FACT FILES ON HANDMADE PURE, ORGANIC SOAP

My memory wandered further writing the blog this week about ‘safety practices in soap making’. The explanation of how caustic soda is produced, with the comparison to a salt water chlorinator, took me on a journey through past experience…and how I learnt about the process.

We have a 60’s designed house with the first experimental free-form, natural look pool- which received many awards…many years ago. It also had a very antiquated, experimental salt chlorinator…that looked like you were at risk of electrocution if you touched it. I decided it was time for a bit of an upgrade for safety, and invested through a new local pool shop.

They came and installed the new cell unit- but we retained the antiquated power unit. The old salt cell used to have a plastic tube connected to the power unit. This tube, I was told, was not required with the new cell- so the technician cut the tube, bent the end upon itself and wrapped a rubber-band around it. I was told that sometimes the tube might lose pressure, and that the salt cell then wouldn’t operate. When that happened, I should undo the end, blow into the tube and reseal it quickly…and all would be fine.

Our natural looking pool was surrounded by some 57 large gum trees on our average suburban block, so it faced a daily deluge of oily gum leaves. If you have a pool, you’ll know that we fought an uphill battle in keeping the pool clear, as the copious amount of leaves placed a high demand on chlorine levels.

So every second day, the pool would start to turn green. I’d check on the salt cell- not engaging- so I’d blow in the tube as instructed. It became a daily task for a few months. If we went away for the weekend, the pool went green. So I complained, and was told to have silicon sealant at the ready- blow in the tube, and fill the end with the sealant quickly…and the problem would be resolved. The pool continued to turn green every other day.

Fed up, I pulled the power unit and salt cell down- jumped in the car, and headed off to the manufacturer…demanding a solution. The manager listened intently to my complaint, then asked who the pool business was…and picked up the phone.

Every expletive imaginable was YELLED as I listened to the conversation.

It turns out that the ‘redundant’ plastic tube that they’d cut off was a safety device, and not redundant at all. It was designed to detect the pressure within the salt cell chamber, and to cut off the power supply should the level of hydrogen gas build-up become too high. With a salt cell, hydrogen is generated at the cathode, and chlorine at the anode…which is fine, as long as the unit is pressurised with the required water flow.

I heard that what they’d created was an active hydrogen bomb in our backyard…one spark and the whole thing could have blown me, the pool shed and the attached brick building (now the soap workshop)…sky high! If the unit was turned on and for some reason the water hadn’t flowed to the salt cell unit (which happens frequently here), the electrical charge passing between the plates would have provided the spark to the hydrogen filled chamber.

KABOOM…made all the more frightening because I usually blew away into the tube with a cigarette in one hand- whilst constantly turning the power on and off to see if the salt cell had engaged after blowing…frequently, and daily!

I was extremely lucky that the bomb never went off. Yes- accidents happen…usually when not anticipated, or because we don’t have an understanding of what we are doing.

So my memory wandered further…searching for relevance, and I found myself hearing the fabled “The Three Little Pigs” from childhood…with the big bad wolf exclaiming, “Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.”

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE PURE, ORGANIC SOAP

Quite a few customers at the markets on the weekend, quizzed me over soap making methods and safety issues...highly unusual. The odd person occasionally asks some questions- a few...tweaked my curiosity.

Then my memory likes to wander around and search for relevant fragments…triggered by words/associations. So now it’s replaying that infamous torture scene from the movie “Marathon Man”, where Dr Szell (Sir Lawrence Olivier) asks Babe Levy (Dustin Hoffman), “Is it safe?”…before wielding the dental probe into Levy’s decaying tooth. How could anyone attend a dental appointment thereafter, without apprehension? My memory grabs on to trivia and files it away.

Apparently, various soap making workshops have been run recently in Brisbane, & the take home message from that exercise in my opinion is that not enough information has been passed on to attendees over the importance of safety practices in handling caustic soda...with children attending these workshops also. I've refused to run soap making workshops because of safety issues...my business insurance would be promptly terminated!

As I’ve explained before, a caustic soda (sodium hydroxide/NaOH)/water solution or ‘lye’ is required to make soap. NaOH is a highly corrosive, caustic and reactive chemical, and it should always be handled with appropriate safety precautions in place.

Caustic soda is produced from an electrolysed sodium chloride brine solution. This process works in much the same way that chlorine is produced for salt water swimming pools- the salt water being passed over the charged plates of the chlorinator cell which breaks down the salt into its natural components…one of which is chlorine.

