No matter what kind of product you consider, there's a growing trend towards embracing the idea of using natural, handmade items.

Many sellers of handmade soaps and those promoting homemade soap businesses often claim that handmade soap surpasses industrially produced soap in retaining numerous natural beneficial ingredients.

These include rich moisturizing components and gentleness on the skin. In a nutshell, homemade handmade soap is often touted as a more natural and healthier option.

But is this claim really true?

Advantages of Handmade Soap

1. Contains Natural Glycerin: Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, viscous liquid. It's a crucial moisturizing ingredient found in various skincare products and cosmetics.

Most conventional soap manufacturers add salt during production to separate excess lye, water, and soap base from glycerin, resulting in the creation of a 100% pure soap base. This base is then molded into various shapes using large machines, ready for immediate use.

However, it lacks glycerin, which is a key element in handmade soap. Handmade soap retains glycerin, making it a moisturizing and skin-friendly choice.

2. Self-Selected Raw Materials: When it comes to handmade soap, you have the freedom to choose your raw materials to match your preferences and desired product efficacy.

This flexibility allows you to create a personalized product while gaining valuable experience in the soap-making process.

But in reality, whether it's industrial or handmade soap, both are products resulting from a chemical reaction between "oil" and alkali, specifically sodium hydroxide.

This reaction produces sodium fatty acids, a primary component of soap. Handmade soap often emphasizes the retention of a by-product of this reaction, glycerin, which is considered a significant skin moisturizer.

However, during the washing process, glycerin in soap foam can also be rinsed away with water, potentially reducing its moisturizing effectiveness.

Industrial soap manufacturers may add fragrances, plant extracts, glycerin, and other substances separately during the soap-making process, rather than incorporating them into the saponification reaction.

The temperature at this stage is typically not higher than that used in handmade soap production. On the contrary, handmade soap undergoes the entire manufacturing process in the presence of a strong base.

This continuous exposure could lead to the degradation of added ingredients under the influence of sodium hydroxide, potentially more so than in industrial soap.

Furthermore, it's important to note that the production of cosmetics often comes with strict environmental requirements. Many handmade soap producers might not meet these standards, possibly crafting their products in non-sterile environments.

This can raise concerns about product safety, particularly for facial or skin-cleaning purposes. It's advisable to use homemade handmade soap cautiously, especially for facial care unless it's from a well-established and trusted brand.

While handmade soap offers certain advantages, it may not necessarily be superior to industrial soap. The decision ultimately hinges on individual preferences and priorities, with both options having their own set of pros and cons.