Soaps are mainly used to cleanse and render a glow to our skin. By using soaps, we keep the skin soft and smooth, safe from all dermal problems. But the fact is there are hundreds of brands of soaps out there in various genres, from moisturizing and cream-based soaps to herbal soaps and organic soaps.
Thus it is quite a challenge to narrow down to the best soap for you. There is no perfect, single soap that suits everyone. Every person has a different skin type, and you must select a soap suitable for you.
Soaps Based On Skin Type
- Oily Skin
The human skin produces a natural oil called sebum. The production of oil differs from one person to another. Persons with oily skin feature sebaceous glands that are overworked. Such people are more prone to outbreaks of acne. Hence persons with such skin type must wash their faces frequently and avoid using strong soaps. One must ascertain the soap’s ingredients and go in for ones that have peach pits, brown sugar, oatmeal, or sea salt. The suitable soap for oily skin must be gentle on the skin and precise extra oil by which damage to the skin is reduced. If your skin does not happen to be too sensitive, you can use an exfoliating, mild soap 2 to 4 times a week.
- Dry skin
Sebum is vital for your skin, but it must be optimum- not too high or low. In case sebum is sparse on the skin, you have dry skin. For dry skin, choose a soap that has nourishing and moisturizing properties. Choose soap with glycerine content for the best results. Glycerine helps in moisturization and absorbs water from the air. This helps the skin stay moist for a long time. Go in for soaps that contain cocoa butter, coconut oil, vegetable oils, aloe vera, avocado, and jojoba oil to help keep dry skin healthy and glowing.
- Sensitive skin
With this skin type, there is no shortage of soaps. There are many soap kinds in the market for such skin. Take note to ensure that the soap of your choice has no colourants, has balanced pH levels, and is not infused with perfume.
- Combination skin
This kind of skin has both oily and dry properties. In case of such skin type, avoid using soaps meant exclusively for dry skin or oily skin. The reason is that soaps meant for oily skin will make the skin oilier and that for dry skin, make the skin drier. Glycerine soaps are the ideal choice for persons with combination skin.
- Normal skin
This skin type is in total contrast to combination skin. This skin type is not too oily or not too dry. Hence, one must avoid oily skin soaps or dry skin soaps. The good idea is to go in for herbal soaps.
Soaps to Avoid
All said and done about types of soaps as per skin type; it is good to avoid certain kinds of soaps for all skin types:
- Avoid soaps with too many chemicals
- Avoid soaps with high pH value or acidic content
- Avoid soaps that assure fairness since they will contain many harsh chemicals
- Avoid soaps with too much perfume.
The main point to note is that you must select a soap based on your skin type. For this, you can use a trial and error process. It would help if you tried only soaps based on skin type. Neglecting this factor can result in long term damage to your skin.
Liquids or Bars?
Even though labels of soaps claim many attractive ingredients like lavender or coconut, they may not be as good for cleansing as you perceive. Liquid and lotion versions of soaps are likely to contain synthetic ingredients such as Sodium lauryl sulfate. The latter is a foaming agent with a powerful drying impact on the skin and may be chock full of carcinogens. On the other side, bar soaps may contain petroleum or synthetic products that are drying and toxic. The reason is that when bar soap suds wash down the drain, they reach water systems where they ruin their natural ecosystem.
Following are some tips to help choose between liquid soaps or lotions and bar soaps:
- Which makes the most lather?
Though liquids and bars end up making the same volume of suds on bare hands, the liquid soap makes a richer lather on washcloths and loofahs. Also, no matter what, you will gain more bubbles and longer-lasting soap if you use such scrubbing tools instead of your hand.
- Which is more long-lasting?
It is proven that bar soaps last longer than lotion soaps. To extend the lifespan of a soap bar, store it in a well-drained, dry spot in place of a wet dish such that it doesn’t melt too much when not being used.
- Which is sanitary?
There is a myth that liquid soaps are more sanitary than soap bars, but it is time to be debunked. Research has found a tiny extra bit of bacteria on a used bar compared to a fresh one. But these bacteria get washed away when used, besides the grime on the hands.
- Which suits the environment?
There is much less packaging with bar soap. But this can be countered by eco-friendly packaging of liquid soaps. Go in for liquid soap, packaged in environment-friendly substances like PET plastic- it is made without any toxic residue and recycled.
How to Deal With Acne
When you suffer from acne, it is vital to keep the skin clean. Acne is found typically in oily skin, so it is vital to use a special soap for oily face. Soap and water are a time tested remedy for acne. The soap must be able to exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog your pores. So look for unique acne soaps that can get rid of oil and grime without being too harsh and stripping the skin of all moisture. The soap must be a non-abrasive and gentle cleanser that is alcohol-free.
No Scar soap is a very effective soap to treat acne scars and other kinds of scars. It contains medicinal ingredients like glycerine, aloe vera, cocoa fatty acid, citric acid, and almond oil, which help gain smooth and glowing skin.
These are all some tips for using the right kind of soaps.
