15 de mayo de 2025

The Negative Effects of Conventional Soap

por Alra Customer Care en SOAP

Why “Clean” Isn’t Always Clean

Most people use soap every day, assuming it’s doing their skin good. But what if the soap in your shower is secretly causing dryness, irritation, or even breakouts? Conventional soaps, often found in drugstores or hotels, may leave you feeling “squeaky clean” but at a hidden cost.

🚨 The Hidden Dangers of Conventional Soap

1. Overly Harsh Detergents

Many soaps use synthetic surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) to create rich foam—but these ingredients can strip your skin of its natural oils, disrupting your skin barrier and causing tightness, flaking, and inflammation.

2. Fragrances and Dyes

That pleasant scent? It’s often made from chemical fragrance blends linked to allergic reactions, contact dermatitis, and hormone disruption. Artificial dyes can further irritate sensitive or damaged skin.

3. High Alkalinity (pH)

Traditional soap bars tend to have a high pH (9–10), which can throw off your skin’s natural acidic balance (pH 4.5–5.5), making it more vulnerable to dryness, bacteria, and environmental stressors.

4. Pore-Clogging Fillers and Preservatives

Many commercial soaps include ingredients like petroleum by-products, parabens, or waxes that can clog pores or trigger breakouts, especially in acne-prone or post-procedure skin.

🌿 The Gentle Power of Alra All Vegetable Unscented Mild Soap

Originally formulated for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, Alra’s soap is designed to cleanse without harming or irritating sensitive skin.

✅ Fragrance-Free and Preservative-Free

No added scents, dyes, or preservatives—just clean, minimal ingredients that let your skin breathe.

✅ Glycerin-Rich Moisturizing Formula

Made with natural glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture into the skin instead of stripping it away.

✅ Made with Food-Grade Plant Oils

Includes olive oil, coconut oil, and palm oil—known for their nourishing, non-comedogenic properties.

✅ Safe for Face and Body

One bar for head-to-toe cleansing—even gentle enough for the face, babies, post-laser skin, and sensitive areas.

“It’s the only soap I trust after chemo. Doesn’t sting, doesn’t dry me out—just feels clean and calm.” – Verified Customer

🧼 Why It’s Time to Switch

If your current soap leaves your skin tight, itchy, or inflamed, it’s doing more harm than good. Choosing a gentle, non-irritating cleanser like Alra All Vegetable Unscented Mild Soap can make a huge difference in your skin health—especially if you deal with:

Sensitive or allergy-prone skin
Post-treatment recovery (laser, radiation, surgery)
Eczema, rosacea, or acne
Pregnancy-related skin changes
General dryness or tightness

🛒 Ready to Give Your Skin a Break?

Switch to a soap that cleans without compromise.
👉 Shop Alra All Vegetable Unscented Mild Soap and feel the difference from the first wash.

