Characteristics of Soap Ingredients

Here is a list of some of the most common ingredients in soap making and the characteristics that make them desirable.

 

Avocado Oil - In soap, avocado oil acts as a natural moisturizer, adding deep conditioning and a luxurious, creamy feel to the bar, making it especially beneficial for dry or sensitive skin due to its high content of fatty acids and vitamins like vitamin E; essentially, it helps hydrate and soften the skin while cleansing.

Canola Oil - Canola oil can add many benefits to soap. It is rich in Vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids which promote healthy skin. Canola Oil helps prevent moisture loss, and adds a silkiness to the later of soap.

Canola Oil, High Oleic - Canola oil, particularly the high oleic variety, is a valuable ingredient in soapmaking due to its stable nature, moisturizing properties, longevity, and affordability. It offers a good balance of lather and conditioning, making it a suitable alternative or an addition to olive oil in soap recipes

Castor Oil - Castor oil in soap primarily functions to create a rich, creamy lather by producing large bubbles, while also acting as a humectant to draw moisture to the skin, leaving it feeling soft and hydrated; essentially, it enhances both the cleansing and moisturizing properties of the soap.

Coconut Oil - In soap, coconut oil primarily acts as a cleansing agent, creating a rich lather while also providing moisturizing benefits due to its natural fatty acids, making it effective for cleaning the skin while helping to maintain its hydration; it also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it a good choice for acne-prone skin.

Distilled Water - Water that has been boiled into steam and then condensed back into a liquid, removing impurities and contaminants

Glycerin - Glycerin (also known as glycerol) is a byproduct of the soap-making process, specifically the saponification process. Saponification is the chemical reaction that occurs when fats or oils react with a strong alkali (like lye or sodium hydroxide) to form soap and glycerin. In essence, when you make soap, glycerin is naturally produced as a byproduct along with the soap itself. Where oils are used in our soap making process, around 5% of the total glycerin content is a natural by-product of saponification.

Mica - Our Mica is vegan and ethically sourced through Mad Micas. They are indistinguishable from "naturally found mica" so they are considered to be "natural-identical". Being made from natural minerals and indistinguishable from "natural found mica", it is an environmentally-friendly alternative and no mining needs to happen and they can be created pure instead of needing to mined and then purified in a lab.

Oat Protein and Oatmeal - Soap containing oatmeal also has emollient properties that protect the outer layers of the skin by reducing water loss from the epidermis. And since oatmeal is filled with antioxidants and healthy fatty acids, oatmeal soap has anti-inflammatory properties.

Olive Oil - Olive oil makes a hard, long lasting soap with a gentle cleansing lather, suitable for all skin types including sensitive skins. High in Oleic acid, a soap made with olive oil will help to condition and soften your skin.

Oxides and Dioxides - In soap making, "oxides" and "dioxides" refer to pigments or colorants used to add color and opacity to soap. They are natural mineral compounds that are safe and commonly used in soap making.

Palm Oil - Palm oil is a popular ingredient in soapmaking because it offers several benefits, including hardening the soap bar, creating a rich lather, and providing moisturizing properties. We buy only from vendors involved in sustainability solutions and production including the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Sustainable palm oil has been farmed, processed, distributed, and sold responsibly with strict rules that protect animals, the environment and people who live and work in oil palm producing countries.

Propylene Glycol- Propylene glycol is a colorless, odorless, and viscous liquid commonly used as an ingredient in soaps and other personal care products. It has 3 main uses in soap making: 1 ) Humectant that attracts and retains moisture, keeping soaps from drying out, 2) Solubilizer that helps dissolve and disperse other ingredients in the soap base, and 3) Moisturizer to provide a smooth, soft feel to the skin.

Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) - Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda, is a white, odorless, corrosive chemical compound that's used to make soap. No lye, no soap. There is no lye in the finished product of soap. Sodium hydroxide is a necessary part of the saponification process, where it reacts with fats and oils to create soap. This process gives soap its ability to clean and moisturize.

Sorbitan Oleate - Sorbitan oleate is an ingredient in soap that acts as an emulsifier and hardener to stabilize oils. It's also a natural, plant-derived ingredient with other uses, including: Moisturizer to helps prevent the skin from drying out, as a Wetting Agent to help combine water with oily ingredients, and as a Dispersing Agent to help disperse insoluble particles like color pigments.

Sorbitol - Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol, also known as glucitol. It is a colorless, odorless, crystalline solid that is found naturally in some fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, and plums.