Savon Artisanal Solide – Zin'OR
IS AN ARTISANAL SOAP MORE RAW, LESS SMOOTH?
The appearance of the soap can be an indicator, but not only.
Industrial soap is often molded and produced in very large quantities, therefore very smooth, while artisanal natural soap can be rough in its finish, because it is made by hand. But some soap makers make natural soaps that are beautiful, very clean, to the letter! It all depends on the artisan's bias.
A NATURAL SOAP FOAMS LESS!
In fact, yes and no... The foam forms naturally thanks to the molecules present in the soap which, when in contact with water, form a multitude of very small air bubbles.
In industrial soaps, a foaming surfactant, "sodium laureth sulfate", is very often added to make the soaps foam, but frequent use of which removes the skin's protection.
To get a good result in a handmade soap, but much softer and safer on the skin, I add coconut butter and shea butter. Enough to create a beautiful creamy foam, perhaps less generous in quantity, but so much healthier and more pleasant.
AND THE COLOR?
Often, in artisanal soap making, we opt for natural colorings using clays, plant macerations, oxides, which gives soaps with more pastel colors. And that's my choice at the Cabane à Savon!
Conversely, in the industry, we use chemical dyes that give more artificial shades.
A HANDCRAFTED SOAP IS CHOSEN BY THE LABEL!
The most important differentiating criterion of an artisanal soap is of course its composition!
The longer and more complex the list of ingredients, the more we must ask ourselves questions about the quality of the soap. This is often the sign of a multitude of chemicals and harmful products, typical of industrial manufacturing.
In cold saponification, however, we use vegetable oils, essential oils, natural or organic ingredients. To make the right choice, we must therefore learn to decipher the label: we, soap makers, have the obligation to notify all our ingredients. This is what we call the INCI list, and it is the best guarantee to identify a quality soap.
Do you also want to make a difference with soaps made in an artisanal way? Take a little look at the INCI lists of my cold saponified soaps.
