Simple Soap Ingredient Guide

Simple Soap Ingredient Guide

Why Ingredients Matter:

Most soaps on the market aren’t actually “soap” — they’re detergents made with synthetic foaming agents and fillers. These can strip your skin’s natural oils and leave it feeling dry or irritated.

Real soap is made from oils, lye, and water (aloe vera juice in our case)— that’s it! When those oils are plant-based and blended with herbs and essential oils, your skin gets nourishment instead of harshness.

Ingredients to Love vs. Avoid:

LOVE THESE:

  • Olive Oil / Coconut Oil / Shea Butter
  • Essential Oils (Lavender, Lemongrass, Cedarwood)
  • Clays and Herbs (Rose Clay, Spirulina, Calendula)
  • Natural Colorants (Micas, Clays, Botanicals)

AVOID THESE:

  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
  • Parabens & Toxic Fragrance
  • Mineral Oil & Petroleum By-products
  • Synthetic Dyes (FD&C or CI numbers)

What is it?

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

How it appears on a Dove-style label:

  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate (the “eth” version is supposedly gentler, but still synthetic)
  • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate

🧠 Used for: Foaming and cleansing.

🚫 Problem: Strips natural oils, irritates skin, especially for sensitive types.

2. Parabens & Artificial Fragrance

How it appears on labels:

  • Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben

🧠 Used for: Preservatives and scent.

🚫 Problem: Parabens can disrupt hormones. “Fragrance” can include allergens and irritants that never have to be listed individually.

3. Mineral Oil & Petroleum By-products

How it appears on labels:

  • Mineral Oil
  • Petrolatum (a.k.a. petroleum jelly)
  • Paraffinum Liquidum
  • Cera Microcristallina

🧠 Used for: Moisturizing and barrier protection.

🚫 Problem: Creates an artificial seal on the skin instead of allowing it to breathe or absorb nutrients.

Start small, go simple, stay consistent

Your skin renews every 28–30 days — that means within one month, you can start seeing the difference with natural soap!

Choose skincare that lists oils, herbs, and essential oils — not mystery ingredients.

Want to experience the difference?

Check out our handcrafted vegan soaps made with aloe vera and pure essential oils.

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