Eczema: Ingredients for the Best Natural Soap Bars

There are a number of differences between commercial soaps and natural soap bars, and for someone with sensitive skin or eczema, these are very important. 

“What makes natural soap bars good for eczema skin?” is a question I’m often asked. The answer is in the natural ingredients that work towards soothing, and moisturising the skin without drying it out, or stripping the natural oils.

Also, handmade soaps are rich in glycerine, unlike commercial soaps which act as a humectant to draw moisture from the environment to your skin. All the time helping your skin to stay moisturised and hydrated for longer.

The added bonus of Nettle soap is the anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties of nettle leaf, the powerhouse of the herb world.

I’ll go through each ingredient and break down exactly why I use them for the natural eczema soap bars.

Ingredients of Natural Soap Bars

Nettle Leaf

I use nettle leaf three ways in the process of making my natural eczema soap bars so that’s 3 times the nettle goodness.

1. The oil is infused with dried nettle leaf the old-fashioned way.
2. The water element in the soap making process is infused with nettle leaf (nettle tea)
3. The soap has chopped dried nettle leaf is mixed through before setting.

The potent natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties are super beneficial for eczema sufferers. These properties soothe the red, sore inflamed skin, calm flare-ups and stop the itch. All while nourishing and moisturising the skin, which prevents it drying out again.

Olive oil

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is such a superfood and super ingredient for soap making. Our high content of coconut oil helps with more lather, so it nourishes at the same time.

Coconut oil contains lauric acid, lipid, or nutritious fatty acid, also found in breast milk. Lauric acid is used to develop monolaurin, which is an antimicrobial agent that can fight bacteria, yeast, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens.

So when people talk about coconut oil having anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties beneficial to eczema, they are absolutely right.

Coconut oil has the natural ability to absorb into the skin quickly and efficiently. This works to, boost hydration, relieve the itch, improve the skin’s elasticity, and reduce the chances of infection.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is one of my favourite ingredients to work with. It’s creamy, buttery consistency is gorgeous, it melts beautifully and adds such a luxurious quality to the end products. 

Shea butter has been used by West Africans for thousands of years because of it’s incredible anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects.

These anti-inflammatory and nourishing properties make it an obvious choice to include it in my eczema soap recipe,

Vitamin E

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is such a versatile oil, also it’s my go-to for helping with so many common ailments.

The properties of lavender essential oil include antiseptic, anti-fungal, is a relaxing sleep aid, and can help to ease a headache too

Eczema can show up anywhere on your body, and your skin gets dry, itchy, and scaly.  Since lavender has antifungal properties and reduces inflammation, it can help keep eczema at bay.

Lavender oil can also effectively treat psoriasis. The lavender oil helps cleanse your skin and reduce redness and irritation

Chamomile Essential Oil

Distinctly scented and soothing to the skin, Chamomile is known for its soothing, calming qualities.

Reduce itching caused by eczema and lower histamine levels (a chemical released following allergen exposure) by using Chamomile essential oil topically.

Atopic dermatitis is often associated with allergies, so characteristic itchiness and flare-ups caused by atopic dermatitis and eczema can be be eased by ingredients that help to lower histamine levels.

What else important to know about our Handmade Natural Soap Bars?

We steer clear of palm oil and its derivatives

People who support organic and ecology know what using palm oil means. Palm oil has been and continues to be a major driver of deforestation of some of the world’s most biodiverse forests. This has led to the destruction of habitats of already endangered species like the Orangutan, pygmy elephant, and Sumatran rhino.

However, because it is an incredibly efficient crop, producing more oil per land area than any other equivalent vegetable oil crop, it;s still a highly popular oil when it comes to soaps and beauty products.

There is still a lot of work to be done for the industry to use 100% sustainably sourced palm oil.

Cruelty-Free

Although the beauty industry has made great strides in producing cruelty-free products, unfortunately, animal testing is still ingrained in the industry. A number of brands still conduct tests on animals.

You often have to look for a stamp to make sure that the product you’re buying is ethical.

Since all the ingredients used in our natural eczema soap are proven to be safe for humans, you don’t have to worry about these products being tested on animals. They are absolutely cruelty-free

No Toxic Chemicals

Aside from synthetic lathering agents, other toxic chemicals in commercial soaps are surfactants, parabens, artificial coloring agents, dyes, and synthetic fragrances. These chemicals can be toxic for people as they can be absorbed through your skin and cause diseases in the long run. 

With our natural soap, you can be 100% sure that absolutely no toxic chemicals have been used to produce it. 

Nettle natural soap bars are made using oils, lye, water, nettle leaf, and essential oils. All of those products are either harmless or beneficial for your health and well-being.

Support Smaller Businesses

Natural soap bars are usually made by smaller businesses, with attention to detail, quality, and a passion for natural ingredients. Their products are handcrafted by artisans whose goals are to deliver nourishing, high-quality natural soap bars.

When you buy handmade natural soap, this is what you support, and you enable smaller businesses to achieve their objectives.

Support small business – The Wild Nettle Co‘s natural soap bars, made with Scottish nettles, available in 65g or 130g bars HERE

Silkier Skin

Commercial soap can be quite harsh and strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and ashy. You may feel that your skin is soft right after a shower or bath, but this doesn’t last, and fades as soon as your skin dries. This is because they don’t use natural ingredients that can keep the skin moisturised.

Oils, butters, Glycerin, and essential oils used in making natural soap bars are potent moisturizing agents. They help prevent dry skin and other similar complications. I’ve noticed that since I’ve been using natural nettle soap, I no longer need moisturising lotion.

Now you know what it takes to make great natural soap bars?

I outlined the ingredients we use in our handmade natural soap bars, and why they are each beneficial in their own right. Particularly for people with sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

I hope you’ve found this useful, and that the benefits of natural soap bars over commercial soaps are clear.

Is it about time you added natural soap bars to your shopping list? A great complementary product to the Nettle Soap is Nettle cream, use the soak & seal method to lock in moisture – nourishing and soothing, suitable for sensitive and eczema prone skin.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to read 7 Natural Remedies to Treat Eczema

xx Bronwyn