My interest in all things natural began some years ago, when I started my family on a Traditional Foods lifestyle as described in the book, The Maker’s Diet by Jordan Rubin. Nourishing our bodies from the inside was my first step.
Then I learned that everything we put on our skin is absorbed systemically, so we shouldn’t put things on our skin that aren’t safe to eat! I opened our bathroom cabinet and started reading labels: methylparaben, mineral oil, sodium laureth sulphate, red #5… yuck! Parabens are linked to breast cancer. Mineral oil is a petroleum product; not compatible with human skin and also carcinogenic. Sodium laureth sulphate is a cheap synthetic detergent and foaming agent – also very irritating to the skin and causes a wide variety of health issues. Artificial colorants are known to cause behavior problems in many children, sometimes dramatically.
Well, I started tossing all those health hazards in the garbage and went to the local health food store in search of replacements. All the bottles on the shelf had words like “Natural!” and “Organic!” in bright letters on the front, but their lists of ingredients were disappointing. “Methylparaben” and “sodium laureth sulphate” were there right next to “organic rosemary essential oil.” Argh! Where could I find personal care products that were truly good for me?
Solution: make them myself!
Of the countless oils available for soapmaking, I carefully selected a few that fit my criteria of being safe to eat and pampering for our skin. Because of what I’d learned through my research on Traditional Foods, I avoided many of the oils most commonly used in soap: canola oil, soybean oil, all other modern “vegetable” oils, mineral oil, lard, and hydrogenated oils of every kind. I wouldn’t eat them, so why would I want my body to absorb them every time I bathe?
Synthetic fragrance oils? NO! I read a book called Home, Safe Home by Debra Dadd-Redalia. In it, I learned that “fragrance oils” are synthetic chemicals derived from petroleum. Not good for you at all. But they’re in everything you buy – hair spray, lotion, soap, perfume, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, etc. No wonder so many people are becoming allergic to fragrance oils (30% of the population or more, according to a recent national survey). I am one of those people – artificial fragrances make my nose terribly itchy.
Instead, I purchased high quality essential oils that are distilled from fragrant flowers, leaves and woods. The scents they create in my soap are delightful, and so different from the fakey, ultra-fruity smells of conventional bath and body products. Essential oils have deeper personalities. They harmonize into aromas that are both yummy and mature.
I used to think that conventional soap from the grocery store was good enough for my family. But they contain harsh detergents that strip the protective natural oils from my skin, which forced me to buy lots of lotion and constantly re-apply it during the cold months. And just try finding a truly unscented soap – they all seem to have at least a light fragrance, and I don’t need an itchy nose, thanks.
What do I love about natural soap? I love that my hands are no longer dry and cracked all winter long! Because my soap is made from scratch using plant oils and butters, it contains natural glycerin (draws moisture to your skin) and leaves a light coating of oil to nourish your skin and seal in moisture. I’m a mama with two young children. Between changing diapers and cooking and baking and scrubbing floors and wiping up messes – I can easily wash my hands a couple dozen times every day. But with my gentle, all-natural soap, I rarely need any lotion at all. Even in winter.
