Soap Free Soap?

I think they are meaning more along the lines of soaps without chemicals. i have extremely sensitive skin and i could not use most soaps out there, especially not ones in public restrooms or anything like that. they are WAY too harsh. I started buying all of my stuff from an online whole-sale club. Its awesome, because now i can actually use body washes, lotions, laundry detergent, etc that are scented without it totally destroying my skin. i havent found anything yet from them that i CANT use. its awesome. if you want, go to http://www.HealthySafeAndClean.com and fill out an information request and say you are concerned about soaps and someone will call you to explain all the information and what is in soaps that people have reactions too.

Hello E., the one I like the best is cetaphil (? Spelling) you can buy it at walmart or costco it is a little more expensive but it is worth it it also has a lotion that is for very sensitive skin. My little girl has exema and it has worked wonders for it. Good luck

I have to sing the praises of Bubble & Bee Organics. I found their products at Whole Foods and have since visited the company online (I'm totally unaffiliated with them, I swear) -- bubbleandbee.com

I actually use their bar soap to wash my 42-year-old face. No, I'm not crazy. The product is pure, and has, using the company's slogan, "No Bad Stuff" in it. And the owner actually replied to my inquiry today on your behalf. So here is more of an education than you thought possible about soap:

"There is actually no such thing as a soap-free soap---there is only soap or detergents. "Soap-free" bars and liquids [like Dove and Cetaphil] are . . . synthetic detergents. You'll notice that they say "beauty bar" or "cleansing bar" instead of soap. Soap is made by combining an oil with an alkali. This is the old-fashioned way of making soap. Over the years it has gotten a bad name (it brings to mind the Granny's "lye soap" from Beverly Hillbillies) however, it is the only truly natural, and purest form of cleansing. And when it's made with the proper ratio of oil to alkali, it can be just as gentle, or even more so, than the chemical bars. Because of the high content of glycerin in [Bubble & Bee] soaps, they are super gentle and don't leave a filmy residue like other soaps might. But the main reason that other soaps leave a residue is because over the years our water supply has gotten harder and harder. Detergents don't leave soap scum like soaps do, so companies like Dove use that as a selling point for their fake soaps."

I'll also note that most conventional beauty products have chemicals in them that can be irritating or worse. Here's a complete education on soap & detergent from the B&B website (including a trip to WY!!):

http://bubbleandbee.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html

Also, here's the ingredients for their unscented soap bar.

http://www.bubbleandbee.com/servlet/the-135/The-Unscented...

My only complaint is that it dissolves quickly in water (maybe that's why it works so well) so I had to get a separate soap dish to put above the shower spray to make it last. Good luck.

Soap is actually made from tallow and lye (not sure on those spellings ;-). Think pioneer days. So, soap-free cleansers are what those of us with sensitive skin need. It just doesn't always make it clear to say soap-free cleanser, so you hear the term soap-free soap. I agree -- that's not clear either! I get mine here: http://www.solutionsforhealthylives.myshaklee.com/us/en/p... and love it.
Blessings,
A.

I also have very sensitive skin. I LOVE the 365 brand soap from Whole Foods. It's made from glycerin (vegetarian). It's awesome. I used to have to slather myself in lotion in the winter time, but I haven't needed to use a drop of lotion all winter! I love this stuff. Dr. Bronner's baby mild soap is also good. You can find that at a whole foods store or the whole foods section of your grocery store. There's no need to special order your soaps from special companies like Work at Home United, Melaleuca, arbonne, etc., etc. The less you use on sensitive skin the better, keep it simple. Also avoid products with oil. Make sure your makeup, soaps and lotions are oil free. I use witch hazel as an astringent/toner, and aloe as my moisturizer.

This to many would seem like a oxymoron. But soap-free soap essentially means soap that is usually milled and soap that is usually both fragrance free and does not contain allergic chemicals, thus being defined as organic or natural in nature. I found a lot of good information from a local website that really does give product samples and a lot of articles on this topic at:
http://www.eczemaandyourlife.com

Cetaphil is soap-free. t doesn't lather up like regular soap. There is a Cetaphil for sensitive skin...I would use that.

