the art of the soapmaker to find that balance.
- Soap is a crystal and soapmakers are crystal growers. Properly made handmade soap takes a month before it is ready to use. Crystals that grow slowly are more uniform instead of being large and jagged. Here is a picture if some nice looking soap crystals being formed:
Posted in Ask the Soapman
