Not all soaps can moisturize the skin. Indeed, many commercial bath soaps dry out the skin. If you are looking for a good moisturizing soap or you want to make your own moisturizing soap at home, here is a list of oils that give bath and beauty soaps excellent moisturizing properties:
Almond oil or Sweet Almond oil: This is great for making handmade moisturizing soap because it is rich in vitamins as well as minerals that make skin soft and supple. It is excellent for dry and irritated skin.
Apricot Kernel oil: This oil makes a delicate, moisturizing soap that is perfect for the driest or the most sensitive skin. This oil is easily absorbed by the skin, making it a favorite massage oil of many professional masseurs.
Avocado oil: This is a common ingredient in expensive moisturizing soap and skin products. It is known to be rich in amino acids, proteins and vitamins that are excellent skin moisturizers (A, E & D).
Cocoa Butter: Adding this chocolate by-product to soap will give the soap moisturizing properties that work by protecting the skin with an extra layer that retains moisture and keeps the skin soft.
Emu oil: The fat rendered from an Emu, a flightless bird, may seem like a strange moisturizing soap ingredient but quite the opposite is true. In fact, Emu oil is trans-dermal, which means it makes the skin more absorbent. Additionally, Emu oil does not clog skin pores, offers the skin a natural protection from sun damage and will not cause skin allergies, irritation and inflammation. Aside from being an excellent ingredient for moisturizing soap, it is also known to reduce scars, stretch marks and wrinkles.
Lanolin: Lanolin is a type of wax obtained from sheep wool and is considered as one of the best moisturizing oils. It is very easy for the skin to absorb and it works by adding a layer of protection on the skin that locks moisture in. Lanolin is very effective in softening severely dry, chapped and cracked skin, which makes it not surprising that it is used to make body lotion and cream, aside from moisturizing soap.
Olive Oil: The moisturizing property of this oil is known to any skin care expert. In fact, using a little amount of olive oil as it is on your skin with a bit of rock salt makes an excellent scrub that is sure to leave your skin smooth and well-moisturized. Traditional castile soaps are made solely of olive oil. A moisturizing soap with olive oil prevents moisture loss for silky smooth and supple skin. Plus, it is very gentle on the skin so it is perfect for babies or anyone with highly sensitive skin.
Other oils that are used to make moisturizing soap include grape seed oil, hempseed oil, palm kernel oil, shea butter, soybean oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil. Some of these oils will make softer soap bars and some, like Lanolin, may not be suitable to sensitive skin. Make sure to do more research on the type of oil, butter or fat that you want to use in your homemade moisturizing soap to get your desired results.
