Well, to illustrate the “why” you must first understand a little about how soap is made. Most mass- produced soap (which means “milled”) is made by machines. They begin with a soap mixture which is pressed between sets of rollers which flatten it into paper thin sheets. The sheets of soap are then shredded and ground through the rollers again. That product is then put through extrusion machinery which squeezes out a long bar of tightly compacted soap which is cut into individual bars. Making soap by this method creates a very smooth, hard bar which is aesthetically appealing. That is where the differentiation in quality begins.
Mass-produced, milled soap is generally made with lower grade ingredients, many times including tallow. Tallow is rendered from animal fat and is very economical. Mass- produced soap is also typically made with synthetic fragrance oils, not pure essential oils. Synthetic oils are more economical because they are “synthetic”, whereas essential oils are the pure essence from the plant, flower or bush from which they are derived. Because essential oils are the pure essence, they are more expensive than synthetic fragrance oils. Mass-produced soap also typically contains chemicals, such as sodium chloride, which facilitate a longer shelf life and others which allow the mixture to efficiently process through the rollers during the manufacturing process. Any attempt to “mill” a natural soap product would fail because, being full of highly saturated fats and oils, no additives and an excess of glycerin, it would stick to the rollers.
That is what goes into your milled soap. Here’s what comes out of it. A natural by-product of the soap- making process is glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant, which means it draws moisture to the skin. Most soap manufacturers remove the glycerin and use it in other products to increase their profit margin. The end result being, the one good thing that is in triple milled soap, is removed before they sell it to you. If you check the ingredients label and you don’t see the word “glycerin”, it’s because it has been removed, and thus, what you are cleansing your skin with is basically detergent. It does nothing to moisturize your skin.
And, so, while mass produced milled soap is economical and cleanses, it is not doing your skin any favor, nor the environment, because all those chemicals and synthetic ingredients inevitably go into the drain. Cold-processed soaps may not be as “machine-perfect” as the milled product, but they are infinitely better for your skin and the environment. With nothing added and nothing taken away, the final product is natural soap and not a laboratory imitation.
Yes, natural soap is more expensive – but that is because it is “pure” soap. We invite you to try these soaps, filled with pure essential oils and botanicals and feel the difference. Your skin will thank you for it!
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