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15 de mayo de 2025

How Soaps Work? The Science Behind Cleansing and Skin Health

Introduction: Soap is something we use every day, but few of us stop to consider how it actually works. Whether you're washing your hands, your face, or your entire body, the way soap interacts with your skin matters—especially if you have sensitive skin or specific conditions like eczema, rosacea, or post-treatment sensitivity. In this post, we’ll explore the science behind how soap cleanses, why harsh soaps can do more harm than good, and what makes a product like Alra All Vegetable Unscented Mild Soap stand out in a market flooded with synthetics and irritants. 1. What Is Soap Made Of? At its core, soap is the result of a process called saponification—a chemical reaction between natural oils (like olive or coconut) and an alkali, typically lye. This creates a molecule with two ends: One that binds to water (hydrophilic) One that binds to oil and dirt (hydrophobic) This unique structure allows soap to surround and lift away dirt, oil, bacteria, and even viruses, rinsing them off with water. 2. How Soap Removes Dirt & Germs When you apply soap to your skin and add water, these molecules form microscopic spheres called micelles. These micelles trap oil, sweat, and bacteria, allowing them to be rinsed away—without leaving residues. This is why soap is more effective than water alone at cleansing the skin. But not all soaps are created equal. Some strip away too much oil, damaging the skin’s protective barrier. 3. The Problem with Conventional Soaps Many commercial soaps contain: Synthetic fragrances Harsh sulfates like SLS/SLES Artificial preservatives These can lead to: Skin dryness and flaking Redness or irritation Disruption of your skin’s natural microbiome For people undergoing chemotherapy, cosmetic procedures, or managing chronic skin sensitivities, these ingredients can be especially harmful. 4. Why Alra’s Mild Soap Is Different Alra All Vegetable Unscented Mild Soap was originally formulated for cancer patients—people with some of the most delicate, reactive skin. That legacy continues today with a formula that’s: ✅ Made from olive oil, coconut oil, and palm oil✅ Contains natural glycerin to retain moisture✅ Completely fragrance-free, preservative-free, and cruelty-free✅ Crafted with food-grade botanical oils Unlike other soaps that may dry or irritate your skin, Alra’s bar leaves it feeling clean but never tight, nourished but never greasy. 🧼 Bonus: It’s also suitable for babies, pregnant women, and post-laser or post-radiation skin. 5. Final Thoughts: Choose Smarter, Not Harsher The right soap doesn’t just clean—it protects your skin’s natural barrier. If your current cleanser leaves your skin red, dry, or uncomfortable, it may be time to switch. Alra All Vegetable Unscented Mild Soap is a trusted option for anyone seeking effective cleansing without compromise. Backed by hospital use and decades of sensitive-skin care, it’s more than just soap—it’s a commitment to safe, honest skincare. 🛒 Ready for a cleaner clean? Try Alra’s Unscented Mild Soap today and feel the difference that simple, clean ingredients can make.

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1 de diciembre de 2024

How to Choose a Soap to Wash Your Face

Confused about which soap is safe for your face? Learn how to choose the best facial cleanser for sensitive skin and why Alra All Vegetable Unscented Mild Soap is a trusted, fragrance-free option made with clean, plant-based ingredients.

