History of Soap Making - Goats Milk Soap

The history of soap making began when the earliest recorded evidence of soap-like materials traced back to approximately 2800 BC, found in clay cylinders during the excavation of ancient Babylon. Approximately 2200 BC, soap formula inscriptions were written on the clay saying that fats were boiled with ashes, which are a way of making soap, but there was no reference to the purpose of the soap.

Approximately 1500 BC, ancient Egyptians used animal and vegetable oils, combined with alkaline salts to create a soap-like-substance used for treating skin diseases as well as for washing.

Around 600 BC the Phoenicians used soap for cleaning wool, cotton and textiles prior to weaving and dieing, instead of for human washing.

The early Greeks did not use soap. They washed themselves with blocks of clay, pumice, sand and ashes then anointed they with oil. Afterwards, they scraped sweat and dirt off using a curved bladed metal instrument called a strigil. Much later, in the second century AD, the famous Greek physician, Galen, recommended washing with soap as a preventative measure for certain diseases, especially diseases of the skin.

Bathing became popular in the Roman times. An entire soap factory was discovered in the ruins of Pompeii in 79 AD. The Romans exfoliated using abrasive substances like sand and pumice then scraped off the grime and dirt with sticks or a strigil. Luxurious scented baths and massages followed this exfoliation ritual, with perfumed oils.

By the 13th century when the soap industry was introduced from Italy into France, most soap was produced from the tallow of goats, with beech ash furnishing the alkali.

Moving forward in time, Great Grandma rendered animal fats to get oils, so she was limited to tallow or lard. We have all kinds of terrific oils to choose from, but the lard with some olive oil and coconut oil makes wonderful, basic, castile-type soap. Great Grandma, also, had to make her own lye; we have standardized lye available, commercially.

After researching the science facts; chemical qualities of different oils, the active properties of botanicals, the results of saponification and the physical properties of lather and bubbles, the result produced a mild and gentle, homemade, natural soap. This homemade soap is called goats milk soap.

Goats milk soap offers many skin care benefits, unlike commercial modern day soaps. It contains mild and gentle, natural, ingredients, unlike harsh "chemically manufactured" ingredients or detergents in modern day soaps. Goats milk soap leaves your skin close to its natural pH level, unlike harsh detergent type of soaps. Goats milk soap contains the benefits of vitamins A,B, C, D, E and K. Handmade soap experts confirm that goat milk is the ingredient that makes the difference between regular handmade soap and a miraculous luxury item!

Ingredients can be added to goats milk soap, such as oatmeal or aloe vera juice, to help contribute to their soothing properties. This homemade soap is great for all kinds of skin types including: dry itchy skin, dry flaky skin, oily skin, acne and sensitive skin. Harsh commercial soaps can, actually, contribute to poor skin conditions. Oil production, on the face, is often the skin's natural reaction against harsh chemicals in commercial soaps. Mild and gentle, healthful, goats milk soaps gently cleanses, softens, soothes, moisturizes and nourishes skin.

Learn from the history of soap. Get back to nature using homemade skin care products such as, natural goats milk soaps. You can have beautiful, healthful, skin the way nature intended.

Liquid Hand Wash - Should You Buy It?

Is liquid hand wash even soap?

More importantly, is it harmful for your family to use?

Next time you visit the store for liquid soap for your family, check the label, does it say liquid soap or hand wash?

If it states "hand wash," "Cleansing Gel," or "Facial Cleanser," or numerous other innovative names, you may be buying something other than you bargained for. You are probably not buying soap at all, instead, many of these products are simply detergents, much simpler and more economical to mass produce than true soap, but not as natural and not necessarily as good for your skin - despite what it says on the label.

It is also very likely that the first or second item in the list of ingredients is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or something very similar.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS is a foaming agent, it has no other function. It is used in many commercially available body cleansers, this includes hand wash, shampoo, liquid wash, bubble bath, in fact a vast quantity of mass produced products that require a lather.

I was going to continue this article spouting the commonly known horrors of SLS as follows:

"It is a little more startling to discover that SLS is suspected to be harmful, it has been linked to retarding healing and the development of children's eyes and is also thought to cause cataracts in adults. Some reports say that it is a carcinogenic (cancer causing).

SLS has a low molecular weight and this means it is easily absorbed by the skin, therefore it can build up in the heart, liver and brain. It is a caustic cleanser that actually can corrode the hair follicle and impairs the ability for the hair to grow. SLS causes the dysfunction of the biological systems of the skin."

I decided that rather than using the above information, which came from an article I read a year or so ago, I had better see if there is any other information to back up the claims.

What I discovered was very interesting, it appears that there is no direct evidence to suggest that SLS causes any of the above symptoms, or conditions. In fact the only thing I could find is that SLS is a known skin irritant, it is used in the standard model for skin contact dermatitis, this means it is tested by placing a concentrated form of the chemical on the skin and leaving it for a predetermined time. Soap is not used in this way, it is applied diluted with water and it is quickly rinsed off, so unless you have clinically sensitive skin, you should not experience any major health issues in using products which contain SLS.

It appears that the worst that can be said for this chemical is that it could be a minor irritant and somewhat drying to sensitive skin types including African American hair and skin.

So liquid hand washes are not always soap, they are not always very good for your skin, but don't go believing all the horror stories about cancer and cataracts, most are simply not true.

What is true is that real liquid soap is a natural product (occurs in nature), it is more beneficial to your skin, utilizes no harmful chemicals and chosen carefully, can be extremely beneficial to your skin.