7 Harmful Soap Ingredients to Avoid (and What to Use Instead)

Not all soaps are created equal. Discover the top 7 harmful ingredients found in soaps and body washes — from sulfates to synthetic fragrance — and learn why organic tallow and olive oil make the best choice for sensitive skin.

Most people don’t think twice about the soap they use every day — but many commercial soaps and washes are packed with ingredients that can irritate, dry out, or even harm your skin over time. Choosing a truly clean soap means knowing what not to put on your body. Here are seven of the most common ingredients to avoid, along with better alternatives.

1. Synthetic Fragrances and Dyes

If you see “fragrance” or “parfum” on a label, it can be hiding hundreds of undisclosed chemicals, often including phthalates that disrupt hormones. Artificial dyes are usually petroleum-derived and can irritate sensitive skin. A safer choice? Look for products scented with essential oils and colored naturally with clays, herbs, or mineral pigments.

2. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

These foaming agents create a bubbly lather but strip your skin of its natural oils in the process. The result: dryness, itching, and irritation. Soaps made with saponified oils, such as olive or coconut, cleanse without the damage.

3. Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Often advertised as “gentle,” this ingredient is a common culprit behind skin irritation. It can also contain contaminants like nitrosamines that worsen its effects. Castile soap or blends of natural saponified oils are far safer for delicate skin.

4. Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben, etc.)

Parabens are synthetic preservatives used to extend shelf life. Unfortunately, they’re also endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with hormone balance. While many companies have begun phasing them out, they still appear on plenty of labels. Natural preservatives such as vitamin E or rosemary extract are better options.

5. Phenoxyethanol

This preservative is often used in “clean” or “natural” products, but it isn’t risk-free. Phenoxyethanol can cause skin irritation and has been shown to absorb into the bloodstream. Safer preservative systems include lactobacillus ferment or willow bark extract.

6. Ethoxylated Compounds (PEGs, Polysorbates, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate)

These ingredients help soaps and washes create a creamy texture but can carry contaminants like 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, both linked to cancer. Look instead for glucoside-based surfactants or simple soaps made with pure oils.

7. Glitter/Mica

While shimmering soaps may look fun, mica and glitter offer no benefits for skin health. Glitter is usually made from microplastics that pollute waterways, and mica often raises serious ethical concerns related to mining practices. Naturally colored clays — like rose clay or French green clay — give soap beautiful hues without harming the planet.

Why Organic Tallow and Olive Oil Make the Best Soap for Sensitive Skin

When it comes to a gentle soap for sensitive skin, ingredients like organic grass-fed tallow and organic cold-pressed olive oil make a powerful duo. Before modern factories and chemical soaps existed, people made soap at home using natural fats like tallow. Tallow was the go-to ingredient because it cleansed the skin gently, and was rich in fatty acids and vitamins. We added Olive oil to our soap because it complements the tallow with antioxidants and oleic acid, creating a creamy lather that soothes irritation. Together, they make a bar of soap that’s long-lasting, moisturizing, and exceptionally kind to sensitive skin — proof that the simplest ingredients are often the most effective. Basically, it’s what people used for hundreds of years to keep skin healthy—long before anything labeled “synthetic” or “fragrance-free” even existed. That is what simply makes it the best soap for your skin!