Handmade Soap Vs Commercial Store Bought

Handmade soap is actually made by hand using natural ingredients like oils, butters, and essential oils. Its typically produced in small batches by an individual or small business. The soap contains natural oils and glycerin which nourishes and moisturizes skin as you wash. Handmade soaps are generally all natural and contain no harsh chemicals or preservatives. For this reason, handmade soaps have much higher quality vs commercial soap. But are more expensive and don’t last as long. One of the main differences between handmade soap and commercial store bought soap is the shelf life. Commercial soaps typically last about 2-3 years, but the shelf life of handmade soap is only about a year.

Commercial store-bought soap is mass-produced and sold in large quantities. These soaps are often made using synthetic ingredients, such as preservatives, detergents, colors, cleansers and fragrances. They’re sold online and in most retail stores and supermarkets. Unlike handmade soaps, commercial soaps are not all natural and may cause allergic skin reactions to those with sensitive skin. In fact, some are not soap at all, they’re cleansing bars containing no actual soap or glycerine.

In recent years, there’s been a growing trend of people choosing all natural handmade soap instead of commercial store bought soaps. This is primarily due to the growing awareness of harmful chemicals present in commercial store-bought soap and the many benefits that come with using all natural products.

The Difference Between Handmade Soap & Commercial Soap

The biggest difference between handmade soap and commercial soap are chemicals and artificial ingredients. Most handmade soaps are all natural. They’re made through a chemical process called saponification which occurs when you mix fats with lye. The byproduct of this mixture is soap and glycerine. Many soap makers then add other natural ingredients like essential oils and botanical ingredients like flower petals. But they don’t use harsh chemicals, fragrances, detergents, cleansers or preservatives.

Commercial soap is mass produced as cheaply as possible. In fact, many products we generally consider soap, like CeraVe or Dove, are actually cleansing or beauty bars and contain no soap. Most commercial soaps are a chemical soup of detergents, preservatives, cleansers, fragrances, colors and moisturizers. But they’re not soap.

Avoid commercial soaps that contain toxic ingredients like parabens, SLS, SLES, fragrances, triclosan and/or Cocamidopropyl betaine as they are potentially harmful to the skin and may cause an allergic reaction.

A big difference between commercial and handmade soap is shelf life. Most commercial soaps can last 2-3 years before they expire, but the shelf life of most handmade soap is just around 1 year.

A very important difference between commercial and handmade soap is glycerin. It’s a natural skin emollient and byproduct of the soap making process. Glycerin attracts moisture in the air to your skin and moisturizes it as you wash.

When handmade soap is made, the glycerin is left in the soap. But commercial manufacturers typically strip it out so they can use it in other high priced beauty products like anti-aging creams. They then replace it with less effective artificial moisturizers.

Handmade Soap Vs Commercial Soap Fragrances

A big difference between commercial and handmade soap are how they smell. Mass produced commercial soaps are loaded with artificial fragrances which give them a strong scent. The stronger and more exotic the scent the more chemical fragrances they contain. Handmade soaps have a much more subtle faint scent because they don’t contain chemicals. Their smell comes from the ingredients used to make the soap and essential oils.

Most handmade soaps smell the way they do because they contain essential oils. Compared to artificial fragrances, essential oils are gentle on the skin, have a natural scent and therapeutic benefits. But they’re delicate and start to evaporate out of the soap in just 3 months. This is why most handmade soap manufacturers recommend using their soap within 3 months of opening the package.

Natural essential oils have a subtle smell that’s less artificial. Contrast that with commercial soaps that have a strong smell which can linger on your body for hours after you get out of the shower.

Shelf Life

The biggest difference between handmade soap and commercial soap is shelf life. Since commercial store bought soaps contain chemical preservatives, they have a much longer shelf life lasting 2-3 years on average. Contrast that with handmade soap which has a shelf life of about 1 year. The lack of preservatives greatly shortens the lifespan of handmade soaps.

