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In this article we will take a look at what is natural soap and what is natural aloe vera soap. We will start from the ground up and adopt a simple question and answer format for easy exposition.
Soap is a catalyst for cleaning. Wikipedia defines soap as follows:
“Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping
”.The role of soap is cleaning; and it does this by forming a colloid with the dirt and grime that can be easily washed away by water.
Soap is produced by blending a highly alkaline solution with acids to form a near neutral solid called - er- soap! The most common alkaline substance used in soap making is Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) a.k.a lye. To be more precise, the blending is actually a very energy intensive whipping process. This is to ensure that the alkali and acids form a homogeneous mixture which is then poured into silicon or wooden molds of desired shapes and sizes to form soap.
When the blending process is done by hand it is called as handmade soap. The blending may also be done by a power-driven stick blender which the soap maker holds in his hand and blends (which is still called handmade).
We should remember that there is no definition for natural soap. And if we are to be strict, natural soap is a classic oxymoron! Soap itself is not natural. However, there are soaps and then there are soaps. If for example I give you two bath soaps and then they have the following ingredients, which is more acceptable to the mind?
Caustic Soda
Tallow (a rendered form of beef or mutton suet)
Caustic Soda
Organic Coconut oil (OR) Virgin Olive Oil
Most Indians would prefer to use soap B, although both soaps may be equally good as cleansers.
So in our understanding, we prefer to call a soap natural , if it is made from plant based oils and no harsh chemicals like surfactants (ex: detergents), chemical fragrances and dyes are used.
Aloe vera gel, the colorless, odurless substance inside the leaves of the succulent aloe vera plant (Aloe Barbadensis) has some miraculous properties.
The Egyptians called aloe vera as the “plant of immortality”.
Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents including vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids.
So it is a highly desirable additive to soap. Its benefits are best realized when we add it to handmade cold process soap.
A soap in which aloe vera gel has been added is called aloe vera soap.
Of course you can. If you have access to fresh aloe vera gel, and if you can make cold process soap then you can easily make it at home.
We have a detailed how-to on how to make alove vera soap at home.
First see if the soap lists aloe gel as an ingredient. Next check if the gel is farm fresh (natural, without preservatives). Do not buy a soap that has aloe gel with preservatives.
Secondly, check if the soap is handmade using the cold process method.
Third, look at the value for money. See if it is reasonably priced. Then try a sample and see if it agrees with you. For all you know you may be allergic to latex and aloe vera can cause an adverse reaction. If all this checks, then go ahead!
It can help most certainly. It has been scientifically tested for treating many skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and acne, and it has given very encouraging results.
But the medical research community, in its business interests, may not be too willing to bring herbal and natural products to mainstream medicine. Why should they shoot their own foot? After all, aloe vera gel or neem oil are not great marketable commodities!
In our limited experience, as organic soap makers, we have found that Doodle Soap with aloe vera gel and neem oil has been quite effective in skin conditions.
Nothing can whiten the skin! But aloe vera gel can bring back our original skin colour. In the tropics we become much darker by exposure to sun. Aloe vera gel can reverse this.
We all can only have our natural skin colour. Our natural skin color can be found by looking at the color of our skin that has not been exposed to the sun. (like arm pits, thighs etc).
If your forearm is much darker than your upper arm, then it is possible to bring its color back with the use of aloe vera gel.
Aloe vera soap makes sense only if it is natural as we discussed above. It is wise to choose a natural aloe vera soap for our skin care.
At Doodle Soapery we make a very genuine natural aloe vera soap handmade from organic oils and incorporating exotic and skin loving ingredients like French pink clay, shea butter, mahua butter, essential oils and the like.
A 100g bar costs only ₹ 105/- including GST and free delivery! So go for it!
Whatsapp Now to 90256 97739 to get this best friend onto your skin!
We publish unbiased information on handmade soap, its benefits, disadvantages, how to choose your soap, various flavours of soap, their benefits and other useful information on handmade natural soaps.
We also publish well-researched informational articles on skin-care in general.
Aloe Vera Soap Benefits
DIY Aloe Vera Soap