The Importance of Knowing Your Soap's Ingredients.
When selecting a soap bar, have you ever paused to consider its ingredients? Understanding the components can help you avoid harmful soap chemicals and choose products with the best natural soap ingredients.
Soap has been woven into bathing rituals throughout time. It’s a practice that we learn at a young age and carry into the rest of our lives. Why is the understanding of how to wash yourself correctly more important than understanding what we are washing ourselves with?
Our Skin: The Sensitive Barrier to the External World
Our body’s are gentle little beings, they are very receptive to the environments we surround ourselves with. Our skin, our physical barrier separating our inner and outer world, our home and second self, the shelter to our mind.
We are sensitive, creatures of the earth. We are also simple, but smart. Our body’s have been designed to maintain its internal and external dialogue, we have in built systems that regulate bodily functions, daily. In order to allow these to run effectively we need to foster basic health pillars. One being, proper hygiene.
Questions to Consider When Reading a Soap Ingredient List
We nourish our body’s and the earth with water, minerals and nutrients, simple, and smart. We aim to support our gut health, reduce stress and land our body’s outdoors, simple, and smart. We wash our body’s regularly, exfoliate and moisturise. But, with what?
When meandering through an ingredient list of your soap or beauty products, consider the following 6 questions:
- What is the first ingredient?
- Is the word fragrance involved?
- How long is the list?
- Where is it made?
- How simple are the ingredients?
- Do you feel lost within the list?
Your skin is your body’s biggest ingesting organ — if you wouldn’t eat it, do you really want it absorbing into your body?
Harmful Compounds to Avoid in Soap Products
Most importantly, consider the actual ingredients in your soap and beauty products. These are some of the most common toxic compounds to look out for:
Parabens and Phthalates
Common preservatives and plasticisers linked to hormone disruption and potential long-term health risks. Frequently found in soaps, lotions, and cosmetics.
Formaldehyde
A preservative used to prevent bacterial growth, but classified as a known carcinogen. Can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, and respiratory issues with prolonged exposure. Often hidden in ingredient lists under different names.
Synthetic Fragrances
A cocktail of undisclosed chemicals, often containing allergens and hormone disruptors. Can trigger skin irritation, allergies, and headaches.
Triclosan
An antibacterial agent associated with skin irritation and endocrine disruption. Overuse has also contributed to antibiotic resistance concerns.
Propylene Glycol
A petroleum-derived humectant used to retain moisture, but it can cause skin irritation and sensitivity, especially for those with eczema or allergies. It enhances product absorption, potentially allowing other harmful chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin. Commonly found in soaps, lotions, and deodorants.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
A harsh surfactant that strips natural oils, causing skin irritation and dryness. Often found in soaps, shampoos, and cleansers.
Chlorhexidine
A disinfectant and antibacterial agent commonly used in medical settings, but also found in soaps, mouthwashes, and skin cleansers. While effective at killing bacteria, it can cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, and disrupt the skin’s natural microbiome. Prolonged use may lead to increased sensitivity or resistance in bacteria.
Being exposed to such things has a cumulative effect on the body over time, they accumulate within your being leading to various negative health concerns, especially with consistent use of multiple products containing these compounds.
Potential Health Effects of Common Soap Chemicals
Their effects are widespread, ranging from topical skin irritation, to internal hormone disruption and allergic reactions. Some conventional soaps also have certain antimicrobial properties that offset the microbiome found within your skin, this can then, in turn, weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to disease.
The use of fragrances and deodorants are avoided in fertility centres and labs due to their negative effect on fertility, embryo quality, and their potential to disrupt endocrine functions, yet they can still weave their way into your day to day.
Beneficial Ingredients to Look for in Natural Soaps
When choosing a soap, what should you be looking for in an ingredient list? Prioritising natural soap ingredients ensures a cleaner, more skin-friendly choice. Here's what we’d recommend:
Oils - Think:
- Olive oil, gentle for all skin types.
- Castor oil, holding softness within the soap creating a lather; almond oil, deeply moisturising and anti-inflammatory.
- Coconut oil, adds lather and deep cleansing properties.
Butters - Think:
- Shea butter, moisturises and soothes dry or sensitive skin.
Plant compounds or botanical extracts - Think:
- Calendula.
- Lavender.
- Lemon myrtle.
- Eucalyptus.
Every ingredient matters. Knowing what’s in your soap empowers you to choose chemical-free, skin-loving alternatives that nourish, protect, and support your wellbeing — naturally.
Rhi O'Hanlon | Flore Naturopathy
Available every Monday & Wednesday at Herb Remedy 9am - 2pm.
