Pick up a bar of supermarket soap and a bar of handmade soap and they look much the same. What happens to your skin after you use them is quite different. Here is what actually separates the two.
How commercial soap is made
Most mass-market bars are made in huge batches in hours. Many are technically "syndet" (synthetic detergent) bars rather than true soap, built on strong cleansers such as sodium lauryl sulfate. To keep costs down and shelf life long, they often add synthetic fragrance, colourants, hardeners and preservatives.
Many large manufacturers also extract the glycerin that forms naturally during soap-making and sell it separately. Glycerin is a humectant: it pulls moisture into the skin. Remove it and the bar cleans well but can leave skin feeling tight and dry.
How handmade, cold-process soap is made
At Abeers, our bars are made in small batches using the traditional cold-process method. Plant oils and butters are combined with lye and left to cure slowly. Nothing is extracted, so all of the natural glycerin stays in the bar.
- Natural glycerin stays in – for a softer, more comfortable feel after washing.
- Plant oils and butters – coconut, almond and other oils each bring their own lather and feel.
- Botanicals, not just perfume – ingredients like neem, haldi, chandan and lemon are chosen for what they do, not only for how they smell.
- Short, readable ingredient lists – you can see what goes on your skin.
A good soap should clean your skin without stripping it. Keeping the natural glycerin in is the simplest way to do that.
Is handmade soap better for the planet?
Small-batch bars need very little packaging, contain no microplastics and are made from biodegradable plant oils. A solid bar also replaces several plastic bottles of body wash over its life.
How to choose
Look for "cold process", a short ingredient list you recognise, and no added sulfates. If you have sensitive skin, start with a mild bar and always patch test first.
New to handmade soap? Try a few at once with our Cold Processed Soap Combo (9 x 100g), or start with a classic like the Haldi Chandan Soap.
