Any particular oils that you can't use due to irritation?

[KiwiMoose]

I was just wondering which are the most common fats/oils that we don't like due to outright allergy or just being too drying or otherwise irritating in some way. And also if any of those particular oils are ok in smaller quantities ( say 5 or 10%) or if you cannot use them at all.
Maybe reply for both you and if you have anyone in your family/close circle that you know of.

 

[Daisy]

@KiwiMoose

This is a tough one!
Did you mean for use in soap or general use?
Drying Oils:
Coconut
Babassu
Palm Kernel and I'm sure there are others.
For soap, use no more than 30 % or use a high superfat. I guess this would apply in general use- less of these in a product.
As for allergies and irritations, it varies from person to person. We all love Shea Butter and Coconut Oil- these are irritants for some people. I know someone who cannot use Shea Butter but she is okay with Cocoa Butter.
I love Tamanu Oil and Marula Oil- a friend breaks into a rash after applying these two.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Thanks Daisy. I meant for soap.
So you can't use coconut/babassu or palm kernel at all?
I was looking to find out which oils people are personally sensitive to - e.g. your friend who can't use Shea Butter.

 

[AliOop]

I'm probably an outlier here, but high amounts of palm oil and olive oil really dry out my skin. The only exception so far seems to be my bastile-goatmilk version of ZNSC (75-80% OO, 15-20% CO, 5% castor).

I do have a friend who is allergic to latex and was advised by her allergist to avoid shea.

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

I avoid nut oils, such as macadamia nut, due to family allergies. Hazelnut oil would probably trigger anaphylactic shock for my husband, but I don’t wanna test it to find out.

 

[lianasouza]

Don't tell anyone, but I started making soap because of allergies at a secret place. Castile worked fine, but 20% coconut felt weird. My sister also complained. She mentioned that only after growing up and starting to use body washes she found out cleaning down there wasn't supposed to hurt.

 

[Daisy]

I had said earlier- for soap,

"Drying Oils:
Coconut
Babassu
Palm Kernel and I'm sure there are others.
For soap, use no more than 30 % or use a high superfat." - if using more than 30 %.

Again it all depends- @lianasouza says 20 % of coconut oil was too much for them.
As for myself, I never go beyond 30 % for these particular oils. As for allergies- you will hear a lot from different people

 

[KudzuGoddess]

I am actually working on this too for my brother, it seems that he is sensitive not only to certain oils but can also tell when the percentages are tweaked. I think what he needs is just a good plain Castille. I decreased the olive oil in my main recipe and upped the shea butter less than 10% and he asked me what was different. I am interested in what others have said here about shea butter in general for some people. Great question Kiwi Moose!

 

[TheGecko]

I have a customer who can't use anything with Cocoa or Shea Butter so I make a custom order without.

I'm not sensitive to any oils or butters that I know of, but I can't use French Green Clay.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Thanks all - I'm not sensitive to anything at all. I had heard of a few people on here who find OO drying - their skin just doesn't like it.
I was thinking of all my soap that is out there and the good feedback I've had but wondering if there were equally as many people who had tried it and didn't like it because of CO, shea, Soy or something else. How would I ever know unless they told me? It's good to be mindful of what others might be sensitive to.

 

[Deborah Long]

I'm personally finding olive drying as my skin ages (notice that *I'm* not aging - it is! lol) I've started using canola as a replacement. One of the reasons I started soaping was family allergies - the big one being nut allergies. I do not use almond oil in anything!

 

[TheGecko]

How would I ever know unless they told me?

Exactly.

It's good to be mindful of what others might be sensitive to.

But at the same time, you can't allow it to take over your business or you'll end with a bunch of soap that you can't sell. I make a custom soap for a customer who is very sensitive to Cocoa and Shea Butter. I don't mind making a custom order, but the rule is that you have to buy the entire loaf (10 bars).

