AUTHOR: WILD FORGE
When you go to the store or jump online to do some quick personal care shopping, you’re going to find a dozen and one items labeled “soap.” It’s all over the place and hard to miss. You’re going to find it in both liquid and bar form, and sometimes you can even find it in a powder. But here's where things get tricky: not all products labeled as "soap" are actually soap. A lot of what’s out there is actually a product called “syndet,” a term that might sound a bit alien in typical sudsy landscapes. Soap (real soap) and syndet are very different products, though they serve the same purpose: getting you clean. But it’s worth knowing and understanding the difference. That way, when it’s time to restock the scrubby stuff, you're informed on how to best see to your personal care needs.
What is syndet?
Syndet is a whole bunch of cosmetic chemistry done up in a solid cleansing bar. The word syndet actually comes from mashing "synthetic” and “detergent” together. Why? Simply because that’s what it is. Syndet is cobbled together from a bunch of synthetic and sometimes naturally-derived ingredients. Its composition includes surfactants, emollients, and humectants. Preservatives, pH adjusters, and fragrance are also important to the creation of syndet. Some companies even add botanical extracts. But the star player in syndet? It’s the surfactants, and they're what are responsible for breaking down all the gunk on your skin and getting rid of the dirt.
Syndet isn't without its benefits. With access to a variety of surfactants and ingredients, companies can create some pretty mild bars, although this doesn't mean all syndet on the store shelf falls into this category. But a gentle bar of syndet is often a good option for sensitive or impaired skin. Syndet is also at times made fragrance-free. This may be due to the absence of fragrance, or deodorizing chemicals may be added to cut down on the scent of the ingredients used to make the bars.
All in all, there’s a lot that goes into a syndet bar, and just like soap, it’s important to note that not all syndet products are created equal. Specific combinations of synthetic components can vary between different brands and formulations. Some may focus on certain qualities, such as enhanced moisturization, while others might focus on cleansing power. As with any skincare product, understanding the ingredients is key to choosing what meets your skin's needs and the cleansing experience waiting for you.
Fun fact? The first syndet bar, Dove, hit the market in 1955.
What is soap?
Unlike syndet, real soap has a history that spans centuries and is made from natural fats and oils that an alkaline substance (lye) gets added to. The reaction of lye with these fats results in saponification, and this is what transforms these ingredients into soap.
You might hear "lye" and worry. Lye is dangerous, isn't it? Well, yes, it can be. But that's the soap makers' problem, not yours. You don’t need to worry about lye because it all gets eaten up during saponification with none left behind in the final product. But we don’t get soap without lye. It’s a necessary ingredient in the soap-making process, and it’s this marriage of fat and alkali that gives soap the power to break down oils, grime, and dirt when combined with water. The outcome is a cleansing experience that has stood the test of time.
Soap offers an array of options, from solid bars to liquid forms. But it's a good ol' bar of soap made from natural ingredients (like coconut and olive oil) that has been a beloved choice for generations.
Which should you use to get clean?
There are studies out there discussing the merits of soap and syndet and how they compare to each other. There are a zillion and one opinions out there on which is better and why. But reality proves to be far more complex. Some men simply prefer one over the other. Sometimes men find that one product serves their skin’s personal needs better. As frustrating as trial and error is, a bit is required to figure out what works best for you. But no matter what you end up choosing, you absolutely deserve to understand what it is you’re actually using to cleanse. This can be difficult when, according to the FDA, even syndet can be labeled as soap.
We’re not here to tell you what you should use to cleanse the day away. Obviously, we love some good, old-fashioned soap, but we recognize that everyone’s skin needs can vary. What’s important at the end of the day is that you get clean in a way that best serves you because hygiene is important.
So, as you’re figuring out what those needs are, here are some things to keep in mind:
Syndet
- Syndet is made from synthetic materials, and occasionally some of nature-derived stuff may be thrown in. But let's be clear, there's no such thing as a 100% natural syndet bar.
- The gentleness of a syndet bar depends on the surfactants it's packing.
- Remember, syndet isn’t soap. They're two different beasts.
Soap
- Soap can be all-natural or have a mix of natural and synthetic ingredients, but the cleansing power comes from the saponification of natural fats and oils.
- Much like syndet with its surfactants, how mild a bar of soap ends up depends on the fats and oils saponified to make it.
- Some folks are concerned about the lye used to make soap, but there’s really nothing to worry about here. There’s no lye left once the soap-making process is done.
That’s the short of it.
Whole dissertations could be written about soap and syndet, but you likely don’t have time for that, so we’ve kept this short and tried to hit the highlights. At the end of the day, you need to get yourself clean, and only you can decide what’s best going to serve that need. But as we said before, you deserve to understand what exactly you’re looking at on store shelves (or the internet) before deciding to go ahead and make a purchase. Ultimately, you want to choose whatever fits your lifestyle as well as your ingredient philosophy and your skin’s needs.
And if you like real soap? Well, you’re in the right place.