solid soap
In today's world, there is a huge variety of products for body hygiene. Their compositions amaze with innovations, however, the most popular type for body care has been solid soap for many years.
What it is?
First of all, solid soap is a hygiene item found in every home.. It can be obtained by chemical reaction of fats with alkali. Fats for solid products are stearic and palmitic acids. This solid soap differs from liquid soap, in which the proportion of fat falls on oleic and lanolin acids. The base is sodium hydroxide for the solid form and potassium hydroxide for the liquid form.
The scientific definition of solid soap is a product containing soluble salts of higher fatty acids. Comparison of the finished piece and its individual ingredients shows that the final product does not contain alkali and fats, because they were transformed into salts due to a chemical reaction.
The difference of salts from the original products is great, so, salts are not aggressive to the lipid layer of the skin compared to alkalis.
Description
Precision is essential for soap product development. To comply with it, there is a GOST for laundry and toilet soap.Liquid soap does not have many of these requirements. So, toilet and household solid soap should have a smooth surface without cracks and chips. No cracks should appear when the product is cut.
The main condition of production is its hardness. Preservation of shape when exposed to water is a sign of a product created according to all requirements. Additionally, the requirements for soap indicate the absence of any synthetic fats, such as paraffin, in the composition. In the solid version, fats of exclusively vegetable origin are used.
Note that the use of laureth and lauryl sulfates is also not provided for by GOST.
Kinds
The variety of soap today is amazing. Well-known brands of household chemicals are not limited to the production of household products for household needs and toilet - for hygiene, however, they are worth mentioning. Thus, an economic product contains the largest amount of fatty acids, the percentage composition of which can range from 62 to 85 units. At the same time, this soap has an unusually high PH balance, averaging 11, while toilet soap remains at the border of 5-6 units, which is considered a neutral indicator. The PH of toilet products does not adversely affect the skin. With the help of various additives and formulations, other categories have emerged. For example, one of the most popular is hygienic soap. It includes products:
- antibacterial action;
- created for children.
Both types have hypoallergenic properties and a minimum set of ingredients in the composition.However, if baby soap can be used every day, then an antibacterial product, with frequent use, destroys the protective barrier of the skin, killing beneficial microorganisms along with harmful microbes. A richer composition can be observed in the cosmetic subspecies, because it is used in most cases for facial care.
The creams and oils included in the composition help to gently cleanse the epidermis and even nourish it.
However, great miraculous properties can be expected from the type of natural, prepared with one's own hand.
It contains many oils, including non-saponifiable ones, which, when exposed to alkalis, retain all their useful properties. Perfumed soap is a variety designed for the pleasure of the soul. It does not contain the maximum number of useful additives, but there is an exquisite perfume composition that can respond to the skin for more than half an hour after taking a shower. On sale you can also see shampoo soap, the name of which speaks for itself. Its use is possible not only on the body, but also on the hair.
Shaving agent - another interesting look. A specially developed variety contains a large amount of glycerin. It, in turn, has the ability to soften the hairs, which makes shaving easier and more comfortable. Scrub soap is considered a multifunctional product. It is usually made by hand. At the same time, coffee beans, crushed apricot pits or oats are added to the usual composition, helping to remove dead cells from the skin.
Properties
The properties of soap and its benefits are determined by its chemical structure.. So, the main property of soap is the ability to form aqueous solutions with a cleansing function.When the solution is applied to any surface, be it leather or fabric, it separates the contamination, as if attracting a magnet. Pollution particles themselves remain in the soap solution, but they can no longer settle on the surface of the body and objects.
And in a piece of soap that can be used daily, microbes do not live, because the very composition of the soap and its characteristics repel them from itself, creating a protective barrier. The property that is attributed to the disadvantage is the reaction of the soap solution to hard water. Natural soap made from fatty acids does not foam well when interacting with it, leaving a sticky film on the surfaces.
The release of a fraction of free caustic alkali when exposed to water is another unpleasant property.
