手工皂的好处多多：
1）甘油是保养品与化妆品里所不能缺少的保湿成分。一般制造香皂的大厂商都会在制造过程中加盐，使甘油、过多的碱液、水分与皂基分离，而形成100%纯粹香皂的皂基。这样的香皂虽然马上可以使用，但缺少手工香皂的精华—甘油。
手工香皂除了具有惊人的清洁力之外，并且丝毫不会破坏肌肤的角质层，这是因为其中所含的甘油能在清洁污垢的同时，形成一层保护膜，达到保护肌肤的效果。
肌肤的角质层一旦产生老化现象，会使得重要的水份流失，更是肌肤所以干燥、出现皱纹的原因之一。
手工香皂含有天然的甘油，且高达20%以上，保湿效果超凡，且对肌肤十分温和。
2）自己的肤质只有自己最了解，针对自己肤质能做一块最适合自己的香皂。而大部分市售的产品都加了一大堆看不懂的化学原料或防腐剂。自己做的皂皂了解里面添加了什么原料，大可以安心的使用。
3）而手工香皂不但对肌肤温和，而且还有利环保。因为手工香皂与化学清洁剂不同，在与水接触后大约24小时后，会被细菌分解。因此就算流到河川或大海，都不会造成环境的污染，也不会对海洋生物造成威胁。
4）手工香皂又有另外一个名称为“天然界面活性剂”，其它不是由油脂与强碱制造出来的清洁剂，则被称为“合成界面活性剂”。合成界面活性剂就是近年来引起环境污染，使敏感性皮肤皱皱红红的罪魁祸首！
Why Use Handmade Soap?
What Is Soap?
Created by a chemical reaction between oils, water and lye. soap is the oldest cleanser around. Although lye is used to make soap there is no lye left after saponification (the chemical reaction that makes soap) is complete. All soaps are created with lye. Different soaps are made using a variety of different oils. Both animal & plant oils can be used in the soap making process, each adding different qualities to the soap.
Conventional Soap
Most soaps available in the store today are not really soaps at all, but detergents. Detergents are a petroleum based product, like gasoline and kerosene. Detergents tend to leave your skin feeling dry, itchy and tight. Alkali, the most common irritant in soap is most often blamed for this effect. Other ingredients in mass-marketed soap have been proven harmful to human health and can cause severe skin irritations in some people. These include ingredients such as DEA, Isopropyl Alcohol, BHT and Triclosan (commonly found in anti-bacterial soap). The most common ingredient in conventional bar soaps is sodium tallowate. It is the natural product of combining tallow, or beef fat, with lye.
Tallow processes quickly, produces a harder bar of soap and is cheap and plentiful making it attractive for mass producing and marketing conventional soap.
Handmade Soaps
Popularity is growing rapidly with handmade soaps. People are beginning to discover the benefits handmade, chemical free soaps have to offer. With the common use of synthetic chemicals and studies about their dangerous effects, consumers are searching for alternatives.
Benefits Of Handmade Soap
There are said to be many healing properties of a handmade bar of soap. Those who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as people that have sensitive skin or are hypoallergenic often find immediate relief by switching to an all natural chemical free handmade soap. Compared to a conventional bar of soap, handmade soap is very mild. Most of them are made from vegetable-based oils, such as olive, coconut, and palm and do not contain the potentially harmful chemicals found in store bought soap. Some say one of the biggest differences between commercial soap and handmade soap is glycerine. Glycerine is a clear liquid that absorbs water from the air and is a key factor in keeping skin soft and healthy. Glycerin soap is especially good for sensitive and delicate skin, and for children. Because it is a high quality by-product in the soap making process, many mass commercial soap manufacturers often extract the glycerine and sell it as a by-product to be used in higher priced beauty products like lotions and skin creams.
Handmade Soap Is Good For Your Body, Spirit and Soul
Skin is the largest human organ and is the bodies first line of defense against dehydration, temperature, infection and harmful substances. Handmade soaps give your skin the care it deserves and make bathing a gentle, soothing experience.
In our busy day to day life we often put aside the indulgences of a simple thing like a special bar of soap. With our limited time it becomes last on our list of priorities. But a fragrant, handmade bar of soap is a simple indulgence that fosters a feeling of relaxation and being pampered. Treat yourself or someone you love to the benefits of handmade soap!
Source: CCOUNTRY GIRL GARDENS