Caustic soda is a strong alkali and highly corrosive. When it is used commercially, stringent safety precautions are required:
-       chemical resistant clothing/apron, shoes, protective gloves and safety glasses/face shield must be worn
-       the area must be fitted with a fume exhaust hood, safety shower and eyewash fountain
-       NaOH must be stored in a dry place- away from metals, and locked away from child access.

Now there are some clues that should be observed with good reason.

NaOH is:
-       both colourless and odourless
-       slippery when wet
-       exothermic, generating extreme heat when exposed to moisture…heat sufficient to cause skin burns on contact
-       capable of melting some plastics from the generated heat when mixed with water
-       unstable when combined with anything other than lukewarm water…if the water is either too hot or cold, a volcanic reaction can occur
-       corrosive as a generated vapour/mist, and a respiratory irritant…severely damaging nose, throat and lung tissues
-       highly corrosive and capable of dissolving animal proteins…causing severe skin burns on contact
-       reactant with several metals…causing the highly explosive and flammable hydrogen gas to form- only stainless steel can be contacted safely
-       capable of producing deadly carbon monoxide gas, when in contact with any sugar.

That’s quite an extensive list of cautionary notes to be mindful of whilst handling NaOH in soap making. Accidents happen…without question. I have visions of spilling the lye on the floor- then falling over on the slippery surface and having my clothes drenched in the burning solution…and unable to get up! Only once have I had an accident- a tiny NaOH grain went unnoticed on a fingertip while I worked. It burnt a tiny deep hole through all layers of skin quickly.

Never become complacent over handling this chemical. I am acutely aware of safety issues always- even after making soap daily for several years. I wear protective items. I mix the water and caustic soda outside in fresh air. I use thermometers. I keep a bottle and bowl of vinegar on the bench- ready to neutralise any splashes/spills. I have the security of a swimming pool a step away from the workroom to jump into immediately. I take no obvious risks ever- one splash of the solution in my eye could cost me my sight.

I have taken issue over soap making kits being sold and promoted as an activity to be done by children. I find this prospect outrageous. Even with adult supervision, accidents happen in a split second. Children do not develop acceptable levels of thought processing and physical co-ordination skills until after the age of 10 years.

Beyond the potential recipe for disaster in a child handling NaOH, a child is curious and impatient. Once the soap is mixed and poured, it is left to firm up for 24 hours. The process of saponification continues during this period. The soap mixture goes through various stages as the molecular changes occur. The mixture generates its own heat, and gradually goes in to a clear gel state- starting at the centre and gradually expanding outwards to the edges. During this period, the mixture is still highly corrosive- it could in fact be used as a paint stripper. Do you really want a child impatiently poking their finger in to the mixture to gauge how firm it is?

Anyone using caustic soda to make cold process soap for public sale is required to be registered with NICNAS- National Industrial Chemicals Notification Scheme, Australian Government Dept. of Health and Ageing. Anyone not registered is liable to hefty fines- $33K for an individual/$165K for a company. If a soap maker makes a mistake in their calculations or measurements of caustic soda, severe burns could result.

Soap makers are also required to carry product insurance to protect the buyer’s health interests. Unfortunately, soap is now viewed as a high risk insurance item- largely because of claims brought about through many body-washes, which have a high margin for error in mixing. Product insurance for soap has escalated- with few insurers prepared to cover soap/related products- with insurance costing me 40% of every sale. That doesn’t leave much scope for profitability in the equation.

So my take home message to those thinking about making their own soap…please take note of the safety issues surrounding the use of caustic soda. Never treat it casually…ever!

Some safety tips in soap making to always observe:
-       wear protective chemical resistant gear
-       work in a well ventilated space
-       measure ingredients accurately
-       only use hardened glass and stainless steel utensils
-       have ready access to a water supply for emergency use
-       have ready access to vinegar…the acid will neutralise the alkali caustic soda
-       use thermometers in both the lye solution and oils before mixing at same lowered temperature
-       add caustic soda SLOWLY to lukewarm water- if added too quickly, corrosive vapour will form…which should not be breathed
-       never add water to caustic soda…a volcanic eruption will occur, causing dangerous splashes- only add NaOH to water
-       wash hands thoroughly after soap making
-       wash equipment used in isolation of anything else
-       reserve any equipment used solely for soap making
-       keep caustic soda and poured soap mixture out of the reach of children.

As I’ve explained before, caustic soda- although used to make soap- does not exist in the final soap product. It is a part of a manufacturing process, and it is rendered inert within 24 hours of combining the ingredients…resulting in a solid soap salt and glycerine as a by-product instead.

Back to “Marathon Man” and its relevance to safety in soap making. Levy answers, “No, it’s not safe- it’s very dangerous- be careful.” The memory dots are connected!

