The Label That Made Me Do a Double-Take

Hey friends! Stacie here. A few years ago, I was at the grocery store picking up some basics, and I found myself in the soap aisle. (Once you start making soap for a living, you can’t help but read every soap label you see - it’s an occupational hazard!)

I picked up one of those famous brand-name “beauty bars” - you know the ones, they’re in every store, every commercial, they’ve been around forever.

I flipped it over to read the ingredients.

And nowhere on that label did it say the word “soap.”

Instead, it said things like:

“Beauty bar”
“Cleansing bar”
“Moisturizing bar”

But never just plain “soap.”

Why? Because legally, they can’t call it soap. It’s not actually soap.

Let me explain what I discovered - and why it matters for your skin.

Real Soap vs. Synthetic Detergent Bars (Syndets)

Here’s what I learned: Most of what we call “soap” in drugstores isn’t technically soap at all. It’s what’s called a syndet bar - short for “synthetic detergent.”

What’s Real Soap?

Real soap is made through a chemical process called saponification:

You combine oils/fats + lye (sodium hydroxide) + water
They react and transform into soap + glycerin
You cure it for 4-6 weeks
You get gentle, moisturizing bars with natural glycerin

This is the traditional cold process method we use at Momma Bears Creations. It’s how soap has been made for centuries.

What’s a Syndet Bar?

Syndet bars are made in factories by combining:

Synthetic surfactants (lab-created cleansing agents)
Detergents
Chemical additives for texture, scent, color
Preservatives

They’re manufactured quickly, hit shelves fast, and clean your skin effectively. But here’s the thing: they’re not soap. They’re detergent.

“So What? It Still Cleans, Right?”

Fair question! Yes, syndet bars clean. But here’s what happens when you use them:

Problem #1: They Strip Your Skin

Synthetic detergents are designed to be powerful cleansers. Great for dishes and laundry - not so great for your delicate skin.

What happens:

They remove dirt and oil (good!)
But they also strip away your skin’s natural protective oils (not good!)
Your skin feels “squeaky clean” - that tight, almost rubbery feeling

Here’s the truth: That “squeaky clean” feeling? That’s your skin being stripped too clean. It’s not a good thing - it means your natural moisture barrier has been compromised.

Problem #2: The Missing Glycerin

Remember how I said real soap creates natural glycerin during saponification? Here’s where it gets interesting (and frustrating):

Commercial soap companies discovered they could:

Make soap using the traditional process
Remove the glycerin after it’s created
Sell the glycerin separately for profit (it’s used in lotions, cosmetics, explosives, and more)
Sell you the soap without its natural moisturizing ingredient

Why do they do this? Because glycerin is worth more on its own than in the soap. It’s pure economics.

What does this mean for you? You’re buying soap that had its best moisturizing ingredient removed before it ever reached your bathroom.

The Ingredient List Breakdown

Let me show you a real comparison. I’m not going to name specific brands - I’m just showing you what to look for.

Typical Drugstore “Beauty Bar” Ingredients:

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate or Sodium Palmitate, Lauric Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Water, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoate or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Titanium Dioxide

Translation: Mostly synthetic detergents, some soap (with glycerin removed), lots of chemical additives.

Our Handmade Cold Process Soap Ingredients (Example: Lavender):

Olive oil, coconut oil, tallow, shea butter, raw goat’s milk, sodium hydroxide, distilled water, mica powder, fragrance oil, dried lavender

Translation: Oils, goat’s milk, lye (which transforms during saponification), natural color, scent, herbs. That’s it.

The difference? You can recognize every ingredient. You know what it is and where it came from.

“But Why Does My Skin Feel So Dry After Showering?”

I hear this question ALL THE TIME at craft shows. People say:

“My skin feels so tight after I shower”
“I have to use lotion immediately or my skin cracks”
“No matter what soap I use, I’m dry and itchy”

Here’s what’s likely happening:

Your “soap” is stripping your natural oils (syndet bar problem)
Your soap had its glycerin removed (moisture is gone)
You’re stuck in a cycle - strip your skin, apply lotion, repeat daily

Real soap with natural glycerin doesn’t do this. Many of our customers tell us, “I don’t even need lotion after using your soap anymore!”

That’s not because our soap is magic. It’s because we’re not stripping your skin in the first place.

