If you wonder why handmade soap leaves your skin feeling softer than most supermarket soap, the answer is probably glycerin. Or rather: the absence of it in industrial soap.
What is glycerin?
Glycerin (also glycerol) is a colourless, slightly syrupy liquid that occurs naturally in plant-based fats. It is a humectant: a substance that attracts moisture from the environment and retains it in the skin.
During the saponification process of handmade soap (the reaction of fats with lye), glycerin is produced as a by-product. About 10% of the final weight of soap consists of glycerin if nothing is removed from the mixture.
Why industrial soap contains no glycerin
In industrial soap production the glycerin is removed through a separation process. That glycerin is sold separately as a raw material for cosmetics, pharmaceutical products and food. It is a valuable raw material.
What remains is a harder, drier soap base. To make the soap supple anyway, other substances are added: synthetic moisturisers, fragrances, preservatives. And at the same time the manufacturers sell you that glycerin in a separate pot of body milk.
What glycerin does for your skin
- Attracts moisture from the air and retains it in the outer skin layers
- Supports the skin barrier
- Gives a soft feel without being greasy or sticky
- Helps keep the skin supple even with frequent washing
How much glycerin is in Nature Bar handmade soap?
Our soap bars contain all the glycerin produced during the cold process saponification. We remove nothing from the soap. What goes in and what is produced through saponification stays in.
Discover our range of handmade soap.
Frequently asked questions
Why does handmade soap contain glycerin and industrial soap not?
In industrial production glycerin is removed and sold separately. In handmade cold process soap all glycerin produced during saponification is retained in the bar.
Is glycerin good for the skin?
Yes. Glycerin is a proven humectant that attracts and retains moisture in the skin. It is one of the most effective and safe moisturising substances in cosmetics.
