Last Updated on March 3, 2024 by Asfa Rasheed
Some studies show that 60% of skincare products can get absorbed into your bloodstream. This is because your skin is a large, porous organ.
Because of this, it is vital that we find products that are free of chemicals and other dangerous ingredients.
Are you looking for the best type of hand soap with clean soap ingredients? Keep reading this article to learn more about organic soap ingredients and to see the top 5 hand soap ingredients to avoid.
Table of Contents
1. Fragrances
One of the first things you should avoid is soaps that have “fragrance” or “parfum” on the ingredients.
While this may not seem like a dangerous ingredient, there are over 3,000 listed ingredients considered “fragrance.” This means that hand soap or other products that include fragrance may have harmful chemicals or other dangerous ingredients.
Many of the ingredients that are often listed as fragrances may be hazardous to your health, and might be in anything from facial cleansers, soaps, cleaning products, and more.
Instead, it is best to find products that list 100% of the ingredients used. Or, you can use fragrance-free soaps to be sure that you are not exposed to potentially toxic chemicals.
2. Parabens and Sulfates
Next, it is vital that you avoid hand soap that includes parabens and sulfates.
Parabens are preservatives and are a common ingredient in hand soap. One of the biggest issues with parabens is that they are known endocrine disruptors.
An endocrine disruptor is a type of man-made chemical that can interfere with your body’s natural hormones. Because they mess with the natural functions of your body, endocrine disruptors can lead to problems with your development, immune system, and even your reproductive system.
Sulfates are other chemicals that are often found in cosmetic products and make these products lather.
However, sulfates also strip your skin of its natural oil and can irritate your skin. If you have sensitive skin already, it can make this worse and can lead to other skin conditions.
One way that you can avoid sulfates is to use foam soap dispensers that will automatically create foamy soap for you. Click for more information on soap dispensers you can use for your home or business.
3. Isothiazolinone Preservatives
Another harmful ingredient that is found in many hand soaps and other cosmetics is isothiazolinone preservatives. These help soaps to last longer and also have antimicrobial capabilities.
While these can be used to thoroughly clean your skin, they are also strong sensitizers. This means they are known to irritate skin and may cause other conditions like allergies, dermatitis, and other skin irritations.
These chemicals can also lead to ecotoxicological hazards by exposing biological organisms to these chemicals. These preservatives are also suspected to be endocrine disruptors, so it is important to avoid these preservatives in your hand soaps.
Some common ingredients that are isothiazolinone preservatives include methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone.
4. Ethoxylated Ingredients
Something else that you should be cautious of when you are looking for hand soap is those that contain ethoxylated ingredients. These come from a process called ethoxylation.
While ethoxylated ingredients aren’t inherently dangerous, they may contaminate other ingredients in your products and hand soaps with a chemical called ethylene oxide.
While this process is meant to make other ingredients less harsh, ethylene oxide is associated with several kinds of cancer. Although not all ethoxylated ingredients are contaminated with ethylene oxide, it is difficult to tell which ones have been contaminated and which have not been.
This means it is best to avoid these ingredients whenever you can.
5. Artificial Dyes
Finally, it is vital that you find hand soaps that do not include any dangerous dyes.
Many companies include dyes in their products, which give products like soap or cleansers a bright color. However, these dyes are not natural and can be dangerous for your health.
In fact, many dyes, like Blue No. 1, Red No. 40, and Yellow No. 5, are made from petroleum and may even include heavy metals and other contaminants.
Many products that contain dyes also contain benzidine. This is a known carcinogen, also known as a cancer-causing agent. These dyes are also especially dangerous for children.
While dyes are not dangerous for all people, they may be the cause of allergic reactions and even hyperactivity in some children.
Dyes can also be dangerous for the environment. They are resistant to biodegradation, which means they can pollute water and cause health problems for aquatic life.
Finally, dyes can also block your pores, which will interfere with the natural balance of your skin’s oils. This means that dyes can lead to more blemishes, lead to irritation, and can affect the oil production in your skin.
Learn More About the Best Soap Ingredients Today
In many countries, there are few regulations on the ingredients that can be used in skincare products. To be sure that you are protecting your skin, it is vital that you find hand soap ingredients that are safe.
By recognizing each of these ingredients to avoid in hand soap, you can be more cautious in the products that you choose for your home.
Some ingredients that you should be cautious of include fragrances, sulfates, parabens, artificial dyes, and more.
To make sure you have access to the best products, it is vital that you do your research to find products with healthy ingredients. Do you want to learn more about how you can find the best soap ingredients and more?
We can help! Check out our website for more articles on household products, lifestyle, and more.
