Natural soap is a solid cleansing product made by a chemical reaction of vegetable oils with lye, known as saponification, and unlike a syndet it is naturally alkaline. If you are choosing from our range of natural soaps, take a look at the Kopaničiarska levanduľa, for example, or let our Advisor guide you, as it helps you choose according to your skin type.
What natural soap is and how it is made
Classic solid soap is made by a process called saponification: a vegetable oil or fat is combined with sodium hydroxide, commonly called lye, and this reaction turns it into a salt of a fatty acid, which is the soap itself, with glycerol as a by-product. In craft production the glycerol is not separated from the soap and stays right in the bar, where it acts as a humectant that draws moisture towards the skin, whereas industrial soaps often have it removed and sold separately. You can see exactly this reaction in the composition of our Kopaničiarska levanduľa soap, where the INCI list names Sodium Oleate, saponified olive oil, Sodium Cocoate, saponified coconut oil, and Sodium Castorate, saponified castor oil. Each of these names tells you exactly which oil is in the soap and in what form.
What is the difference between soap and a syndet
Soap and a syndet both serve for washing, but chemically they are two different things, each with its own strengths. True soap is a salt of a fatty acid formed by saponification, and in solution it naturally has a pH of around nine to ten, so it is alkaline, which is not a flaw of the recipe but its very nature. A syndet, by contrast, is a synthetically or enzymatically produced surfactant whose pH can be set lower, usually to five to five and a half, closer to the natural pH of the skin. Some studies on the effect of soap pH on the skin barrier deal with exactly this topic, which is why the label "balanced pH" really suits a syndet, not a classic soap. There is also a difference in hard water, where soap reacts with calcium and magnesium salts and forms the familiar greyish film, while a syndet stays stable.
| True soap | Syndet | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is made | saponification of oil and lye | synthetic or enzymatic surfactant |
| pH in solution | approximately 9 to 10 | adjustable, usually 5 to 5.5 |
| Hard water | forms a film (soap scum) | stays stable |
How to choose a natural soap for your skin type
Normal and dry skin
For normal to drier skin, it is worth reaching for a bar with a higher share of softening oils, such as olive or castor oil, which together with the glycerol formed right in the bar during saponification help the skin feel gentler and less tight after washing. A good example is the Kopaničiarska levanduľa, which combines olive, coconut and castor oil with beeswax, so its composition is aimed at exactly this type of skin. You can find further tips on caring for drier skin in the article dry skin and how to care for it properly. Such a bar washes hair and body as gently as the face, as long as it is not used for too long or with water that is too hot, which dries the skin on its own anyway.
Oilier skin
If your skin gets shiny faster during the day, a bar with added activated charcoal may suit you, as it acts on the surface as a gentle absorbent and leaves the skin looking more matte after washing, without drying it out. One such bar is the Kopaničiarsky čert with activated charcoal and tea tree oil, popular with oilier skin for its cleansing feel. For this skin type too, washing too often or too harshly does more harm than good, because it disturbs the protective layer of the skin, which may then respond by producing even more sebum. Washing in the morning and in the evening is enough; in between, leave your skin in peace and do not touch it unnecessarily with your hands.
Sensitive skin
More sensitive skin will appreciate a bar without added colourants and with a softer scent, ideally built on flowers and plant extracts instead of strong essential oils, which can irritate some people with repeated contact. An example is the Kopaničiarske kvety, with no added colourants, with six kinds of dried flowers and a gentle floral scent. When using a new bar for the first time, it is always sensible to try it on a smaller area of skin first, for example the inside of the wrist, and wait at least a day before adding it to your regular face and body routine. If nothing happens, there is nothing to stop you using it regularly.
Our Kopaničiarska range of natural soaps
The whole Kopaničiarska range is made by the same craft saponification process and differs only in the added ingredients and the scent, not in the basic chemistry of production. Besides Kopaničiarska levanduľa, Kopaničiarsky čert and Kopaničiarske kvety, you will also find Kopaničiarske slnko in our range, with an extract and dried flowers of pot marigold, which has no added colourants and a gentle floral and herbal scent. Each bar weighs 100 grams and lasts several weeks with normal daily use; you will find more exact numbers below in the FAQ. Choosing between them is therefore more a matter of scent and skin type than of any fundamental difference in composition or method of production.
- Kopaničiarsky čert: activated charcoal and tea tree oil, for oilier skin.
- Kopaničiarska levanduľa: olive, coconut and castor oil, beeswax, for normal and drier skin.
- Kopaničiarske slnko: extract and dried flowers of pot marigold, no added colourants.
- Kopaničiarske kvety: six kinds of dried flowers, no added colourants, for more sensitive skin.
How to store soap so that it lasts longer
The biggest enemy of a solid bar is standing water, in which it dissolves much faster than when used under running water. Between showers, keep it on a dish with a drain or on a wooden base that lets the water run off and lets the surface dry properly between uses, instead of lying in its own puddle. If you often leave it sitting in its own soapy water, it will be used up noticeably faster and you also lose its scent, which is volatile with essential oils. Cutting a larger piece into smaller parts also helps, because smaller pieces dry faster, take up less space in the bathroom and can be alternated according to the mood or scent you choose at the moment.
Did you know…
Did you know that the glycerol formed during soap making is often removed from industrial soaps and sold separately, whereas craft soap keeps it right in the bar?