Wednesday, September 24, 2014

By Kerri Stout


Consumer preferences and buying trends are important to personal-care product makers. In a market filled with a vast number of choices, buyers have begun to avoid personal cleansing products containing irritating, damaging chemical additives, marking a genuine change in sentiment. Vegetable glycerin soap has become a significant alternative to standard formulas that often result in redness, dryness, and discomfort.

Glycerin has been used for well over a century. Hospitals rely on it to help burn victims heal more rapidly, and to make suppository use less unpleasant. It has long been a primary component in lotions, shampoos, and many other products. Derived from soybeans, coconut trees and oil palms, it is primarily a mix of fatty acids resembling a clear liquid like corn syrup. It tastes sweet, and is important in some aspects of food manufacturing.

In the world of cosmetics, it is known as a humectant, or substance that attracts and sustains moisture on the outer epidermis. This moisturizing characteristic can be especially desirable for promoting facial-care products, with an emphasis on those ingredients that actually prevent dryness. While some skin cleansers contain humectants derived synthetically, cleansers containing vegetable glycerol are considered more natural, and use fewer additives.

Maintaining higher skin moisture levels not only looks good, but also encourages skin cells to fully mature by creating a stronger outer membrane. Many commercially manufactured skin-care soaps are chemically based on petroleum, and have the opposite effect of weakening individual cell walls. Some products even contain minute quantities of lye, making it necessary to counteract resulting dryness by applying an additional lotion.

Because it sustains moisture and contains fewer added chemicals, the substance is considered hypoallergenic. Many people who consistently deal with skin allergies find that widespread environmental toxins can make daily life difficult, and those with chronic eczema or psoriasis face similar barriers. Avoiding common hazards becomes routine, especially with the proliferation of harsh alcohol-based hand-cleaners.

Not all commercially produced glycerin products are completely fragrance-free, potentially triggering unpleasant skin reactions in some sensitive users. It may be necessary to sample several formulations in order to find the one least reactive personally. While individual skin varies in sensitivity, higher content usually means there will be fewer problems with daily use.

One common failing of these soaps is the tendency for vegetable-based cleansing bars to melt away more quickly than standard formulas. Long-term storage in warm locations is not recommended, and making sure the soap dish drains properly can save money. When exposed to air for long periods, evaporation is usually the result. In addition, natural glycerin soaps produce less lather than most detergent-based products.

A growing number of people have started making their own soap at home. Many Internet links detail the process, and identify the molds, materials and safety issues that are a part that process. People who still prefer to buy the finished product find both bar and liquid-pump versions, and some brands are even certified vegan, using no residual animal products. Healthy skin not only looks good, but is also a sign of good health overall.




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