Why There is Really No Such Thing as Glycerin Soap and What You Should be Using Instead!
“Um, excuse me...Do you happen to sell glycerin soap?”
As someone who has worked both on the marketing side and the retail side of the natural soap and skincare industry, I get this question a lot. And, when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. Apparently, glycerin soap is officially “back” in what it means to be trendy when it comes to soap and skincare these days but just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you and your family’s skin!
So, what actually “is” glycerin soap? What most people mean when they are asking for glycerin soap is a dense, slightly translucent bar, that often lathers well, and is thought to be good for people who have sensitive skin. Oh yeah, and it's typically translucent with pretty things floating in it." Nothing wrong with that...it’s just not really “soap.” You see, glycerin itself is actually a natural product (or byproduct) of the soap-making process.
You can now begin to see the dilemma that the industry faces when trying to accurately answer a customer who asks, “Do you happen to sell glycerin soap?” Here at Lynseed & Clover...Yes, we sell soap. Yes, because our soap-makers don’t harvest the glycerin from the soap that we make...officially we do sell glycerin soap. All soap, if it's real soap, is technically glycerin soap, but not all glycerin comes from soap. To put it another way, glycerin is an “ingredient” of sorts, found in real soap, however, it now can also be artificially synthesized from propylene alcohol, which is obtained during the refining of gasoline! (Not really what you want to think about slathering all over your skin!)
The process of harvesting out the glycerin from traditional, old-fashioned, lye soap involves adding solvents to the soap before it has totally saponified to decrease the size of the soap molecules which in turn makes it more transparent. There isn’t really anything wrong with this process, but, in most traditional soapmakers opinion’s it’s 1.) Not necessary and 2.) Leaves you with an end product that, like we mentioned earlier, isn’t actually real soap.
Another misnomer in the world of at-home soapmaking is what is often called “melt and pour soap.” Often times this is packaged and marketed to children as DIY or craft projects, in local craft and hobby stores, and often sold as glycerin soap. It's relatively cheap and most likely inexpensive products like these, sold in big-box stores, are the versions of glycerin that have been artificially synthesized from propylene alcohol, like we talked about earlier! Real deal, old-fashioned soap doesn’t melt with heat, it dissolves with water. Not only is this not real soap, it's not a good option for your kiddos!
Another myth that consumers often seem to believe is that somehow bars of glycerin "soap" are a healthier, safer, more natural option. But, remember, even the glycerin that isn't artificially synthesized is never guaranteed to be natural or non-toxic. Because it's a by-product of the soapmaking process the quality of the original ingredients that the soapmaker used will always affect the quality of the glycerin. If you start with poor ingredients, cheap moisturizers, chemical fillers, unnatural scents and man-made dyes those are also the things that are going to end up in your glycerin.
Most people who are looking for glycerin soap are doing so because it has the reputation of being gentle on extremely sensitive skin as well as being very good at helping the skin to retain moisture. (Plus, like we mentioned earlier, it's very popular!) But before you jump on the glycerin bandwagon let's go back to the original question, “Do you happen to sell glycerin soap?” What we often find is the best way to approach questions like these with our customers is to counter their question with another question. What is it about glycerine soap that you like? Is there something specific that you heard it’s good for and would like to try for yourself? Have you used it before?
There are no shortage of amazing, high quality, natural soaps on the market for sensitive and ultra dry skin. Old-fashioned, handmade soap, without the glycerin having been harvested out of the final product, is surprisingly gentle, even on the most sensitive skin. Here at Lynseed & Clover, we've got options for all kinds of skin and all types of dermatological concerns. Check out our full line of non-toxic, preservative-free soap and skincare or check out our symptoms and conditions page for our personal recommendations!