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE PURE, ORGANIC SOAP

How is soap made? Often when I’m stirring a batch of soap, I hear the words silently running through my head…”Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble.” (from Macbeth, William Shakespeare)…some words stick with you for life!

So how do you turn an oil into a solid to create soap? There’s a bit of simple chemistry that applies to the process. Basically, a fatty acid/oil is combined with an alkali/caustic soda (NaOH) to form a solid/fatty acid salt…soap. The reaction that occurs: fat/oil + 3NaOH/sodium hydroxide = glycerine +3soap.

A fatty acid has a unique combination of triglycerides…compounds made of 3 fatty acids attached to a single molecule of glycerol. Glycerol is the basis of all fats, made up of a three carbon chain…connecting the fatty acids together. When mixed with the alkali solution with 1 hydroxide ion (the sodium ion does not take part in the reaction at all), the triglycerides within the fatty acid/oil release the single glycerol molecule…which turns into glycerine. The fatty acids combine with the hydroxide ions to form a solid soap salt.

This process is called ‘saponification’- the oil used as an ingredient becomes termed a ‘saponified oil’ for identification, or is identified as a salt- like sodium cocoate (saponified coconut oil). There is no other way to turn an oil into a solid salt. The caustic soda solution- sometimes termed ‘lye’- is part of the chemical process but, through the molecular reconfigurations in the equation, becomes inert and transforms the glycerol into the beneficial element of glycerine.

Glycerine is therefore created as a by-product of the soap-making process…making the use of caustic soda in the process a bit of a no-brainer for any concern, as it does not exist in the resultant soap. Glycerine is an incredibly moisturising substance- attracting moisture from its surroundings…a 'humectant'. It’s the most valued ingredient used in the skin care industry, and it is usually filtered off in commercial soap manufacturing to be used in moisturisers.

At ilo ORGANICS, we hand-make our soaps using the cold process method of soap manufacture. This method yields a high percentage of natural glycerine, and the glycerine quality in our soaps cannot be surpassed, as it is derived from processing pure organic plant oils. All handmade, cold process soaps can in fact be termed ‘glycerine soaps’ because of the high glycerine content produced as a by-product. 

After the mixture has thickened through careful blending, it is poured into moulds and left for a day to continue the saponification process and firm up. The formed soaps are then left to ‘cure’- evaporate the water content from the lye used, and further harden- for a period of weeks. This period is determined by the soap cake size and the oils used- varying from 4-8 weeks in our soap types produced.

At ilo ORGANICS, we ‘superfat’ our soaps. This means that in our soap recipe calculations, we make an allowance so that not all of the oils are converted in the processing. This leaves a percentage of the oils in their natural form to further moisturise the skin. These suspended oils can sometimes rise to the surface- causing small pockets of darker discolouration. The clear sticky coating that also rises to the surface of the soap is the glycerine content.

So if you were thinking that soap was the harsh product that commercial manufacturers now marketing body-washes in their economic drive would have you believe, think again. Handmade, cold process soaps are true soaps made with time-honoured traditions and natural ingredients- unsurpassed for the gentle, moisturising cleansing care that they offer the skin.

At ilo ORGANICS, our soaps also offer the added benefit of being made with pure organic plant oils, and are completely chemical, colouring and fragrance free. Indulge your body and nurture your skin naturally…you’ll wonder how you ever lived without our soaps- moisturising skin care in one simple step! Back to the stirring...

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE PURE, ORGANIC SOAP

How was soap discovered? There are many explanations offered, but at best, they are just based on conjecture. Soap has been evidenced through history from as far back as 2800BC. As to how it came about was probably through an act of chance.

Man existed primarily as a hunter and gatherer of food for survival. If an animal was hunted and killed, every bit of the carcass was used as a resource- meat, organs, fat, blood, bone and skin. Nothing was wasted…economics and survival. Along the way, man discovered fire- which quickly augmented the practical use of the carcass. Bones and fat were boiled for nourishing broths.

There in lies an obvious possibility in my opinion and logic as to how soap was discovered…a boiled pot of broth was knocked over into the fire. On the top of the fated broth, the risen congealed layer of fat then fell into the fire ashes. Later, someone noticed an unusual fatty product that resulted- a transformed fat that created a slippery feel when moistened, and broke the surface tension and workability of the animal fat for lubricating and protecting animal hides…the dried blood becoming easier to remove etc.

