Not all soaps are the same!
Handmade Olive Oil Soaps
We use it every day to cleanse our bodies yet we do not give it a
second thought. Apart from its cleansing
properties we do not consider what we are rubbing on our bodies and the effects
it has on our skin. We assume that all soaps are the same and have the
same effect on the skin.
This is certainly not the case. Before we begin, a
distinction needs to be made between natural soap and most commercial soaps on
the market. Commercial soaps are nothing more than a concoction of
surfactants and fillers that ‘mimic’ the cleansing properties of natural soap.
Natural soap as opposed to most commercial soap is made by
combining an oil or fat with a strong alkali resulting in a natural crystal
called soap. The structure of natural soap is made up of long snake-like
molecular chains, like a string of pearls, which have different properties at
either end of the molecular chain. One end of the chain is attracted to
dirt and grease and the other end is attracted to water. This is how dirt
and grease are dissolved in water using soap.
The process in making natural soap is basically the ‘welding’
together of two different molecules, a fat/oil and a water molecule.
Natural soap can be made from any fat or oil, be it animal fat, petroleum
or vegetable oil. The resulting soap however has a different effect on
the skin depending on what fat/oil is used. For example Castile, a
natural homemade olive oil soap, as compared to a petroleum/chemical based
soap.
All soaps leave a film on the skin when used; even when we think
we have rinsed it all off with water. It is this film that can either be
a blessing or a curse. The films left on the skin with soap made from
petroleum oils and most vegetable oils like palm oil are drying, they tighten
the skin and can cause irritations and itchiness. In the dry winter
climates a lot of people complain of the ‘winter itch’ which is a result of the
skin drying out in colder months and is exacerbated by the type of soap that is
used.
Natural olive oil soap has been around for centuries.
Originally made in the Castile region in Spain and is often called
‘Castile soap’. Olive oil soap has a unique property! Like all
soaps it too leaves a film on the skin but in this case the film attracts and
retains moisture on the skin. It is in effect a moisturizing soap and it
does this without blocking pores or producing irritation.
Natural handmade olive oil soap is made using what is called a
‘cold process’, where the ingredients are blended, allowed to set naturally and
cured for months. Like a good wine it improves with age! It becomes
a gentle cleanser that nourishes and moisturizes the skin. It is gentle
on the face and is the best soap for babies, for sensitive skin conditions and
as a relief for eczema and psoriasis sufferers.
Olives are grown all around the world and olive oil is made all
around the world. They all perform the same effect but vary in colour.
Spanish olive oil produces a beige soap while the French a brown, Greek,
Turkish a dark green and Australian like Californian an off white.
The olive oil we use in our natural homemade olive oil soap is
grown in the Hunter Valley, Australia. Just like the grapes that are
grown in the valley that produce award winning wines, the olive oil grown in
the region also produces award winning soaps. Our homemade olive oil soap
is preservative free and we have been honored with many gold awards since we
first started to make soap 15 years ago.
With all the positives going for homemade natural olive oil soap
there must be a down side and yes there is, it is highly addictive. Once
your skin has tried an olive oil soap it will not want any other!
‘The Original Award Winning Olive Oil Soap’
Remember … Natural is Best!
"OR Natural" Skin Care Solutions. Laguna, NSW Australia 2325.
"OR Natural" Skin Care Solutions. Laguna, NSW Australia 2325.
Find us on G+