Compound
The composition of solid soap is really impressive. In addition to stearic acid, which, when exposed to alkalis, is converted into sodium salts, the product may contain many useful and not very ingredients. The best composition has "Neutral", as well as the product "Extra". In their composition, 78% of animal fats can be observed. It is made from natural ingredients and proudly bears the name "natural". Another popular product is translucent pieces of glycerin products. Containing a natural emollient that can even attack free alkali, glycerin soap is great for sensitive skin.
Also, every soap contains water. In some products, not just water is used, but a healing infusion of shungite. Shungite is a stone with bactericidal properties. Soap-making liquid enriched with it fills the detergent with an antibacterial effect.Vaseline among the ingredients causes a lot of controversy, because it is a petroleum product.
Vaseline soap is recommended for sensitive skin prone to dryness, however, at the same time, its use should be limited to allergy sufferers.
Best before date
The shelf life of industrial soap is 12 months. At the same time, it should be stored in a well-ventilated room without excess moisture, otherwise the presentable appearance of a smooth piece may be damaged by cracks and chips. Note that a product using synthetic fatty acids or surfactants has a shelf life of 3 years, however, as mentioned earlier, there is little benefit from it. Separate expiration dates exist for handmade soap. A tool from scratch with all chemical reactions carried out with your own hands will delight the soul and body for several years.
When using a ready-made soap base, the shelf life is equal to the industrial one.
Stamps
- Almost every manufacturer household chemicals has in its range of solid detergents for the body. Yes, the company Faberlic offers products with luxurious aromas, such as ripe blackcurrants. The main ingredient is sodium palmate, which is obtained from palm oil.
- Another famous brand Florena from Germany pleases with variety and composition. Interestingly, not so long ago, the manufacturer's product was tested by a popular TV show, which revealed that the manufacturer complies with all production standards.
- American company Avon introduced the widest range of body cleansers. They can be seen in a complex series, for example, face cream sometimes coexists with cream soap. Sodium palmate is used as the basis, a significant proportion of the composition is glycerin.
- The company's budget soaps have a special charm. «beauty cafe". Glycerin products with a translucent bright tone and streaks on the surface of natural ingredients have a whole range of flavors, from strawberry to citrus and milk. Stearic acid is used as the base.
How to do it yourself?
The handmade product is pleasant to hold in hands, because its design and aroma make their way to our soul. Sellers, however, are in no hurry to sell us an exclusively natural product, melting down the finished soap with some additives. Do-it-yourself soap preparation from scratch, made from alkalis and vegetable oils, such as olive oil, will help to avoid deception. This will require a special program "soap calculator", which will help determine the required amount of ingredients. After accurate measurements, you must:
- melt butter and mix with lye;
- achieve uniformity with a blender;
- add useful esters and more;
- put in a mold and let it brew in a place protected from light for several hours;
- cut into portions.
You can go the easier way by choosing an industrial product with a good composition in advance. It must be melted and healing components added, for example, esters and oils of lavender or chamomile. A good solution would be the introduction of a decoction of herbs.
Which one is better?
The best solid soap for washing the body and face is toilet cream soap with the addition of various emollient components for the skin. The most available here is glycerin. Washing clothes is trusted with solid laundry soap from trusted manufacturers.
The absence of chips and cracks, a pleasant aroma and a natural composition without the inclusion of surfactants in the ingredients are the main components of the best soap.
Application
Detergents of this kind are recommended to be used constantly with normal and oily skin. Dry skin under the influence of salts is even more dehydrated, especially when it comes to facial skin. In this case, the moisture-deficient epidermis is recommended to use the product periodically, giving preference to softer shower gels and tonic cleansers.
Reviews
People are accustomed to using solid soap and are in no hurry to abandon it in favor of innovation. Washing your hands every day is not complete without a bar of fragrant soap, which, according to users, is transformed by the inclusion of beneficial additives. Chamomile and calendula extract is especially appreciated for sensitive skin and the thinnest epidermis of babies.
Industrial bar soap is valued for its affordability and convenience, however, it can never compete with homemade soap.
For more on solid soap, see the video below.