Reason Number 1 to buy Handmade

My first reason to shop on Etsy will start with soap. Etsy supports over 500 soap listings which are handmade with natural ingredients that are great for the skin. So how can you be assured that they are good quality soap?

Simple, anytime a person buys something , they can leave feedback which tells the seller if the soap they make is worth buying or not. It is in the buyers best interest to make sure that each bar of soap they create is worth buying .

This is their business and they want the customer to be happy with their purchase so they come back when they want soap again.

So this means they will offer you a quality soap you can trust in , so you will do business with them again.

In other words, they care about their product and they care about your happiness, not just about the money. Which is pretty much all those commercial companies care about these days.

Here is an article I found written by health search. This article tells you how commercial soap can actually harm you.

If you are like most people, you believe that bar soap — the oldest cleanser around - is harmless. So you may be quite surprised to learn that today’s popular commercial soaps contain synthetic compounds that are loaded with health risks.

These are some of the most common health symptoms that studies have linked to ingredients found in common commercial soaps and commercial personal care products:

Sinus Problems
Exacerbated Asthma Conditions
Fatigue
Dizziness
Nausea
Migraine Headaches
“Unexplained” Sore Throats & Cough
Rashes, Hives, Dermatitis, Eczema
Irritations to mouth, eyes, skin, lungs
Chest Tightness
Shortness of Breath

You should know right away that the government does not regulate what “natural” means in soaps labeled natural, so commercial soaps can freely claim to be natural while still using the synthetic compounds discussed below - and they do.

If you are already using a “natural” soap, or if you intend to seek a safe alternative, please keep this in mind.

Three Potentially Risky Synthetic Compounds
While there are a number of chemical concerns, there are three synthetic components in commercial soaps you need to be most concerned with:
1) Triclosan;
2) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS); and
3) Fragrance.

Most of the commercial bar soaps (and liquid and other forms) on the market today are composed of these and other chemicals.

Triclosan

The first antibacterial liquid hand soap exploded onto the market in 1995, claiming to be ten times more effective at eliminating disease carrying germs than regular liquid soap. In the eleven years since, antibacterial soaps have become a 16 billion dollar a year industry, adding shampoo, dishwashing detergent, toothpaste and various household cleaners to the “antibacterial” list.

Today, 75% of liquid soaps and over 30% of bar soaps in the US are antibacterial, all containing the synthetic chemical triclosan. Triclosan is the main ingredient in antibacterial products. The intention of triclosan is to prevent bacteria from reproducing, limiting the amount of bacteria on your skin, thereby decreasing illnesses.

Yet a study published in March 2004 found that people who used antibacterial soaps and cleaners developed cold and allergy symptoms as often as those who used regular soaps and cleaners, offering little more protection than ordinary soap against the most common germs.

Current research is showing us that if the widespread use of anti-bacterial soap continues in such an overused frenzy, we could be faced with super germs we can’t get rid of.

What the Antibacterial Soap Makers Don’t Tell Us

The triclosan in antibacterial soaps does NOT discriminate between good and bad bacteria. But we need good bacteria to survive, to help defend us against bad, harmful bacteria.

Our immune systems are being left increasingly vulnerable with the use of antibacterial soaps. Children especially should be exposed to some bacteria in early childhood in order to strengthen their immune systems, but the primary marketing target of the commercial antibacterial soaps is parents with young children.

Children who are not exposed to these common bacteria — because they are being wiped out by antibacterial soap — may be more prone to allergies and asthma.

Numerous studies have also found that the ongoing use of triclosan:
Has been shown to kill your skin cells
Dries your skin
Can aggravate skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis
Does nothing to prevent most illnesses, since colds, flues and more are typically viral (and antibacterial only kills bacteria, not viruses)

Dioxin, a highly carcinogenic may be formed during the manufacturing process of triclosan, making it a likely contaminant.

Finally, triclosan has now been found in 3 out of 5 women’s breast milk. It is also one of the most detected compounds in rivers, streams and other bodies of water, often in high concentrations, and is highly toxic to a number of different types of algae. This could have very destructive effects on aquatic ecosystems.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
One of the most dangerous chemicals being added to virtually every personal care product you can imagine, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, and cosmetics, is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). SLS is an anionic surfactant and the most commonly used chemical in car soaps, garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and personal care products.

SLS has been found to have many side effects:
Eye, skin and mouth irritations
Membrane alterations
May be harmful for the brain, heart, spleen and liver
Chronic irritant contact dermatitis
Compromising the overall integrity of your skin barrier, rendering it open to exposure to bacteria
May actually harm cell function
Can corrode the hair follicle and cause hair loss

Fragrance
95% of the chemicals used in fragrances are petroleum-based synthetic compounds. Most of these chemicals are not tested for safety.

Manufacturers are only required to print “fragrance” on the label, nothing more.

Additionally, a product labeled “unscented” may contain a masking fragrance. A product must be marked “without perfume” to indicate no fragrance has been added.

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So what do you think? Do you want to continue to subject yourself those possible side effects just to get clean or would you rather lather up with something truly natural and made with concern for your welfare and happiness?

If you rather buy chemical just to save a few dollars, go ahead. You probably enjoy ripping your skin with every itch your chemical induced rash causes you. Then spend your savings on medicines your doctor suggests for you during your next doctors appointment. We wouldn't want to deprive you of all that fun.

But if you would rather not do your best impression of a lobster with skin disease and spending your hard earned saving on medicine does not appeal to you, I suggest paying a visit to Etsy and discovering a truly fresh and comfortable way to clean up. You might find it's not as expensive as you think.

www.etsy.com