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"Can I even tell you how many times I washed my hands yesterday when I brought home your soap? It had a subtle, comfort scent and made my hands feel moisturized and pampered. This is definitely going to be a staple in my bathroom! My fiance, who is usually oblivious to the products that I put near the sink, even commented on it and brought it into the shower with him in the morning. We will definitely be purchasing more of these and look forward to trying out other variations of your soaps. This stuff is top-notch!"

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How to avoid purchasing Melt & Pour (MP) Soaps

People often ask me if I sell glycerine soap. When I tell them that I do, they're usually suprised because our soaps don't "look" like glycerine soaps. Somewhere along the line, the names "transparent soap" and "glycerine soap" have become synonymous, and it's very misleading. Hopefully this article will help you to understand the difference, allowing you to choose the healthier choice for your body.

Glycerine is a natural humectant, meaning that it helps to draw moisture to the skin. It is a natural by-product of the soapmaking process, so any time soap is made, whether using traditional methods or through mass-production, you will get glycerine as a result. In almost all cases, mass-produced soaps (ex. Dove, Ivory) are stripped of their glycerine because it can be used for other moisturizing products such as lotions and creams, where companies make more money. On the other hand, true handmade soaps contain all of their glycerine, making them a more suitable choice for moisturization.

Transparent soap has been misnamed "glycerine soap" because in order to make them see-through, a solvent must be added. Glycerine is a natural solvent and is used in small quantities to achieve transparency, but this transparent appearance cannot be created with glycerine alone. Stronger solvents, such as sugar or alcohol (including vodka) - are needed at the end of the soapmaking process which allows light to pass through the soap. Alcohol is the most common solvent used in order to achieve transparency.

The use of an over-the-counter astringent will quickly show you that alcohol can be extremely drying to your skin. The effects are not much different when it is found in soap. The amount of glycerine added to transparent bars is not nearly enough to counter the drying effects of the alcohol, so you're forced to replace lost moisture by using additional products after bathing with transparent soaps.

Manufacturers have begun selling transparent soap kits in craft stores and online, known in the industry as "Melt & Pour." These soaps have a unique composition that allows them to be quickly melted in the microwave, adding fragrance and color, then poured into a mold. The soap sets in about two hours and is ready for immediate use. The fascination with Melt & Pour is that it is much quicker to produce than the traditional cold-process method, which can take anywhere from two to eight weeks to cure a bar of soap. The trade-off is that they have an extremely short shelf-life, typically lasting no more than a week once they get wet. More importantly, these soaps often contain a large amount of solvents, as well as chemical detergents, surfectants and other fillers that do little for the health of your skin and can actually cause harm to the body. Some of the ingredients commonly found in Melt & Pour soaps are:

PEG (polyethylene glycol): Impurities found in PEG include heavy metals such as lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, and arsenic. PEG gives off a chemical called ethylene oxide, which has been linked to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bladder, as well as affecting the brain and central nervous system.

TEA (triethanolamine): Dr. Samuel Epstein, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois said "repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of two cancers - liver and kidney cancers." The risk increases significantly for children, whose higher metabolism can absorb these chemicals much more rapidly. (Also look for ingredients like Cocamide DEA or MES, Lauramide DEA, etc.)

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: Aside from being drying to the skin, A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients states that "inhalation or ingestion of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis and even coma."

PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG): PG is a combination of vegetable glycerin and grain alcohol, and combined with chemicals becomes a powerful solvent. Material Safety Data Sheets displayed in factories warn against skin contact, as PG has systemic consequences such as brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. PG contains ethylene glycol, which is the same active component found in antifreeze, with warning labels about risk of death from ingestion.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES): Mark Fearer in an article, Dangerous Beauty, says, "...in tests, animals that were exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, along with depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, corrosion and death." Other research has indicated SLS may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. It is possibly the most dangerous of all ingredients in personal care products. According to the American College of Toxicity report, other studies have indicated that SLS easily penetrates through the skin and enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain. Some companies will include that this ingredient “comes from coconut,” leading their customers believe that it is all-natural.

(For more details on the 10 Chemicals to Avoid in Your Personal Care Products, download this Special Report)

Knowing the potential risks, avoiding transparent soaps is best for your skin. However, manufacturers have made matters more complicated because not all Melt & Pour soaps are transparent. If a Melt & Pour Soap isn't transparent, how do you avoid purchasing it? Here are a couple of things to look out for:

They’re fancy (and sometimes small). Traditional soapmaking methods create a thick mixture that is difficult to achieve the detail found in many Melt & Pour Soaps. The more intricate the detail, the increased likelihood that they are Melt & Pour.

They have imbedded shapes, toys or “noodles” in them. The soapmaker usually doesn’t even create these imbedded items, including imbedded soap pieces. They’re bought in bags at the craft store, and often resemble pieces of boardwalk taffy.

They’re wrapped in plastic. Hand-milled soap actually benefits from being either partially or completely exposed, as the bar becomes harder as more water evaporates. Melt & Pours however, tend to “sweat” when not properly covered. After extended periods of exposure you may notice crystals forming on the surface of the soap.

They're softer. Does it give a bit when you press it with your fingers? Is it easily marred with a fingernail? Cold-process soaps can be soft too depending on the types of oils used, but will feel more like store-bought soap in terms of hardness.

They melt easily in the microwave. A Melt & Pour Soap will begin to liquify with a minimum of 10 seconds in the microwave. Cold-process soap simply will not do this. It takes quite a bit of heat (and patience) to melt true soap. (Of course you can't melt a soap that you haven't purchased, but if you have any questionable ones at home this would be a good way to test them.

Burgundy Soap Co. makes all of its soaps using the traditional cold-process and hot-process methods. This means that our soap contains all of its natural moisturization properties, and no chemical fillers or detergents are used. In fact, we add ingredients to our soaps that will enhance their nutrient-rich properties, such as vitamins, minerals, dried botanicals and aromatherapy essential oils.

Burgundy Soap Co. - Natural Beauty Secrets from Around the World
12004 Tarragon Rd. - Suite E | Reisterstown, MD 21136 | 443.803.3359 | E-mail