5 Simple Swaps: A Natural Substitute for Soap

The more we pursue a healthy, natural life, the more obvious it is how much of our environment is full of chemicals and toxins. Eating healthy, exercise, and drinking water are all pillars of great health, but what about the toxins in the soaps we use, makeup, plastic cookware, and candles? Is there a natural substitute for soap, makeup, and all these other products? It can all be a little overwhelming. That’s why I’m sharing “simple swaps” you can make!

Each thing you swap for a healthier item is a step in the right direction. It could make the difference in whether or not you and your family stay healthy in the long run. Over time, I’ve become a bigger believer in using up items you have, even if they have chemicals, and then making a swap forever. Don’t buy it again! Why spend money on filling your home with something that isn’t even good for you?

In real life, I believe the biggest obstacle to healthier choices is finding a healthier product that works for you. If it’s not more expensive, it works just as good, and you love it, why wouldn’t you make the swap? Finding that item isn’t always so simple. That’s why I’m sharing our favorites with you! Just making small swaps can make a huge difference in the chemicals inside your home and the chemicals you’re coming in contact with on a daily basis.

What’s a Natural Substitute for Soap In the Shower?

Let’s start with the shower! There’s so many different soaps out there. Let’s face it… nobody wants to stink! However, many soaps are full of chemicals and fragrances that are not good for our bodies. When we rub it on our skin, it gets absorbed into our bloodstream. Over time, that can cause our bodies to be filled with toxic materials that don’t belong there and can effect things like hormones and other bodily functions. That’s why finding a more natural soap is so important!

For The Best-Smelling Natural Alternative to Soap, Check Out Dr. Squatch

If you’ve read my post about the best natural deodorants, then you already know I’m a big fan of Dr. Squatch products. They smell so good! Dr. Squatch provides toxic-free shampoos and body wash. The manly scents are amazing, but I love the fruity and fresh scents as well. Because they do carry so many neutral scents, just about anyone can find something they will love.

I like to use the EWG website to see how a product rates on a “clean” scale of 1 to 10. The EWG website gives most of the Dr. Squatch bar soaps a 1 out of 10 on the low end, meaning it contains clean ingredients. This is a great company to start with if you want a smell, and you want it to be amazing, but you don’t want all those chemicals.

Australian Botanical Bar Soap

If you’re looking for something a little more plain, you may just love this Australian botanical bar soap. This soap has goat milk, which gives it a calming, clean smell, and it’s perfect as a basic soap. Some of the various scents have colors added in, which could have potential toxins, so I would stick to the non-colored options. This soap also contains “fragrance”, which is undisclosed ingredients to create the smell in a product. However, EWG awards some of the Australian botanical bar soaps a 2 and a 4 on the clean scale, so it’s still a pretty solid choice for soap.

What About Shampoo?

To be frank, I’m a Garnier Fructis kind of girl! I know it’s full of chemicals, but it smells so good and I care about my hair and the texture it has. Honestly, I have tried natural shampoos before and was not impressed by the smell or the way it made my hair feel. But… yes, there is a “but” here… I have recently swapped to The Earthling Co. Shampoo Bars. What drew me in were the ads saying it supported “hair growth” and the list of natural ingredients to nurture your hair.

I decided to try the Citrus Sun. It smells like a fruit-basket explosion or a sunny day! I love it. In fact, I just ordered it again and ordered one for my teenager to try. I have personally noticed my hair filling in more than before, and it smells so good! When it comes to shampoo, I love those fruity scents!

My hair texture is a little different than before, but I haven’t taken the plunge to try the conditioner yet, which is one of my short-term goals! I’ve still been using my normal conditioner with it, so I feel like the texture isn’t all that different. However, the growth and the smell are definitely pros for trying out one of these natural shampoo bars.

Is There a Natural Substitute for Soap When It Comes to Hand Soap?

I love things that are easy! You can pick up Mrs. Meyer’s at most grocery stores. It can be hit and miss on the scents. The spicy fall scents (like Acorn Spice) and fruity scents are usually some of our family favorites. You can also save money by getting the refill bottles and reusing some of the squirt bottles.

EWG scores most of these soaps at a 3. The higher-rated ingredients are essential oils and other ingredients that could be potential allergens. That’s most of what bumps it up to a 3. However, 3 is still pretty low in the 1-10 rating. When you add in the convenience, it’s a simple swap to make for one filled with a bunch of chemicals.

Is Castile Soap a Natural Substitute for Soap?

If you like it plain or want to experiment with homemade soaps, Castile Soap may be a good option for you. It’s a natural liquid soap. I used it for years to bathe my kids when they were little, but keep in mind that it can dry out your skin. It gets a 1 on the EWG clean rating.

My favorite way to use Castile Soap is as a base in homemade soaps. You can even mix it with distilled water and essential oils to make a homemade foaming hand soap. This is fun if you have a little more time and want to experiment with different scents, or if you already have essential oils on hand.

If you decide to make your own hand soap, here are a few materials you will need:

–Castile Soap

–Plant Therapy Essential Oil (use our link to get 15% discount)

–Foaming Hand Soap Dispenser

–Mason Jars (4 pack)

Just Make the Swap!

No matter what soap you choose, scrubbing your skin over and over again with chemicals defeats the purpose of getting clean and staying healthy. There are so many options these days for healthy soaps you can pick up at the store or order on Amazon. It’s super easy to make this swap and there are so many amazing scents to choose from! The key is to just start.

Look up the ingredients in your current go-to soaps. If they aren’t scoring great on the EWG website, or Google is showing negative side effects from using these ingredients, then figure out what works best for you and use it instead. Making a swap can be so easy; it just takes one step in the right direction!

Other Simple Swaps You Might Enjoy!