You Shouldn’t Have to Be a Chemist to Choose a Safe Soap

Let’s be honest: shopping for “clean” products can feel like a minefield.

You’ve been hearing about the potential toxins in your laundry detergent, so you start trying to make healthier choices. You grab the bottle that says “natural” or “gentle” and you hope that it means something. Then a few days later, someone on Facebook says it’s toxic. You search the brand online and stumble upon a blog that is listing scary ingredients that you’ve never even heard of.

Now, you’re more confused than before.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone and you’re not failing. The truth is a lot of this confusion is by design, because when we’re overwhelmed, we’re more likely to keep buying what’s familiar.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about clarity. Because you deserve honest answers—not marketing fluff and not more guilt trips.

What “Clean” Should Mean—and Why It Often Doesn’t

Big brands know that people are paying more attention to ingredients. So instead of making real changes, they’ve gotten better at using words like “green,” “plant-based,” or “dermatologist tested.” These and other “non-toxic” terms aren’t regulated and often don’t mean what you think.

For example:

• Fragrance – This single word can legally hide dozens of synthetic chemicals. Some are known to disrupt hormones or trigger allergies.
• Formaldehyde releasers—These cheap preservatives slowly release formaldehyde over time, a chemical linked to cancer, asthma, and skin irritation. Despite the risks, they're still common in shampoos, baby products, and laundry detergent.
• 1,4-Dioxane – Not an ingredient, but a byproduct created when ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are processed. It’s not required to be listed on labels, yet it’s flagged by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen. Many “clean” branded products still contain trace amounts.

These ingredients might not sound alarming because many of us don’t even know they’re there. And when they’re hidden behind vague words like “gentle” or “non-toxic,” it’s hard to know what you’re bringing into your home.

Why Don’t Big Brands Just Make Safer Products?

Making truly non-toxic products takes work.

It often requires:

• Switching to safer preservatives that don’t last as long on store shelves
• Using transparent labeling that invites more consumer scrutiny and expensive testing
• Reformulating familiar products with high-purity ingredients that may be more expensive or harder to source

Instead, big brands often double down on what’s cheaper, legal, and profitable. That often looks like:

• Heavy investment in marketing over reformulation
• Packaging that looks clean and sustainable, even when the product isn’t
• Lobbying against stronger ingredient transparency laws

It’s not about your health—it’s about keeping profits predictable. Unfortunately, that means many companies are incentivized to do just enough to win your trust, without actually earning it through honesty and safe choices.

What You Can Do (Without Feeling Overwhelmed)

The goal here isn’t perfection, it’s progress. You don’t have to become an expert or throw everything out. Small, mindful choices can reduce your exposure to questionable ingredients without adding stress to your day.

Start here:

• Focus on the products you use most—laundry detergent, dish soap, and hand soap. These touch your skin—and your family’s—every single day.
• Check for red-flag ingredients—Avoid vague terms like “fragrance” and learn to spot common offenders like SLES, PEGs, or parabens.
• Choose transparency over buzzwords—A brand that clearly lists every ingredient on every label and every product page is usually one that is proud of what’s inside.

Trusted Swaps to Make Life Simpler

When you’re ready to switch to safer products, it helps to start with a brand that values your trust as much as your business.

At Rustic Strength, we believe honesty shouldn’t be optional—it should be the Standard.

That’s why we’re committed to:

• 100% ingredient transparency – We list every single ingredient. No vague “fragrance,” no trade secrets, no guessing games.
• Clear, honest labeling – So you can make informed decisions without needing a chemistry degree.
• Small-batch production – That puts people and product integrity first, not shortcuts or mass-market compromises.

A Better Way to Think About “Clean”

The idea isn’t to live in fear of every bottle on your shelf.

Yes, marketing can be misleading—but you’re not powerless. Every time you choose a brand that values transparency and safety, you help push both the industry and your family in a healthier direction.

So the next time you’re in the cleaning aisle or scrolling online, remember:

• If you need to search hard for the full ingredient list, that’s not a great sign.
• If it smells like an artificial fragrance bomb, it probably contains one.
• And if a brand speaks plainly and clearly about what’s inside, they’re likely one you can trust.

You don’t need fear to make smart choices. You only need the facts—and a little peace of mind.

Less overwhelm. More clarity. One swap at a time.

We Invite You to Do Your Own Research

Scientific journals and articles are the foundation of evidence-based decisions at Rustic Strength. Blogs can provide helpful information. However, if they cannot cite scientific articles, their claims stand on little.

Sources:

1. U.S. Food & Drug Administration – Cosmetic Labeling Claims
2. Environmental Working Group – Not So Sexy: The Hidden Chemicals in Fragrance
3. FDA – Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers in Cosmetics
4. National Cancer Institute – Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – 1,4-Dioxane Fact Sheet
6. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics – Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics

Why Ingredient Transparency Matters at Rustic Strength

Our mission began when our founders, Brandon and Alicia, traced their toddler’s severe allergic reactions back to “safe” household cleaners. Unable to find products that were both gentle and genuinely high-purity, they started formulating their own—free of phthalates, sulfates, 1,4-dioxane, and other hidden irritants.

Today, every Rustic Strength label and product page lists every ingredient—no secrets, no green-washing—so you can choose with confidence and keep harmful chemicals out of your home. See more about what we use and avoid. 

Our hope is that by understanding the components of our products, you can make informed decisions about what you put on your skin and in your home, ultimately avoiding a mysterious illness as our son had.

Don’t be fooled by vague marketing. Whether or not you buy from us, we urge you to read labels, research ingredients, and demand full transparency for a healthier family and planet.