Handmade soaps can have an even shorter shelf life if they’ve been superfatted. When handmade soap is made, fats are mixed with lye. The ratio of fats and lye is measured just right so that no fat or lye is left after the chemical reaction, called saponification, is complete. All your left with is soap and glycerine.

Superfatting is when a soap-maker uses too much fat for the lye which results in a more oily soap. This makes the soap feel softer and more refreshing on the skin. But it can also make the soap go bad faster.

Natural homemade soaps are often scented with essential oils. These oils are delicate and evaporate out of the soap after about 3 months. This is why most handmade soap manufacturers recommend using their soap within 3 months of opening the package. These soaps don’t actually go bad after 3 months, but its worth mentioning that they may not smell like anything and lose the skin benefits provided by essential oils.

Contrast that with commercial soaps that never lose their scent because it comes from much stronger chemical fragrances.

The Benefits Of Using Handmade Soap

The main benefit of using handmade soap is that it’s made with natural ingredients. Many commercial store-bought soaps contain synthetic ingredients, such as preservatives, detergents, cleansers and fragrances, which can all be harsh on the skin. Handmade soap is made with natural ingredients like essential oils, butters, botanicals, and glycerine which are gentle on the skin and moisturize as you wash.

Handmade soap contains glycerine and natural ingredients which are good for your skin. Commercial soap do not. In fact many store-bought commercial soaps aren’t even soap, they’re cleansing or beauty bars which contain no actual soap.

Another benefit of handmade soap is that it’s customizable. This makes small special batches possible if you have allergies or want a vegan soap.

Using handmade soap can be considered an Eco-friendly option as handmade soap is often made using sustainable and biodegradable ingredients. And it’s often packaged minimally in biodegradable and/or recycled paper instead of plastic.

Handmade soaps are free of harsh chemicals such as parabens, phthalates and SLS which are known to cause skin irritation. They’re a much better option if you have sensitive skin or allergies.

Most handmade soap makers use ingredients that are ethically sourced and cruelty-free.

Handmade soap can be an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Natural ingredients are less likely to cause irritations or allergies.

There are plenty of benefits to using handmade soaps vs commercial cleansing bars. Overall it’s a much better and more natural product that’s gentle on the skin. However, it’s also a lot more expensive.

Is Handmade Soap Better For Your Skin?

Yes, handmade soap is much better for your skin compared to commercial store bought soaps. Handmade soap retains all the natural glycerin produced during the soap-making process which hydrates and moisturizes the skin while you wash. Handmade soap is full of natural ingredients that moisturize and hydrate your skin instead of drying it out.

The Drawbacks Of Using Commercial Store-Bought Soap

The main drawback of commercial store-bought soap is that it usually contains synthetic chemicals, detergents, fragrances and preservatives. These ingredients can be harsh on the skin and may cause irritation, dryness, and other skin allergies. Additionally, some commercial soaps contain chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and SLS which are known to be harmful to the skin and environment.

A drawback of commercial store-bought soap is the lack of options or customization. Most commercial soaps come in pre-determined formulas that never change. But handmade soap is made in small batches and can be customized for the individual consumers needs and skin type.
Commercial soaps contain chemicals which may have been tested on animals.
The manufacturing process of commercial soaps is also often highly industrialized, which can have negative environmental impacts.
Commercial store-bought soap is usually less moisturizing than handmade soap because it does not contain glycerine.
Store-bought soaps are often made with synthetic ingredients that can strip the skin of its natural oils. This leaves skin feeling dry instead of hydrated like when you use natural soap.

Most commercial store bought soaps are a chemical soup that can dry out and irritate your skin. They cause allergies and irritations for many people with sensitive skin.

Is Commercial Soap Real Soap?

Commercial store-bought bar soaps are produced on a large scale using harsh chemicals, detergents, fragrances, colors and preservatives. Some of them are real soap and some, like CeraVe and Dove are not. They specifically state on the package that they’re cleansing or beauty bars and do not contain any actual soap. If you’re looking for commercial soap that’s real soap, read the label to make sure it says soap.

Handmade soap is typically all natural real soap made by mixing fats and oil. If you want to be sure you’re using real soap, buy a handmade product.