Soap Wort Saponaria officinalis
An effective yet gentle cleanser
Soap Wort gets its name from the soap-like nature of its extract, which produces lather when it comes into contact with water. Soap wort has traditionally been used in European and Arabic medicine as a gentle cleanser for infected or irritated skin. Its main active ingredients are the saponins that make up about 5% of the dry weight of the plant. These are mild detergents which break down fats without over-drying the skin.
Soap Wort is particularly effective in acne treatment as it clears pores. So bacteria have fewer places to grow and fewer opportunities to cause spots. In addition, the extract actively stops grease building up again by suppressing the over-production of sebum, the skin’s natural oils from the sebaceous glands. Soap wort extract also has an antibacterial action, which attacks infection-causing bacteria.
