Commercial Soap vs Homemade Soap
From a gold colored commercial soap label
I found what I could on each ingredient. Those items under “soap” is the chemical name for the actual soap. I typyically do not use animal fats.
Active Ingredient –
Benzalkonium Chloride 0.10%: Antibacterial agent. Effectiveness unknown and judgement by the FDA has been postponed to collect more information on the effectiveness.
Inactive Ingredients Soap
Soap (*Contains One Or More Of These Ingredients):
- Sodium Tallowate*: Beef fat that has reacted with sodium hydroxide (soap)
- Sodium Palmate*: Palm oil that has reacted with sodium hydroxide (soap)
- Sodium Cocoate*: Coconut oil that has reacted with sodium hydroxide (soap)
- Sodium Palm Kernelate*: Palm Kernel oil that has reacted with sodium hydroxide (soap)
Aqua (Water, Eau): Water
Talc: A naturally occurring mineral often found with asbestos. There is a weak link between talc and ovarian cancer.
Coconut Acid: during the saponification process (oil reacting with sodium hydroxide) a by-product of coconut oil is glycerin. The acid form reacts and makes soap, but no glycerin.
Palm Acid: Could find nothing definite about why it is added or what it does. It could be a by product or it could be added. Unclear.
Palm Kernel Acid: Opacifying, cleansing, emulsifying agent
Tallow Acid: Skin conditioner from tallow or beef fat.
Glycerin: Natural by product of the saponification reaction. Softens skin and considered beneficial. Unclear if added or the natural by product. Glycerin removed from most commercial soaps.
PEG-6 Methyl Ether: is a polyethylene glycol ether of Methyl Alcohol, solvent
Sodium Chloride: Table salt. Can make soap harder
Parfum (Fragrance): Generic term for fragrance oil which could be one of 3000 different types
Tetrasodium Etidronate: Another chelating chemical. Suspected by some to be a carcinogen.
Pentasodium Pentetate: Chelating chemical to bind metals which inhibit soap lather. Considered safe for cosmetics.
CI 19140 (Yellow 5): 1 in 10,000 people allergic to it.
CI 45350 (Yellow 8): Not for internal use. Approved for external use products. May be derived from animal sources.
CI 14700 (Red 4): Banned from food products, must be approved for external use. Considered a potential carcinogen and ADHD in children.
Coumarin: Naturally occurring or synthetically produced scent linked to contact dermatitis and allergies.
Butylphenyl Methylpropianol: Artificial fragrance, fresh floral scent
Linalool: Fragrance ingredient, some allergy concerns
Benzyl Alcohol: a bacteriostatic preservative.
Eugenol: naturally occurring scent found in clove oil; also manufactured synthetically. Has been associated with allergies and contact dermatitis.
Hexyl Cinnamal: can cause contact allergies in fragrance-sensitive consumers
Citronellol: Fragrance, considered a potential allergen.
Bee’s Wax and Honey All Natural Soap
Coconut Oil – Organic – Extra Virgin [Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil]: Adds to the hardness of the bar and the cleansing action of the soap
Olive [Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil]: Softens skin
Avocado [Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil]: Rich in vitamins A, B, D, and E,
Castor [Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil]: Makes the soap lather and bubble well
Water [Aqua]
Lye (NaOH) [Sodium Hydroxide]: It is completely consumed by the saponification reaction and NONE is found in the finished soap)
Beeswax: Helps harden the bar
Honey – Clover: Adds to the lather and acts as humectant. (Draws moisture in)
Other additives that I use
The above ingredient list does not have added color, essential oil or fragrance oil. But if I did add those items, then they would fall into the following types.
Colorants:
Oxides: Powdered pigments that may be natural or humanmade. They are a fine, inert, and body safe powder. They wash cleanly off tub enclosures.
Micas: A natural mineral often colored artifically. Work best in glycerin soaps. It gives the glycerin soap a shimmer.
Food coloring: I only use it with glycerin soaps in the crystal shape
Oils that make the soap smell nice
Essential oils: They come from natural sources. Typically from a plant. Examples are: peppermint, spearmint, frankincense and cedarwood oils. I typically use theraputic grade essential oils which are what is also used in aromatherapy.
Fragrance oils: May or may not contain all natural ingredients. I try to limit my offering with fragrance oils because I don’t know what is in them. If you have sensitive skin, avoid fragrance oils. Examples include are: Grape, seashore, and rose fragrance oils.
I will tell you if I am using a natural essential or fragrance oil.