Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDescriptionUsesBenefitsRisks and Considerations
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Description
Uses
Benefits
Risks and Considerations
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. It is also hypoallergenic, making it an ideal option for people with sensitivity to harsh soaps and cleansers.One of the most well-known brands of Castile soap is Dr. Bronner’s.
While it offers benefits, Castile soap also can present some drawbacks when used for personal care, household cleaning, or the treatment of certain medical concerns.
Jena Ardell / Getty Images
Description and What to Look For
Castile soap originated from the Mediterranean region around Castile, Spain during the 12th century. It was originally made from pure olive oil. Today, it is made with a variety of plant-based oils, includinghemp,coconut, avocado, andalmond oil.While Dr. Bronner’s is probably the most popular brand of castile soap, there are several others (including Kiss My Face and Kirk’s) available in bar and liquid form. Some products are scented withessential oils, and all are non-toxic and biodegradable (making them environmentally friendly).
Choose a soap that meets your preferences in terms of scent, form, (bar or liquid), and packaging.
Check for certifications such as USDA Organic, Fair Trade, or Cruelty-Free if desired.
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.
Shampoo
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.
In contrast, many shampoos on the market contain asurfactant, most often sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, that traps oils and contaminants and removes them from your hair. It also serves as the foaming agent in shampoo. As effective as these ingredients are, they can sometimes leave your hair feeling dry and brittle.
Face, Hand, and Body Soap
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 is safe to use around the genitals, but you may want to choose a mild or unscented formula. Always dilute liquid formulations as instructed.
Castile soap may also be an option if you haveacne, as 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 the formula, castile soap is much lessastringentthan 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 ofoleic acidcan causeskin inflammation.
As shaving can cause local skin inflammation, select castile soaps with lower concentrations of oleic acid. These include options made withcoconut 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 likeeczemaorpsoriasis.
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.
Deodorant
Rather than stopping sweat like antiperspirants, many chemicaldeodorantswork on odor-causing bacteria on the skin with antibacterial ingredients such astriclosanandchlorhexidine. 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 properties that kill odor-causing bacteria.
Wound Cleaning
After wound closure and the application of topical antibiotics, this irrigation method was shown to shorten hospitalization stays and speed wound healing when compared to the use of normal saline and a dressing with betadine solution.
Fecal Impaction
Fecal impactionoccurs when hardened stools collect in the lower intestine (colon) and become difficult to pass. An enema andstool softenerare 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.
However, it is important to consult with your healthcare provider before trying this.
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 in numerous ways:
To ensure optimal results, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the product label.
Benefits of Castile Soap
Here are just a few of the potential benefits of castile soap:
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:
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.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eczema Foundation.Unscented Liquid Castile Soap.Falleh H, Ben Jemaa M, Saada M, Ksouri R.Essential oils: A promising eco-friendly food preservative.Food Chem. 2020;330:127268. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127268Dr. Bronner’s ALL-ONE.Using Dr. Bronner’s as a shampoo for dogs, cats, and more!Gavazzoni Dias MFR.Pro and Contra of Cleansing Conditioners.Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(3):131-134. doi:10.1159/000493588Lemery E, Briançon S, Chevalier Y, et al.Surfactants have multi-fold effects on skin barrier function.Eur J Dermatol. 2015;25(5):424-35. doi:10.1684/ejd.2015.2587Xuan TD, Gangquiang G, Minh TN, Quy TN, Khanh TD.An overview of chemical profiles, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of commercial vegetable edible oils marketed in Japan.Foods.2018 Feb;7(2):21. doi:10.3390/foods7020021Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070Poljsak N, Glava NK.Vegetable butters and oils as therapeutically and cosmetically active ingredients for dermal use: a review of clinical studies.Front Pharmacol.2022;13:868461. