Choosing between soaps and beauty products means learning about different ingredients and what benefits they might have for your skin. Many of us want to choose safe, natural products that will keep our skin moisturized and clean. If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between glycerin soap and regular soap, read on to learn more about glycerin soap’s numerous benefits.
What is glycerin?
Glycerin is a humectant, which means that it attracts water. It’s a colorless, odorless animal- or plant-based substance that pulls water from the environment, whether that means from the deeper layers in your skin or from humidity in the air. That makes it an extremely effective moisturizer.
Glycerin is a product of soap-making, but the substance is often removed to make other moisturizers. Glycerin soap is simply soap that retains its glycerin, making it more moisturizing to the skin.
Pros and cons of using glycerin-based soap
First of all, it’s useful to know that glycerin soap is hypoallergenic, which means that people with contact allergies are less likely to suffer reactions from using glycerin soap. However, this doesn’t mean they’re completely allergen-free, particularly if the maker uses scents or dyes in the soap. Some brands or varieties may cause a reaction while others do not—but glycerin itself is not the culprit.
Since glycerin is a humectant, glycerin soap naturally provides more moisture for your skin. This is also due in part to its low pH level. People with dry or sensitive skin often have better luck with glycerin soaps rather than regular soap.
While some glycerin can be derived from animal products, many soap makers use plant-based glycerin for vegan and vegetarian customers. Glycerin soap comes in both bar and liquid forms, so no matter which type you prefer, you should be able to find a product that works for you.
With all of the above benefits, why would anyone choose traditional soap? First, if it’s important to you that your soap lathers up into foamy suds, you might not like the way glycerin performs and feels. Second, it is generally more expensive than regular soap, especially when made with all-natural ingredients—however, many people understand that high-quality products and ingredients tend to require extra money. Finally, if you leave glycerin soap in water—for example, in a soap dish with a little water in the bottom—the soap can dissolve.
Overall, we at Soaps & Scents think glycerin soap is the superior choice, particularly if you suffer from dry and sensitive skin.
Discover the benefits of using glycerin soap
When you’re looking for high-quality, safe and natural glycerin soap, we hope you’ll check out the selection at Soaps & Scents. We have decades of experience handmaking small batch soaps, bath products and candles that smell great and won’t irritate your skin. We only use the highest quality ingredients. Reach out to us today with any questions, or check out our selection and place your order through our online store. We look forward to assisting you!
The Pros and Cons of Using Glycerin Soaps
Choosing between soaps and beauty products means learning about different ingredients and what benefits they might have for your skin. Many of us want to choose safe, natural products that will keep our skin moisturized and clean. If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between glycerin soap and regular soap, read on to learn more about glycerin soap’s numerous benefits.
What is glycerin?
Glycerin is a humectant, which means that it attracts water. It’s a colorless, odorless animal- or plant-based substance that pulls water from the environment, whether that means from the deeper layers in your skin or from humidity in the air. That makes it an extremely effective moisturizer.
Glycerin is a product of soap-making, but the substance is often removed to make other moisturizers. Glycerin soap is simply soap that retains its glycerin, making it more moisturizing to the skin.
Pros and cons of using glycerin-based soap
First of all, it’s useful to know that glycerin soap is hypoallergenic, which means that people with contact allergies are less likely to suffer reactions from using glycerin soap. However, this doesn’t mean they’re completely allergen-free, particularly if the maker uses scents or dyes in the soap. Some brands or varieties may cause a reaction while others do not—but glycerin itself is not the culprit.
Since glycerin is a humectant, glycerin soap naturally provides more moisture for your skin. This is also due in part to its low pH level. People with dry or sensitive skin often have better luck with glycerin soaps rather than regular soap.
While some glycerin can be derived from animal products, many soap makers use plant-based glycerin for vegan and vegetarian customers. Glycerin soap comes in both bar and liquid forms, so no matter which type you prefer, you should be able to find a product that works for you.
With all of the above benefits, why would anyone choose traditional soap? First, if it’s important to you that your soap lathers up into foamy suds, you might not like the way glycerin performs and feels. Second, it is generally more expensive than regular soap, especially when made with all-natural ingredients—however, many people understand that high-quality products and ingredients tend to require extra money. Finally, if you leave glycerin soap in water—for example, in a soap dish with a little water in the bottom—the soap can dissolve.
Overall, we at Soaps & Scents think glycerin soap is the superior choice, particularly if you suffer from dry and sensitive skin.
