“Once a day – not once a week! Take a bath until you squeak!” Boz the Bear sings. The children’s cartoon character is as clean and wholesome as can be, but he doesn’t realize his advice is not exactly the best and was formulated by large soap companies years ago. As early as the 1930s, the term “squeaky clean” was being used in advertisements for soaps and shampoos that left a person’s hair or skin so void of grease and dirt that it squeaked when you ran your fingers over it. Soap companies turned oil into the villain of cleanliness because, of course, any water-soluble contaminants could simply be washed away with water; soap wasn’t needed. They also found they could sell moisturizers and conditioners to treat the itchy dry skin and brittle hair they created. Marketing genius! 

The truth of the matter is most of what you want to wash off your body and hair, including the bacteria that causes body odor, slimy proteins or salts, are either water-soluble, water-dispersible, or are at least mobile enough that a water rinse easily removes them. Of course, there are times when soap is needed. But for the most part, excessive use of soap causes problems. I haven’t used soap or shampoo for more than 10 years, and my skin has never felt better. I simply rinse with warm water. 

The fact is our skin releases many nutrient molecules that are either oils, or are soluble in oils, and depends on them to remain at the surface of our skin. They were designed this way so these nutrients would not rinse away in the rain or with our sweat. For example fat soluble vitamin A is released by our skin and is necessary for our immune system to fight skin infections and reduce inflammation. Vitamin A also absorbs harmful UV radiation and protects our skin. Our skin also releases oil soluble cholesterol that reacts with sunlight to form vitamin D, which is important to maintain both our physical and emotional health.  Fat soluble vitamin E is also released which is an anti-oxidant and plays many roles in protecting our skin and hair. 

A very important role of oils released by our skin is to maintain the moisture content of our skin and acting as a barrier to exterior bacteria. As oil of our skin is lost, our skin dries, cracks and becomes susceptible to infection. If you have chronic dry itchy skin, your two doctors at Native Nutraceuticals recommend, before you do anything else, simply try to reduce the amount of soap and shampoo you use. Yes, even try to go completely without soap or shampoo. If you can, simply rinse your hands and face with warm water before you go to bed. Use the shower as a body rinse. Of course, many of you need to use soap to wash long hair or remove make-up, but use it sparingly 

It is difficult to completely avoid soap. Our hands are particularly vulnerable to drying out because we rinse them often to remove bacteria, wash dishes, etc. Native Nutraceutical’s Hand and Heel Butter with Moisturizing Marshmallow, was designed to form a barrier resistant to water and even a small amount of soap, so your own body can moisturize your skin from within.  Marshmallow extract remains on your skin and holds moisture there. Australian Lanolin, derived from cruelty free method and betulin, derived from white birch bark, form a water barrier that holds the moisture in. White willow extract, that contains salicylic acid, gently exfoliates your dead skin to make your skin smooth and soft. Unlike competitive products, our Hand and Heel Butter with Moisturizing Marshmallow contains only natural, and sustainable, ingredients.