Today, every home has a fitted bathroom, but this was not always the case. Once upon a time, its functions were performed by a bathhouse, and if now bathing procedures are more of a relaxation than a hygienic procedure, the best way to cleanse the body is in the steam room. But it’s hard to imagine cleansing without soap.
Bath soap in most cases is different from the one we use at home. In the bathhouse, preference is given to everything natural: for the construction of the building itself, wood is most often used, the walls are lined with clapboard, the furniture in the bathhouse is all wooden, no plastic, chemicals or other artificial components. The same requirements apply to soap: fragrances, artificial dyes - this is what every bath attendant tries to avoid when choosing soap for a bath.
Benefits of bath soap
The product is great for bathing and hair washing. Its advantages include:
- the presence of natural components: herbs, essential and plant extracts;
- antibacterial effect, which is necessary for cleansing oily and problematic skin;
- Bath soap is used for hair because it makes it strong and thick;
- The product is suitable for all skin types, and since it contains vegetable oils, it does not have a drying effect.
Soap can be purchased at any store or you can create it yourself. The product can replace gel, but at a much lower price. Thanks to the large assortment, you can choose the right products for any skin type.
Bath soap “Granny Agafya” is considered one of the most common. It is used for bathing and washing hair. The popularity of the product is explained by the use of natural ingredients. The advantages of the product include:
- pleasant aroma;
- high-quality hair and skin cleansing;
- has a uniform consistency;
- suitable instead of shampoo;
- affordable price.
Options
Those who like to take a steam bath are constantly faced with the choice of such a cosmetic product. Everyone wants to buy a natural product. The modern market offers a large selection of such products.
If you go back a little into history, you can find out that in ancient times people did not wash with soap, but used ash and sand for such purposes. In Egypt, a special paste prepared on the basis of beeswax was used to cleanse the skin, to which various aromatic herbs were added. But such a cosmetic product was available only to a select few; not everyone had the money for it.
Only in 1424, in one Italian city, a product was created that, in its structure and composition, was vaguely reminiscent of modern products. Initially, the soap was hard, as our grandmothers were used to. But today the market offers a huge selection of products. Soap differs not only in its appearance and consistency, but also in its purpose.
Natural Siberian
This bath soap from Grandmother Agafya has a green-black color, as well as healing properties. When bathing, it forms excellent foam and moisturizes the skin. And thanks to the pleasant woody-herbal aroma it makes the procedure unforgettable.
Why do many people choose this particular product? The products are valued for their inclusion of rare plants, enriched with many vitamins and microelements. This composition is beneficial for skin and hair. Siberian soap is created from 37 herbs.
Peppermint Soap
Bath soap from Grandmother Agafya has a white base, which consists of olive oil and natural mint. The product is ideal for dry and oily skin and gently cleanses it. It is used to whiten age spots and even out skin color.
Soap includes:
- olive base;
- avocado oil;
- shea butter
This composition is needed to eliminate dry skin, as well as saturate it with vitamins A and E. The oil is enriched with natural loofah, which effectively eliminates dead cells. The functions of the component include oxygen saturation and restoration of blood circulation.
About pH
All chemicals that contain water molecules have their own pH. The reaction of the medium (pH) up to 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, from 7 to 14 is alkaline.
Both soap and human skin have a pH, and each skin type has its own pH.
- Normal skin has a pH between 5.2 and 5.7
- Oily skin has a pH between 4 and 5.2
- In dry skin, this indicator ranges from 5.7 to 7
Chemistry is an exact science, there is no point in arguing with it. Our skin has an acidic environment, and the sweat and sebaceous glands influence its pH.
African black soap has a low pH - it is less than or equal to 7, that is, the soap’s environmental reaction indicator is neutral. This soap is perfect for any skin type, unlike ordinary varieties that have a pH of 9, 10, 10.5.
Soap "Honey"
Bath soap from Grandmother Agafya has a top layer of 100% honey, and a bottom layer of organic base (coconut and palm oil). The product has an excellent tonic effect. It is used to eliminate cellulite, since it contains ground coffee and honey. The components improve cellular metabolism and restore blood microcirculation.
The product is enriched with natural loofah and wheat germ oil. The components are needed for soft and silky skin. As an addition, you can perform a body scrub that uses honey and salt.
We make our own soap for saunas and baths
If you wish, you can make your own steamed skin wash. Nowadays soap making has become a fashionable hobby. You will make the ideal product for yourself, which will be not only natural, but also as useful as possible.
