Soaps, Bubbles & Suds: What You Use on Your Skin Matters
Soaps, Bubbles & Suds: What You Use on Your Skin Matters
A MiQuann Guide to Clean, Gentle Cleansing from Head to Toe, Especially Down Below
In a world overflowing with beauty aisles, curated skincare, and wellness rituals, choosing the right cleansing product can feel… well, slippery.
With so many shapes, sizes, formats, and promises on the label, how do you know what’s truly best - not just for your face, but for your most intimate skin?
At MiQuann, we believe your skin deserves more than just a cleanse. It deserves care. Clarity. And curiosity. So let’s demystify what’s really in your soap, and how you can make better, gentler choices that respect your entire body, from scalp to intimate skin.
A (Very Sensual) History of Soap
The story of soap begins thousands of years ago, as far back as 2800 BCE. Early civilizations used soap-like materials made from ash and animal fats. By the 7th century, soap-making had evolved into a respected craft across Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain, where plant oils and lye were used in what we now call saponification, the process of turning oils into cleansing bars.
Fast-forward to the 19th century, and soap bars became more affordable and widely available, thanks to industrial advances. In the 20th century, the invention of synthetic detergents transformed the game; offering new formats, new textures, and new possibilities for gentler care.
But not all cleansing products are created equal. Especially when it comes to pH balance, microbiome health, and intimate wellness.
Soap Bars: Traditional, But Not Always Tender
True soap bars, especially natural or handmade varieties, are made through saponification. This method uses lye (a strong alkaline solution) to react with fats or oils, forming a solid bar.
What’s the catch?
These bars tend to have a high pH, often around 9 or more, which can disrupt your skin’s natural acid mantle, the thin protective film that keeps your skin microbiome in balance.
When the acid mantle is compromised, you’re more prone to dryness, irritation, and infections like candida or bacterial vaginosis. And once the bar is formed, that pH can’t be lowered, meaning even “natural” soaps can be surprisingly harsh.
Syndet Bars: The Smarter Solid Option
Enter the syndet bar, short for SYNthetic DETergent.
These bars are made with gentle cleansing agents like sodium cocoyl isethionate or disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate that clean without compromising your skin’s barrier. Their pH sits comfortably around 5.5 - much closer to your skin’s natural state.
Plus, since they don’t require saponification, nourishing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, or ceramides can remain intact, giving you cleansing and moisturising in one beautiful bar.
Liquid Luxury: Cream, Gel, and Foaming Cleansers
If bars don’t suit your ritual, liquid formats offer even more flexibility and skin,kind innovation.
Cream Cleansers
These are the softest kiss of clean — ideal for intimate areas or dry, sensitive skin. Cream cleansers are rich in emollients like oils and butters, which replace what’s lost during washing and prevent lipid depletion. They cleanse without the foam — but don’t worry, they still remove impurities beautifully.
Foaming Cleansers
Want bubbles, but not the stripping side effects? Foaming cleansers offer a light-as-air cleanse with fewer surfactants. The foam is often created by packaging, not chemicals, making them gentler than traditional gels, especially when formulated without sulfates like SLS.
These are ideal for everyday refreshment, especially when you want that "clean" feeling without compromise.
Gel Cleansers
Loved for their lather, gel cleansers mimic the feel of soap but often contain milder surfactants. They’re best when carefully formulated, but they can still cause lipid wash-out — meaning they may leave your skin a little tight or dry.
Use with caution in intimate areas or during sensitive phases of your cycle.
So, What’s Best for Intimate Wellness?
While it’s tempting to reach for that “natural” soap bar, it might not be the best friend to your intimate skin. The truth?
Gentle matters more than green.
pH matters more than perfume.
And your skin deserves science and softness.
At MiQuann, we’re passionate about:
- Supporting your skin microbiome
- Protecting your acid mantle
- Honouring your curiosity about what touches your body
Whether you choose a syndet bar, a nourishing cream wash, or a pH-balanced foam, know this:
What you cleanse with should never compromise your comfort.
A Final Note from MiQuann
Your skin, every inch of it, is sacred. And choosing the right soap isn’t just about being “clean.” It’s about being informed. Empowered. And free to move through every season of life with confidence, sensuality, and ease.
So the next time you step into the shower, think beyond the suds.
You’re not just washing.
You’re caring for the ecosystem that is you.
