I am always on the look out for new and neat soaps. Except this bar by Nature’s Plus is not exactly soap. As it does not contain caustic soda or tallow. It’s labeled as a cleansing bar.
The makers of this cleansing bar had this to say about it, “has a pH of 4.5 to protect your skin’s natural acid mantle. This unique cleanser contains the specific amount of allantoin needed to help your skin maintain its youthful glow. Free from the harsh, irritating ingredients found in soap and enriched with 500 IU of Vitamin E.”
Allantoin is a unique product that is used for skin protection. Allantoin is a white, odorless, crystalline powder. Allantoin is also used to hasten the growth of new, healthy tissue. Allantoin increases the desirability of cosmetic creams and lotions by its action as a skin protectant. - The Sage
As for my review of Nature’s Path beauty bar:
It’s a very hard oval bar. The scent reminds me of Pine Sol but more on the citrus side. So not too bad, but I would prefer a more neutral smell. The yellow color is also too much and can leave yellow messes on you soap dish and bathtub. I would say they tone down on the yellow color too.
Otherwise, it makes a nice facial bar and can even be used as shampoo bar too. Washes off clean and easy, leaving no residue. Your scalp fees very nourished from the Vitamin E and Allantoin. But it does leave your hair a bit dry. I guess you can always follow this with conditioner or use hair oil after.
A little more info about the pH of your skin:
Nature endows human skin with a natural pH range of between 4.5 and 5.5. Regular soaps tend to be alkaline, effectively removing the “acid mantle” that your skin drier, less pliant, less vibrant than it should be. Natural Beauty Cleansing Bar are pH balanced, protecting the skin’s natural “acid mantle.”
An easy way to balance the pH of your skin would be to rinse off your face with acidic water. Or use a simple toner, such as green tea.
This is a bit off topic, but on the line of pH. I’ve read that brushing your teeth with commercial toothpaste can erode the enamel of your teeth. Especially ones contain fluoride.
“Erosion of calcium and phosphate from enamel becomes a problem for some people when the pH of the fluid bathing their teeth falls below 4.5. When the pH falls below 5.2, enamel demineralization and root resorption have been reported. It has been previously reported that enamel demineralization can occur at a pH lower than 5.2 to 5.8″ - Study on pH of teeth.
Forgot where I got the source from, but it’s a recent study.
I used to brush with Tom’s of Maine for almost a decade. But for the past month, I’ve been brushing my teeth with handmade soap. As handmade soap contains simple ingredients and free of fluoride. It’s not bitter as you may think about soap. It foams up and then rinse out easy, leaving only clean and shiny teeth.
8:19 am on December 26th, 2009
Cambree, I never knew of anyone brushing their teeth with soap before, this is something that I’d be afraid to try, sounds almost like a punishment.
11:09 pm on December 27th, 2009
You are funny Nye. Here’s a link where people discuss brushing with soap - Debra Lynn Dadd. People are starting to look into it. And I’ve even wrote a new post on the subject tonight.
10:16 pm on December 28th, 2009
Cambree, thanks for the link, I’m glad that she mentioned not to brush with Dove.
When we were in Thailand, some of us used salt to brush our teeth and even used our (peace) fingers as the brush, it worked when you’re poor and don’t have money to buy toothbrush and toothpaste. I saw that they even mentioned about using salt in the discussion.
10:19 pm on December 29th, 2009
Nye, I’ve heard of brushing with salt too. When I was growing up, my parents always rinse with salt water.
Another good thing to do for your teeth and gum is chewing on sugar cane. The fibers make natural scrubbers.