Sulfur soap: the perfect ally against oily skin and blackheads
Sulfur is an element present in various minerals, but in nature it can also be considered native because in some cases it is found pure.
With regard to its use, in-depth studies have been made that have led to establish its benefits: sulfur in the form of soap is particularly suitable for those with oily skin problems, with enlarged pores and blackheads. Let's see together how it works.
In addition to using sulfur soap, find out in this video how to get rid of blackheads from your face forever.
Sulfur soap: origins and properties
The history of sulfur dates back to many years ago, when spa treatments began to spread. The sulphurous waters (rich in sulfur) of the spas constituted a valid cure for problems not only of the skin. The sulfur was obtained from the vapors released in the spas and then used in the form of soap.
Sulfur soap is known in particular for its antibacterial and purifying properties, therefore it helps to normalize the skin, restoring its lost balance and acts well on oily skin characterized by pimples, blackheads and excess sebum.
Usually the most common format on the market is soap, but sulfur is also found in liquid form, often used as the main ingredient in some products for routine skincare: face creams, scrubs and cleansers for body and hair, just to make some examples. In fact, the astringent and purifying properties of sulfur can act effectively not only on the face, but also on the body and scalp.
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All the benefits of sulfur soap
As we have seen, sulfur is able to bring numerous benefits to the body not only at the level of the skin, this is because it is able to detoxify and purify the whole organism as well.
Let's summarize and list all the actions that sulfur soap is able to perform:
- Antifungal
Fungal infections are very common, but with a sulfur ointment and cleansing the area with soap, you will immediately see improvement.
- Anti-inflammatory
How can sulfur help you if you have an inflamed area? It stimulates cortisol, blocks inflammation and acts as a natural analgesic.
- Sebum regulator
Wash your face regularly with a sulfur soap and if you have oily skin, with this method you will be able to normalize the production of excess sebum.
- Antioxidant
Sulfur also exists in the form of supplements that will counteract free radicals for an immediate antioxidant action.
- Exfoliating
The exfoliating property of sulfur soap is also and above all due to its astringent function. After a few uses, oily skin will appear firmer and smoother, free from pimples and blackheads.
- Astringent
To counteract the small pimples, wash your face with sulfur soap, after a few hours you will notice a reduction in both swelling and inflammation that usually accompany the release of the pimple.
- Regenerating
Sulfur helps normalize oily and oily skin, thus resulting in a regenerating action on the skin.
How to use sulfur soap
The degreasing action of sulfur soap can be greater if you take a hot bath or shower before using it to open the pores through the steam. any creams.
For the face you have two possible ways:
- rub the sulfur soap on your hands, create a profuse lather and then massage into the moistened face.
- Moisten your face and gently rub the soap in strategic places such as forehead, nose, chin and cheekbones. Then proceed to massage with your hands.
Finally, rinse thoroughly and dry the skin by dabbing it, but without rubbing. At this point, apply a generous amount of moisturizer specific to your skin type.
For the body:
- take a hot shower to prepare the skin
- rub the soap in critical points such as the back where blackheads frequently arise
- rinse thoroughly and moisturize the area with a body cream
And on the hair?
With sulfur soap you can obtain an emulsion (rubbing it between clean hands and adding water) to be applied to the hair as if it were a shampoo, massaging the entire scalp. In this way, the sulfur will eliminate excess sebum, avoiding the "greasy" effect of oily hair and preventing the appearance of dandruff.
Sulfur soap: when to use it and when to avoid it
The overview we have done so far regarding sulfur soap suggests that it is a specific product for impure and oily skin. It is good, however, to pause for a moment and understand when the use of sulfur soap is recommended and when it is better to avoid it.
Uses a sulfur bar of soap if you have:
- Combination and oily skin
- Blackheads
- Acne
- Pimples
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Oily dandruff
The dermatologist could advise you on the use of sulfur-based products even in cases of psoriasis, rosacea or scabies. For these and other skin diseases it is always good to consult a specialist and avoid doing it yourself.