And while I may be willing, there is a limit how far I am willing to 'customize'. As an example, I am only buying my FOs from Brambleberry and Nurture Soap and am happy to make you a loaf of any FO on their websites at no extra charge so long as it's not a special order, you will then have to pay for shipping. It's the same if I have to order from another soap supplier. And I will refuse to use anything that doesn't come from a reputable soap supplier or that a customer brings me, even if they ordered it from a reputable soap supplier because I don't know how old it is, what conditions it's been kept in, etc. While I am willing to make a soap without butters (cuz that is the recipe I started with), I won't make a soap without Coconut Oil or Palm Oil....I just won't.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

This is a tough one!

I agree!
Since I've never had a problem with being allergic to any of my soap formulas, it is a challenge to formulate for others who do. In all my years of selling wholesale, I've never had an "allergy" complaint from family, friends and customers. I avoid using peanut oil because it's a known allergy. I'm cautious with shea butter, another known allergy for those sensitive to latex. I avoid essential oils known for causing sensitivity issues and fragrance oils for those sensitive to fragrance, i.e., seniors, pets, babies, cancer patients.

I also follow the "less is more" protocol when designing formulas. My favorite soaps contain 3 oils or less.

HTH

 

[meast]

Maybe the soap is not the same as the oil? Some of the allergy problem goes away with the reaction. Make a single oil, completely reacted soap first then add the results to other soaps or another batch of oils and lye. No super fat.

 

[meast]

https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-...icks/soaping-with-allergies-nuts-gluten-more/Here is more to read. I guess it is just better to avoid these oils for people who are sensitive. Allergies seem to come from a reaction to the proteins. The acids are the chemicals that react most with the lye.

 

[LisaBoBisa]

My latex allergies grew loads worse last year, so I've started reacting to shea butter and mango butter (happened at the same time as other long-covid related reactions/inflammation, so maybe more post-covid folks in general will have allergies now). I've always reacted a little to aloe vera (it contains latex; I know, not an oil, but it's soap-related). I haven't noticed a big difference with castor oil and irritation, maybe bc I use it at 4-5%, but my most comfortable bar has no castor oil-- so castor might affect me a little. I might have to give up some lather for a completely latex-free bar. I haven't tried kokum butter or avocado oil yet, but internet searches say both plants are high in latex, so I avoid 'em just in case.

One friend has contact allergies to beeswax, but that's pretty easy to avoid in soap. Another friend breaks out in hives from shea butter, so I avoid latex-containing oils with her, just in case.

 

[Obsidian]

I hate OO, it makes my skin terribly tight. Cocoa butter makes me itchy and if in a lip balm, will make me swell.
Babassu seems harsh, much more than coconut.

 

[Quilter99755]

I started soaping because all commercial soaps dried my "aging" skin (thanks, @Deborah Long). I started with the trinity of OO, CO and PO and it was wonderful...compared to what I had been using. Then a few years later I started getting the itches again and read that CO was drying, so cut back on it and upped the OO. Then I got on this website and really learned about oils and soaping. I tried lots of different combos but still used OO because it was supposed to be so mild and gentle. Long story short...someone mentioned they couldn't tolerate OO and it hit me that the only thing I hadn't changed in my quest was OO. So my next batch was free of OO and I've never had the itches since then. I've never tried to make any soap by just cutting the amount...it didn't seem worth the effort as I've used HO sunflower or safflower which works and is cheaper than OO. I keep my CO down to 10% unless I'm soaping for my grandson who loves the bubbles...then it goes up to 25%. No other allergies that I know of for me and family since that is who gets my soap.

 

[Arimara]

I hate OO, it makes my skin terribly tight. Cocoa butter makes me itchy and if in a lip balm, will make me swell.
Babassu seems harsh, much more than coconut.

I hope this isn't too personal but would that mean you're allergic to chocolate?

@KiwiMoose I don't like high OO in soap because I find it drying. I also cap CO to 20% and will routinely go to 10%. Nut oils, even if refined, are avoided by me due to my daughter being allergic to tree nuts and I limit the lard in soap only because it breaks my face out (beef tallow will not).

 

[Hermit]

Coconut makes me break out in hives. Even when it's in soaps.

I just started researching soapmaking because I realized It was something in my (store bought) shampoo and conditioner that's been making me congested. I had been falsely accusing the cats of sleeping on my pillow. Opps. All the local handmade products are made with coconut.

I have ordered and received most of my supplies, and just need a few more things before I can make my first batch.