Are natural soaps really that good for our skin?
Our skin: Protector and mediator
The skin is much more than just the outer layer of our body. It is the heaviest and largest organ of the human body. It is the center of many sensory perceptions and protects us from environmental influences. But: it cannot protect itself from everything, because we significantly influence the skin's functions with our lifestyle. What exactly we change is the pH value of the skin. This ranges from 4.5 to 5.75. Since 7 means neutral, it is therefore in the slightly acidic range. Pollution, temperature fluctuations, as well as cleansing and care products influence our protective barrier. But how exactly does this protective barrier work?
The acid mantle of our skin: Fact or myth?
Many products advertise pH-neutral skin cleansing or care. In this context, pH-neutral does not mean neutral like water, but skin-neutral. Since they are supposed to resemble the acidic character of the skin, these products are also slightly acidic.
A main argument for pH-skin-neutral cleansing is not to change the pH value of the skin, so that the protective function of the acid mantle is not stressed. This protective mantle is a film of hydrolipids on our skin with a pH value of 4.5. It is developed by our sweat and sebaceous glands and protects our skin from drying out.
However, this acid mantle is controversial. It is mainly used by many manufacturers of pH-neutral skincare products for PR purposes. Many pathogens or toxins can also spread in a weakly acidic environment. Nevertheless, there is a protective barrier of the skin, which is more an interaction of the secretions of our skin glands. Water, uric acid, peptides, electrolytes, and fatty acids combine to form a skin film that prevents the growth of unadapted microorganisms. The fatty acids from the sebaceous glands make the skin soft and water-repellent.
pH-neutral skincare
pH-neutral skincare assumes that acids do not harm the entire organism and that the body can neutralize excess acids. The body excretes acids through the skin to maintain the acid mantle. If this protective mantle is altered, the skin needs some time to regenerate to reach its original pH value. As a result, minor skin damage can occur.
Back to basics: Alkaline skincare
Until about 50 years ago, there were almost exclusively alkaline skincare products that could not only cleanse the skin but also protect it. The skin has become more acidic over the years. However, this is not a protective acid layer that has developed. The shift in the skin's pH value, dermatologists suspect today, is due to the excessive acid load to which we expose our bodies and which can no longer be balanced by the kidneys and intestines.
Acidic care products prevent acids from being transported away from the skin and cause them to return to the body. Alkaline care products, on the other hand, neutralize acids and detoxify the body through the naturally occurring chemical reaction between acids and bases. Alkaline baths prove this: bathwater has a neutral pH of 7, alkaline bath salts increase this value to approx. 8.5. This value measurably decreases after an hour of bathing. Consequently, the water absorbs the acids from the body that are released through the skin.
Another argument for alkaline care is the fact that the human embryo spends nine months in the alkaline amniotic fluid in the mother's womb, which has a pH value of 8.5. Thus, the skin of newborns is also alkaline and as healthy as ever.
If there is an acid mantle, it is always washed off, no matter what kind of washing lotion is used, because dirt sticks to it. When washing with alkaline soap, however, it is crucial that they are moisturizing. This means that the skin swells slightly and can therefore better absorb moisture. This can be seen from the fact that skin moisture decreases by 50% when washing with water, and increases by 100% when washing with soap.
If the soaps are also enriched with high-quality oils, they additionally nourish. In all cases, the skin needs 10 minutes to 2 hours after cleansing to restore its original pH value. The length of regeneration depends on the skin condition and not on the detergent.
Natural Soaps from Wild Baboon: sustainable and good for the skin
How are natural soaps made?
Solid fats are mixed with liquid oils. These then react with a mixture of caustic soda and sugar, salt or silk. By stirring this mixture of lye and rich oils for a long time, the so-called "soap paste" is created with a pudding-like consistency. The soap paste is then poured into a mold and left to rest for 24 hours. Wrapped in blankets and thus kept warm, a gel phase occurs, in which the paste thickens. After that, the soaps are cut apart and allowed to mature for 4-6 weeks. As a result, the soaps develop their nourishing effect and hardness. These soaps, in contrast to liquid soaps, contain no animal tallow or perfume, but consist of natural fatty acids.
In addition to their natural and lovingly handmade production, Wild Baboon natural soaps have an additional advantage: their packaging. Here, small folding boxes made of grass paper are used, which are space-saving and attractive and can be ideally given as gifts to promote the topic of sustainability among family and friends. Furthermore, high-quality natural soaps are significantly more durable, as no more than necessary is used.
Aloe Vera Natural Soaps: As much aloe as possible!
At Wild Baboon, we have long been fans of natural soaps, which is why we have developed something very special: the first face and body soaps - not water-based, but based on 100% organic Aloe Vera juice! The soaps are lovingly handcrafted in Germany and are also suitable for sensitive and irritated skin.
We have developed the light Ayni soap, completely without essential oils or fragrance, so that sensitive, irritated and baby skin can be wonderfully cleansed and cared for with it. The composition is as minimalist as it is effective:
Organic Aloe Vera: counteracts impurities,
naturally smooths and clarifies
Shea butter: makes the skin soft and smooth
Babassu oil: inhibits inflammatory processes
Olive oil: contains Vitamin E and smooths small wrinkles
Calendula: cares for and soothes
Castor oil: stimulates collagen production
Aloe Vera concentrate: provides a variety of vitamins and stimulates cell renewal
Since we are also fans of high-quality essential oils, we have developed the green Pachamama natural soap, which smells wonderfully of orange, rosemary, peppermint and lemongrass. Here we have developed a slightly richer care with healing clay:
Organic Aloe Vera: nourishes, smooths and cares
naturally
Shea butter: makes the skin soft and smooth
Babassu oil: inhibits inflammatory processes
Avocado oil: regenerates and smooths
Hemp seed oil: counteracts scar formation and supports the skin's healing processes
Castor oil: stimulates collagen production
Aloe Vera concentrate: provides a variety of vitamins and stimulates cell renewal
Blue healing clay: absorbs excess sebum and bacteria, cleanses the pores
For our natural soaps, we use 0% plastic, 100% certified organic and natural cosmetic ingredients, and the finest Aloe Vera from our sustainable cultivation in Mexico.
