Aloe in Soap

[NewbieSoaper]

Hey all!

I am considering adding Aloe to a batch of soap, most of what I found says to add the "juce" in place of some of the water for the lye mixture. Does anyone have experience with using Aloe, if so, would you please pass on some tips? Thanks!!

AMC

 

[ChrissyB]

Hi
I have used Aloe Vera in soap. The first time that I did so I just put my lye into the aloe juice and it turned red and burnt it within about 30 seconds. So I have learnt that the best way to do it is to make up your lye/water solution as normal but discount a certain amount of your water. Let the lye cool, then add the amount of water that you didn't add in the first place in aloe juice instead. It won't get burnt this way, even if you do half water, then half aloe when the lye is cool it should work. I know that there are some other soapers on here that use aloe so you will probably get some different responses. But that is just what works for me.
Hope this is of some help!
Chrissy

 

[topcat]

Yes, that is basically what I do too. I have heard that you should add as a minimum, the same weight of water as lye initially, or not all the lye will dissolve. Then go ahead and add your aloe when it has cooled down some.

I actually have added my aloe at trace and also to my oils before I added the lye mix and haven't noticed any difference either way to the finished soap, except of course that I haven't burnt the aloe this way! So IMHO the soap batter doesn't mind when it goes in.

Tanya

 

[Jaaret]

Aloe

I, too, have been curious about adding Aloe Vera juice or gel to soap. I purchased som Aloe Vera butter online, I think from From Nature With Love, but I haven't made a batch with it yet. Combining the butter in a batch with some juice should yield a nice Aloe Vera bar.

 

[NewbieSoaper]

Thanks!

All of the tips are helpful, thank you all!!

AMC

 

[Laurie]

Yes Chrissy I am one of those soapers who add my lye to aloe all the time. I do the 50/50 solution that a few of the people on here do. I have never had it burn or anything.

It sure makes you wonder doesn't it. HTH.

Laurie

 

[ChrissyB]

How come yours doesn't burn?
If I put my lye into the aloe juice it fizzles up and turns bright red right before my eyes within a few seconds. I was a bit scared when it did it I thought it might explode or something...I was thinking oh s@#t what have I don't here?

 

[Maria]

I use a 50/50 mix of aloe vera gel and ice. It hasn't burned yet. The recipes with aloe seem to have a nice silky lather that people enjoy.