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| photo via CNN Health |
Have you ever given a second thought to the type of soap you use? Do you like a pretty floral or fruity smelling soap? Do you prefer an anti-bacterial one? Is price your main concern?
I've seen people over the years stock up on anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizers in hopes of evading illnesses and germs. I thought I'd touch base on the truth about anti-bacterial and other soaps. I'm glad to see more people steering clear of anti-bacterial soaps these days because they are just not necessary and cause more harm than good.
Why?
Antibacterial products leave surface residues, creating conditions that may foster the development of resistant bacteria and lower the resistance of your immune system. Keeping things clean is great, but all these antibacterial products are overkill and counterproductive. Furthermore, they are chemical laden and extremely drying and harsh on your sensitive skin.
Antibacterial soaps don't work any better than regular soap. They do prevent illness in health care settings, where patients are more vulnerable to germs. But the antibacterial ingredients in hospital-strength soaps are up to 10 times the concentration of store-bought soap.
Also, antibacterial ingredients don’t kill viruses, which cause the vast majority of minor illnesses people experience. That includes colds, the flu, and stomach bugs.
Most soaps contain synthetic ingredients such as fragrances, added color and stabilizers.
Did You Know?
Soap in and of itself does not rid your skin of germs. The act of friction and length of time you wash is what gets rid of dirt and germs. I have my kids slowly sing the ABC's while they wash their hands as fast as they can, then we say goodbye to the germs as we wash them down the sink. Aim for at least 30 seconds of vigorous scrubbing before you rinse.
So what kind of soap is best?
Any mild, natural or Organic soap is best for your skin, the environment and your long-term health.
What is glycerin soap?
Glycerin absorbs water from the air and attracts moisture to the skin. When used in combination with the proper essential oils, you get a moisturizing soap which can also restore and heal damaged skin and hair.
Glycerin itself is more valuable than soap because it acts as an emollient and humectant, which means it moisturizes skin and draws moisture to the skin's surface.
Organic soap makers usually leave the glycerin in the soap, which makes it considerably less drying than non-organic soap. Companies that mass produce soap generally remove the glycerin to use it in more profitable cosmetic products such as face creams and body lotions.
So does that mean it's more expensive? Not really. Especially if you are buying those pretty fragrance soaps at the mall or any liquid pump soap. Sorry to burst your bubble {pun intended}.
I switched to bar soap which has saved us a TON of money. Especially with 4 kids in the house
who seem to go through a bottle of soap in a few days. Bubbles are fun.
A bar of soap lasts much longer than liquid soap and works just as well.
A bar of soap lasts much longer than liquid soap and works just as well.
Bar Soap - $1.89 vs. Liquid - $3.99
Tom's of Maine Runs around $3.00 for a bar. I've seen Tom's at most grocery stores that have a 'specialty' section.
Trader Joe's Liquid Glycerin Soap - Runs around $2.80 for a 12.5 oz. bottle. I love how incredibly gentle and moisturizing this soap is! It smells so fresh and clean too. Trader Joe's is an extremely
eco-conscience retailer as well so you just can't go wrong here.
Trader Joe's Oatmeal and Honey Bar Soap. Not only is this all natural, eco-friendly, moisturizing and smells wonderful, it cost less than $2.00 for TWO bars! Score!
Some information gathered from
Asparagus Soap
Pioneer Thinking
Livestrong
Scientific America
WebMD
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