I’ve been using facial soap for many long years. To be honest, I think that I started using them too late. And although my facial soap looks a little bit obsolete in the company of fancy gels, mousses and lotions, I wouldn’t replace it with literally anything.
Do you know the benefits of washing face with soap? If not, keep reading to find out!
Don’t listen to all these people who warn you against using soap to wash your face with saying that it dehydrates the face. I’m a living example that regular face cleansing with soap serves me right and doesn’t cause any problems with skin – the most important thing is to choose the right type of facial soap.
In today’s entry I’d like to debunk the most popular myth concerning facial soap. Enjoy š
Is washing face with bar soap harmful?
There are many occasions on which you can come across information that washing face with a bar soap is dangerous. This conviction is justified by the fact that soap is alkaline (basic), which means that its pH is around 10, whereas skin naturally likes acidic environment (skin’s pH is 5,5). Therefore, using a bar soap to wash your face with increases skin’s pH and disturbs its peripheral layer which leaves the gate open for microorganisms, water evaporates faster and the level of hydration declines.
Obviously, it’s hard not to agree with this, however, I don’t believe that washing face with soap is such a terrible idea. After all, skin’s pH can be easily balanced with a facial toner! Basically, this is the very reason why facial toners were brought into existence – to balance skin’s pH after every washing. Then just follow with a moisturising face cream and/or oil so as to prevent this tight skin feeling and nothing wrong will happen to you š
Why do I wash my face with a bar soap?
The answer to this question is simple. I’ve been washing my face with a bar soap for many years now and I’ve to admit that – surprisingly – my complexion looks stunning and healthy! There was nothing that helped me combat acne as medicinal soft soap did.
Owning to the fact that I replaced the antibacterial facial gels and, just seemingly, soothing facial balms with facial soap produced the following advantages:
- my skin is definitely better cleansed;
- I’m no longer touched by the acne problem;
- my face isn’t that oily as it used to be;
- the problem of blemishing blackheads disappeared;
- my skin is definitely more pleasant to the touch;
- my facial skin is rarely irritated.
Facial bar soap – Types
Obviously, there are many types of bar facial soaps that we can use to wash our faces with. I haven’t tested all of them since I’m a big supporter of regular potassium soap.
Nevertheless, I’m going to tell you this and that about the types of facial bar soaps (of course, only the natural ones). In a moment you’ll meet the big three of the most popular soaps!
- Marseille soap – comes from France where it’s produced on the basis of pure potassium soap, olive oil, glycerin, salt and sodium. Worldwide Marseille soap is recognized for its antibacterial properties. They work fine to cleanse skin cuts and scrapes. You can even use it to wash your hair with (especially if you are affected by dandruff). If you use Marseille soap regularly, you can expect your skin to regenerate faster.
- Syrian soap (commonly known as Aleppo soap) – a traditional soap produced only from four ingredients: olive oil, laurel oil, sea water and potassium/sodium hydroxide. The more laurel oil used, the higher the price of Syrian soap gets. Also, the medicinal properties of Aleppo soap are intensified together with higher laurel oil concentration. When it comes to the properties, this soap is antiseptic, hydrates, prevents fungus, accelerates skin healing processes and disinfects skin.
- Castile soap – another type of natural soap that works great in skin care. In 60% it’s made of olive oil which is mixed with other oils (the most frequently it’s coconut oil), water and glycerin. You can also come across Castile soap including for example goat milk, lavender, cinnamon. This type of soap is recommended for problematic skin type which is affected by dandruff, eczema, atopic dermatitis, and other similar ailments.
Soft soap to wash face with
As I said it above, I remain faithful to regular soft soap. Traditional, regular facial soft soap has been serving me well for many years.
It’s soft and easy dissolves in water. It isn’t white but slightly gray-and-brown. The best in its potassium version, which means that it features one of the following: potassium palmate, potassium linoleate or potassium olivate. Its sodium version is also hypoallergenic, but it doesn’t have as many beneficial properties and doesn’t work as good as facial potassium soap does.
Traditional soft soap can be applied to face, which should be considered as a must in the case of acne-prone skin. It’s recommended for people suffering from allergies and atopic dermatitis. It displays antibacterial properties, soothes irritations, helps skin to regenerate, cleanses delicately and accelerates skin healing processes.
One soap, plenty of applications! š
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