Advice for beginning soap makers.
- Do not overdo it with various flavors and dyes; do not overload the soap with unnecessary components.
- Be careful, you can get seriously burned by the melted base. If you are making a homemade product for the first time, wear safety glasses.
- Instead of the base, you can use baby soap.
- Both specialized stencils for home soap making and baking molds are suitable as forms. Naturally, after this you should not cook muffins in them.
- Before pouring the soap mass, lubricate the mold with vegetable oil so that you can easily remove the product from it.
- When using essential oils, strictly follow the recipe. An overdose of them can make the soap harmful to the skin.
- It is advisable to store the homemade product wrapped in parchment paper.
Soap made at home using various improving additives (herbal infusions, cream, honey, chocolate, oils) can be stored for a maximum of one to two months. Then it starts to mold. Therefore, do not prepare large batches of the product. Do a maximum of 100–200 grams at a time.
Universal bath soap “coffee and honey”
You will need: 60 gr. natural soap base, half a teaspoon of ground coffee, glycerin and honey, as well as any form designed for 100 g of product. Melt the soap base in a water bath. Make sure it doesn't boil. Add glycerin, melted honey and ground coffee to it. Mix everything until smooth and pour into a mold to harden. Refrigerate it for about half an hour. After this, let it sit at room temperature until it hardens completely.
Bath nourishing soap with lavender
To make it you need these components.
| Quantity | Ingredients |
| 100 g | Natural soap base. |
| 1 teaspoon | Olive oil (can be replaced with peach oil). |
| 4 drops | Lavender essential oil. |
A form will also be needed. As in the first case, heat the soap base in a water bath without letting it boil, then add oil to it. Mix well and pour into a greased mold. Leave to harden at room temperature.
The finished product will be almost colorless. If this does not suit you, then add a couple of drops of dye when mixing the ingredients. The main thing is not to overdo it and choose natural, harmless paints.
Bathhouse "White"
Bath soap from “Granny Agafya” has the consistency of a cream soufflé, resulting in strong foam. The product has a pleasant aroma and excellent effect on the skin. During the procedure, the skin and hair are thoroughly cleansed.
It contains extracts of 37 herbs that are needed to rejuvenate the skin and make it smooth. The product includes nutmeg extract, goat milk, oils and white willow extract.
Hygienic products “Rainbow Smile”
Bath soap, reviews of which contain many positive responses, can be bought in almost every store. The manufacturer produces several types of products:
- white with cedar essential oils;
- green with juniper oil;
- black with birch tar and eucalyptus oil;
- brown with kvass soup;
- orange with orange oil.
The product contains no artificial flavors or parabens. Any of these soaps gently cleanses the skin while providing an antioxidant effect.
Black soap: price
The price of black soap in stores may unpleasantly surprise you. In order not to overpay and pay for a truly effective product, you can, for example, place an order in the trusted online store iHerb. Here all goods are 1.5-3 times cheaper than in most online stores. In the catalog you can find vitamin complexes, dietary supplements, for example, coenzyme Q10, hyaluronic acid, fat burners and vitamins for pregnant women and much more. Tens of thousands of people bought black soap and were satisfied.
Home remedy
You can make your own toilet bath soap using a simple recipe. This product is usually made from goat milk, silk and shea butter. Little neroli is used as a mandatory component. There are different methods for preparing the product, but the recipe for bath soap with goat milk is considered the most useful.
After using this soap, the skin becomes smooth, fatigue and irritation are eliminated. What are the advantages of the product? It lies in the healing effect of sour milk, which women began to use a long time ago. The product was used to create masks for the face and hair. It served as a component for the creation of cosmetic care products. Goat's milk contains more casein than cow's milk, which is why the product has a positive effect on the skin.
You can use the following cooking recipe, and then the finished product will be completely natural. To create the product you will need baby soap, olive oil, eucalyptus extract, horsetail, boiled water, eucalyptus leaves.
Horsetail (1.5 tbsp) must be poured with boiling water (100 ml). The product should sit for half an hour. Baby soap needs to be grated and melted. Eucalyptus leaves (about 50 g) are rubbed into powder. The horsetail decoction should be divided into 2 parts, one of which is mixed with soap shavings. Olive oil (2 tbsp) is added to this composition, and the components must be thoroughly mixed, including the second part. Finally, grated leaves and eucalyptus extract are added.