Why do I believe this simple accident to be a viable notion? The simple chemistry that goes into making soap applies. Soap is made by combining a fat with a strong alkali…one of which is KOH/potassium hydroxide. What was one of the earliest sources of KOH? Potash- formed from boiling hardwood fire ashes. BOOM- that cooking accident caused soap to form in the fire ashes. I find this a far more viable explanation than those offered as to the history…but then I adopt a somewhat cynical attitude to historical overviews.

I remember listening to a glorified, artistic analysis of various exampled sculptures done by Michelangelo in Milan at the Castello Sforzesco- where Michelangelo’s last unfinished sculpture is displayed. Another sculpture had 3 rough figures emerging from a large block of marble, and the analysis proffered complex analogies of the artistic merit and creative expression attempted. Really? Were there any other examples of this type of expressive work done by Michelangelo, in such an unfinished and unrefined state…no. My simple explanation would have been that Michelangelo had to acquire his skills along the way. The exampled sculpture was probably a piece that he very simply stuffed up, and then used the block for further practice. Have you ever attempted sculpture? I think if you have, you’ll find my explanation very plausible. Three dimensional rendering is complex in translation of form.

It was also found that boiled animal fat- separated from any residual meat and gristle- lasted longer in storage. The intentional production of purified animal fat began…tallow. Tallow and soap production became industries- although soap over the centuries was used purely for functional cleaning. In countries where animal fats were not readily available, soaps were made using various locally sourced plant oils…primarily olive oil. In fact my father-in-law at one point worked in a factory producing olive oil soap from the olive pressing wastes, in his village in Italy. Olive oil soap has historically been known as the mildest soap produced.

It’s an interesting fact that Australia sustained a viable export trade of tallow with England in the mid 19th Century. A failing beef industry in a difficult economic period in our history was sustained through these exports…the meat became the waste product given to workers and used as pig feed.

The use of tallow in soap has continued through to modern times. Tallow was a cheap and readily accessible fat that was essentially accessed as a waste product. Most people made their own soap- collecting the animal fats from their cooking for this purpose.

It took the re-assignment of tallow as a resource during WW1, for a chemical alternative to be created out of necessity. BOOM- along came detergent…a synthetic emulsifier created from petroleum.

However, the use of detergents in commercial soap making did not come in to use until the further restrictions of resources during WW2. Commercially produced soaps were made from these detergent bases thereafter…a cheap accessible ingredient. ‘Soap’ produced from petroleum chemicals is technically not soap, but a ‘detergent bar’.

Soap, as historically known and produced, has become a product reserved to traditional soap makers- employing the traditional soap making method of cold-processing, and the use of tallow and plant oils for the superior qualities that they bring to a soap, over the harsh qualities of petroleum based detergents.

ilo ORGANICS select various organic plant oils for use in our soaps, because of their superior beneficial qualities offered to the skin. Our soaps are 100% Vegan safe- safe for use on both ethical and medical grounds. My body has never tolerated nor digested animal fats. The thought of tallow used in a soap sends shudders through my body- 100% pure animal fat…not for me! The skin, as the body’s largest organ, does absorb roughly 60% of compounds applied to it, as we’ve explained before- refer blog dated 09.07.14, “Where’s my suit of armour?”

Similarly, I do not agree with applying an animal fat or protein- like goat’s milk- to an unresolved or qualified skin rash or irritation. Logic says to me that that fat or protein will draw to it as a food source the same problem bacteria…my theories only- perhaps my doctor would argue the point otherwise.

I also suffer from Lupus. There is no way that I’d contemplate exposing the resultant oozing skin lesions to a bacteria attracting animal fat or protein, and compound the risk of infection. Logic tells me it’d be like adding wood to the fire…a bit like the old remedy of applying butter to a burn- we now know that the burn was amplified by this process.

My skin with a Lupus outbreak responds best to the gentle, soothing care offered by our organic soaps, and the healing qualities offered by soaking in a bath containing our pure mineral salts.

Our knowledge of the body and its interaction with the environment has expanded significantly- so too, our scientific knowledge. We have access to better soap making ingredients- we can analyse the structure of those ingredients to appraise the benefits that they offer the skin and the body. At ilo ORGANICS, we choose to use organic plant oils for our soap making- with the guarantee that they are of the finest chemical-free oils that we can source.

So there you have it…my somewhat twisted theories on the history of soap!

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE, PURE ORGANIC SOAP

Blokes love our organic soap! It never ceases to astound us that men are the biggest users of our organic soap range. It certainly wasn’t something that we were expecting…not by any stretch of our imagination- but there it is!

Most men wander up to us at the markets- a little embarrassed to begin with- but the conversation generally runs like this:

Us: Hi! Have you used our soaps before? Would you like us to explain the soaps to you?

