Best Soaps for Sensitive Skin
Over 50% of the UK’s population report some degree of sensitive skin. That’s more than half of the people in our country.
When we discovered this statistic, we were about as surprised as we imagine you are. Yet, when we looked deeper into the cause, it became apparent that skin isn’t sensitive; instead, the products we use day-to-day are irritants.
Why? Because they are filled with chemicals and toxins that strip your skin of bad bacteria, but also of its protective layer of bacteria too.
So, is there really a soap that is perfectly suited to sensitive skin, and what should you look out for in soap to ensure your skin remains hardy and protected?
Let’s take a look:
What causes sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin can be caused by any number of reasons such as:
- Genetic factors
- Eczema
- Baby skin
- Weakened skin barrier
- Allergies
However, there is generally considered to be 4 main types of sensitive skin:
- Naturally sensitive: This is usually caused by a genetic predisposition to sensitive skin, commonly presented as skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
- Environmentally responsive: Environmentally sensitive skin is triggered by external factors in the environment. These include UV exposure, air pollution, smoking and humidity.
- Reactive skin: Usually becomes inflamed or irritated in response to contact with makeup, skincare products and traditional soaps.
- Thin/aged skin: As the name suggests, skin becomes more sensitive as you age. It becomes thinner and loses protective layers of moisture, which can cause it to react in ways it wouldn’t have before.
Whatever the cause, let’s take a look at how you can select soap that protects your skin rather than irritates it:
What makes soap good for sensitive skin?
Generally, if you have sensitive skin, the best thing you can do is look out for ingredients that nourish and promote a healthy skin barrier. Natural ingredients are better for sensitive skin, so we’d recommend looking for humectants like shea butter and natural moisturisers like honey and fatty acids.
You should avoid cleansing products that contain excess, if any dyes, scents and other synthetic additives.
Soaps that contain too many ingredients and require an extra product such as a moisturiser afterwards are also a big no from us.
However everyone’s skin is different and can be irritated by any specific external trigger. It can be best to discover which ingredient in your soap is causing irritation and seek soaps and cleansers that are free from this ingredient.
Best soaps for sensitive skin
If you’re looking for soap that is suitable for sensitive skin, then we’d always recommend searching for unscented natural soap bars. Many scents used in both solid and liquid soaps are synthetic, but even essential oils can irritate the most sensitive skin.
Your skin is entirely unique with its own needs, so you may find that soaps scented with pure essential oils don’t cause inflammation. But your skin is the largest organ on your body, and it is very important to keep it healthy and comfortable.
Our favourite natural soap bars for sensitive skin are:
- Carrot and Honey Soap Bar
Our Carrot and Honey Soap Bar is enriched with carrot puree; rich in vitamins that promote cell regeneration and naturally moisturises the skin.
Moisture is fantastically important for keeping sensitive skin healthy as it can be particularly reactive to dryness.
- Chamomile and Honey Soap Bar
Chamomile is gentle and nourishing, with only chamomile oil and flowers used to add texture and a bit of luxury. Our Chamomile Soap Bar is a wonderfully natural addition to the bathroom of anyone with natural skin, bringing balance and restoring calm in your household.
Baby safe soap
All parents will understand that it is notoriously difficult to find soap that cleanses a baby's skin without causing irritation, however mild.
Bee Clean Soaps began in a home seeking a sustainable alternative to mothering, thus came the creation of our certified baby safe soap bars; our staple collection that is kind to your skin as well as the planet.
But baby safe soap isn’t just suitable for babies. In fact, it is the ideal antidote to adolescent and adult skin that suffers at the hands of synthetic products. Free from all additives and stripped back to the very basics, our baby safe soap cleans skin whilst protecting it from typical irritants in skincare.
Honey and Oatmeal Soap Bar
Our Honey and Oatmeal Soap Bar is creamy, gentle and unscented; the perfect combination in any soap for sensitive skin. Oatmeal gently exfoliates the skin
Oatmeal is a natural exfoliant that gently massages delicate skin to wash away dead skin cells without scratching. Your body and hands will remain soft and silky all day long.
If you’re looking for gifts for a new or expectant parent, this soapy surprise will brighten their day.
Milk and Honey Soap Bar
Our favourite Milk and Honey Soap Bar is enhanced using sheep’s milk to create a mild and velvety cleanser - perfect for skin that struggles with chemicals and harsh textures. This soap bar is a delightful addition to bath time for babies, young children or yourself.
How to select a sensitive soap for your skin
Sometimes, finding the right soap for your skin comes down to trial and error. You may find that what works for other people’s skin isn’t right for you, but we would always recommend choosing a soft textured soap with natural ingredients to begin with. From there, you’ll be able to experiment and find the right one for you.
You should also avoid soaps that include:
- SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)
- Artificial and synthetic scents/fragrances
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Parabens
Best Soap for Eczema
Soaps can strip eczema prone skin from the natural bacteria that keep it healthy and protected from the outside world. Whilst most skin is perfectly resistant to the effects of this, those who have vulnerable skin should avoid chemical soap inclusions.
If you are having an adverse reaction to your soap then you may also have an allergy to one of the ingredients. Signs of allergy can include:
- Itching
- Redness
- Mild blisters
- Eczema
- Dermatitis
- Inflammation
- Rashes
If this is the case, then we would recommend visiting your GP or a dermatologist to determine what is causing the reaction.
At Bee Clean Soaps, we aim to cater to all kinds of skin, from hardy to sensitive with all natural ingredients that moisturise and clean with gentle luxury. We are proud to announce that we are working very hard behind the scenes to create cleansing bars that are free from chemicals, and vegan soaps that still comply with our ethos.
If you have any questions about our soap bars and which would be best for your sensitive skin, please feel free to get in touch via our social media, or by contacting wendy@beecleansoaps.co.uk - we are pleased to help.