Among man's earliest inventions for cleaning the body is the bath soap. From its ancient form of different herbal mixtures, down to the handmade soap varieties centuries later, we now have many modern day soap products. Soap production has been relegated to mass producing skin care companies. Such shift also posed risks to the skin and overall well-being of so many people.
To better illustrate the difference between the modern cleansing options from the oldest soap forms, let's talk more about the ancient and modern handmade soap ideas. All these products are actually a result of mixing oil and water with lye that serves as a catalyst for the chemical process in producing soap forms. Throughout history, various cultures have introduced variations to the handmade soap, often mixing the ingredients with oils from animals and plants. Such modifications thus opened doors to many other handmade soap recipes, with new textures, scent and colors discovered over the years.
As it has been finally considered an essential part of hygiene, earlier societies saw opportunities to produce handmade soap for income. The demand was sufficiently met when global trade flourished, where explorers in the 15th century discovered plants and elements that were found useful in making handmade soap. Apart from plants with moisturizing attributes, some flora from distant lands proved to possess healing benefits to some skin conditions. Also, earliest soap 
manufacturers learned to make products in various scents, soap colors and textures.
Naturally, the steady course toward making soaps led to the present time where we now enjoy a wide range of choices. Sadly, though, the mass-produced household essentials we have today aren't as healthy and safe compared to the earlier handmade soap forms in the past decades.
How's that?
For starters, while the older techniques and ingredients of making handmade soap assured of well-moisturized, soft and clean skin, such is not the case for most of the soap products in stores today. In place of the healthy ingredients and mixtures come chemicals with detergent qualities. Most of these synthetic modifications make the skin dry, irritated and prone to faster aging, detrimental characteristics that are not found in older handmade soap products. Besides, the chemicals somehow diminish the natural moisturizing properties of basic soap ingredients. In addition, various scientific studies have proven that factory-made soaps cause or exacerbate many skin ailments and conditions, altering the skin's natural generative capabilities indiscriminately.
All these caused growing concern for skin health. Thus, it is no surprise that many people have switched back to the ancient forms of handmade soap. The age-old processing somehow provides a comforting thought that the soap they are using is as effective as it
is healthy and risk-free.
Moreover, recent scientific studies pushed more and more people to opt for the natural soap bars. As researchers and medical experts have discovered, the benefits of organic soap are plentiful. For starters, these traditionally-produced soaps have healthy amounts of glycerin. Thus, the moisturizing effects of glycerin guarantee healthier, softer skin where the commercial choice would harm sensitive skin to serious extents. In addition, these scientific experimentations proved that handmade soap have natural healing properties that cure eczema and other skin diseases.
Having presented all the benefits of the age-old soap making process and its natural ingredients, it's now time to make that switch as well. For sure, you'd want your skin to become supple and healthy, free from the irritating effects of chemicals and eliminate possibilities of skin diseases. Now it's time to learn where you could purchase handmade soap products. Better yet, why not start making your own natural, healthy body cleansers and find handmade soap ideas?
Yes, you could do it right at home and soon have an organic, affordable and fragrant bath soap for yourself and your family. This new, meaningful and flourishing soap making hobby could even lead to home production of gifts and tokens during celebrations!
To start with, find some handmade soap recipes online, have all the ingredients ready along with a step-by-step guide, and you're ready to roll. You could then craft your own bath soap specific to your skin condition and with greatly reduced allergens that cause flaking, dryness and itchiness. Also, you could have your handmade soap designs according to your preferred size, color and shape, and integrate natural exfoliating agents such as ground oatmeal, poppy seeds and loofah.
