Common Queries
Handcrafted VS. Commercial
What is Handmade/ Artisan Soap?
Handmade soap contains raw ingredients that include oils, butters or fat, liquid (water, beer, etc.) and lye.
Mass-produced bars that you buy from the drug store or supermarket contain ingredients not recognized as real soap by the FDA.
These ingredients are usually harsh detergents and hardening agents. You will see that their packaging omits the word soap, instead, calling them moisturizing bars or cleansing bars. According to the FDA website:
“Not every product marketed as soap meets FDA’s definition of the term. FDA interprets the term “soap” to apply only when the bulk of the nonvolatile matter in the product consists of an alkali salt of fatty acids and the product’s detergent properties are due to the alkali-fatty acid compounds, and
the product is labeled, sold, and represented solely as soap [21 CFR 701.20].
Products that meet this definition of soap are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”
Why Is Handmade Soap Better?
Handmade soap contains glycerin which is a natural byproduct of the soap making process, an excellent moisturizer and also one of the reasons that handmade soap is so good for your skin.
Glycerin is an emollient which attracts moisture from the air maintaining moisture in the skin throughout the day. Mass-produced bars normally do not contain glycerin and can leave your skin feeling dry and irritated as they contain detergents which strip skin of its natural oils.