Would You Give Your Child a Cigarette?

So, you just read the title of this post and your immediate answer was probably something like “Absolutely not!”, right? It’s almost offensive to even ask a parent if they would willingly let their children sit back and relax with a cigarette in hand.

This is how people react because since the 1960’s it has been common knowledge that smoking is harmful to our health. Though, there were suspicions long before. After a doctor actually tested the effects of the ingredients in these seemingly harmless little white tubes, it took him getting the gumption to publicly say what no one wanted to hear. What society had been carelessly smoking could cause cancer, among a wide variety of health issues. Back then, nearly 50% of adult Americans smoked.

What if I told you that there are products that could be just as serious, and nearly every American, including children, use it on an almost daily basis? Now, what if I told you that the ingredients used to make these products are already known for being harmful to our bodies and for our health?

Picture This...

As your children innocently play in their bath, you reach for the normal soap, that we’ve all been told in countless commercials was good, safe, and gentle for our babies. You lather it on your beloved tiny people from head to toe and wash your little ones splash about in their bubble bath. It’s the nightly routine.

But when you turn that bar of soap or bottle of bubble bath around and read the ingredients, you might find yourself a little confused. The list of ingredients is LONG. But they can't all be harmful, right? Researching the ingredients that are being used on and around your children is nothing short of devastating. Parents need to know what they're putting on their children.

Here are just a few of the chemicals splashing around in that tub with the toys and your loved ones:

Parabens

These chemicals are widely used preservatives in cosmetics, but in the 1990’s were found to be agents that mimic estrogen when they enter the bloodstream. When our bodies have abnormal levels of estrogen, there is the potential for reproductive issues, cancer, and more. Since parabens are able to be stored in the body, they get built up over time.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Also known as SLS, is a detergent that is responsible for the lathering foam of soap, toothpaste, and shampoo. Guess what else it’s found in? Engine degreaser. Needless to say, that’s likely why this chemical is also known for being a skin irritant (discovered first in 1983 by The American College of Toxicology). It strips our skin of natural healthy oils so it is left defenseless against all the other chemical ready to invade the bloodstream.

Synthetic Preservatives

Chemicals like these are actually banned in other countries, yet they are in our soap. While natural preservatives have been shown to work just as well or even better, synthetic preservatives are still used. Yet, they have been known to aggravate skin disorders, morph skin cells, compromise the integrity of the skin barrier, and much more. They are unnecessary, so why risk it?

Alcohol

Plain and simple, this ingredient contains properties that cause the skin to dry out.

Dyes

With most commercial products, dyes are often used to color soaps synthetically. A big reason we’ve chosen to avoid using dyes is that they can be troublesome and unnecessary for those with skin sensitivities such as psoriasis and eczema. Our goat milk soap is 100% natural in color — we don’t use any type of dye or substance to alter the look of our products.

GMO Oils

Even some of the homemade “natural soaps” use genetically modified "vegetable oils” and soybean oils. We are slowly realizing we have been the guinea pigs as we get to know more about how GMO’s are affecting our environment and bodies. There are actual animal studies with genetically modified substances showing organ damage, immune system disorders, and accelerated aging and infertility. Human studies suggest that GMO's can result in autism, food allergies, and reproductive difficulties. Most focus on the food, but with our skin soaking up this everyday regime, we need to be concerned!

While reading through these ingredients, there might be the thought that “Hey, it’s just soap. It gets washed off quickly anyway!” This is also, unfortunately, not true. Your children’s skin will soak up over 60% of the average 15-20 chemicals that are scrubbed onto them. It goes into their bloodstream, leaving them susceptible to health and behavioral issues.

"Your children’s skin will soak up over 60% of the average 15-20 chemicals that are scrubbed onto them. It goes into their bloodstream, leaving them susceptible to health and behavioral issues."

Now for the Good News

We here at Bend Soap Company are proud to share that we've created a soap made with any of the awful toxic chemicals that have been poisoning our kids for years. Our goat milk products only have four main all-natural ingredients and are PACKED with vitamins!

• Fresh Goat's Milk: The beauty of goat milk is that it is gentle, brings the skin much needed Vitamin A, and leaves the healthy oils alone.
  
  
• Nourishing Oils (Coconut, Red Palm, and Olive): These oils smooth, moisturize, and nourish our largest organ. They supply us with Vitamin E while fighting off wrinkles and saggy skin.
  
  
• Essential Oils: Our soaps all smell wonderful but not because of fake, unnatural fragrances. All of our scents come from essential oils, which hold various therapeutic properties. Folks with sensitive skin will appreciate that we offer Oatmeal & Honey and Unscented goat milk soap and milk bath products which are both free of essential oils. 

We share these truths with you because when we all know better, we all do better! Join us and the many others who have kicked their old soaps and bubble bath products to the curb to grab hold of our all-natural goat milk soap and milk bath. Our goat milk soap can safely and effectively be used as an all-natural replacement for body wash, hand wash, shampoo, face wash, and shaving cream. Add 1-2 handfuls of milk bath shreds to a warm bath as an all-natural bubble bath replacement. 

We teach our children not to smoke and teach them to eat well and take care of their bodies. Now let’s teach them to clean with CLEAN products!

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