I never really thought all that much about my skin in my teens or even in my twenties. But that was before I had twins and my entire body changed. Suddenly, my skin was so sensitive that it seemed like I was allergic to everything. Doctor after doctor advised me to change out my lotions, soaps and shampoos. And I followed their advice, even down to my laundry detergent – opting for the doctor-approved brands for those who have sensitive skin.
In the end, after a lengthy trial and error period, I was able to figure out that even the hypoallergenic detergents were causing skin inflammation and an allergic response. Fed up and not knowing where to turn, a friend of mine, known for her dabbling in all-natural alternatives, suggested using soap nuts to replace my detergent. Much like you are likely wondering as you read this now, I had no idea what they even were or how they could help.
What Are Soap Nuts?
Soap nuts are derived from a tree that grows naturally in India and in other parts of the world that’s commonly referred to as the soap berry tree. That’s because this tree grows berries that contain a natural soaping agent called saponin. This saponin has been used for thousands of years as a natural cleaning agent. The berries are harvested from the tree and dried, resembling brown nuts upon curing – hence the classic name of soap nuts.
Free From Sulphates
As a super allergic person, my skin loathes common, cheap fillers and agents that includes parabens, preservatives, fragrances and a key nemesis, sulphates. But I had no idea this was the case until my red skin finally waned on me when I eradicated these from my regiment. The good news for me is that soap nuts are free of all these – it just contains the one natural cleaning agent, which, lucky for me, does not wreak havoc on my skin in the aftermath. Hardly what you will find when you read the label on a standard bottle of laundry detergent these days.
Hypoallergenic
Naturally, these berries are hypoallergenic, and to be honest are the only things that do not cause an allergic reaction in my skin anymore after doing my laundry. Now everyone has different skin, I can assure you that. But what I can also tell you is that my skin is the most finicky of the bunch. I was thrilled to find out that my red patches of angry skin would not flare up at me when I wore clothing washed from a natural source instead. And that, to me, is a life saver.
What I Look For
Using soap nuts is simple – you can either use the liquid version or the nuts. When using the nuts, you place a few in a wash bag and toss it in with your laundry load. I find that about five to seven nuts lasts me about five loads. When buying them, I can offer this advice: go organic, buy deseeded nuts to get the best value, and opt for a reputable domestic supplier.
Cheers to turning the Tide on your skin!