{"id":604382232882,"title":"Buff City Soap Review: Safer Than Regular Soap?","created_at":"2022-11-08T23:45:00-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Buff City Soap Review: Safer Than Regular Soap?\",\n \"keywords\": \"buff city soap, buff city soap review, buff city soap reviews, buff city soap laundry detergent, buff city soap laundry soap\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews the ingredients in Buff City Soap based on medical studies to give our take on whether the brand is actually safer than regular soap. We highlight some questionable ingredients and share a store walkthrough and real user review.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/buff-city-soap-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"creator\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Brian Moore\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.D.\",\n \"F.A.A.D\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/brian-moore\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brian-moore-md-faad-2b1b77a2\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.apexskin.com\/our-team\/dr-brian-moore-md\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Dermatology Advisor\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"dermatology, skincare, pigmented lesions, anti-aging, medical research, clinical trials, sunscreen, moisturizer, wrinkles, makeup, shampoo, soap\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"Columbia University\",\n \"University of Toledo\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Buff_City_Soap_Thumbnail_Updated.png?v=1667969549\",\n\"width\": \"3704\",\n\"height\": \"3704\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5093181\/\", \n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23026007\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5615925\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8197201\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"fragrance\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"synthetic dyes\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"chromium oxide\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"beautiessentials\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2022-11-08\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Buff_City_Soap_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1667969310\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eB\u003c\/span\u003euff City Soap is a popular brand that sells online and at local “Makeries” where consumers can see the soap being made in front of them. The brand’s founders claim to have started the company because they were “frustrated by commercial soaps’ harsh chemicals.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut is Buff City Soap really a healthier option than much cheaper commercial soap? Does it contain any questionable ingredients? And how do real users rate its scent and overall experience?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Buff City Soap and share a real, unsponsored user’s review of the brand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredient Review\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Buff_City_Soap_Ingredients_Optimized_ca21dc1a-449f-42a6-a224-6f1001d71098.png?v=1667969200\" alt=\"Buff City Soap ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredient label above is from Buff City Island Nectar Soap.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile some of the ingredients in Buff City Soap are cleansing agents derived from natural compounds like coconut oil and palm oil, the brand’s formulations contain several ingredients we recommend avoiding.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFragrance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is an ingredient that we recommend consumers avoid. A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5093181\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e of fragranced consumer products published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAir Quality, Atmosphere \u0026amp; Health\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal concluded the following: “Results of this study provide compelling evidence that everyday fragranced products can impose serious risks to human health, environmental quality, businesses, and society.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eD\u0026amp;C Red No. 7\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eD\u0026amp;C Yellow No. 5\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e are synthetic dyes, and a 2012 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23026007\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that synthetic dyes can contain carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChromium oxide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is an ingredient in some Buff City soaps that we recommend avoiding, because topical chromium is shown in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5615925\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical research\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to cause skin ulcers, severe redness and swelling of the skin in some patients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall we’re disappointed in Buff City Soap’s formulations, especially since the company brands itself as a healthier alternative to regular soap (which we do not agree with).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNot all Buff City Soaps contain the above-listed ingredients, but every Buff City Soap we analyzed contained fragrance. We recommend that health-conscious consumers avoid this brand altogether.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored Buff City Soap User Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOne of the most popular YouTube reviews of Buff City Soap comes from a channel called “beautiessentials.” The creator walks through a Buff City Soap Maker shop to show you what it looks like on the inside and gives her take on the products and their scents:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BgouRYI3_0s\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAre Other Buff City Soap Products Better?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere’s our take on other Buff City Soap products.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBuff City Soap Laundry Detergent\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – Regular version contains fragrance and we recommend avoiding it. There is an unscented version available for sale with clean, non-toxic ingredients that we would recommend.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBuff City Soap Bath Bomb\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – Contains fragrance and\/or coloring agents. Avoid.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBuff City Soap Face Bars\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – The Rhassoul Clay face bar is the only one we’d recommend, as it has research-backed ingredients and is free of questionable additives.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBuff City Soap Shower Fizzy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – We strongly recommend avoiding this product if hot water is used in the shower. Product contains ingredients like chromium compounds and fragrance that we do not recommend inhaling via steam.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur Clean Soap Pick\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Soap_Image_v2.png?v=1691678460\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe clean soap brand we recommend is\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trulyfreehome.pxf.io\/c\/3271428\/1653149\/19182?irck=irclickid\u0026amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Ftrulyfreehome.com%2Fproducts%2Faloe-hand-soap\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eTruly Free Aloe Soap\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUse code \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eLABS30 for 30% off your first order.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis soap is made with safe, botanically-derived ingredients like \u003cstrong\u003ealoe vera\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003ecoconut-based cleansers\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTruly Free's soap is fragrance-free and contains no additive ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Truly Free Aloe Soap\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trulyfreehome.pxf.io\/c\/3271428\/1653149\/19182?irck=irclickid\u0026amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Ftrulyfreehome.com%2Fproducts%2Faloe-hand-soap\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on the brand's official website, where it costs\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eonly $16.95\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efor a 2-pack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe disagree with Buff City Soap’s claims that their soap is healthier than regular soap, given that many of their soaps contain fragrance and synthetic dye ingredients. We do not recommend any Buff City soaps.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe only Buff City products we recommend from a formulation perspective are Buff City Soap Rhassoul Clay face bar and Buff City Soap laundry soap.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor the most part, we consider this brand not worth the price. It’s priced as a luxury brand but doesn’t have a luxury formulation in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2022-11-08T23:54:52-05:00","updated_at":"2023-09-08T13:37:20-04:00","summary_html":"We review the ingredients in Buff City Soap based on medical studies to give our take on whether the brand is actually safer than regular soap. We highlight some questionable ingredients and share a store walkthrough and real user review.","template_suffix":"","handle":"buff-city-soap-review","tags":"_related:personal-care-products, _related:soap"}

