Superfatted Soaps

The proportion of fat in these soaps is greater than in the bar soaps. As a result, these soaps may not clean adequately in which case dead skin cells may build up, leaving scaly patches known as seborrhoea. A residual build up of oil may occlude the pores causing acne and milia. In some people, though, these soaps may leave the skin well cleansed yet soft and smooth. The choice of soaps, as with so many skin care products is a matter of experimentation and personal choice. Two commonly known examples of superfatted soaps are Camay and Dove.

Transparent Soaps

These soaps usually have a high fat content linked to glycerine or resin, and act in a similar fashion to the superfatted soaps. An example is Neutrogena.

Detergent Soaps

Made from petroleum derivatives, detergent soaps contain synthetic detergents. They have an advantage over bar soaps when hard water is used, because the calcium and magnesium in hard water will react with a bar soap so a film of residue is left behind. This is not the case with detergent soaps. An example of a detergent soap is Lowilla.

What specific brand of soap should be used for cleansing face and hands? If it meets all the requirements, it really doesn't make much difference. All conventional soaps are made from the same raw marerials and have essentially the same physical characteristics. Once you start shopping, however, you will be surprised to find that there are really very few soaps on the market that are acceptable. I am prejudiced in favour of white, unscented bars. Many large chains of chemists have their own brands, as do supermarkets and grocery and department stores. These nonsense products do a good job and cause no major problems. They don't claim to be something they aren't and best of all, they're generally inexpensive.

Inother words they are safe, effective products at a fair price almost unheard-of rarities in the skin-care business. There is one brand of soap that deserves special mention because it is unique. This is Neutragena. It resembles the superfatted bars in that it is not 100% conventional soap. It differs from them in that its mildness is due primarily to a buffering system that lowers its alkalinity. What makes Neutragena noteworthy is that it sometimes agrees with the sensitive or older skin that won't tolerate either conventional or superfated soaps. I often recommend a trial with Neutragena as a last tesort before swithing to a rinsable cleanser. However the price of this soap is horrendous, so there is no need to use it unless you have a very special kind of problems.

The two basic ingredients of soaps are vegetable fats and animal salts and these vary proportionally in the various soaps available. Other ingredients are frequently added to soaps for various purposes as well as to distinguish them from similar products. For example, some ingredients which may be added are deodorants and perfumes for body odor, abrasives for cleansing the pores, and oils such as coconut oil to make more lather.

Soaps can be divided into four basic categories:

Bar Soaps

These soaps usually contain a relatively standard proportion of vegetable fats and animal salts. A popular example of this type of soap is Ivory. Sometimes, ingredients such as perfumes and deodorants are added which may irritate the skin. These soaps are now available in bar or liquid forms and generally clean the skin well.