What Is Castile Soap?

Castile soap is a vegetable-based soap that is free of chemicals, other synthetic ingredients, and animal products. It can be used to wash your skin, hair, clothes, and more. As it is hypoallergenic, it may be an ideal option for people with sensitivity to harsh soaps and cleansers.

Castile soap originated from the Mediterranean region around Castile, Spain in the 12th century. It was originally made from pure olive oil. Today it is made with a variety of plant-based oils, including hemp, coconut, avocado, and almond oil.

You can get Castile soap in bar and liquid form. Some products are scented with essential oils, and all are non-toxic and biodegradable (making them environmentally friendly).

This article describes the various applications, benefits, and risks of Castile soap when used for personal care, household cleaning, or the treatment of certain medical concerns.

Uses of Castile Soap

There are many different applications for Castile soap, from washing your skin and hair to cleaning your clothes, dishes, and surfaces. It can even be used on pets.

Shampoo

Shampoos found in stores contain a surfactant, most often sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, that traps oils and contaminants and remove them from your hair. It also serves as the foaming agents in shampoo. As effective as these ingredients are, they can sometimes leave your hair feeling dry and brittle.

Castile soap lathers easily. And because of the fat content in the oil it is made from, it may leave your hair feeling smoother and more conditioned than some chemical-based shampoos.

Face, Hand, and Body Soap

One of the problems with many bar soaps is that they are drying and can undermine the barrier function of the skin. They do so by stripping the natural oils (sebum) that protects the skin from microorganisms, toxins, and sun exposure.

Castile soap is milder than many bar soaps. It can clean the skin while replacing some of the lost sebum with vegetable oil.

Castile soap may also be an option if you have acne given that the oils these products contain have antibacterial properties.

Makeup Remover

Traditional makeup removers rely on a combination of solvents to remove makeup. They can either be water-based or oil-based (often with silicone oil as the main ingredient).

Castile soap may be an appealing alternative. You can add a drop or two to some tap water and use a cotton ball to remove foundation and eye or lip makeup. Depending on formula, it is much less astringent than traditional makeup removers so it should not cause skin irritation or dryness.

Shaving

Vegetable oils can be beneficial to the skin, although those that contain high concentrations of oleic acid can cause skin inflammation.

As shaving can cause local skin inflammation, you need to select Castile soaps with lower concentrations of oleic acid. These include options made with coconut oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, or sunflower oil.

Check the product label if you intend to use it for shaving or already have an inflammatory skin condition like eczema or psoriasis.

If you decide to use Castile oil for shaving, simply lather up some in plenty of water and apply the foam directly to the skin. The natural oil content can help lubricate the skin during shaving.

Deodorant

Rather than stopping sweat like antiperspirants, deodorants work on odor-causing bacteria on the skin with antibacterial ingredients such as triclosan and chlorhexidine. These ingredients have come under scrutiny in recent years due to concerns about their long-term safety.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regular soap is just as effective in killing common bacteria as soaps with triclosan or chlorhexidine.

Castile soap offers a good alternative to commercial deodorants in that it is not only natural but contains ingredients like hemp oil or almond oil, which have potent antibacterial properties.

Wound Cleaning

Castile soap has been studied extensively for its potential benefits in wound cleaning. It is sometimes used to irrigate wounds caused by a compound bone fracture, often in combination with a saline solution and an ammonium-based compound called benzalkonium chloride.

After wound closure and the application of topical antibiotics, this irrigation method was shown to shorten hospitalization stays and speed wound healing compared to people given normal saline and a dressing with betadine solution.

Fecal Impaction

Fecal impaction is when hardened stools collect in the lower intestine (colon) and become difficult to pass. An enema and stool softener are often used to help ease stool from the rectum without injury.

A 2016 study from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found that a soap suds enema made from diluted Castile soap was not only effective but safe in children with fecal impaction.

Do not try this without first consulting with your healthcare provider.

Household Cleaning

In addition to being part of your personal care routine, a bottle of Castile soap can also be handy for cleaning around your home.

Castile soap can be used as:

• Dishwashing soap
• Laundry detergent
• All-purpose cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner
• Floor cleaner
• Window cleaner
• Produce wash
• Pet wash
  

Benefits of Castile Soap

Here are just a few of the potential benefits of Castile soap:

• Versatility: There are many ways to use Castile soap around your home and on your body.
• Low cost: Compared to other beauty and cleaning products, a bottle of Castile soap is affordable and cost-effective. You can get a good-size bottle for under $10.
• Animal-free: Many people who live a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle prefer not to use any products with ingredients that come from animal sources. Pure Castile soap is vegan.
• Hypoallergenic: Pure Castile soap is hypoallergenic, which means it's less likely to cause allergic reactions than other types of soap. Just be sure to check that you are not allergic to added ingredients such as fragrances or essential oils.
• Pet-safe: Some cleaning products are harmful to pets, but pure Castile soap is non-toxic and safe to use on surfaces where pets walk. With that said, added essential oils can irritate a pet's skin, so read the product label.
• Environmentally friendly: Pure Castile soap has a very small impact on the environment since it doesn't contain additives, preservatives, artificial coloring, or other chemicals commonly found in other soaps.

Risks and Considerations

Although Castile soap is an effective, all-around soap and cleaning agent, it is not without its shortcomings. However you decide to use it, you need to use it correctly.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Soap residue: Castile soap can leave a residue on shiny or hard surfaces, especially when it's used with hard water.
• Incompatible with acids: Since Castile soap is alkaline, you shouldn't mix it with acidic substances like lemon juice or vinegar. This can neutralize its effects.
• Needs dilution: If you don't dilute Castile soap with water, it can be very concentrated. This can make it hard on surfaces and the skin.
• Not for color-treated hair: If you have dyed hair, Castile soap can strip some of the color from your hair due to its alkaline properties.
• May harm household plants: While some natural cleansers are safe for plants, the alkaline properties of Castile soap make it unfriendly to plants.
• Expiration: Castile soap can last a long time, but it won't keep forever. If you have a bottle stored in your cabinet, keep an eye on the expiration date.
  

Summary

Castile soap is a safe, plant-based cleaner you can use around your house and as part of your personal care routine. With that said, it needs to be used correctly, adhering to the manufacturer's instructions, to ensure it is appropriately diluted and/or applied.