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4 de enero de 2024

How to Make Soap: A Step-by-Step Guide

Soap making is an enjoyable and rewarding craft that allows you to create products that are both functional and artistic, with endless customization possibilities. Whether you want to make soap for personal use, as a thoughtful gift, or to start a small business, this guide will help you understand the basics and get started. To learn how to make soap, first, choose one method from four. The most popular 2 methods are "melt and pour" and cold working. Other methods are more advanced methods that have advantages, disadvantages, and variations. Melt and Pour: This simple process involves melting pre-made bars of soap and adding your fragrance. Cold Method: The cold method is the most common way to make soap from scratch using oil and lye. Hot Process: A variation of the cold process method, hot processing involves making the soap in a slow cooker or oven. Remixing: This method grinds and remixes batches of inferior homemade soap. Safety First Soap making involves handling lye (sodium hydroxide), a corrosive substance that can cause severe burns. Safety is paramount, so make sure: Wear protective gear: gloves, goggles, and long sleeves. Work in a well-ventilated area. Keep vinegar nearby to neutralize any spills. Never add water to the lye; always add lye to water to prevent a dangerous reaction. Basic Guide to Making Soap Soap is the result of a basic chemical reaction between fat or oil and lye. The process of achieving a chemical reaction is called saponification. By carefully choosing a combination of quality oils, adding your favorite fragrance or essential oil, and incorporating lively colorants, your handmade soap suddenly takes on a charming, rustic character. Ingredients and Materials Lye (sodium hydroxide): a key ingredient in soap making. Water: Distilled water is best. Oil/Fat: Such as olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, etc. Perfume/Essential Oil (optional): for fragrance. Coloring agent (optional): used to color soap. Safety equipment: gloves, goggles, long-sleeved clothes. Equipment: digital scale, thermometer, immersion blender, soap mold, stainless steel pot, plastic or silicone spatula. Steps to Making Soap Making soap using a melt-and-pour base is safe, easy, and convenient. The base has already gone through the saponification process, so there is no need to deal with lye. First, purchase pre-made, colorless, unscented soap "base" blocks from a craft store or soap supplier. Then melt the soap base in the microwave or double boiler. Once the soap is completely melted, you can add fragrances, colors, and additives. Pour the mixture into the mold and once the soap has hardened it is ready to use. Step 1: Prepare the Lye Solution: Measure water and lye separately using a digital scale. Slowly add lye to the water (never the reverse), stirring until dissolved. The solution will heat up and release fumes. Let it cool to about 100-110° Step 2: Prepare Oils/Fats: Measure and melt the oils/fats together, then cool to 100-110°F. Step 3: Mixing: Once both the lye solution and oils are at similar temperatures, slowly pour the lye solution into the oils. Use an immersion blender to mix until it reaches "trace" (when the mixture is thick enough to leave a mark when dripped on itself). Step 4: Additives: Add any fragrances, essential oils, or colorants at this stage. Step 5: Pour into Molds: Pour the mixture into soap molds. Tap the mold to release any air bubbles. Step 6: Curing: Cover the mold with plastic wrap and wrap it with towels for insulation. Unmold after 24-48 hours and cut into bars if needed. Cure the soap for 4-6 weeks before using, turning occasionally. Coloring Recommendation White and clear glycerin bases are very popular in soap making. For soap-making enthusiasts looking for a luxurious experience, try goat's milk, olive oil, or shea butter as a base. To make melting easier, cut the soap base into smaller pieces first. Melting Method Microwave melting method: Place the cut soap base into a microwave-safe bowl and stir every 30 seconds until it is completely melted into a smooth liquid. Double boiler method: Heat in a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly until it becomes a smooth liquid. Added Colorants, Flavors and Additives While the soap base has cooled to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, add your choice of colorants, fragrances, and other additives. Pour into Mold Pour the mixed soap solution into the mold and wait a day until the soap is completely hardened and dry. Then remove from the mold and your soap is finished. Key Soap-Making Tips The right timing for additives During the soap-making process, additives may sink to the bottom of the container due to the thinness of the melted soap base. To avoid this, it is recommended to allow the soap base to cool slightly before adding additives. This ensures that the additives are evenly distributed in the soap for better results. The importance of temperature control In soap making, controlling temperature is crucial. If the temperature of the soap base is too high, it can overheat or even burn, which can make the soap mixture thick and difficult to flow. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that the soap mixture is at the right temperature before pouring it into the mold to prevent the soap from becoming too dense or sticky, affecting the quality and appearance of the final product. By precisely controlling the timing of additive additions and the temperature of the soap mixture, the quality and aesthetics of the soap can be significantly improved. Recommended Additives Sandalwood powder or dried calendula petals: These additives are especially ideal when making melt-and-pour soaps. Not only do they add to the scent and beauty of the soap, but they also enhance the experience of using it. Caution in the Use of Herbs: Be careful when choosing herbs as additives. Herbs may cause color changes in the soap, affecting the appearance of the final product. It is recommended to test the effectiveness of herbs in soap beforehand. Other Additive Options: Consider using diverse additives such as exfoliants, fruit seeds, or milk powder to increase the functionality and appeal of your soap. The addition of these additives is an important step in making melt-and-pour soap, enriching the soap's properties and effects. Always be safe when working with any material, especially when working with hot soap bases. It’s equally important to have fun creating during the making process, which helps inspire innovative and personalized soap designs. Overall, choosing the right additives and mastering the right techniques can go a long way toward improving the quality and beauty of your homemade soap. Conclusion Soap making may seem cumbersome at first, and some people worry about coming into contact with lye, but once you get used to it, making soap becomes a fun and creative process. Not only do you get a product that perfectly suits your preferences, but you also get the satisfaction of making it yourself. So, gather your materials, follow the steps below, and start your soap making journey! Remember, the key to making great soap is practice and experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try different essential oils, scents, and color combinations. Happy soap making!

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Front view of Alra Non-Metallic Deodorant box with red branding

Desodorante no metálico Alra

$17.50

$17.50 ~~$17.50~~

Un desodorante seguro, natural y ligeramente fragante formulado para pieles irritadas o sensibles.