But that's not all. Given the high tissue regeneration power, the formation of antibodies and blood circulation, sulfur soap is very important for treating
- Rheumatism
- Respiratory disorders
- Inflammations and dermatological pathologies
- Intestinal problems
- Swelling or edema
Avoid sulfur-based products and cosmetics:
- if you are allergic to the mineral
- if you suffer from widespread redness
- you have delicate or dry skin
- for cleansing intimate areas especially during pregnancy
As you can see, the use of sulfur soaps is not for everyone, in the case of delicate or dry skin the mineral would only worsen the situation further, being too aggressive and not at all effective. Solid soaps develop, in contact with the water, a basic pH that interferes with the acidic one of the skin.Used for too frequent washing it can compromise the skin's natural defenses.
The advice we give you is always to observe: if you have oily skin, but after a few washings with sulfur soap you see it normalized, stop using it which you will eventually resume after a few days if the sebum becomes excessive again.
5 curiosities about sulfur
We have focused our attention on the benefits and properties of sulfur soap, but now we also want to reveal some curiosities.
- Many consider sulfur the "mineral of beauty" because of its many uses and the benefits it can bring to the skin.
- The mineral and its powder are usually yellow in color and it is this characteristic that often affects the final color of the sulfur soap.
- Sulfur soap is renowned for a peculiar and often unwelcome smell, defined by many as "rotten egg". Precisely for this reason many sulfur soaps are enriched with fragrances often created through the use of essential oils.
- Sulfur in nature does not stink, although it has become famous for this very aspect. It is the bond with hydrogen that gives off the not-so-pleasant scent.
- Sulfur is naturally present in some foods of animal origin such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and cheeses; however, some vegetables such as garlic, onion, legumes and cabbage also contain it.
Where to buy sulfur soap?
If you have read this far, a question will surely arise: but where can I buy sulfur soap? In reality, it is a very common product that you can easily find in herbalist's shops, in natural product shops or in the departments dedicated to body care in large supermarkets.
If you fail to find it, you can search online and find numerous and valid offers from retailers all over Italy.
> Solid sulfur soap for € 8.99 on Amazon
> 10 sulfur soaps for € 19.90
Before purchasing, it is important to know how to orientate between the various types of sulfur soap, in fact not all are the same: the difference is precisely the amount of sulfur present in the soap, in some it will be much higher. Remember: the higher the concentration of sulfur and the higher the astringent and purifying power of the soap. For combination skin, choose a soap with a low amount of sulfur.
How to make a sulfur bar of soap at home
To create a personalized sulfur cleanser suitable for your skin type, we want to suggest a simple recipe that will allow you to easily prepare the product at home. What do you need?
- 200g of soap (Marseille soap or natural soap is also fine)
- 100ml of water
- 2 tablespoons of powdered sulfur (available in herbal medicine)
- 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil (with moisturizing power)
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil (to perfume the soap and increase the healing action)
- 5 drops of tea tree essential oil (with astringent and anti-inflammatory power)
Here is the procedure:
1 - Grate the soap thinly, put it in an airtight jar that is heat resistant.
2 - Prepare a saucepan with water and a cloth where you will place the jar to melt the soap in a bain-marie.
3 - When the soap begins to melt, add the water required by the recipe into the jar.
4 - Bring to a boil, let it spend 20 minutes on a very low flame, then remove the jar. Now add the powdered sulfur and sweet almond oil.
5 - Close the jar and cook it in a bain-marie for another 15 minutes. Now remove the jar and mix well the mash created inside.
6 - Close the jar and put it back in the water bath for another 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, extract everything and add the essential oils provided.
7 - If you want to use molds to shape the soap, pour the mixture while it is still liquid.
8 - Before using your bars of soap, leave them to cool for at least 2 weeks.
