Commercial soap is the mass-produced soaps by large multinational companies. It is a factory or machine made by large batches with harsh chemicals, synthetic ingredients, cheap fragrance oils, and artificial colors, all of which can irritate and dry out your skin. Today, there are very few true/pure soaps on the market. Most body cleansers, soap, shower gels, either liquid and solid, are synthetic detergent products. If you take a closer look at commercials soaps sold in stores, likely you won't _and the term "soap" on the packages. Companies cannot use the word soap unless it is truly a REAL handcrafted bar of soap. On the other hand, they are labeled as "beauty bars," "dry skin cleaners," and "moisturizing bars."

The ingredients in some commercials bars on the market make them ineligible to be called and advertised as soap. The word "soap" has a legal de­nition provided by FDA. Most commercials brands are not called soap because they are actually "detergents" by ingredients and do not meet the legal de­nition of soap.

It is also essential to be educated about harmful ingredients before purchasing soap products. You want to refresh and moisturize your skin, not to pollute it with chemicals. Don't you? If you can't pronounce the words back of the soap labels- put the product down!

Here is a shortlist of common harmful ingredients of commercials soaps;

1. PARABENS - It is a type of chemical preservatives and is considered a harmful ingredient. Found in the majority of cosmetics and beauty products.

2. PHTHALATES - known to cause cancer. It is a substance used to manufacture plastics. Commonly used to create fragrances and added to cosmetics to extend shelf life.

3. SYNTHETIC PERFUME - Artificial perfume scents smell nice, yet they are linked to allergies and hormone issues. They are likely to cause skin conditions and aggravate existing problems such as acne. 

4. SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) - SLS is a surfactant or detergent found in many personal care products such as soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc. It is used as a foaming agent for its cleaning and emulsifying properties. They behave similarly to soap. Like other detergents, SLS is an irritant that can cause skin irritation and dry skin.

5. TRICLOSAN - Can you believe this ingredient is a pesticide? Yes, its antibacterial and antifungal properties make it an attractive option for soap companies, but not for your health. Triclosan can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs and can also disrupt your hormones. 

Every big company and skincare manufacturers have their deep secrets on the ingredients used for its products.

For example, the FDA doesn't require disclosing the ingredients in a company's trademark "fragrance "on its label. That means whichever ingredient added to the soap under the category of "Fragrance" does not need to be disclosed. Thus, the scented soap could contain harmful chemicals without the buyer knowing. Some of these chemicals concoctions are skin irritants and carcinogenic.

Glycerin is a naturally occurring component that attracts water to the skin, which effectively balances our skin's moisture level. Glycerin is also known to prevent signs of aging by helping skin cells to mature properly. When skin cells don't mature properly, they become hyper-proliferative, leading to skin conditions as hives, rashes, allergies, and atopic dermatitis. Studies show that the introduction of glycerin to your skincare regimen can provide a protective barrier and train your skin cells to cycle through their lifespan productively.

Typically factory-made soaps have all of the glycerin removed and placed into different additional products such as lotions and creams. Thus, their soaps lack glycerin. The reason is that instead of buying one product that will clean and moisturize, a consumer now has to buy two products to serve the same purpose. Sneaky!

The main hack behind these synthetic, dry ingredients and removing glycerin is to save money from their bottom line and not offer us quality skincare! In glycerin replacement, commercial companies often use synthetic chemicals that strip all of its oils' skin and act as skin irritants. These are why bar soaps are often categorized as detergents, washes, or cleansers rather than soap.

With handcrafted soaps, glycerin remains in the soap. The result is mild, pure soap that gently cleanses your skin without being harsh, irritating, or drying.

Today, there is an increased awareness of the possible effects of many synthetic ingredients and additives in commercial soaps. Consumers have been educated regularly, and they are opting for natural products. Even large companies are starting to advertise "natural ingredients' in their products. Beware! The addition of one or two natural ingredients does not make the product "all-natural."