Organic soap: what does it mean, and why does it matter?
Organic soap is a term that is widely used but rarely properly explained. What does it actually mean for a soap to be organic, and does it make a difference to the skin or only to the environment?
The answer is both, but with important nuances. Here, we explain the terms.
What does organic soap mean?
A soap can be called organic in two ways: either it contains organically grown raw materials (certified according to KRAV, Ecocert, COSMOS or similar standards), or the term is used more loosely as a signal of natural ingredients without certification. It is important to understand the difference.
Certified organic ingredients are grown without synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilisers, which reduces the environmental impact throughout the entire production chain. For the skin, this means that the raw materials contain fewer pesticide residues, which may be particularly relevant for sensitive skin.
It is worth knowing that product certification (where the entire product is certified) is different from certified ingredients. Product certification involves high costs and administrative requirements, which means that many small and medium-sized manufacturers with high ingredient quality choose not to certify the product itself. This says nothing about the actual quality of the ingredients.
Organic oils in soap: what do they do for the skin?
The most common organic oils in high-quality soap are coconut oil and shea butter. Cocos Nucifera Oil (organic coconut oil) softens the skin and helps preserve its elasticity. Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (organic shea butter) is extremely nourishing, rich in vitamins and fatty acids, and intensely moisturises dry skin.
Both of these organic raw materials are used in FOAM's beauty bars, together with Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil (sunflower oil) and Tocopherol (vitamin E), which protect the skin barrier and naturally preserve the product's freshness.
Natural soap versus organic soap
Natural and organic are not the same thing. Natural soap uses ingredients from nature, but they may be conventionally grown. A soap with certified organic ingredients goes one step further and guarantees that the crops were grown without synthetic chemicals. Both are better alternatives than soaps containing synthetic colourants, EDTA or SLS.
FOAM's beauty bars are formulated with certified organic key ingredients and made in Sweden without plastic packaging. Learn more about what makes them vegan in our guide to vegan soap.
What should you look for when buying organic soap?
| What you see | What it means | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Certified organic ingredients | The raw materials are organically grown and inspected | Read the ingredients list and look for "organic" next to each raw material |
| COSMOS/Ecocert-certified product | The entire product has been independently inspected | High reliability, but certification is costly and is not obtained by many small manufacturers with high-quality products |
| "Natural" without further specification | A marketing term without any guarantee | Always ask for the ingredients list |
| Short ingredients list | Fewer additives and fillers | A good sign regardless of certification |
Learn more about how to choose the right bar of soap in our complete guide to bar soap, or explore what makes a facial soap for sensitive skin the right choice.