Benefits of Handmade Soap
What is so great about handmade soap?
It is really all about the process. Handcrafted cold process soap retains the glycerin that is naturally produced in the process. Glycerin is an excellent element to soap because it is a natural humectant, attracting moisture from the air to your skin, helping to keep it soft and supple.
Commercially manufactured "soaps" (which are often actually detergent bars) tend to be drying because the glycerin is removed and then sold as a by-product to companies that incorporate it into their lotions and skin creams. Most people find that by using handmade soap that still has its glycerin, they don't need to apply as much lotion.
Also, chemicals added to commercial body bars to increase lathering and shelf-life can result in dry, itchy skin. Handmade soapmakers, instead, take the time to formulate soap that naturally lathers beautifully.
All of LeCol's soap is made in small batches using the “cold processed” method, a chemical reaction discovered by ancient people as far back as the Egyptians. They combined vegetable oils and animal fats with ashes and cooked it to make soap.
Today, this same basic principle is utilized, blending the finest quality vegetable oils and butters, along with pure sodium hydroxide, or lye. The lye reacts chemically with the fats, using itself up in the process. The combination of pure olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, sunflower seed oil, and castor oil, with extra shea butter means that LeCol's soap is not only getting you clean, but also protecting your skin from over-drying.
The soap is then left to cure (like a fine wine or cheese) and, in the end, the lye is gone. All that’s left is gentle, handmade soap. It takes planning and understanding of the process to create each unique bar.
Adding purified essential oils and perfume-grade fragrance oils increases the pleasure of a daily bath or shower.
LeCol's sense of artisanship means that attention and care is given to everything we sell. Every formula has been tested (only on ourselves and other willing human subjects) and refined. And each soap bar is cut, weighed and packaged by hand.
How should I take care of my handmade soap?
Handmade soap, by its nature, is different from mass-produced soap in several ways. First, while individual bars are cut from a larger batch, each bar is designed to look unique. The pictures shown on my website are good representations of our products, but your bars may not look exactly like the photos.
Second, because no synthetic preservatives are used in our soap, bars should be kept in a cool, dry place, and away from sunlight.
And finally, if kept dry between uses (not sitting in a puddle) handmade soap will last much longer in your bath or shower.
I have sensitive skin. Is your soap better for me?
Some people find soap irritating to their skin. There can be many reasons for this and a medical professional is the best person to give advice on what is appropriate for your skin. LeCol soap is made with skin-loving oils and butters, contains no detergents and is even available unscented. Be sure to check each bar's list of ingredients for anything that may be allergenic to you.
It is really all about the process. Handcrafted cold process soap retains the glycerin that is naturally produced in the process. Glycerin is an excellent element to soap because it is a natural humectant, attracting moisture from the air to your skin, helping to keep it soft and supple.
Commercially manufactured "soaps" (which are often actually detergent bars) tend to be drying because the glycerin is removed and then sold as a by-product to companies that incorporate it into their lotions and skin creams. Most people find that by using handmade soap that still has its glycerin, they don't need to apply as much lotion.
Also, chemicals added to commercial body bars to increase lathering and shelf-life can result in dry, itchy skin. Handmade soapmakers, instead, take the time to formulate soap that naturally lathers beautifully.
All of LeCol's soap is made in small batches using the “cold processed” method, a chemical reaction discovered by ancient people as far back as the Egyptians. They combined vegetable oils and animal fats with ashes and cooked it to make soap.
Today, this same basic principle is utilized, blending the finest quality vegetable oils and butters, along with pure sodium hydroxide, or lye. The lye reacts chemically with the fats, using itself up in the process. The combination of pure olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, sunflower seed oil, and castor oil, with extra shea butter means that LeCol's soap is not only getting you clean, but also protecting your skin from over-drying.
The soap is then left to cure (like a fine wine or cheese) and, in the end, the lye is gone. All that’s left is gentle, handmade soap. It takes planning and understanding of the process to create each unique bar.
Adding purified essential oils and perfume-grade fragrance oils increases the pleasure of a daily bath or shower.
LeCol's sense of artisanship means that attention and care is given to everything we sell. Every formula has been tested (only on ourselves and other willing human subjects) and refined. And each soap bar is cut, weighed and packaged by hand.
How should I take care of my handmade soap?
Handmade soap, by its nature, is different from mass-produced soap in several ways. First, while individual bars are cut from a larger batch, each bar is designed to look unique. The pictures shown on my website are good representations of our products, but your bars may not look exactly like the photos.
Second, because no synthetic preservatives are used in our soap, bars should be kept in a cool, dry place, and away from sunlight.
And finally, if kept dry between uses (not sitting in a puddle) handmade soap will last much longer in your bath or shower.
I have sensitive skin. Is your soap better for me?
Some people find soap irritating to their skin. There can be many reasons for this and a medical professional is the best person to give advice on what is appropriate for your skin. LeCol soap is made with skin-loving oils and butters, contains no detergents and is even available unscented. Be sure to check each bar's list of ingredients for anything that may be allergenic to you.