Surfactant Confusion: Soap vs. Detergent

Detergent is common in our everyday lives, from the laundry room where we wash our clothes, to the shower where we wash ourselves. Believe it or not, most soap is actually a detergent. While  laboratories manufacture detergents from petrochemicals derived from plants and animals, many small soap companies hand make their soap with fine, natural ingredients, often the actual plants or oils, not chemically created synthetics. With the onset of a global market, the line between soap and detergent is being blurred by the major chemical companies that produce the majority of these products. Because detergents are cheaper to produce, these companies will typically use the same detergent base when producing their "soap". Because these detergents are being marketed as soap for human skin, and because they are reaching a global audience, there is an increase in the percentage of people experiencing allergic reactions to the artificially derived chemical compounds, and or fragrances, contained in "soap". The solution? Handmade, natural soap. A quick Google search lists so many companies to choose from, and so many luxurious natural soaps on the market, all you have to do is find the product that suits you!