The finished product should be poured into a convenient container, wrapped in cling film, and can be left for a week in a dry place. Then such a product is ready for hygiene procedures. The soap is great for oily and problem skin. Eucalyptus helps quickly eliminate breakouts and tighten pores. Soap is ideal for face, body, hair. It can be used to treat dandruff.
Black soap: instructions
Before taking any supplement or cosmetic product, including black soap , you should read the manufacturer's instructions. Using black soap does not involve anything difficult.
Black soap: how to use
Enlarge image
To the question: “How to apply/use black soap ?” there is a simple answer. If black soap is used for the first time, then you cannot immediately replace your usual soap with it and use it every day. Due to unfamiliarity, irritation or excessive dryness may occur. At first, you should use soap once every few days. If you are concerned about side effects, for the first time mix soap shavings with honey and apply as a scrub. Also, do not rub the skin too intensely with the bar so as not to damage it. If soap is used as a base for shaving, then you should wash your face or body parts carefully, using a razor carefully.
Features of choice
There are many products sold in stores. To choose the right soap, you need to consider the following factors:
- Best before date. If the product consists of natural ingredients, then after the expiration date it may deteriorate. After this, you should not use it, as it can cause allergies and other skin ailments.
- Compound. When purchasing, you should familiarize yourself with the included components. Bath soap, which includes glycerin, softens the skin and protects it from the effects of hard water. Alkaline components are necessary to eliminate acne. Essential oils and creams are needed for dry skin.
How to choose the right one
First of all, when choosing soap for visiting a bathhouse, you should focus on your skin type, since products used for oily skin will be simply destructive if a person has dry skin.
You should also pay attention to certain factors
- Best before date. At first glance, it may seem that such a product may not have an expiration date. But in fact, this point is very important, since the soap consists of natural ingredients and if it expires, it is not clear what effect they will have on the skin.
- Compound. It is important to study all the components, as soon as it becomes clear what to expect is soap. If the composition contains glycerin, the skin will soften; if there are essential oils and creams, it will have a softening effect on the skin. And flower extracts will help cope with acne and other skin problems.
There are a huge number of brands that offer bath soap to the user, but most often they offer three types of soap:
- Natural Siberian black;
- Natural Siberian white;
- Floral natural soap.
These products contain only natural ingredients that have a beneficial effect on the skin.
Differences between bath soap and regular soap
Bath soap is considered a universal product because it is used for skin and hair. It is used sparingly, which allows it to be used for a long time. Toilet soaps that do not contain herbal or fruit additives may contain alkaline ingredients. Therefore, the product serves to cleanse the skin, but does not moisturize or nourish it. For the bath, soap is used with the property of removing toxins, opening pores, and restoring blood circulation.
If you have difficulty choosing a soap, you should read the composition. Usually a bath product contains natural ingredients and herbs. This soap is suitable for steaming in a classic bath. Thanks to this procedure, you can cleanse pores and improve skin condition.
It is advisable to choose soap with different herbs and medicinal substances. They open pores, cleanse them, and restore blood circulation. The procedure will be pleasant and useful. Eucalyptus, pine needles, juniper, mint, and lavender have a beneficial effect. This product is great for daily hygiene procedures.
Useful tips
Many cosmetologists talk about the need to take into account the composition of soap, since it may contain various alkalis. They adversely affect the condition of the skin, disrupting its acid-base balance. This product should be washed off thoroughly so that the residue does not cause irritation or other unpleasant symptoms.
If you are prone to allergic reactions, you should choose your toilet soap carefully. After all, it often contains aromatic components that can cause allergies. To avoid negative consequences, it is recommended to use baby soap - no provoking components are added to it.
There are special types of soap.
- Medical products. They are usually used to treat and prevent acne. The composition may include borax, sulfur or tar and other medicinal components.
- Another type of soap is deodorizing. It is used by people with excessive sweating to get rid of unpleasant odor and reduce sweating. It leaves a fresh smell on the body for a long time and prevents the growth of bacteria.
But there is no need to get carried away and constantly wash with these types of soap. This may cause an allergic reaction or skin problems. Before using such products, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
If you have sensitive skin, it is best to avoid using soap when washing your face. Use special means for these purposes. Today, an increasing number of manufacturers are striving to reduce the acidity of their product and make it as natural as possible.
How to choose high-quality bath soap?
When choosing a bath product, you need to consider your skin type. For dry skin, for example, it will be disastrous to use soap that is intended for oily skin types. It will dry out your already dry skin. Be sure to pay attention to the following factors.
