What is Vegan Soap? + 6 Benefits
Updated: Oct 24, 2020
Lately, vegan soaps have become a trend again. Popular among people looking for natural alternatives because they have been diagnosed with some skin condition or reduce their negative impact on the environment.
Thus, many big personal care companies have manufactured "natural" vegan versions of their soaps. There is no understanding by consumers about the differences between these commercial versions.
In most cases, the difference lies in the soap manufacturing process, where the commercial versions have additives, dyes, and artificial fragrances, but both clean in the same way. Thus, consumers looking for a soap without these additives should opt for vegan soaps instead of commercial versions.
What is Vegan Soap?
This soap preferred by vegans uses vegetable fats (such as olive oil, coconut oil, or palm oil) and not from saponified grease or other fats of animal origin or products derived from animals (such as milk or honey).
Besides vegetable oils, other ingredients used are carbon, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and wood ash.
Products Recommendation
Ingredients to avoid if you want to use vegan products
Vegans are more careful when choosing the right product to meet their needs while being consistent with their lifestyle. Luckily there are many vegan-friendly products that non-vegans will also love.
An excellent example of a vegan product that everyone appreciates is Castile soap, as it does not contain animal products or animal derivatives. And this soap is one of the most versatile for both personal hygiene and general household cleaning. It is ideal if you have small children or pets as they are not chemical products.
These are some products that vegans and vegetarians do not accept in their soaps, and if you are vegan, you should be careful not to find them in the list of ingredients when you go to make a purchase. It is not a complete list, but it serves to give you a general idea.
Bee Wax
Cashmere
Caviar
Emu Oil
Honey
Jelly
Keratin
Lactose
Lanolin
Lard
Milk
Monoglycerides and Diglycerides
Musk
Pearls
Shellac
Silk
Tallow
Vitamin D3
Whey powder
Similarly, avoid the use of dyes of animal origin (such as cochineal) and products with animal origin genes, either as an ingredient or during the manufacturing process.
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly products include:
Aloe Vera
Castor Oil
Citric Acid
Cornstarch
Corn Syrup
Lauric Acid
Paraffin
Pectin
Salicylic Acid
Vegetal Glycerin
These lists are general. The best way to know if a product is vegan is by reading its labeling. It should indicate that all the ingredients are plant-based, besides specifying that no animal has been used or tested in them. Usually, the companies that do not have practices against vegan thinking openly advertise it because, commercially, it is a positive trait before society.
For more information about Natural Soaps, click the link below.
6 Vegan Soap Benefits
1) Promotes faster skin healing
Vegan soap can accelerate the skin's natural healing properties, allowing scars and new stretch marks to become less visible.
2) It carries fewer serious health risks
Commercial antibacterial soaps contain a triclosan chemical, which is registered as a pesticide by the EPA. Triclosan can cause endocrine system problems, congenital disabilities, decreased fertility, a weakened immune system, and even cancer. Vegan soap does not contain triclosan.
3) Great for sensitive skin
People with eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis have difficulty finding skincare products that don't irritate their skin or make it worse. Vegan soap is the best solution for these conditions or sensitivities because it is very gentle on the skin and can significantly improve the skin's overall health.
4) Does not irritate
Many skin irritations such as itching, peeling, and redness are the result of dry skin. In the commercial soap-making process, glycerin is removed from the oil used to make soap, for more expensive applications (face creams, cosmetics, etc.). This glycerin is what provides moisture to your skin.
When you make vegan soap, the glycerin is present so that moisture remains in the soap, allowing your skin to hydrate with each use. With a much higher moisture content, vegan soap can be used even in babies and children.
5) Does not clog pores
Vegan soap opens the pores, unclogs them, and allows for deeper cleaning. Subsequently, people with severe acne have reported that using vegan soap has allowed their pores to unclog - reducing acne breakouts and blackheads' appearance gently.
6) Best value
You may not know it, but you could be rubbing your body with crushed insects, lard, or lanolin from a sheep's oil glands every time you shower. Additionally, you could be supporting brands that perform cruel and deadly tests on sensitive animals, such as rabbits and mice. The good news is that there are plenty of cruelty-free vegetarian soaps to choose from, regardless of skin type or budget.
