A Brief Overview of Soap vs Detergent
Detergent products are generally labeled as soap. Detergents are made from petroleum products and consist mainly of surfactants, foaming agents and alcohols. Since these chemicals have a disagreeable odor, detergents are usually heavily scented with cheap, synthetic, artificial fragrances. Detergents also contain preservatives and antibacterial agents so that they do not spoil. All these chemicals are potential causes of allergic reactions and other health problems.
Soap is a natural product made from oils and lye. It is skin loving and nourishing. True soap needs to cure for 6 weeks after mixing in order to be safe for the user. Glycerin remains in handmade soap which provides skin soothing and softening. In other commercial soaps, glycerin is siphoned off and utilized as a “clear” glycerin bar of soap but lacks the cleaning/cleansing properties. Cleaning and cleansing are accomplished by actually having a detergent/cleaning action without harsh chemical additives. When you purchase a soap that is handmade, the soap maker handpicked the ingredients. Handmade soap is more personal and earth loving.
Types of Soap Found at HPF:
Vegetable-Based Soaps: Fluffy lather with good cleansing. Stable bar.
Coffee Soaps: Coffee based soaps are outstanding odor fighters. They are useful at the kitchen sink when cooking with onions, garlic or any other strong odor.
Goat’s Milk Soaps: Goat’s milk has many vitamins and other essential elements to help nourish skin. These include vitamins A, E, C, some B vitamins; amino and citric acids; unsaturated fatty acids; and zinc. The proteins in milk help moisture stay in the skin, and it can also reduce acne-producing bacteria. Goat’s milk helps neutralize the pH of the skin, as well as prevent dryness.
Shaving Cream Soap: Shaving Cream soap has organic clay in it to help with the “slick” of shaving. This soap isn’t relegated to shaving however. Use it anywhere on the body for a nice smooth clean.
Glycerin Soap: Super foaming, sudsy lather with a very slippery bar. It is moisturizing and gentle on the skin.
Loofah Soap: Loofah built right into the soap for a quick exfoliation of the knees, elbows and feet. Works effectively!
Shampoo Bar: Yes, it’s true! You can shampoo your hair with a bar of soap. Great for travel, dorms, and those who just would like a one-bar wonder. You can shower with the shampoo bar also. It is a softer bar because it is made from a larger percentage of sunflower oil.
Shea Butter Bar: Softening, soothing, skin protecting and nourishing. Stable bar with moderate lather.
The Exfoliators: Oats, poppy seeds, coffee grounds, pumice, cornmeal, almonds, herbs, and rose hips are on the list of exfoliators. The exfoliators are a little more gentle than loofah but none-the-less do a great job at ridding those rougher areas of dead skin. A special note: rose hips do discolor washcloths and all of these exfoliators need a rinse out of the tub to prevent buildup.
Neem Soap: Excellent for a variety of skin conditions, such as redness, inflammation, acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis!
Hemp Soaps: It is rich with proteins, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Lovely additive to soaps safe for all skin types.
Butter Bars: These are the most luscious bars on the farm. They are packed with a variety of super healthy oils that pamper your skin. These are completely unscented because the natural smell of the base oils is divine..
Egg Soap:
Egg Soap is a popular soap because of the fresh farm eggs utilized in crafting this soap.Eggs are great in soap bars because the protein of the eggs is reparative for the skin.In addition, there is lanolin in these bars.Lanolin offers a natural moisture barrier, thus protecting the skin.