NO. Most bar soaps are alkaline (high in pH, or basic), which can be damaging when used on our skin because our skin is slightly acidic, with a pH of around 5 (for reference, water has a pH of 7). Not only does using soap on our skin mess up its healthy acid mantle, but it also strips the skin of its natural oils. The main villain responsible for this is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is a detergent that foams up and washes away oils. This ingredient is also commonly used in dish washing liquids which is highly effective because its main purpose is to wash away oils from our dishes. But when used in skincare, it can be problematic because it dries out our skin by stripping away all of the natural oils our skin has been producing. The skin producing too much oil might sound like a nightmare, but excess oil production is usually an indication of dehydrated skin. Heres what happens: you wash your face with a harsh soap which dries your skin out. You're happy because your skin feels "squeaky clean" when in reality, the skin is producing more oil in an attempt to recover and prevent further dryness. This extra oil production is making you bonkers so you reach for the harsh soap to make your skin feel "squeaky clean" once again...and then the cycle repeats. Trust me, I've been there. It took a while for me to finally understand that I do not have to destroy my skin barrier with harsh soaps in order to clean it. So lets put down that bar soap and help our skin out a bit by using gentle cleansers. Here are some of my recommendations:
- https://www.amazon.com/Vanicream-Gentle-Cleanser-sensitive-Dispenser/dp/B00QY1XZ4W?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_2603121011
- https://www.amazon.com/Hada-Labo-Gokujyn-Hyaluronic-Cleansing/dp/B01CE5P580?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_8384416011&th=1
I've used both and love them equally. The second one foams but it's solely from the mechanism of the pump (no SLS here!)
This is really interesting and informative! I never really liked the "squeaky clean" feeling on my face or my body when I used to use bar soap. Like you, I use cleansers for my face. Usually from Nature Republic or a brand that Sephora carries. I didn't know that using bar soap on your face would cause these problems. I'm looking forward to your future posts. I could learn a lot more about proper skincare.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot! For those recommendations. I know soap will hurt face, but I never know cause this kind of trouble. I know using Soap to wash face it will cause some damage, so I usually only use water to wash face. Now, I will never use bar soap to wash my face, and I will try out your recommendations. Once again, thanks!
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