DESCRIPCIÓN

¿Le molesta el calor, el sudor y el olor corporal desagradable? El desodorante puede parecer una solución simple, pero cualquier desodorante disponible al azar puede no funcionar.

Quiere un desodorante que satisfaga sus necesidades: una fragancia suave, eficaz y duradera que se adapte a todas las ocasiones y lugares, como el lugar de trabajo, libre de ingredientes metálicos tóxicos y, lo más importante, un desodorante que calme la piel irritada.

Te oimos. Hemos formulado el desodorante Alra Non-Metallic solo para ti.

El desodorante Alra Non-Metallic se adapta a todo tipo de pieles, incluidas las irritadas o sensibles. Ofrece protección contra los olores y no contiene aluminio ni ingredientes metálicos. Por lo tanto, es muy adecuado para personas que se someten a radioterapia o padecen enfermedades de la piel. No contiene amoníaco, parabenos ni alcohol. El desodorante Alra No Metálico no deja ningún residuo en la piel.

Disfrutará de protección contra el olor y el sudor con este desodorante suave pero eficaz.

¿CÓMO USARLO?

El desodorante no metálico Alra está disponible en una práctica barra roll-on (2,5 onzas líquidas o 71 g) que cabe en su bolsa de viaje o escritorio de trabajo. Ahora se puede liberar una frescura duradera en cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar.

El desodorante no metálico Alra no tiene fragancias artificiales fuertes. Su suave fragancia amaderada natural lo convierte en uno de los mejores desodorantes unisex.

Aplicar según sea necesario. Úselo después de la ducha para obtener resultados duraderos.

INGREDIENTES

Ingredientes principales:

Extracto de liquen : el ingrediente activo del extracto de liquen es DeoUsnate, que es un bactericida y fungicida suave y natural. Reduce el crecimiento de microbios que causan olores. Utilizamos extracto de liquen alpino de alta calidad en nuestros productos para que usted permanezca libre de olores.
Aceite de ciprés : es un poderoso botánico que tiene propiedades astringentes y estrechadoras de los capilares para controlar la sudoración. Los taninos del aceite de Ciprés aportan un aroma fresco, fragante, natural y agradable.
Gel de aloe vera : el gel de aloe tiene un efecto refrescante. Cura la piel enrojecida afectada por quemaduras solares. Calma la piel inflamada o irritada y además la hidrata.
Extracto de hoja de salvia : el ingrediente activo de Salvia officinalis tiene efectos antimicrobianos, antiinflamatorios y antifúngicos.
Extracto de Harungana Madagascariensis : este extracto botánico es rico en varios taninos, saponinas, flavonoides y alcaloides, lo que lo convierte en un excelente agente antimicrobiano.
Extracto de fruta de Terminalia Ferdinandiana : es un poderoso extracto botánico de la ciruela Kakadu, que tiene propiedades antioxidantes y anticancerígenas.
Extracto de semilla de Avena Sativa : La Avena Sativa o la semilla de avena es un buen absorbente y su extracto tiene propiedades antiinflamatorias, nutritivas e hidratantes.

Otros ingredientes: propilenglicol; Agua; Estearato de sodio. Se trata de agentes hidratantes, estabilizadores, emulsionantes y espesantes que ayudan en la elaboración de desodorantes en barra.

El desodorante no metálico Alra no contiene conservantes nocivos.

Libre de crueldad significa que fue probado en humanos, no en animales.

TESTIMONIOS

"Aunque ya no recibo radiación (lo hice hace dos años), me gusta tanto el desodorante que nunca dejé de usarlo". -AS, Míchigan

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Alra 3 Pack Non-Metallic Deodorant

$49.90

$49.90 ~~$49.90~~

Alra Non-Metallic Deodorant doesn’t stop sweat—it stops odor at the source. Unlike antiperspirants, this aluminum-free, fragrance-free formula uses lichen extract, a natural antibacterial agent, to gently control odor-causing bacteria without clogging pores. Perfect for sensitive skin, cancer patients, or anyone seeking a non-toxic daily deodorant.

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