Bloke: Yeah, that’d be good. My skin gets really dry. My wife buys those damn body-washes. I hate them! I hate pumping the bottle- I hate the flowery smell…I just hate them! I just want to grab a cake of soap & have a shower…but she insists body-washes are better…yet my skin never used to be dry.

We explain our organic soap range- that we don’t use chemicals or fragrances, and that our organic soaps are naturally moisturising.

Most men usually choose our ‘coci’ soap on the basis that they can use it for shaving and as a shampoo as well. They walk away with their purchase in our brown paper bag- hidden under their armpit. The whole scene is vaguely reminiscent of the embarrassed purchase of condoms from a female shop assistant. Ah- but then they come back saying that they loved our soap- their skin has been great- and the next purchase is completed with confidence.

Then we have females who are shopping for soap for their husband or son…either with dry skin or eczema. The conversation generally goes like this:

Woman: I’m looking for soap for my husband. He drives me nuts…he’s hung up on the past and wants to use soap. He reckons that the body-wash makes his skin dry and irritated.

Us: I take it that you don’t have dry skin yourself then?

Woman: No…well I do…everyone does, particularly in winter- but I use moisturiser after I’ve showered. He can’t be bothered! Anyway, I think he just doesn’t like the smell of the body-wash…and he’s stubborn- says he hates fiddling with it all.

So we explain our organic soap range, and that body-washes can be harsh on the skin because of the petrochemicals, and preservatives used to provide a shelf life, and that we don’t add fragrance to our soaps because they are common irritants to the skin. We explain that our soaps are highly moisturising because of the naturally achieved glycerine content…the most moisturising ingredient used in the cosmetic industry- and because of the organic plant oils that we select…which gently nurture the skin without stripping it.

The woman begrudgingly usually buys a ‘coci’ soap then utters a complaint about the extra cleaning she’ll have to do…because soaps are so messy. We comment that in fact there won’t be any difference…that it’s the chemicals used in commercial soaps that cause the residual scum.

We usually wonder afterwards…has the woman in fact ‘heard’ anything that we’ve said? We think blokes are pretty damn switched on to soap with good reason.

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE, PURE ORGANIC SOAP

Why don’t we add fragrance to our soaps? As ilo ORGANICS is producing soaps to cater for sensitive skins, we consciously chose to omit fragrance compounds from our products. Most fragrance compounds, whether synthetically or naturally derived, are known skin irritants or allergens- yet they are used profusely in commercial products. It’s become our accepted expectation that our olfactory senses will be stimulated by every personal care product we buy. How did that happen? When and why did manufacturers begin to saturate our senses with an overload of fragrance?

There in lies the clue- commercial manufacturing and marketing rule our lives in order to attract sales...manipulating our senses for profit.

We started making our organic soaps out of necessity to address our daughter’s skin sensitivities. She reacted to everything- commercial and other handmade soaps, hand and body washes, shampoos and conditioners, creams, detergents, washing powders…an extensive list of products. If she uses a hand-wash in a public toilet, her hands become instantly red and painfully irritated for 3-5 days. If she stays outside of our home, she reacts with rashes to the washing powders used by others on sheets and towels. We know she is allergic to yellow colouring, and that’s used commercially in most products to stimulate visual appeal. Beyond that, we don’t know what specifically causes her reactions. So we set about making the purest soap product we could- using the best organic ingredients we could source, to ensure a chemical and irritant free product.

After researching ingredients, fragrance compounds became an obvious exclusion…even most essential oils are known skin irritants with their concentrated forms.

The essential oils that are known allergens and irritants to avoid skin contact with are: balsam, basil, benzoin, birch, black pepper, cassia, clove, cinnamon bark, citronella, costus, divaret pine, elecampane, eucalyptus, fennel, ginger, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, oregano, peppermint, pimento berry, pine, savory, tagetes, red thyme and wintergreen.

The essential oils that are known photo-sensitizers to avoid skin contact with are: angelia, bergamot, bitter orange, cumin, lemon, lime, opoponax, rue and verbena.

That’s quite an extensive list. Are you recognising common fragrances used in your commercial products, and still wondering why you suffer skin irritations...despite changing products?

We’d hate to say how many times we were asked at the markets on Sunday alone, if we have a lemongrass soap. Dried lemongrass in the quantities that would be added to a soap would offer little fragrance. The fragrance would need to be boosted by the addition of a synthetic fragrance or essential oil…but check those lists above. Lemongrass essential oil is an established skin irritant.

