Read time- 5 mins Topics covered- Ingredients of soap

 

Conventional soaps are made by mixing fat or oil with an alkali, which can alter the skin’s pH balance and upset your skin’s microbiome by wiping out healthy bacteria and eliminate vital oils. 

Understanding the ingredients of your soap, virtually unchanged for centuries, and its possible negative impact on your body are the first steps toward switching to products that enhance your skin and give it the healthy attention it deserves.

According to the FDA, there are very few true soaps on the market. Most body cleansers, both liquid and solid, are actually synthetic detergent products. Detergent cleansers are popular because they make suds easily in water and don't form gummy deposits. Some of these detergent products are actually marketed as "soap" but are not true soap according to the regulatory definition of the word.  

What is hiding in your soap?

Healthy skin pH is approximately 5.5, which is slightly acidic, however, most conventional soaps have a much higher pH, which can be as high as 11. You can read more about why soap is the least natural way to clean your skin on Healthline.

“When the skin's pH is too high, your body produces excess sebum to fight back and restore its natural pH levels. However, the soap residue ensures the disruptive pH is maintained,” says independent beauty chemist David Pollack. “The end result is that skin can become too oily. If that isn't bad enough, soap residue emulsifies or binds to the skin's lipid matrix.”

How long it takes to damage our skin’s acid mantle (a protective layer of oils, fatty acids, and amino acids) can vary, but signs of damage include increased dryness, itching, irritation, and inflammation. All this can also worsen skin conditions such as acne, eczema, dermatitis, and rosacea.

And what would help some of those symptoms? The oils that conventional soap strips away!

These oils serve an important function in keeping skin moisturized and intact. Without them, our skin becomes susceptible to cracks, tears, and other irritation that can jeopardize its function as a protective barrier.

Unlike the harshness of soap, the WOSH mineral bar is made exclusively with Kisameet Glacial Clay which assists with the skin’s immune responses by keeping your skin ( see our microbiome page) nourished, balanced and moisturized, naturally. 

Extensive research on the clay began at MIT in the 1940s and ongoing research continues at UBC to explore and support the clay’s remarkable qualities written about by the American Society for Microbiology

WOSH ensures all bars are free of chemicals and preservatives. Our products are Hypoallergenic, Dermatologist and Pediatrician tested for safety. Why ditch soap and WOSH? WOSH is “food for your skin”. Don't just wash, WOSH!