Ida's Soap Box

The claim “pH balanced” is advertised by many skin care companies. The claim implies that these products are more beneficial to your skin. While it is true that our skin is generally more acidic, are these pH balanced skin and hair care products that are made with synthetic detergents and other chemicals to make them "pH balanced" really better for your skin?

It may seem odd for a manufacturer of “natural skin care” to be asking to get rid of the word “natural” -- but under federal labeling rules, the word "natural" means absolutely nothing because the FDA has never created regulations that define "natural." Sadly, even the word "organic," on personal care products, has little meaning, unless the company has USDA Organic Certification.

The word "organic" should stand for something more than just a marketing hype to entice consumers looking for more natural products for their family. Buying products that have been certified by a USDA accredited certifying agent is the only way you can be sure a company's organic product truly complies with organic standards.

Soap can mix with both water and with oil. Why? The soap molecule has two different ends, one that binds with water and the other that binds with grease and oil. When greasy dirt is mixed with soapy water, the soap molecules arrange themselves into tiny clusters called micelles.