? for soap-makers

[amber913]

I used to make soap and candles and all kinds of cool stuff before i had kids. I now need to make a moisturizing soap for me and the kids, but am left with only a few ingredients, and i can't find any recipes online that require only what i have (i don't have the money to be ordering new oils if i can make due with what i have).

I have: olive oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, jojoba, lanolin and lye.

I also have vitamin E, stearic palm (can't remember what it's for), beeswax, emulsifying wax (for lotion only...i think?), sea salts, oatmeal, teas of every sort, EO's.

Can i make soap using what i have? Do you have a recipe?

[Abarat]

If you don't care about getting many bubbles with your soap you can definitely make do what what you have. One of the best soaps for your skin is a 100% olive oil soap. Of course if you'd like bubbles you can always get some coconut oil from the store (I think Wal-Mart carries a cheaper coconut oil than what you find in the natural food section of your local grocer...it's called LouAnn).

If you use the coconut oil I'd only use about 15-30% coconut oil as too much can be drying.

I don't have a recipe right off hand, but you can make one using the lye calculator at: thesage.com Just put in the amounts of oils, butters, etc. and you're off! It'll calculate the liquid and lye amounts for you.

[tankgirl136]

Originally Posted by Abarat

If you don't care about getting many bubbles with your soap you can definitely make do what what you have. One of the best soaps for your skin is a 100% olive oil soap. Of course if you'd like bubbles you can always get some coconut oil from the store (I think Wal-Mart carries a cheaper coconut oil than what you find in the natural food section of your local grocer...it's called LouAnn).

If you use the coconut oil I'd only use about 15-30% coconut oil as too much can be drying.

I don't have a recipe right off hand, but you can make one using the lye calculator at: thesage.com Just put in the amounts of oils, butters, etc. and you're off! It'll calculate the liquid and lye amounts for you.

I totally agree with this!!!

Except sadly 100% Olive Oil hates my skin Cocoa Butter creates a nice hard bar, and shea is nice for moisturising, I love using both in my soaps. Almost every recipe I personally use has coconut oil.

[3bees~1flower]

are you opposed to lard? lard makes an incredibly mild soap and is quite inexpensive on a couple dollars for a pound at walmart along with coconut found in the baking section at walmart. i would try something like 70% lard, 15% coconut, 15% cocoa butter.

[Abarat]

Another oil I've used with success has been vegetable shortening. I wouldn't reccomend a bar with just shortening because it wouldn't actually make a nice hard bar, it'd stay very soft. But if you're looking for cheap that's not a bad way to go to help keep costs down or even to make your own dish soap, etc.

[ian'smommaya]

those ingredients sound like you can make a nice bar of soap. i use the soap calculator at
http://www.soapcalc.net/default.asp
and remember some people who are allergic to latex also react to shea.

[infraread]

Originally Posted by ian'smommaya

those ingredients sound like you can make a nice bar of soap. i use the soap calculator at
http://www.soapcalc.net/default.asp
and remember some people who are allergic to latex also react to shea.

Shea is a tree nut, although we found that out the hard way. Wonder if it's related to the rubber trees that produce latex? Avacado can produce cross reactions in people who have latex allergies.

Good luck mixing your soap! None of these things should mess with your family unless they have allergies It's something to think about if one was making soap to sell though, or give as gifts.

[ian'smommaya]

i have several cross reactions with latex, one is shea, another is avocado, mango, pineapple, banana, etc. etc.

[3bees~1flower]

yes, people who are sensitive to latex should use shea butter with caution.

[ian'smommaya]

3 bees is the wise, we should all listen to her.

[3bees~1flower]

it's pretty common knowledge....try googling it. sorry if i offended.

[ian'smommaya]

Originally Posted by 3bees~1flower

it's pretty common knowledge....try googling it. sorry if i offended.

NOOOOO! you didnt offend at all. it was a complement. i meant, you know you stuff. thats all.

sorry for the confusion.

[3bees~1flower]

Originally Posted by ian'smommaya

NOOOOO! you didnt offend at all. it was a complement. i meant, you know you stuff. thats all.

sorry for the confusion.

ahhh...sorry for misinterpreting.