There are various types of soaps available in the market, thus there are various ways to make them as well. As a result, not all soaps are made the same. So, it’s important to know which type of soap you’re buying and the ingredients contained in them.
For this post, we will be listing the differences between commercial soaps and melt & pour soaps.
Contents of Soap
Melt & Pour soaps have a higher glycerine content compared to commercial soaps. Therefore, melt & pour soaps are more beneficial for your skin since it is nourishing and moisturizing. It leaves your skin soft and supple while also protecting it. The glycerine is also what makes melt & pour soap easy to work with. Though, it can also cause the soap to sweat in humid climates (to prevent this, wrap your soap and keep them in a cool and dry place!). (1)
On the other hand, commercial soaps contain chemical detergents, synthetic and petroleum-based cleansers. They also have parabens—which are known as chemical preservatives; phthalates—which is a ‘plasticizer’ that increases the flexibility, transparency, durability and longevity of plastics; and synthetic perfumes. Many of these ingredients (and others) can be drying or irritating on the skin. Some of them can even cause health problems and skin conditions. (2)
Foaming Agents
Sulphates like SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulphate), which is the accepted contraction of SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate) are used as foaming agents in soaps. A great many of commercial soaps have SLS in them as it is an inexpensive and very effective foaming agent. (3)
Nevertheless, it should also be noted that some melt & pour soaps also contain SLS. For instance, both Crativiti’s melt & pour Goat’s Milk Soap Base and Shea Butter Soap Base contains SLS. Craftiviti’s Pure Soap Base, however, doesn’t contain SLS.
Customizability
Melt & pour soaps allows one to customize it according to their needs. You can choose the kinds of butters, carrier oils, fragrance oils, essential oils, clays, colourants, so on and so forth. Commercial soaps, on the other hand, are already ‘complete’ and may not meet all your needs.
Although commercial soaps are more affordable and require no (optional) extra effort before they can be used, they might not be the better choice for your skin and overall health. Switching to melt & pour soap can be more beneficial in the long run for you. Even so, you should ensure that you purchase melt & pour soap bases from reputable sources!
Email us if you have any enquiries at enquiry@craftiviti.com or pop by Craftiviti Craft Store at 10 Boulevard, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
If you found this post useful, please join us on Craftiviti Facebook or Instagram for more updates and demos!
References:
- “Free Beginner’s Guide To Soapmaking: Melt And Pour – Soap Queen”, Soap Queen, 2018 <https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/free-beginners-guide-to-soapmaking-melt-and-pour/> [Accessed 31 December 2018].
- “Natural Soap Vs. Commercial Soap | Pulp & Press”, Pulp & Press Juice Co., 2015 <https://www.pulpandpress.com/natural-soap-vs-commercial-soap/> [Accessed 31 December 2018].
- Kosswig, Kurt, “Surfactants”, Ullmann’s Encyclopedia Of Industrial Chemistry, 2000 <https://doi.org/10.1002/14356007.a25_747>.
Pssst, we're also available at Craftiviti.com!
No comments:
Post a Comment