We tend to call all cleansers "soap" so it has become a catch all term. The fact is, though, that soap (originally lye based, made from pot-ash and lard) is very drying to skin and leaves a residue, plus is much more of an irritant to sensitive skin. Most "anitbacterials" have some kind of a soap base. In short, if it's made for hands, don't use it anywhere else! And, face and body skin are different too. So you'll see body wash and facial cleanser. Same for lotion/moisturizer. There really is a difference, it's not just a gimmic to get you to buy more "stuff".

If you have sensitive skin, you want to find high-quality cleaners. I would avoid the grocery store/drug store products (I'm not just talking store brand, but anything you buy at the grocery store, or drug store). They cost less because they have fillers to bulk them up: water, alcohol, oil, frangrance, and other stuff that cost less, take up space, and aren't great for your skin. Generally if you buy it in the mall (cosmetic counters, etc) it's going to be a higher quality, and usually gentler on sensitive skin.

Fragrance can be a big irritant to sensitive skin, too. Especially for your face - pretty much anything you put on your face should be unscented/fragrance free. And watch out for heavy perfumes in body lotion or wash, too.

One great product (with extensive testing for being safe and effective too) that doesn't cost a ton is Mary Kay. Go to www.marykay.com to find a consultant (just enter your zip code) who can help you pick what is right for your skin.

There are lots of options out there. For mine and my kids' sensitive skin and eczema we went with a derm's recommendation of Dove-and it's been great.

I know it sounds contradicting but actually there are some out there. I have used one for years and love it--it is by shikai and they make several kinds. You can buy it at Whole foods or online at amazon.com.
good luck!

If you would like, I can send you some info on a soap free cleanser that my company makes. One thing I really love about it, is that you never have soap scum!
Victoria

Dove is soap free.

Bath & Body Works carries several body washes that are soap free they might have other options as well. Good luck!

I can't tell you what ingredients are in soap, as we've been a soap free household since my 8 year old was a baby. Both of my kids were having weird hives that came and went and they were peeling no matter what time of year. I've always had sensitive skin so it wasn't too tough to figure out where they got it. We spent some time with trial and error just to find what worked for each of them. My daughter uses Dove for sensitive skin. My son and I use Basis. My father uses Purpose. My husband uses whatever is in our shower, since he doesn't have sensitive skin.
While you can find the Dove in with the bar soaps at most stores, Basis and Purpose are usually found in the cleanser or moisturizer sections. Your pediatrician may have some suggestions as to what you might want to try first. Good luck.

It's actually more like a soap free cleanser. The one I use for my sons excema is Cetaphil. But there are generic versions also that you will be able to find right next to the Cetaphil. I can't remember exactly where to find it. So I would like go to a Walmart or Walgreens and askt he pharmacist where to find it. Also, something that's helped my sons excema after you bathe him (bathing often, like twice a day) and then rubbing (it sounds weird, I know) Crisco all over the body, especially in the really dry spots. Hycrocortizone on the rashy parts after the Crisco really helps. The crisco really helps lock in that moisture from the bath.

I think that may be referring to Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, which is a suds-ing agent..it's in almost everything that suds that we use for cleaning (just saw that it's in the brandname toothpaste I picked up for my daughter, odd).

From my experience, SLS is very drying and irritates my skin, especially my scalp, and I try to avoid it as much as possible. It's difficult tho', and bath/body products that do not have have that ingredient are those natural products, and trend toward slightly more expensive side of grocery skin/bath items. But I have found things on sale, and relatively inexpensive here and there without Sodium Laureth Sulfate in them.

I haven't heard the term 'soap free soap' but my son has severe skin issues and we were referred to CeraVe soap and lotions by his dermatologist. They can be found at Walgreens OTC but they are as gentle as 'soap' comes. No addititives, no perfumes, no coloring, etc. As pure as 'soap' can be. Using that soap in his bath and the cream after bath has gotten his eczema to where it is almost non existant.