Over 70% of the population identifies as having “sensitive skin.” According to soap-free pioneers, the culprit is soap. It may seem counterintuitive, but consensus is building that soap is the root cause of our population’s skin problems. From dryness, irritation, and sensitivity to more extreme conditions like psoriasis and eczema, experts and consumers alike are recognizing the need for soap alternatives.
The beauty industry has been ahead of this trend. For the last decade or so, the development of non-foaming facial cleansers and innovation in non-stripping cream cleansing for hair, by indie brands such as Hairstory, have been gaining momentum.
Now, the personal-care industry is catching up, with the introduction of the first non-foaming oil-based cleansers for hands and body.
Eli and Erica Halliwell are beauty industry veterans who discovered the benefits of foam-free cleansing in their founder roles at Hairstory and have since developed Sans Savon, a cleansing range utilizing micellar technology. It is a world-first that cleans just as effectively as soap without any of the downsides caused by soap.
Eli and Erica are not alone on their quest.
Physician and author Dr. James Hamblin famously shunned soap in his book “Clean,” and with increasing consumer curiosity as well as demand for better solutions, Dr. Hamblin was recently profiled on CNN’s Chasing Life podcast. The Atlantic explored the limitations of soap for achieving cleanliness, while TIME magazine highlighted how dermatologists are largely not in favor of soap for optimum skin health. Instead, they all recommend non-stripping “cleansers,” like those offered by Sans Savon.
The Problem with Soap
It’s too harsh. Soap weakens the skin’s ability to perform its primary function, to create a protective barrier between the inside of our bodies and potential environmental damage from the outside world. Because soap strips away our protective lipid barrier, it requires our skin to work overtime to replace this incredibly important physical shield.
It strips the microbiome. When soap removes the symbiotic microorganisms that comprise our microbiome, it exposes skin to invasive bacteria that crowd out those that we need to stay healthy.
It has the wrong pH. Finally, soap is too alkaline (pH of 9-10) for our somewhat acidic skin (natural pH of 4.5 to 5.5). Because it is alkaline and raises the pH of our skin, soap erodes the lipids that make up the very structure of our skin.
Can We Really Get Clean Without Soap?
Contrary to popular belief, soap is not needed to get clean. This revelation allowed Eli and Erica to develop Sans Savon. Born from the belief that we can clean our skin while keeping our body’s natural protective barrier and microbiome intact, the micellar-based formulas effectively lift away dirt, sweat, and germs, leaving skin healthy, balanced, and protected.
Fermented oils, esters, and fatty alcohols replace traditional soap to gently, yet thoroughly cleanse skin. Naturally derived antibacterial molecules target specific body-odor-causing bacteria and dangerous germs, without disrupting the bacteria our body needs to stay healthy. Meanwhile, prebiotics feed our skin’s microbiome, which helps defend against invasive bacteria that can enter when the skin’s microbiome is stripped away.
The Universal Benefits of Going Foam-Free
Around 70% of the population believes they have sensitive skin. As searches for “microbiome-supporting products” and “skin-barrier friendly” dominate Google, it’s worth taking a closer look at what it actually feels like to use the unique formulas Eli and Erica developed.
According to Erica, the experience of using such cleansers is unique.
“We want our dishes to be squeaky clean, not our skin. Using Sans Savon products is completely unlike using soap. There is no foam, suds or lather whatsoever. You wet the skin, as you would with soap, and apply the cleanser to any part of your body that you want to get clean. As with soap, you rinse away but you’ll notice the difference immediately. The products leave skin feeling clean, soft and moisturized,” explains Erica.
She also points out that moisturizing lotions can likewise be retired since the skin barrier need not be repaired.
Although necessary for skin health, switching from soap to Sans Savon can also be an indulgent experience. According to early adopters, the first detail you’ll notice is the uplifting Charlevoix Boreal Blend scent — crisp and natural, beautifully formulated via a medley of balsam fir, white spruce, and black spruce essential oils. Delighted shoppers describe the aroma as “incredible.”
Currently, soap-free cleansing products are available from Sans Savon, Credo, and Amazon, including a hand wash ($41), a body wash ($49), and a body bar ($25), as well as a best-selling starter kit ($90) (an introduction to this new way of cleansing with a 30% discount and a free body brush and body bar).
