Vegetable Glycerin Soap Is A Gentler Alternative

By Kerri Stout


Consumer preferences and buying trends are important to personal-care product makers. In a market filled with a vast number of choices, buyers have begun to avoid personal cleansing products containing irritating, damaging chemical additives, marking a genuine change in sentiment. Vegetable glycerin soap has become a significant alternative to standard formulas that often result in redness, dryness, and discomfort.

Glycerin is not a 21st century discovery. It has been used for many years in lotions and shampoo, and still provides more rapid healing to hospitalized burn victims, as well as making suppository use less problematic. The natural mixture of fatty acids is sometimes used as a substitute for alcohol, and is derived from palm trees, including coconuts, in addition to soybeans. Because it is sweet, it is also a food component.

In the cosmetic world, the substance is classified as a humectant, able to draw moisture to the outer layers of skin. This particular strength is useful in making and promoting beauty products for facial use, emphasizing the ingredients that help prevent dryness and discoloration. There are synthetic humectants used in some similar products, but vegetable glycerol is generally considered a natural substance.

Attracting and maintaining moisture not only makes skin look better, but also allows individual cells to mature properly by strengthening the outer membrane. Most commercially manufactured cleansing products have the opposite effect, primarily because they contain detergents derived in part from petroleum products. Some even contain lye in small quantities, requiring an additional lotion to counteract characteristic drying.

The substance draws and holds moisture near the surface of the skin, and in its purest form is considered hypoallergenic. The prevalence of environmental toxins can make life difficult for many people with skin allergies, or those who suffer from conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. Avoiding chemical irritants becomes part of the daily routine, especially as alcohol-based hand cleaner use spreads.

Even though glycerin products contain fewer hazards, they are not all fragrance-free, and even small amounts can generate reactions in some individuals. Individual skin sensitivities are unique, and finding the brand that is most comfortable for personal use may require testing several products. While higher glycerol content does not necessarily mean better cleansing, it usually means fewer reactions.

Because they contain fewer chemical stabilizers than many bar soaps, vegetable-based products tend to melt away more quickly. Users should avoid long-term storage in spaces that are normally hot, and should make sure the soap dish has sufficient drainage. Lengthy air exposure can also lead to rapid evaporation. Most natural glycerin products do not lather as conspicuously as other soaps, primarily due to their chemical nature.

A growing number of people have started making their own soap at home. Many Internet links detail the process, and identify the molds, materials and safety issues that are a part that process. People who still prefer to buy the finished product find both bar and liquid-pump versions, and some brands are even certified vegan, using no residual animal products. Healthy skin not only looks good, but is also a sign of good health overall.




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