Natural Soap vs. Commercial Soap

In a world full of skincare choices, even something as simple as soap can feel overwhelming. With shelves lined with brightly packaged bars and body washes promising hydration, glow, or “24-hour freshness,” it’s easy to forget to ask the most important question:

What’s actually going on your skin — and into your body — every time you wash?

Let’s break down the difference between natural soap and more conventional commercial options — and why it’s worth paying attention to what touches your skin every day.

What is “Natural” Soap, Really?

At Ametrine Skin, when we say “natural soap,” we’re talking about soap made from plant oils and butters, using the traditional cold process method. This means ingredients like olive oil, coconut oil, and mango or shea butter are saponified — turned into soap — without synthetic detergents. The result? A gentle bar that cleanses while helping to support your skin barrier, naturally rich in glycerin, which helps retain moisture.

Our soaps are left to cure for several weeks — a process that creates a firm, long-lasting bar without needing any additional hardening agents. It's slow skincare that respects both your skin and the ritual of everyday care.

What’s in Conventional Soap Bars?

Many mass-produced bars you’ll find in shops are technically not soap — they’re cleansing bars or syndet (synthetic detergent) bars. These are formulated to be stable, lather easily, and work for a wide range of skin types, and they often contain:

• SLS or SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate) – powerful surfactants that create lather but can be too harsh for dry or sensitive skin

• Petroleum-derived ingredients – such as paraffin or mineral oil, which form a barrier on the skin rather than nourishing it

• Stabilisers and processing agents – used to ensure uniformity, shelf stability, and longer-lasting bars

Every ingredient in a formulation serves a purpose, but that purpose isn’t always aligned with what sensitive or reactive skin truly needs. If your skin feels stripped, tight, or uncomfortable after washing, it might be reacting to how that formulation interacts with your skin’s natural oils.

Why Your Skin Might Be Struggling

When your skin feels dry or irritated no matter how much you moisturise, it’s worth looking at what you’re cleansing with. Soap is often the first and most frequent product we use — morning and night, hands and body — yet it’s rarely the first place we look when things feel off.

Natural soap, particularly cold process soap, supports your skin’s natural barrier. The plant oils, clays, and botanicals work with your skin rather than against it, helping to cleanse gently without disrupting balance. It’s especially beneficial for those with sensitive, dry, or eczema-prone skin — something we know all too well.

The Aromatherapy Difference

Each of our soaps is infused with an intentional essential oil blend, designed not just to smell beautiful, but to support your emotional wellbeing. Whether it’s our Calming blend with lavender and clary sage, or our Uplifting blend with lemongrass and rosemary, each bar offers a gentle moment to pause.

Washing your face or stepping into the shower becomes more than a task — it becomes a ritual.

Why We Choose the Slow Way

At Ametrine Skin, we make every bar by hand in small batches and let them cure for four to six weeks — the way soap was always meant to be made. We take time with our ingredients, our process, and our intention, so that you can take a little more time with yourself.

Each bar is crafted to bring ease and nourishment into your daily routine. No rushing. No noise. Just a quiet, supportive moment of care.

Ready to Make the Switch?

Start with one bar. Feel the difference — in texture, in lather, in how your skin feels after. Notice how the scent supports your mood. And let that simple act of washing become something more meaningful.

Because when you know what’s on your skin, you can choose with care — and create space to return to yourself.

Explore our natural soap collection — cold processed, aromatherapy-infused, and created to support both skin and self.