Product Overview
Bali Soap - Natural Soap Bar Gift Set
Weight: 1.32 pounds.
Quantity: 6 bars.
Product Origin: Indonesia.
Recommended: Aromatherapy.
Ingredients: Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Water, Alkali (NaOH), Coconut Fragrance Oil, and Dried Coconut. Papaya: Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Water, Alkali (NaOH), Papaya Fragrance Oil, Rice Husk Powder, and Paprika Powder. Vanilla: Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Water, Alkali (NaOH), Vanilla fragrance oil, Rolled Oat, and Chopped Vanilla Bean. Lemongrass: Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Water, Alkali (NaOH), Lemongrass Fragrance Oil, and Sandalwood Powder. Jasmine: Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Water, Alkali (NaOH), Jasmine Fragrance Oil, and Dried Jasmine Flower. Ylang-Ylang: Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Water, Alkali (NaOH), Ylang-Ylang Fragrance Oil, and Dried Ylang-Ylang Powder.
Notes: Great gift idea.
Anatolia Daphne Olive Oil Soap Bar
Weight: 1.9 pounds.
Quantity: 5 bars.
Product Origin: Turkey.
Recommended: Sensitive skin.
Ingredients: Olive oil.
Notes: Hand made by artisans.
Crate 61 Best Seller Soap 6-Pack Box Set
Weight: 1.7 pounds.
Quantity: 6 bars.
Product Origin: Canada.
Recommended: Normal skin.
Ingredients: Saponified: coconut oil, 100% certified sustainable source palm oil, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, premium essential oils, plant extracts.
Notes: All skin types, daily use.
Aegean 100% Natural Handmade Vegan Soap Bar
Weight: 2.5 pounds.
Quantity: 12 bars.
Product Origin: Not specified.
Recommended: Normal skin.
Ingredients: Olive Oil, Soap Base, Water, Pine Tree Scent, and Sandalwood Scents.
Notes: All skin types, daily use.
Weight: 3.84 pounds.
Quantity: 3 bars.
Product Origin: Canada.
Recommended: Dry skin.
Ingredients: Saponified: coconut oil, 100% certified sustainable source palm oil, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, premium essential oils, plant extracts.
Notes: All skin types especially dry skin, daily use, very moisturizing.
O Naturals 6 Piece Moisturizing Body Wash Bar Soap
Weight: 1.6 pounds.
Quantity: 6 bars.
Product Origin: USA.
Recommended: Normal skin.
Ingredients: Sodium Palmate (Sustainable Palm Oil), Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit (Olive) Oil*, Sodium Chloride, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Root Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Meal, Vanilla Bean Specks (Vanilla Planifolia Fruit), Coffee Arabica (Coffee), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Soy Milk, Agave Tequilana (Agave Nectar). Each Bar Made with Organic Olive Oil.
Notes: Aromatherapy and daily use.
Alpine Provisions, Organic Castile Body Wash
Weight: 2.3 pounds.
Quantity: 2 bottles.
Product Origin: Not specified.
Recommended: All skin types.
Ingredients: Coconut oil, pine extract, sage extract.
Notes: All skin types.
Dr. Bronner's - Pure-Castile Bar Soap
Weight: 2.15 pounds.
Quantity: 6 bars.
Product Origin: Not specified.
Recommended: All skin types.
Ingredients: Organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, sodium hydroxide, water, organic olive oil, mentha Avensis, organic hemp oil, organic jojoba oil, mentha Piperita, sea salt, citric acid, tocopherol.
Notes: All skin types.
Did you know that most bar soaps contain animal fat derivatives? As a by-product of the meat industry, animal fat is cheap and widely used (not only in soap, but also in crayons, wax paper, and cosmetics).
Animal fat derivatives include tallow, sodium tallowate, stearic acid, and lard, to name just a few. It is safe to assume that unless a soap is labeled as a vegetable, it is most likely made from slaughterhouse by-products. Besides, many soap brands still rely on old-fashioned animal testing, so always be on the "cruelty-free" label.
Hopefully, you found this article informative and with plenty of ideal product recommendation.