Best Organic Hand Soap

According to the Center for Disease Control, you can prevent so many illnesses by washing your hands with soap and water. However, if the hand soap contains chemicals such as parabens and sulfates, you might be doing more harm than good to your body. Chemicals might leave your skin dry or even exacerbate your skin problems. 

Instead of chemical-laden handwashing soaps, you should go for the best organic hand soap. Natural hand soap features all-natural ingredients that are not harmful to your skin or your body. By using organic hand soap, you protect your skin, the environment, and animals.

Are Organic Hand Soaps the Same as Natural Soaps?

All organic soaps are natural, meaning that the ingredients are either plant or animal-based and not chemical-based. Natural soaps contain fats, oils, lye, water, and sometimes some essential oils. 

On the other hand, organic hand soaps have the advantage of using ingredients sourced from organic farms. Organic farming practices do not use inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or any other chemicals that might absorb into the final plant product. 

Again, organic hand soaps contain no animal by-products, and the manufacturers do not test them on animals, making them safe for the environment and the users.

• Better for the Environment – Organic ingredients grow without the use of any chemicals. It means fewer toxins in the environment. There are no pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals that might pollute the environment. Because farmers do not use chemicals, they are healthier as they do not need to spray their crops to produce the ingredients. Some manufacturers are better yet using biodegradable packaging for the products, making the package easy to dispose. 
• Cruelty-Free – Most organic hand soaps are cruelty-free. It means they do not use any animal by-product, and the manufacturer does not test the finished product on animals. 
• Healing Properties of Natural Ingredients – Natural ingredients such as rosemary, tea tree oil, thyme, aloe vera, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and many others have healing properties. If you have dry and cracked hands, the organic soap will leave your hand smooth, soft, and moisturized. The healing properties of these soaps can correct skin conditions such as sunburn and eczema. 
• Glycerin Moisturizes – Instead of extracting glycerin for use in other products, organic hand soap contains glycerin, which moisturizes the skin. The ingredient retains the skin moisture and ensures your skin is soft to touch at all times. While this means the organic soap might be more expensive, the benefits are worth the cost. 
• Rejuvenates the Skin – Most organic soaps come loaded with antioxidants that rejuvenate your skin to make it look younger and healthier. Antioxidants can also help you avoid some skin conditions such as fine lines and wrinkles. 
• Used by Vegans – Organic soaps only use botanical extracts and herbs in their formula. They contain oils extracted from leaves and flowers of plants such as rosemary, lavender, tea tree, peppermint, and spices such as cinnamon, clove. Fruits such as lemon might also provide the ingredients. 
• Balanced pH – Most organic soaps have a pH of between 9 and 10. It makes them gentle on all types of skin. Natural ingredients such as coconut oil provide moisture for the skin and raise the pH of the product to maintain your skin's pH.

Ingredients to Avoid in Natural Hand Soap

Ingredients in conventional hand soaps contain chemicals that might harm your skin. These chemicals cause skin irritation, endocrine disruption, cancer, and toxicity. The chemicals to avoid include: 

• Surfactants – Surfactants are the cleansing chemicals in soap. They work by surrounding dirt and water molecules to clean your skin. Surfactants are not so harmful, but if you are buying organic soap, you need to avoid some surfactants. Sodium lauryl sulfate, SLS, is one of the typical surfactants. While SLS is a product of coconut, it has toxins from the production process. SLS might also contain other synthetic substances that the body might not be able to break. 
• Parabens – Parabens are effective in preventing the growth of mold and bacteria. Too many parabens in your body can cause cancer. Today, companies instead use organic preservatives. 
• Artificial fragrances – These fragrances may smell nice, but they are products of petrochemicals. This way, the aromas are not safe for the environment, the user, and pets. Natural scents are possible with hand soaps, although they are expensive. 
• Dye – Most dyes are chemical, and they may interfere with the natural pH of your skin, leaving you dry and cracked. Instead of synthetic dyes, organic soaps use organic colors such as cocoa powder, powdered chlorophyll, turmeric, cinnamon powder, and beetroot.