Buff City Soap Review: Safer Than Regular Soap?

Buff City Soap Review: Safer Than Regular Soap?


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Buff City Soap is a popular brand that sells online and at local “Makeries” where consumers can see the soap being made in front of them. The brand’s founders claim to have started the company because they were “frustrated by commercial soaps’ harsh chemicals.”

But is Buff City Soap really a healthier option than much cheaper commercial soap? Does it contain any questionable ingredients? And how do real users rate its scent and overall experience?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Buff City Soap and share a real, unsponsored user’s review of the brand.

Ingredient Review

Buff City Soap ingredients

The ingredient label above is from Buff City Island Nectar Soap.

While some of the ingredients in Buff City Soap are cleansing agents derived from natural compounds like coconut oil and palm oil, the brand’s formulations contain several ingredients we recommend avoiding.

Fragrance is an ingredient that we recommend consumers avoid. A medical review of fragranced consumer products published in the Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health journal concluded the following: “Results of this study provide compelling evidence that everyday fragranced products can impose serious risks to human health, environmental quality, businesses, and society.”

D&C Red No. 7 and D&C Yellow No. 5 are synthetic dyes, and a 2012 medical review found that synthetic dyes can contain carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals.

Chromium oxide is an ingredient in some Buff City soaps that we recommend avoiding, because topical chromium is shown in clinical research to cause skin ulcers, severe redness and swelling of the skin in some patients.

Overall we’re disappointed in Buff City Soap’s formulations, especially since the company brands itself as a healthier alternative to regular soap (which we do not agree with).

Not all Buff City Soaps contain the above-listed ingredients, but every Buff City Soap we analyzed contained fragrance. We recommend that health-conscious consumers avoid this brand altogether.

Real, Unsponsored Buff City Soap User Review

One of the most popular YouTube reviews of Buff City Soap comes from a channel called “beautiessentials.” The creator walks through a Buff City Soap Maker shop to show you what it looks like on the inside and gives her take on the products and their scents:

Are Other Buff City Soap Products Better?

Here’s our take on other Buff City Soap products.

Buff City Soap Laundry Detergent – Regular version contains fragrance and we recommend avoiding it. There is an unscented version available for sale with clean, non-toxic ingredients that we would recommend.

Buff City Soap Bath Bomb – Contains fragrance and/or coloring agents. Avoid.

Buff City Soap Face Bars – The Rhassoul Clay face bar is the only one we’d recommend, as it has research-backed ingredients and is free of questionable additives.

Buff City Soap Shower Fizzy – We strongly recommend avoiding this product if hot water is used in the shower. Product contains ingredients like chromium compounds and fragrance that we do not recommend inhaling via steam.

Our Clean Soap Pick

The clean soap brand we recommend is Truly Free Aloe Soap.

Use code LABS30 for 30% off your first order.

This soap is made with safe, botanically-derived ingredients like aloe vera and coconut-based cleansers.

Truly Free's soap is fragrance-free and contains no additive ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.

Interested consumers can check out Truly Free Aloe Soap at this link to the product page on the brand's official website, where it costs only $16.95 for a 2-pack.

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Conclusion

We disagree with Buff City Soap’s claims that their soap is healthier than regular soap, given that many of their soaps contain fragrance and synthetic dye ingredients. We do not recommend any Buff City soaps.

The only Buff City products we recommend from a formulation perspective are Buff City Soap Rhassoul Clay face bar and Buff City Soap laundry soap.

For the most part, we consider this brand not worth the price. It’s priced as a luxury brand but doesn’t have a luxury formulation in our opinion.




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