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.868461U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safety and effectiveness of consumer antiseptics: Topical antimicrobial drug products for over-the-counter human use.Karas JA, Wong LJM, Paulin OKA.The antimicrobial activity of cannabinoids.Antibiotics (Basel).2020 Jul;9(7):406. doi:10.3390/antibiotics9070406Machado JF, Costa MDS, Tintino SR. et al.Antibiotic activity potentiation and physicochemical characterization of the fixedOrbignya speciosaalmond oil against MDRStaphylococcus aureusand other bacteria.Antibiotics (Basel).2019 Mar;8(1):28. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8010028Mahajan K, Verma V, Singh GK, Kumar S, Avasthi S.A randomized controlled study to compare conventional and evidence based treatment protocols in fresh compound fractures.J Clin Diagn Res.2016 Sep;10(9):RC01–RC05. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/19234.8405Serrano Falcón B, Barceló López M, Mateos Muñoz B, Álvarez Sánchez A, Rey E.Fecal impaction: a systematic review of its medical complications.BMC Geriatr. 2016;16:4. doi:10.1186/s12877-015-0162-5Chumpitazi CE, Henkel EB, Valdez KL, Chumpitazi BP.Soap suds enema are efficacious and safe for treating fecal impaction in children with abdominal pain.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.2016 Jul;63(1):15–8. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000001073VCA Animal Hospitals.Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Dogs.Clemson University Cooperative Extension.Insecticidal Soaps For Garden Pest Control.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eczema Foundation.Unscented Liquid Castile Soap.Falleh H, Ben Jemaa M, Saada M, Ksouri R.Essential oils: A promising eco-friendly food preservative.Food Chem. 2020;330:127268. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127268Dr. Bronner’s ALL-ONE.Using Dr. Bronner’s as a shampoo for dogs, cats, and more!Gavazzoni Dias MFR.Pro and Contra of Cleansing Conditioners.Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(3):131-134. doi:10.1159/000493588Lemery E, Briançon S, Chevalier Y, et al.Surfactants have multi-fold effects on skin barrier function.Eur J Dermatol. 2015;25(5):424-35. doi:10.1684/ejd.2015.2587Xuan TD, Gangquiang G, Minh TN, Quy TN, Khanh TD.An overview of chemical profiles, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of commercial vegetable edible oils marketed in Japan.Foods.2018 Feb;7(2):21. doi:10.3390/foods7020021Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070Poljsak N, Glava NK.Vegetable butters and oils as therapeutically and cosmetically active ingredients for dermal use: a review of clinical studies.Front Pharmacol.2022;13:868461. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.868461U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safety and effectiveness of consumer antiseptics: Topical antimicrobial drug products for over-the-counter human use.Karas JA, Wong LJM, Paulin OKA.The antimicrobial activity of cannabinoids.Antibiotics (Basel).2020 Jul;9(7):406. doi:10.3390/antibiotics9070406Machado JF, Costa MDS, Tintino SR. et al.Antibiotic activity potentiation and physicochemical characterization of the fixedOrbignya speciosaalmond oil against MDRStaphylococcus aureusand other bacteria.Antibiotics (Basel).2019 Mar;8(1):28. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8010028Mahajan K, Verma V, Singh GK, Kumar S, Avasthi S.A randomized controlled study to compare conventional and evidence based treatment protocols in fresh compound fractures.J Clin Diagn Res.2016 Sep;10(9):RC01–RC05. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/19234.8405Serrano Falcón B, Barceló López M, Mateos Muñoz B, Álvarez Sánchez A, Rey E.Fecal impaction: a systematic review of its medical complications.BMC Geriatr. 2016;16:4. doi:10.1186/s12877-015-0162-5Chumpitazi CE, Henkel EB, Valdez KL, Chumpitazi BP.Soap suds enema are efficacious and safe for treating fecal impaction in children with abdominal pain.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.2016 Jul;63(1):15–8. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000001073VCA Animal Hospitals.Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Dogs.Clemson University Cooperative Extension.Insecticidal Soaps For Garden Pest Control.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eczema Foundation.Unscented Liquid Castile Soap.Falleh H, Ben Jemaa M, Saada M, Ksouri R.Essential oils: A promising eco-friendly food preservative.Food Chem. 2020;330:127268. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127268Dr. Bronner’s ALL-ONE.Using Dr. Bronner’s as a shampoo for dogs, cats, and more!Gavazzoni Dias MFR.Pro and Contra of Cleansing Conditioners.Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(3):131-134. doi:10.1159/000493588Lemery E, Briançon S, Chevalier Y, et al.Surfactants have multi-fold effects on skin barrier function.Eur J Dermatol. 