I decided to write another post tonight (since soap has been on the brain all day!) explaining the ingredients in my all natural soap. Personally, when I look at a list of ingredients on store bought soap I don't know what half of them are, and some of them sound pretty scary!
Coconut Oil: Extracted from the kernel of a coconut. The coconut kernel is shredded and mixed with water and then pressed to release the oil.
Palm Oil: Extracted from the pulp on the fruit of the oil palm.
Safflower Oil: Extracted out of the seeds of a safflower plant.
Glycerin (vegetable): Vegetable Glycerin is an organic compound derived from plant oils. It is made from the oils and fats of a plant based ingredient (generally coconut or palm oil) *Glycerin draws moisture to itself which is why it leaves our skin feeling so great.
Purified Water: Water that's physically processed to remove impurities.
Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): A metallic base crucial to making soap. Lye is a chemical but if the chemistry is done correctly when making the soap then there will be no traces of it left after saponification. *Saponification is a chemical process that produces soap from fatty acid derivatives. No Lye, no soap.
Sorbitol (Moisturizer): A sugar alcohol found in apples, pears, peaches and prunes. It is commonly used as a sweetening agent, like a sugar subsitute.
Sorbitan Oleate: (Emulsifier): The monoester of oleic acid (a source of omegas) and hexitol anhydrides derived from Sorbitol. It is primarily used as an emulsifier.
Soy Bean Protein: Protein extracted from soy beans.
Goat's Milk: ...From a goat!
Shea Butter: Refined, naturally crushed fat extracted from the nut of the African Shea Tree.
Titanium Dioxide (Mineral Whitener): Naturally occuring oxide of Titanium.
These are all of the ingredients present in the four soap bases I primarily use. Aside from the Goat's Milk soap, they are all vegan. I then use different fragrance oils, colourants and additives such as Marula Oil and exfoliants to create a finished bar.
Natural Clear Glycerin Soap:
Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin (Vegetable), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, Sorbitan Oleate, Soy Bean Protein.
Natural Opaque Glycerin Soap:
Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin (Vegetable), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, Sorbitan Oleate, Soy Bean Protein.
Natural Goat's Milk Soap:
Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin (Vegetable), Goat's Milk, Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, Sorbitan Oleate, Soy Bean Protein, Titanium Dioxide.
Natural Shea Butter Soap:
Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin (Vegetable), Shea Butter, Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, Sorbitan Oleate, Soy Bean Protein, Titanium Dioxide.
I know this is a lot of information but I just have one more thing. I encourage you all to look at your soap (especially liquid hand soap) that you have at home, even the ones from specialty stores. In the ingredients look for "SLS" or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (or it's closely related friend "SLES" or Sodium Laureth Sulfate). Both are chemicals put into products such as soaps, shampoos, detergents and toothpastes to increase the lather or bubbles. To learn more about the dangers of SLS or SLES check out this
link.