Do you even contemplate the plethora of fragrances that you’re applying to your body every day through personal care products? There’s the body wash or soap, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, moisturiser, hand-cream, toothpaste, hair product…and then perfume/aftershave. What on earth do we smell like at the end of all of that…with most fragrances never meant to be compatibly combined with the others.

We intentionally seek out fragrance free products for our use. We embrace the natural odours of the organic plant oils that we use in our soaps. They’re subtle, yet simply refreshing…as our senses have re-engaged after the removal of the fragrance overload in our lives. We do “…smell the blood of an Englishman…” more readily and happily these days…and embrace the fact!

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE, PURE ORGANIC SOAP

Were you thinking that your skin is an impermeable protective shield against the world? It's not- it's a semi-permeable membrane that acts as a natural barrier against infection entering the body. The skin is essentially water resistant, so that nutrients aren't washed out of the body- but the skin does absorb many substances that are applied to it. The applied substances can have just as much impact on your health as the foods you eat.

The skin is the largest organ of the body- covering about 2 sq m on average, with a variable thickness of 1-3mm depending on location. It's made up of four layers. The deepest layer- the Basale layer- is where skin cells are made, and they gradually migrate to the outermost layer- called the Stratum Corneum. This is the layer that you see- a layer of dead, shedding skin cells that form a protective barrier, much like a brick wall. These cells are surrounded by a natural oil layer called lipids, acting much like the mortar in a brick wall. These surface skin cells- the comeocytes- don't have a blood supply and are held together by proteins. These proteins disintegrate over time and release the dead skin cells- exposing, and replaced by the skin cells underneath in the next two skin layers- the Stratum Granlosum and Stratum Spinosum. The dead skin cells detach irregularly- making your skin look and feel rough and patchy. 

Applied skin creams can act like a buffer- filling and smoothing the gaps left between the intact skin cells. However, what gets absorbed through the skin is not fully established. It's estimated that 60% of what is applied to the skin is absorbed- with some compounds being 100% absorbed through the skin and systemically entering the bloodstream. Absorption rates of chemicals vary tremendously depending on the molecular size of the substance, the concentration applied and the length of exposure. Chemical absorption is then further affected by other variables- such as variances from person to person, age, gender, race and the general condition of an individual's skin.

Our skin layers form a flexible shield against our environment. If the molecular sizing of a substance is too large, it simply won't pass through the Stratum Corneum and systemically enter the body. However, the cosmetic/personal care industries rely on various substances to allow ingredients to permeate the skin effectively- providing an enhanced pathway into the body. Not only are the desirable compounds assisted in this pathway, but also the highly toxic, undesirable chemicals- like the preservatives used (listed in post 02.07.14). 

The shedding of skin cells is a natural process, but it can be disrupted when the natural skin oils are depleted through the use of harsh skin care products, excessive exfoliation, ultraviolet radiation, climate factors, dehydration and even hormonal levels. Disruption to this precious protective layer can make skin more permeable to pathogens, allergens and dehydration, and lead to a variety of skin problems.

ilo ORGANICS soaps are free of any chemicals, colouring agents or fragrances, and are made with selected organic plant oils to nurture and moisturise the skin, whilst gently cleansing it. The molecular sizing of the selected plant oils readily permeate the skin to nourish it with the natural beneficial qualities of the oils. The soaps are made using the cold process method of soap-making to retain the natural, organic oil qualities. ilo ORGANICS soaps are fragrance free, as fragrance ingredients are up to 100% absorbed through the skin. Many are known skin irritants and allergens- causing many skin reactions, but rarely investigated as the cause.

Reduce your daily chemical exposure through personal care products...become conscious of what you apply to your skin- read those ingredient labels. Our bodies were never meant to process petrochemicals. Would you prefer to nurture your skin with a quality organic plant oil, or spray your suit of armour with WD40? It's a simple choice.

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE, PURE ORGANIC SOAP

...a word used to represent the longest word in English- a nonsense word used by children. Don't you ever wonder who comes up with the names of various chemicals? We can scrutinise product labels, but remain mystified as to what the ingredients might actually be...but conclude that they've got to be okay, or they wouldn't be allowed to be included in a consumable product. Some of the most circumspect chemicals are used as preservatives in personal care products.

The following is a list of preservatives used in products, that we'd personally avoid all contact with until clinical studies are conclusive: 2-bromo-2 nitrophane/Bronopol; Diazolidinyl urea; DMDM hydantoin; Formaldehyde; Imidazolidinyl urea; Parabens- Benzlparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben; Methylchloroisthiazolinone; Methylisothiazolinone; Methylisothiazoline; Phenocyethanol. Can you even pronounce them? There's a clue!

