The inside dirt on glycerin soap
Updated: Apr 21, 2022
"Oh, I really hate this harsh glycerin soap, it totally dries out my skin,"...said no one ever! You've probably heard of glycerin soap and maybe even seen it, not just at farmers markets and health food stores, but packaged in the drugstore as highly recognizable brands like Pears. But what exactly is glycerin soap?
All natural soaps have glycerin
All natural soaps contain glycerin - it's a by-product of the soap-making process that occurs when oils and fats come into contact with sodium hydroxide (lye). But glycerin soaps specifically are soaps where additional glycerin has been added. The resulting soap is recognizably different from most other soaps because glycerin soap is translucent.
Glycerin is a moisturizing agent
Glycerin is a vegetable-derived humectant that helps retain the moisture in your skin. Unfortunately, the glycerin that naturally results from the saponification process described above is often stripped out from commercially produced soaps so that it can be sold as a separate product - because glycerin is valuable, whether used in cosmetics, skin care products or even food. Soap without its naturally occurring glycerin can cause skin irritation and dryness, especially because these soaps often contain synthetic detergents that dry the skin even further.
Benefits of glycerin in soap
Glycerin soaps are considered to be one of the most moisturizing soaps available. Some of the benefits include:
Effective for all different skin types
Safe for even the most sensitive skin
Safe to use with skin problems like eczema or psoriasis
Low chance of irritation or skin complications
Excellent for acne-prone skin because it doesn't over-dry, thus maintaining a proper pH balance and discouraging excess oil
Say goodbye to big bubbles and enjoy gentle glycerin soap instead
When people try glycerin soap for the first time, they often remark that it doesn't lather as well as they are used to; a common complaint when it comes to natural bath products is that they don't work exactly as expected. Interestingly, it's not the effectiveness of the soap that's at issue; it's the lack of what's called 'big-bubble lather' in the industry - those huge, sudsy bubbles that remain in the tub for even the longest bubble bath (sadly, those are the exact same ingredients that make dish detergent so bubbly and robust). The only reason for big-bubble lather to appear in a bar of soap is that detergents have been added to the mass-produced soap. Good for washing dishes and clothes, but not so good for your skin!
If you haven't yet tried glycerin soaps, Saltzbaths invites you to give them a try! They're gentle, totally effective, great for your skin, and better for the environment, too, because they're all detergent-free. All our soaps have added glycerin in a natural vegetable oil base for optimal moisturizing and healthy skin. With incredible fragrances and skin-softening ingredients like shea butter and avocado oil, there's a reason why we think they're the best natural soaps in Toronto :) If you'd like more information on our new product releases, including scrumptious glycerin soaps, please sign up to our mailing list by using the contact form in the footer of our website, saltzbaths.com.