Difference
There are many who wonder what is the difference between a natural soap vs. the one you buy in the store. I will answer it very simply: The CHEMICALS, aromas and long-lasting additives, and the fact that they are prepared en masse through machinery vs. in a local workshop prepared with natural ingredients.
Ingredients
What do we call "natural ingredients"? The banana that is in our homes, the papaya that you buy and process in the food processor or blender. The oatmeal water that you prepare with the one you buy at the grocery store. Infuse the oils with dried flowers and spices in your home. These are just several of the natural products that an artisan uses to make soap.
Cost
The big difference that a consumer finds between artisanal soap and commercial soap is the price. As a soap artisan I now understand very well the reason for the difference in cost. Before, as many think, I said: they are very expensive, they don't smell much, they don't foam, etc.
You would then have to start thinking about the long-term cost of using commercial soaps for your skin, which even if they say they have aloe, cocoa, shea butter, etc. They are high in NON-natural additives precisely because of the cost. In addition to as I already explained, they make them in quantities. Think about that and how your skin will respond to those “natural” ingredients. Many people suffer from dry skin, others suffer from many allergies and even their skin becomes inflamed. Remember that the skin is the largest organ in the body that covers all the muscles, fat, blood vessels, etc.
By using natural soaps made in private workshops, you are consuming a purer product and therefore with high benefits for your skin. Have you ever wondered why big brands DO NOT use ingredients like papaya, banana, avocado, pineapple, etc.? BECAUSE OF THE COST and the care involved in using 100% natural fruits and vegetables. And if they do, that soap would be expensive, perhaps even more than a handmade one. In addition... a handmade soap, due to the natural ingredients, is BIODEGRADABLE which helps nature to take its course.
My experience
Since I was little I had used antibacterial soaps due to my sensitive skin. Any other type of soap that is not antibacterial causes extreme itching and dryness. Upon moving to the United States, I noticed that my skin became much drier during the winter and I began using soaps with softeners and moisturizers. Still, it got dry and the itching was sometimes quite exasperating until spring weather arrived. That's when I started reading and studying about natural soaps. Obviously, there are several options in stores... but I still didn't get the results I expected.
When I started making my own soaps about two years ago, (I learned by reading, taking courses and watching videos) I began to see great improvement in my skin. To the point that I just arrived from my Island, Puerto Rico with a very strong allergy from the soap I used while I was on the Island (my mistake!!! I should have taken one of my bars). As soon as I arrived, I was desperately itchy. I took a shower with the oatmeal soap that I have and I confess that as they say in Puerto Rico "holy remedy"... the itching decreased in intensity, I felt relief and I am not going to deny that the itching still continues, but not at all. level of desperation.
Clarification
I absolutely don't want you to understand that soaps (let alone the ones I make) are medicinal. Simply using a completely natural soap with the only chemical necessary to make soap: lye guarantees a safer product than a commercial one.
Visit the section of available soaps , I assure you that you will find several that you will want to start using. If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will be happy to clarify them for you.