The following preservatives aren't currently 'in question' over health risks...but use your judgement: Benzalkonium chloride; BHA/Butylated hydroxyanisole; BHT/Butylated hydroxytoluene; Ethylenediamine; Ethylenediamine: Methyeneamine; Methylchloroisothiazolinane; Methyldibromoglutaronitrite; Quaternium-15; Resorcinol; Thimerosal; Triclocaban; Triclosan. Do you bother to jot the ingredients down and research what they are before buying that product?

Apologies for any spelling mistakes made, but therein lies a simple rule to adopt when reading labels- if you can't spell it...if you can't pronounce it...if the ingredient appears as a nonsense word to you...do you really want to risk putting it on your skin?

A popular commercial "beauty cream bar" soap is marketed "Soap is Harsh...**** is Different"- with its 26 mainly synthetic, petrochemical based ingredients- a truly alarming prospect! Our bodies are not meant to process petrochemicals.

ilo ORGANICS soaps contain generally 4 ingredients: a blend of selected saponified organic plant oils and natural glycerine- produced as a by-product of the soap-making process. There are no chemicals, no preservatives, no colouring agents and no fragrance compounds in our soaps...nothing hard to pronounce at all. Use our soaps with confidence!

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE, PURE ORGANIC SOAP

Did you see the program on 'A Current Affair' last night (26.06.14)- "The skincare ingrediant (sic) that could harm you" ? It was referring to a sunscreen that had caused a skin reaction to a woman...an instant burning sensation on application. The ingredient suspected of causing the reaction was Methylisothiazolinone- which a suspected 16% of the population now has an allergic response to. 

Methylisothiazolinone is used as a preservative in products. It's a suspected mutagenic neurotoxin- chemically similar to Agent Orange- that's 100% absorbed through the skin...but just happens to be an effective antibacterial compound that extends the shelf-life of a product. It's surprising that ONLY 16% of the population have developed a sensitivity to it! 

How can it be allowed for a manufacturer to put this ingredient in a personal care product- indirectly allowing consumers to put it into their bodies? We assume that our products are safe for our use...they're not! It takes just 26 seconds for the chemicals in your personal care products to enter your bloodstream.

Read those ingredient labels on products. Many supposedly healthy, natural & organic products contain Methylisothiazolinone as a preservative- often used in combination with the the equally skin irritating Methylchloroisthiazolinone...including many baby wipes! Become aware...make an informed choice & reject them!

FACT FILES ON HANDMADE, PURE ORGANIC SOAP

ilo ORGANICS soaps are handcrafted using the cold process method of soap manufacture. This method ensures that the natural nutrient qualities of the selected organic plant oils used remain intact- as the ingredients are mixed by hand without the use of heat.

We have provided a brief description of the various methods used to make soap for your scrutiny. We believe that informed people make informed decisions.

COLD PROCESS METHOD- used by ilo ORGANICS

This method involves mixing a fatty acid (the oil) with an alkali (sodium hydroxide) to form a solid. This process is called saponification. The resultant soap is a fatty acid salt.

During the first 24 hours after combining the ingredients and pouring it into moulds, the molecules reconfigure- causing the mixture to generate natural heat, and progress through a transparent gel stage before becoming an opaque solid. At this point, the sodium hydroxide has been rendered completely inert- creating natural glycerine as a by-product in its place. It is for this reason that sodium hydroxide is not required to be listed as an ingredient, as it has a technical effect in the production process only, and is converted into glycerine as an ingredient.

A simple explanation of this molecular reaction is: fat (the oil) + 3NaOH (sodium hydroxide) = glycerine + 3soap.

It is the naturally achieved glycerine content that makes handcrafted soap smooth and soft in texture, and even more moisturising than from the selected plant oil content. Glycerine is a humectant- attracting moisture to the skin. Technically, all handcrafted cold process soaps can be termed ‘glycerine soaps’. There is no such thing as 100% glycerine soap. On checking commercial soap labels, the glycerine will be listed in the descending order of ingredients as an additive- along with a lengthy list of petrochemical based ingredients. A transparent soap is a heavily processed soap.

It is the natural glycerine content of cold process soap attracting surrounding environmental moisture that can turn the soap to glug. It is important to keep the soap well drained and aired between uses. For this reason, ilo ORGANICS provides a small plastic drainer for use with our soaps.

ilo ORGANICS cut the solidified soap by hand, and allow the soap to harden through evaporation for up to 8 weeks, before packaging it. ilo ORGANICS handcrafted soaps achieve approximately 12% natural glycerine content- to lavish the skin with its supremely moisturising quality. The glycerine is identified as the clear, sticky component of the moistened soap.

