Toxins in Bar Soap

Alayne
Jul 17
2 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Soap equals clean... are we sure about that? Let's look at some of the harmful ingredients in conventional bar soaps.

Earth-tone Bar Soaps Stacked on Wooden Table with Sprigs of Dried Flowers — *Check Your Labels*

Active ingredients in popular bar soap brands:

Benzalkonium Chloride: Quaternary ammonium compound (QAC). Chronic low doses of QACs may cause acute toxicity, lead to antimicrobial resistance, or cause neurotoxicity. Skin/eye/respiratory irritant. Damaging to DNA. Harmful to aquatic organisms.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Synthetic compound typically made with propylene glycol. Propylene glycol enhances the penetration of other ingredients into the skin, which potentially increases the absorption of other toxins or irritants.
Triclocarban: Linked to blood, liver, and kidney toxicity. Endocrine/thyroid/gut microbiome disruptor. Highly toxic to aquatic life. Persistent environmental pollutant which can convert to carcinogenic compounds.

Inactive ingredients in popular bar soap brands:

Dyes: Petroleum and coal tar derived carcinogens contaminated with arsenic and lead. The whole list of Blues, Yellows, Reds, Greens, and all of the corresponding numbers… Green 3, Yellow 10, etc.
Ethoxylated Ingredients (e.g., Laureth, Ceteareth, SLES, Polyethylene Glycol): The ethoxylation process creates 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, known human carcinogens. Ethoxylated ingredients can contain trace amounts of these harmful byproducts.
Tetrasodium EDTA: Made using formaldehyde and sodium cyanide, known carcinogens. May contain dioxane, another carcinogen. May cause organ damage, especially to the lungs. A known skin irritant that may also cause immunotoxicity as well as reproductive and developmental issues. (Tetrasodium etidronate is a close cousin of tetrasodium EDTA.)
Titanium Dioxide: Has the capability, especially in the form of nanoparticles, to enter the bloodstream resulting in neurotoxicity, meaning toxic to the central nervous system.

Additional bad actors in bar soap:

Petroleum-based glycerin, GMO oils (vegetable/corn), synthetic detergents and preservatives (can morph skin cells), phthalates, parabens, PEGs (polyethylene glycol), polysorbate, carbomer, SLS, alcohols, Laureth-#, Steareth-#, Ceteareth-#, BHT, and synthetic fragrances.