Soap is something which we all use, but rarely put in much thought while buying it. It’s amazing isn’t it, because a life without soap is unimaginable! Yet you may be simply picking up your monthly supply of soaps after a quick glance at the package and price. But that is hardly how you should choose soap. Soap, just like any other product that comes in direct contact with your skin, must be purchased with more care, so that you buy a product which is good for you. And this is more because you usually use soap several times a day for different purposes. So, let’s find out how to choose soap.

Most soap manufacturers strive to give you soaps which look good and smell great. Add to this the numerous ads bombarding your senses throughout the day and you may well be making wrong purchase decisions, because you are influenced. These soaps no matter, what shapes, sizes or colors they come in are more often than not, harmful for your skin if used continuously.

You may ask, why so? The main problem with most soap lies in the way in which they are manufactured. There are certain chemicals which are added to give the soap its cleansing and foam creating ability. These chemicals are harsh industrial grade detergents (such as sodium lauryl sulfate) and are definitely not what your skin needs.

Moreover these soap manufacturers usually eliminate glycerin which is naturally produced during the saponification (chemical synthesis of esters and alkali to create soap) process.  This means that the soap loses an element which keeps your skin soft and moisturized. And this is why soaps make your skin (particularly the face) dry after a wash.

Mass-produced soaps also use cheap tallow or animal fat because it makes the soap harder and produces more bubbles in the foam. However, these fats are not good for your skin.

So, your best bet is to buy natural soaps, which are usually handmade. These soaps are a good choice because:

• They contain essential oils and no chemical additives, artificial colors or aromas.
• They contain saponins which are processed from papaya or guava. Hence they are safer than soaps containing stearates and sulfates.
• The natural oils present in the soap will make your skin softer and smoother, by actually nourishing it. Many of these soaps can give you the benefits of olive oil, jojoba or wheat germ.

Natural soaps may be a tad more expensive than the ones you pick up from the supermarket every month. But perhaps you will choose them now that you know how to choose soap!