Soaps made by the cold process method achieve an opaque smooth, even and creamy texture- that is relatively soft in comparison to commercially produced soaps. Handcrafted soaps made from pure plant oils using the cold process method don’t require preservatives. However, ilo ORGANICS recommends that the soaps be used within 12 months of purchase.

By using this manufacturing method, the soap-maker is required to be registered with NICNAS- the Government Department that soap-making is regulated by in Australia. If the soap-maker is not registered, they are in breach of NICNAS and ACCC requirements for the manufacturing and sale of soap.

HOT PROCESS METHOD

This method uses the same combination of a fatty acid with an alkali- as does the cold process method, but the mixture is then heated for several hours to remove most of the moisture content. The resultant mixture is a thick, translucent globular gel that is then forced into the moulds rather than poured. The heating of the soap mixture allows the soap to be used immediately after solidifying- reducing the manufacturing period considerably for the soap-maker. However, the applied heat destroys the beneficial qualities of the oils by destroying the natural oil acids.

Hot Processed soaps can be identified by their opaque and slightly globular texture.

By using this manufacturing method, the soap-maker is required to be registered with NICNAS in Australia.

MELT & POUR METHOD

The melt & pour method uses either soap pellets or soap blocks that are purchased from a commercial soap manufacturer. They are therefore generally based on a highly processed, petrochemical formed soap. The purchased soap form is then heated and melted, and various ingredients (natural herbs, goat milk powders, colour, fragrance, essential oils etc) are added to the soap mixture.

Because of this ‘handling’ of the mixture, the resultant soap is technically allowed to be termed ‘handmade’, but it is no better in quality than the basic commercially produced soap purchased.

Melt & Pour soaps can be readily identified by their usually decorative appearance- either being highly coloured, fragranced, and sometimes transparent or having gimmicky forms. This method also allows the soap-maker to not be registered with NICNAS- the Government Department that soap-making is regulated by in Australia- as they are technically not the manufacturer of the soap product.

COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED SOAP

Most commercially produced soaps are technically synthetic detergent bars. They are generally manufactured from synthesized petrochemicals- with numerous buffers and preservatives added to achieve various qualities of hardness, lather etc. More chemicals are added to hasten the processing time. Look at the ingredients listed on the packaging- if you can’t pronounce it, we doubt that it is desirable to be used on the skin. Ingredients are required to be listed in descending order by percentage of content. Natural additives usually appear low on the listing- indicating minimal content, and will therefore have very little impact in the formulation.

We have done a comprehensive analysis of the ingredients of most commercial soaps- clearly identifying what all the ingredients represent or their purpose. This analysis is available to peruse to anyone visiting us at Village Life Markets- prepare to be alarmed. The petrochemical cocktail contained in one popularly promoted brand as being a moisturising “beauty cream bar” is incredibly alarming- containing 26 ingredients. This soap currently achieves 22% of commercial soap sales around the world.

Again, ilo ORGANICS believes that informed people make informed decisions. Ilo ORGANICS handcrafted soaps contain 3 or more natural organic ingredients only, to gently cleanse and nurtue the skin. There are no chemicals, colourings or fragrances added.

COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED BODY WASHES & LIQUID SOAP

Most commercially produced body washes are made from petrochemicals, similarly as to commercial soap. They could be more aptly termed ‘body detergents’.

Due to successful marketing campaigns, they have achieved escalating sales in recent years- now holding 80% of market sales. Many companies have now ceased production of soap. Naming rights to some historical brands have been sold to companies in India and Asia. Check the labels for country of manufacture- it probably won’t be what you had assumed historically any more.

Body washes are cheaper for manufacturers to produce, and their successful marketing has misguidedly lead the consumer to believe that body washes are a superior and healthier product. Because of their fluid nature, more preservatives are required to sustain the product. They present a frightening chemical cocktail presented in yet another plastic container. The application of heat is required to manufacture liquid soap. This destroys any of the beneficial qualities in the ingredients.

ilo ORGANICS suggests that you carefully read the ingredients list of body washes. One popular brand promotes that it is “soap free- pH balanced- fragrance free- colour free- paraben free”, yet contains 16 ingredients- most of which are petrochemicals. It also uses a suspected mutagenic neurotoxin as one of its preservatives. This chemical is 100% absorbed through the skin, and banned from use in all other cosmetic products. Its use is allowed in body washes because of minimal skin contact time- but do you really want to risk it? 

Again, if you can’t pronounce it, do you really want to use it on your skin?