Treating yourself to natural handmade soap and body products is not only a great way to pamper yourself, but it’s also beneficial to your skin. Most handmade body products contain natural oils and butters that not only make your skin feel and look great, but actually improves the condition of your skin. Some commonly used ingredients include Shea butter, cocoa butter, and olive oil.
Shea butter comes from the nuts of the karite tree in Central and West Africa. Shea butter has been used to help heal burns, sores, scars, dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff, and stretch marks. It comes in solid form, but melts with the warmth of your skin. It won’t clog pores and can be applied to face, body and hair. It is really one of the most versatile of the natural moisturizers.
Olive oil is high in antioxidants, including vitamin E, and promotes a radiant and smooth complexion as well as helps maintain your skin’s elasticity. Most handmade soaps contain at least some olive oil as it is generally a staple ingredient in modern soap making. Olive oil is a natural humectant, which means it attracts moisture to your skin. It creates the gentlest of soaps and has been reported to be helpful to people with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and skin allergies. It also makes great baby soap and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or detergents like most commercial soaps. If you haven’t tried olive oil soap, you are truly missing out!
Cocoa Butter – also called cacao butter, is a cream-colored fat that comes from cacao seeds. Often used for the treatment of psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions, some feel it is the ultimate natural moisturizer. It has been a staple in skin care for centuries. It comes in a solid, brittle form, but melts at body temperature and is easily absorbed into skin. Cocoa butter has been used to keep skin soft and supple for centuries. It is one of the most stable, highly concentrated natural fats known.
Other commonly found ingredients include coconut, sweet almond, and apricot kernel oil, mango butter, palm or palm kernel oil as well as a variety of skin safe essential and fragrance oils. Many products are vegan friendly and use only plant based elements.
Handmade soap has the added benefit of naturally occurring glycerin. Glycerin is a byproduct of the soap making process and is a humectant, which means it draws moisture from the air to hydrate your skin. The glycerin is removed from most commercial soaps to be used in other products and is replaced with detergents that can leave your skin feeling dry and itchy. Liquid Shimmer