2015;25(5):424-35. doi:10.1684/ejd.2015.2587Xuan TD, Gangquiang G, Minh TN, Quy TN, Khanh TD.An overview of chemical profiles, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of commercial vegetable edible oils marketed in Japan.Foods.2018 Feb;7(2):21. doi:10.3390/foods7020021Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070Poljsak N, Glava NK.Vegetable butters and oils as therapeutically and cosmetically active ingredients for dermal use: a review of clinical studies.Front Pharmacol.2022;13:868461. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.868461U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safety and effectiveness of consumer antiseptics: Topical antimicrobial drug products for over-the-counter human use.Karas JA, Wong LJM, Paulin OKA.The antimicrobial activity of cannabinoids.Antibiotics (Basel).2020 Jul;9(7):406. doi:10.3390/antibiotics9070406Machado JF, Costa MDS, Tintino SR. et al.Antibiotic activity potentiation and physicochemical characterization of the fixedOrbignya speciosaalmond oil against MDRStaphylococcus aureusand other bacteria.Antibiotics (Basel).2019 Mar;8(1):28. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8010028Mahajan K, Verma V, Singh GK, Kumar S, Avasthi S.A randomized controlled study to compare conventional and evidence based treatment protocols in fresh compound fractures.J Clin Diagn Res.2016 Sep;10(9):RC01–RC05. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/19234.8405Serrano Falcón B, Barceló López M, Mateos Muñoz B, Álvarez Sánchez A, Rey E.Fecal impaction: a systematic review of its medical complications.BMC Geriatr. 2016;16:4. doi:10.1186/s12877-015-0162-5Chumpitazi CE, Henkel EB, Valdez KL, Chumpitazi BP.Soap suds enema are efficacious and safe for treating fecal impaction in children with abdominal pain.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.2016 Jul;63(1):15–8. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000001073VCA Animal Hospitals.Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Dogs.Clemson University Cooperative Extension.Insecticidal Soaps For Garden Pest Control.
National Eczema Foundation.Unscented Liquid Castile Soap.
Falleh H, Ben Jemaa M, Saada M, Ksouri R.Essential oils: A promising eco-friendly food preservative.Food Chem. 2020;330:127268. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127268
Dr. Bronner’s ALL-ONE.Using Dr. Bronner’s as a shampoo for dogs, cats, and more!
Gavazzoni Dias MFR.Pro and Contra of Cleansing Conditioners.Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(3):131-134. doi:10.1159/000493588
Lemery E, Briançon S, Chevalier Y, et al.Surfactants have multi-fold effects on skin barrier function.Eur J Dermatol. 2015;25(5):424-35. doi:10.1684/ejd.2015.2587
Xuan TD, Gangquiang G, Minh TN, Quy TN, Khanh TD.An overview of chemical profiles, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of commercial vegetable edible oils marketed in Japan.Foods.2018 Feb;7(2):21. doi:10.3390/foods7020021
Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
Poljsak N, Glava NK.Vegetable butters and oils as therapeutically and cosmetically active ingredients for dermal use: a review of clinical studies.Front Pharmacol.2022;13:868461. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.868461
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safety and effectiveness of consumer antiseptics: Topical antimicrobial drug products for over-the-counter human use.
Karas JA, Wong LJM, Paulin OKA.The antimicrobial activity of cannabinoids.Antibiotics (Basel).2020 Jul;9(7):406. doi:10.3390/antibiotics9070406
Machado JF, Costa MDS, Tintino SR. et al.Antibiotic activity potentiation and physicochemical characterization of the fixedOrbignya speciosaalmond oil against MDRStaphylococcus aureusand other bacteria.Antibiotics (Basel).2019 Mar;8(1):28. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8010028
Mahajan K, Verma V, Singh GK, Kumar S, Avasthi S.A randomized controlled study to compare conventional and evidence based treatment protocols in fresh compound fractures.J Clin Diagn Res.2016 Sep;10(9):RC01–RC05. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/19234.8405
Serrano Falcón B, Barceló López M, Mateos Muñoz B, Álvarez Sánchez A, Rey E.Fecal impaction: a systematic review of its medical complications.BMC Geriatr. 2016;16:4. doi:10.1186/s12877-015-0162-5
Chumpitazi CE, Henkel EB, Valdez KL, Chumpitazi BP.Soap suds enema are efficacious and safe for treating fecal impaction in children with abdominal pain.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.2016 Jul;63(1):15–8. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000001073
VCA Animal Hospitals.Essential Oil and Liquid Potpourri Poisoning in Dogs.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension.Insecticidal Soaps For Garden Pest Control.
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