Discover the benefits of using glycerin soap
When you’re looking for high-quality, safe and natural glycerin soap, we hope you’ll check out the selection at Soaps & Scents. We have decades of experience handmaking small batch soaps, bath products and candles that smell great and won’t irritate your skin. We only use the highest quality ingredients. Reach out to us today with any questions, or check out our selection and place your order through our online store. We look forward to assisting you!
Advised Hand-Washing Technique from Medical Professionals
With COVID-19 spreading across the globe, the importance of proper hand washing has been emphasized more than ever. Your hands come into contact with many different surfaces over the course of the day, and easily pick up—and transfer—bacteria, germs, dirt and more. (We hope you were already washing your hands frequently—but even if you were, there’s always room for improvement!)
Some people have a rinse-and-go technique that doesn’t eliminate bacteria, germs and viruses the way that’s needed if they wish to protect their health. If you aren’t familiar with the proper hand-washing steps, according to medical professionals, read on to find out the best technique—and why it’s so important.
Wash your hands properly with these steps
There are seven steps in properly washing your hands:
After you’re done washing, be sure to thoroughly dry your hands.
How hand washing protects against COVID-19
You might be concerned that COVID-19 is a virus, making anti-bacterial and other soaps ineffective, but that’s not the full story. Hand washing doesn’t just kill germs when you use anti-bacterial soap. It also makes your hands slippery enough to remove germs, and in the case of COVID-19, the virus is encased in a layer of lipids—like fat or grease. Soap breaks those lipids apart and destroys the structure of the virus, killing it and thus ensuring that it cannot make you sick.
Hand washing also helps if you’re one of those people who has recently become aware that they touch their face a lot more than they ever realized. The COVID-19 virus enters the body through the eyes, nose and mouth. If you’re touching your face with dirty hands, you may be delivering the virus straight to vulnerable areas of your body—but if you wash your hands frequently, using the proper steps, and then touch your face, you’re much less likely to get sick.
Stock up on hand soap
Soaps & Scents makes all of our products by hand, including our hand soaps. They’re made with natural ingredients, designed to be gentle on your skin, eliminate germs, bacteria and viruses and, of course, smell great. We also offer a selection of quality handmade candles, lotions, bath bombs and more. Shop online today, or pay a visit to our El Cajon, CA storefront next time we’re open!
What Makes a Bath Bomb Fizzy?
There are few things more satisfying than dropping a bath bomb into your tub and watching it immediately fizz up, distributing cheerful color and relaxing scents throughout the water. But how does it do this? If you’ve ever wondered about the science behind bath bombs, we can tell you the secret: what you’re seeing is a chemical reaction between two ingredients that only occurs when they’re exposed to water.
The science behind bath bombs
Typically, there are two active ingredients in bath bombs: baking soda and citric acid. Citric acid is found in citrus fruits, but also comes in a powdered form that’s used in cooking and beyond. In their powdered forms, citric acid and baking soda are inert. When they come into contact with water, however, a chemical reaction is triggered.
As the two ingredients hit the water, they form sodium citrate and carbon dioxide, which is responsible for the bubbles. In turn, the bubbles help distribute the dyes and perfumes evenly throughout the water. As the bubbles pop, fragrance is released into the air, which is why you can readily smell their scent as soon as you drop the bomb in the water.
What else is in bath bombs?
Bath bombs have more ingredients than just the active ones, however—they often include a softening agent, such as an oil or butter, dyes (for color) and essential oils or perfumes. Depending on the maker and their objective, you might find that a bath bomb includes corn starch, which slows the chemical reaction. Epsom salts—said to promote muscle relaxation, among other effects—are another popular addition. Some are made with dissolvable glitter and confetti, while others choose to embed trinkets in theirs for an extra surprise.
You can easily make your own bath bombs by purchasing baking soda, citric acid, your additional ingredients of choice and a bath bomb mold. You’ll mix the powders together, moisten them enough to stick and then scoop them into a mold to let dry. Tutorials are available online—the key is to pick natural ingredients and non-staining dyes that will make the bath experience feel luxurious without leaving a big mess behind.
Love bath bombs, but don’t want to make your own? At Soaps & Scents, our bath bombs are made with a combination of baking soda, citric acid and almond, shea and cocoa butter. All our products are scented with natural fragrance or essential oils. They are colored with cosmetic-grade colorants that will not stain skin (or your tub) and weigh in at a hefty 5 ounces apiece.
Soaps & Scents has mastered bath bomb science and is proud to make all of our bath and home products in small batches, by hand. If artificial scents and ingredients make your skin itch, try our products. We offer everything from bar soap and bath bombs to body scrubs, linen sprays and candles. Call or come see us today to find out why our customers keep coming back—we look forward to seeing you soon!