Choose the Right Soap : Guide to Decoding Soap Ingredients:-

Soap ingredients decoding, this is the main point to discuss in this page.

Soap is something we all use every day, When choosing soap, most of us pay more attention to the familiar name, trendy branding, fragrance, packaging etc. Every soap contain chemicals. The toxic chemicals are harmful for health and skin irritation like eczema, allergic.

So, Before choosing a soap, You need to check what chemicals are used. If we have knowledge about all those soap ingredients, it will be much easier to choose a good shampoo for your skin type.

Why we use soap :-

Skin 60% absorb what we apply, it help to breaks down the dirt that accumulates on our bodies after everyday hard work, it makes us feel fresh, and helps to keep our skin healthy.

Ingredients Matter:-

Not all soap contain harmful chemicals ( like-Vegetable based soap or Natural soap, Naturally contain fats and oil from animals and tree). Some commercial soap contain harmful ingredients.

Only the ingredient list will help us to distinguish between which is good and bad. Otherwise there are no option.

So, look at the harmful soap ingredients list here

Harmfull soap ingredients list

1. Sodium Lauryl sulfate (SLS)- use to create foam, It can cause dryness or irritation due to it strips natural oil from scalp.
2. Parabens- ( Methylparaben, propylparaben),use to extend soap expiry date. It can cause breast cancer.
3. Triclosan– use as a role antibacterial agent. Disrupts hormones disorder.
4. Artificial Fragrances– use to add scent Can cause eczema.
5. Formaldehyde- ( DMDM hydration),use as a preservative Carcinogenic.
6. Artificial dyes- use to give soap an attractive color It can cause allergic
7. Microbeads – Environmental toxic.

The first four are most harmful in this raw .

Beneficial soap ingredients list

1.Olive Oil – best for dry or sensitive  skin.

Rich of antioxidants and it try to deeply moisture.

2. Shea Butter – best for dry or sensitive  skin.

Deeply nourishing, rich in fatty acid, repairs dry skin.

Good for antibacterial & antifungal, deeply cleansing.

3. Coconut Oil – Best for oily skin.

4. Cocoa Butter – best for dry or aging skin.

Rich in fatty acids, adds firmness in soap.

5. Oatmeal – Best for sensitive, dry skin

Soothes eczema or rosacea.

6. Neem – All type skin

 Ayurvedic powerhouse, act as Anti flammatory

7. Tea tree oil – All type skin

Act as antibacterial, fights against acne causing bacteria

8. Activated Charcoal – best for oily or acne prone skin

Absorbs excess oil, Detoxifies

9. Aloe vera – best for sun damage or acne prone skin

Act as cooling agent, soothes and heals sunburns, rashes and irritation.

10.Glycerin –  try to looks moisturiser …………etc

there are many ingredients, These are the top ingredients that you should notice before buying.

Use of pH Paper :-

Common pH range is slightly acidic ( 4.5 to 5.5 ) of a healthy skin. This acidic layer protect our skin against pollution, bacteria and moisture loss.

If we use soap like alkaline ( pH >7 ) can strip natural oil in skin and cause dryness or skin problem.

The color of the paper is usually yellow. If the paper turns red when dipped in a solution, then the solution is acidic, and if its color is blue or green or deep blue, then it is alkaline. Deep blue color indicates high alkaline.

I have done many experiments with soap using pH paper myself, and the results are very disappointing.

The color of the pH paper was green or blue for all the soaps we use every day, except one or two.

Read the pH level :-

(pH 4.5 – 6) ~ Ideal for Face soap ……………….pH paper like Yellow.

(pH 5 – 6 )~ it’s ok for body soap……………………pH paper like light Yellow.

There are some simple steps to do the experiments :- Need to buy a pH paper from market

1. Wet the soap and make it a little lather.
2. Then dip the pH paper into the lather.
3. Compare the color, if it remain yellow or light red – it’s good for skin, and if it turns into green or blue or deep blue – try to avoid it

Read soap Labels like a pro :–

1. Order – Ingredients are arranged by volume of concentration  ( top 5 are main components, used by in high volume)
2. Don’t make fool terms like “100% natural” or “Eco-friendly packaging ” or “Antibacterial”. Just because all levels are allowed to write doesn’t mean that, what is written is true

try to compare two soap by ingredients ( good vs bad )

Make decision ( Buy or Skip) :-

Without thinking about anything, first check what soap ingredients are there. If you find any harmful ingredients….just skip it.

Pro tips :-

Nothing pro like it, Check ingredients &  make decision. (Try to avoid sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance and try contain Olive Oil, coconut oil, Shea Butter… etc)

Conclusion:-

spend 30 seconds to read the soap ingredients – your skin will thank you.

Next time , Before buying any soap, be sure read the soap ingredients list and then make a decision. Because your skin deserves better than hidden toxins.

pH paper also can help , i do experiments on both solid & liquid soap and from liquid soap got better results.

I think now it’s very easy for you to choose a good soap. If I miss any ingredients ? let me know in the comments.

In this website there is also step by step guide to choose a good Shampoo by decoding ingredients

Recommended some good soaps :-

Budget Friendly-

1. Naija Organic Sandalwood & Turmeric Bath Soap | ECOCERT Certified

2. Kaprica Natural Handcrafted Cold Pressed Coconut Oil Soap

3. Just Herbs Vitamin C Brightening Body Wash

4. Mother Sparsh Simply Unscented Baby Wash With Natural Oatmeal ( best for Baby)

5. Rustic Art Rosemary Peppermint Body Wash | Organic Castile Soap ( for Acne prone skin)

6. SHESHA AYURVEDA MUD SOAP with NALPAMARADI Skin Brightening Soap Bar

7. Ancient Living Tulasi Soap

1. Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap ( All skin types )

Buy Link – Click Here

2. Nubian Heritage Soaps ( Dry , acne-prone skin )

Buy Link – Click Here