What to Look for on Soap Labels

If you want real soap (whether from us or anyone else making handmade soap), here’s what to look for:

Good Signs:

✅ “Saponified oils of…” - This means real soap! ✅ Recognizable oil names - Olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, etc. ✅ “Sodium hydroxide” or “lye” in ingredients - Honest ingredient listing (lye transforms during saponification, there’s none left in finished soap) ✅ “Cold process” or “handmade” descriptions ✅ Short ingredient lists with things you recognize

Red Flags:

❌ “Beauty bar,” “cleansing bar,” etc. - Avoiding the word “soap” for a reason ❌ Long lists of synthetic chemicals - Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Tetrasodium EDTA, etc. ❌ “Fragrance” as a vague ingredient - Could be hundreds of undisclosed chemicals ❌ No mention of glycerin - It was probably removed ❌ Made by huge corporations - Mass production usually means shortcuts

Why We Make Soap the Slow Way

At Momma Bears Creations, we could take shortcuts. We could use pre-made soap bases. We could add synthetic fragrances. We could cure soap for 2 weeks instead of 4-6.

But we don’t.

Here’s our process:

Carefully blend oils and lye - Creating saponification
Add natural scents and ingredients - Essential oils, herbs, natural colorants
Pour into molds - Hand-poured, every batch
Wait 4-6 weeks for curing - This is the hardest part!
Keep ALL the natural glycerin - It stays in your soap
Personally inspect every bar - If it’s not good enough for our grandson, it doesn’t get sold

The result? True soap that:

Cleans without stripping
Contains natural glycerin (moisture for your skin)
Uses real, recognizable ingredients
Takes longer to make but is genuinely better for your skin

The Questions I Get at Carlisle Creative Vibes

“Is handmade soap really that different?”

Yes. The difference between a syndet bar and real cold process soap is night and day. Most people notice within the first week of switching.

“Why is handmade soap more expensive?”

Because it takes 4-6 weeks to cure, uses quality natural ingredients, and is made in small batches by hand. You’re paying for time, care, and real ingredients - not factory efficiency.

“Can I use handmade soap if I have sensitive skin?”

Absolutely! Many of our customers switched to handmade soap BECAUSE they have sensitive skin. The gentle oils and natural glycerin are much kinder than synthetic detergents.

“What if I’ve been using drugstore soap for years and it’s ‘fine’?”

If it works for you, that’s great! But if you’ve ever felt dry, tight, itchy, or like you NEED lotion after every shower - try real soap for a week. Many customers tell us they didn’t realize their skin issues were from their “soap” until they switched.

I’m Not Here to Judge Your Soap Choices

Look, I get it. Drugstore soap is everywhere, it’s cheap, and it’s what most of us grew up using. I used it for years before I started making soap!

I’m not saying you’re wrong for using commercial soap.

What I AM saying is: You deserve to know what you’re actually putting on your skin.

If you read the ingredients and you’re comfortable with synthetic detergents and removed glycerin - totally fine! But if you’ve been struggling with dry, itchy, sensitive skin and wondering why, your “soap” might be the culprit.

Try Real Soap and See the Difference

Here’s my challenge: Try handmade cold process soap for two weeks.

Notice:

How your skin feels after showering (tight and stripped, or clean and comfortable?)
Whether you need as much lotion (or any at all)
If your skin issues improve (dryness, itchiness, sensitivity)
How long the bar actually lasts (handmade soap lasts longer!)

Two weeks. That’s all I ask.

Where to Find Real Soap

Our handmade cold process soaps are available:

Shop in person:

Carlisle Creative Vibes (152 N Hanover St, Carlisle, PA 17013)
Come smell our soaps, ask questions, and see the ingredient lists in person!

Shop online:

Momma Bears at Carlisle Creative Vibes Online Store

Find us at events:

East Pennsboro Pumpkinfest (our biggest event!)
Other Central PA craft shows - follow us on Facebook

Current varieties:

Lavender (with goat’s milk - top seller for sensitive skin!)
Cowboy Soap (masculine scent, long-lasting)
Mechanic Soap (heavy-duty with walnut shells and pumice)
Honey Donkey (luxury unscented with donkey milk)
And many more! See our full product list

The Bottom Line

You’re not buying just “soap” at the drugstore. You’re buying synthetic detergent bars with glycerin removed, made in factories and designed for profit, not skin health.

When you buy handmade soap, you’re getting real soap with natural glycerin, made in small batches by people who care about your skin.

Your skin deserves real ingredients. Not synthetic substitutes. Not removed glycerin. Not mystery chemicals.

Just real, honest soap made the traditional way.

— Stacie, Maddi & Scott (Momma Bears Creations, Enola, PA)

P.S. - Next time you’re in the soap aisle, flip over a few bars and read the ingredients. Once you start looking, you’ll see what I mean. Then come try our soap at Carlisle Creative Vibes - we’d love to show you the difference real soap makes!

soap ingredients cold process soap natural soap handmade vs commercial glycerin Enola PA

What's Really in Your Drugstore Soap? (It Might Not Be 'Soap' at All)