What's the Difference between Handmade Soap and Commercial Soap?

Is there a difference between a bar of soap that is bought from the grocery store and let's say, a handmade soap bar? Yes there is a huge difference.

What is Commercial Soap?

Commercial bar soaps generally are produced on a large scale with harsh chemicals, synthetic ingredients, and cheap perfumes or fragrances which all can cause irritation to your skin. Commercially soaps in most cases isn't really soap at all - it's a detergent. Detergents strip you're skin of their natural oils which can leave your skin feeling dry and tight after a shower or bath.

Why Natural Soap is Better for You

Natural soap on the other hand, that is actually made with organic, plant based ingredients like Manos Soap, is created with an excess of plant oils in a process called "superfatting". We list all our ingredients in our Ingredient Glossary is a comprehensive collection of every single ingredient used in our products—all of which are carefully chosen and assessed for safety. The superfatting process along with the chemical reaction called "saponification" leaves a soap bar full of moisturizing, natural oils, and glycerin.

What is Glycerin & Why We Use It In Our Soap

Glycerin is a humectant that attracts moisture from the air to the skin. It’s produced naturally during the soapmaking process. It’s one of the things that make handmade soap so amazing! Some commercial soaps remove the glycerin from the bars and sell it to make lotions and creams. Without glycerin, commercially prepared soap isn’t nearly as skin loving, and can leave the skin feeling dry.


Only At Manos Soap Co.

We've committed to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what is legally required in the United States for chemical-free products specifically hand soap.

The Banned List is made up of questionable or harmful chemicals that we never use as ingredients in our products, plus additional chemicals screened by Manos Soap and found to be of concern.