STOP! You are being scammed! You are buying products based on feelings and vague terms that say nothing about the quality or your VALUE FOR MONEY! For us, these words aren't decoration. They are a CONTRACT!
Let’s cut through the noise and de-brief the three most abused words on your soap labels.
1. ORGANIC: ARE YOU PAYING FOR EXTRA PAPERWORK?
Many people think "organic" means the soap is better or cleaner. PARTIALLY TRUE, BUT BE VIGILANT!
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What it actually means: The raw materials (like oils, fats, and butters) were grown and harvested without the use of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and GMOs.
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Lumberjack's Take: You are securing a SUPERIOR RAW MATERIAL FOUNDATION! You are investing in ingredients that were properly cared for. This reduces the risk of chemical residue, which is good risk management for your skin.
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The Pitfall: A soap can be called "organic" if only a certain percentage of the content meets the requirements. Some companies throw in one organic ingredient and call it a day. Always check the actual percentage! Otherwise, you're just paying extra for a sticker on the packaging!
2. NATURAL: IT'S THE VAGUEST WORD IN THE DICTIONARY!
This word makes my blood boil! "Natural" is the most INDISTINGUISHABLE GARBAGE on the shelf.
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What it actually means: It means the ingredients come from nature (plants, minerals, water, etc.)—to some extent.
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Lumberjack's Take: NATURAL DOES NOT MEAN SAFE OR BEST! Remember I said some plants are toxic? Yeah. You can extract dangerous substances from nature, and it’s still "natural." The word is primarily used to TRICK YOU into believing the product is healthier.
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The Pitfall: Many "natural" products contain synthetic substances necessary for stability and longevity, or they contain natural ingredients that are CHEMICALLY PROCESSED beyond recognition. It's pure smoke and mirrors! Only trust the natural claim if it’s backed up by FULL INGREDIENT BREAKDOWNS!
3. VEGAN: IT'S AN ETHICAL CHOICE, NOT A QUALITY GUARANTEE!
"Vegan" is an important ethical choice, but you need to know the ROI (Return On Investment) for your skin, not just for animal welfare.
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What it actually means: The product contains no ingredients of animal origin (no milk, honey, beeswax, lanolin, or animal fats).
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Lumberjack's Take: That's ETHICAL TOP-TIER! But that means NOTHING regarding whether your soap is FREE OF HARSH CHEMICALS! A vegan soap can still be full of synthetic preservatives and cheap, non-organic oils!
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The Pitfall: You can buy a vegan soap that is WORSE for your skin and the environment (if it's packaged in lots of plastic and full of synthetic compounds) than a well-formulated, animal-based soap. Your choice must be informed, not merely emotional!
LUMBERJACK'S PURE CONCLUSION:
Stop buying on buzzwords!
If you want a clean, effective, and responsible soap, you need to look for a combination:
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High percentage of ORGANIC oils. (Proof of RAW MATERIAL QUALITY!)
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Transparent ingredient lists. (Proof of HONESTY!)
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Absence of synthetic preservatives and foaming agents. (Proof of EFFECTIVE FORMULATION!)
We don't just throw words around. When we use them, they are BACKED BY ACTUAL INGREDIENTS! Learn to read the labels, and stop letting a nice design fool you!
LUMBERJACK – Deal with it!
