(no subject)
Hello livejournal and dreamwidth! I haven't forgotten you, I've just been drowning in RL stuff. And maybe crying giant tears of sorrow and sometimes rage over US politics.
The other day I was meeting a friend at Schlotzsky's and went to the restroom to wash my hands while I was waiting. This lady came out of the stall and said "EVERYONE is washing their hands these days" in that borderline snide tone people use when they think someone's being ridiculous, and I had that inner recoil "do you...usually not?" I think it was partly because I had my own soap, but ma'am, you were about to wash your hands with liquid detergent, I was using homemade goatmilk soap with turmeric and orange essential oil, who do you think is going to have happier hands? I have manners, so I didn't say that out loud, but still.
Anyway, this is probably a good time to point out that most commercial soap-both solid and liquid-is effectively detergent treated to be safe for your hands. Obviously it does the job and it isn't inherently bad, but with everyone washing their hands more, if you notice your hands getting dry or chapped or itchy or just anything out of the ordinary, it's because your skin is reacting to the increase of detergent being used on it, and you might need to change to homemade/artisan soap. While commercial soap is mostly detergent, with varying amounts of actual soap mixed in (some with barely any) actual soap is saponified lye, oils, butters and fats. This is why homemade and artisan soap bars don't last as long as the commercial ones-instead of a hard brick of detergent that scrapes things that don't need to be there off your skin, it rinses off the stuff that doesn't need to be there are leaves behind traces of oils and butters to repair and nourish your skin. If your skin starts reacting to the increased soap, you should probably switched to homemade or artisan soap.
If you can't afford it or find it where you live (San Angelo has several options though, which is good) then Dove is better than the others, probably. Dove is closer to actual soap than most of the rest, which is why people who say "my skin is too sensitive for anything but Dove" actually mean (without realizing it) "my skin can handle Dove better than other bars because Dove is closer to being actual soap." Some homemade soaps will add small amounts of detergent to get the thin, bubbly lather people think soap should have, but in much smaller amounts than most of the soap you get off the shelves.
This is probably a good time to also mention I won't be making it to WisCon this year. This was most likely going to be the case even before the Covid-19 outbreak due to various things (pregnant coworker, our moving the shop to a new location over the next couple months and my having moved and bought a house and readjusting finances.) I hope everyone who goes has a great time (assuming it still happens0 and has safe travels. Along with all other travelling.
The other day I was meeting a friend at Schlotzsky's and went to the restroom to wash my hands while I was waiting. This lady came out of the stall and said "EVERYONE is washing their hands these days" in that borderline snide tone people use when they think someone's being ridiculous, and I had that inner recoil "do you...usually not?" I think it was partly because I had my own soap, but ma'am, you were about to wash your hands with liquid detergent, I was using homemade goatmilk soap with turmeric and orange essential oil, who do you think is going to have happier hands? I have manners, so I didn't say that out loud, but still.
Anyway, this is probably a good time to point out that most commercial soap-both solid and liquid-is effectively detergent treated to be safe for your hands. Obviously it does the job and it isn't inherently bad, but with everyone washing their hands more, if you notice your hands getting dry or chapped or itchy or just anything out of the ordinary, it's because your skin is reacting to the increase of detergent being used on it, and you might need to change to homemade/artisan soap. While commercial soap is mostly detergent, with varying amounts of actual soap mixed in (some with barely any) actual soap is saponified lye, oils, butters and fats. This is why homemade and artisan soap bars don't last as long as the commercial ones-instead of a hard brick of detergent that scrapes things that don't need to be there off your skin, it rinses off the stuff that doesn't need to be there are leaves behind traces of oils and butters to repair and nourish your skin. If your skin starts reacting to the increased soap, you should probably switched to homemade or artisan soap.
If you can't afford it or find it where you live (San Angelo has several options though, which is good) then Dove is better than the others, probably. Dove is closer to actual soap than most of the rest, which is why people who say "my skin is too sensitive for anything but Dove" actually mean (without realizing it) "my skin can handle Dove better than other bars because Dove is closer to being actual soap." Some homemade soaps will add small amounts of detergent to get the thin, bubbly lather people think soap should have, but in much smaller amounts than most of the soap you get off the shelves.
This is probably a good time to also mention I won't be making it to WisCon this year. This was most likely going to be the case even before the Covid-19 outbreak due to various things (pregnant coworker, our moving the shop to a new location over the next couple months and my having moved and bought a house and readjusting finances.) I hope everyone who goes has a great time (assuming it still happens0 and has safe travels. Along with all other travelling.