Face bar for acne prone skin??

[OldHippie]

Can I ask what are salt bars?

Sure, start a new thread. This one is about acne soap (or was), not salt bars or pine tar. I had questions about salt soap too. I took advantage of the search function.

They are comedogenic if you apply the oils directly to your skin and leave them on. After the process of saponification in soap they are converted to a salt and behave differently from when they were in the oil state. The only caution is when you increase the superfat in the soap which leaves an amount of unsaponified fats that could linger on the skin if not washed off properly.
But if you're making a face cream/ butter then yes, I would steer clear of CO and CB and AO etc if suffering from acne prone skin.
On the other hand, Shea Butter has a comedogenic value of 0 and can be used in face creams and lotions without fear of clogging the pores. There are always exceptions of course as everyone's skin reacts slightly differently to soaps and oils and creams.

Thanks for the clarification on this. The net is abound with information about the merits of the oils we use to make soap, but I haven't been able to find squat about the qualities of the resulting salts. Thanks for the tip on the shea. Where do you find this information?

My bath soaps offer great relief from the scaly skin of the arid indoor winter environment, but are too oily to use as face soaps, so I am working on a recipe for an effective face soap. My goal is to be able to strip off make-up with out striping the oils that protect our skin. I was hoping such a soap would be effective in addressing acne, but perhaps I'll need to make a separate soap for that.

 

[jcandleattic]

Thank you for posting your recipe, jcandleattic. I may have to make something like this for my granddaughter. Do you use any kind of a scent in it?

I do, because I hate the way unscented soap smells, but since this is specifically for the face, I only use 2-3%, and it's usually a water type or fresh type scent.

 

[SaltedFig]

Can I ask what are salt bars?

Sure, start a new thread. This one is about acne soap (or was), not salt bars or pine tar. I had questions about salt soap too. I took advantage of the search function.

OldHippie, this is the thread that Newbie89 started, and this question was asked (and answered) back on the first page.

The question followed logically from the suggestions offered and I'm not sure why you've posted this?

 

[Newbie89]

Sure, start a new thread. This one is about acne soap (or was), not salt bars or pine tar. I had questions about salt soap too. I took advantage of the search function.

The thread I started is about face soap for acne! I'm told includes salt bars and pine tar dont understand why I would need to start a new thread?

 

[earlene]

You don't have to start a new thread. This is your thread and the question is on topic, as I perceive it.

Salt bars have a high percentage of salt in them. There are brine bars, where the salt is first completely dissolved in liquid (usually water, but I suppose one could use something else) . These are often called 'Soleseife' (pronounced soul-lay-say-ef-aye). There are salt bars, where undissolved salt is used and added to the batter, in varying percentages; some use as high as 100% salt or 1:1 salt to oils in weight. In either method, the percentage of salt to oils is a personal choice. But using high CO (Coconut Oil) in a salt bar is usually done because CO is the best oil for lathering in the presence of salt.

Perhaps someone else who actually makes salt soaps on a regular basis will come along and tell you more. I don't make them very often myself. Or as OldHippie suggests, you could do a search about salt bars and find more info that way, as well.

 

[Misschief]

I make, and use daily, a salt bar and love it. The recipe I use is Obisidian's salt bar recipe, which uses 50% oil weight of salt. I find it to be my gentlest soap.

 

[jcandleattic]

These are often called 'Soleseife' (pronounced soul-lay-say-ef-aye).

That's how you pronounce that!! I've never said it out loud, but always read it as "soul-safe" LOL
And I agree, no reason to start a new thread.

 

[jcandleattic]

Perhaps someone else who actually makes salt soaps on a regular basis will come along and tell you more.

You basically covered it.

 

[Newbie89]

You don't have to start a new thread. This is your thread and the question is on topic, as I perceive it.

Salt bars have a high percentage of salt in them. There are brine bars, where the salt is first completely dissolved in liquid (usually water, but I suppose one could use something else) . These are often called 'Soleseife' (pronounced soul-lay-say-ef-aye). There are salt bars, where undissolved salt is used and added to the batter, in varying percentages; some use as high as 100% salt or 1:1 salt to oils in weight. In either method, the percentage of salt to oils is a personal choice. But using high CO (Coconut Oil) in a salt bar is usually done because CO is the best oil for lathering in the presence of salt.

Perhaps someone else who actually makes salt soaps on a regular basis will come along and tell you more. I don't make them very often myself. Or as OldHippie suggests, you could do a search about salt bars and find more info that way, as well.

thank you just 1 more question, would i keep the lye percentage at 33% like i did with my last soap?

 

[jcandleattic]

thank you just 1 more question, would i keep the lye percentage at 33% like i did with my last soap?

I keep mine at 33%. High % Coconut Oil is prone to heat up and go into full gel as it is, so using more water, may encourage even more heat.

 

[SaltedFig]

thank you just 1 more question, would i keep the lye percentage at 33% like i did with my last soap?

Newbie89, it makes sense to keep your lye percentage at the same level for your first lot of batches, so you can compare the differences in recipes without having to try and interpret the differences that changing the water makes. Once you have a few batches under your belt, you can vary the lye concentration.

Salt bars are fine at 33% because the high coconut content (I do have to correct my earlier post and state that it's not necessary to always include coconut, but it bubbles nicely in salt bars) will warm up quite a lot anyway, which means that even at 33% it is likely that your soap will gel.

PS. (edited to add PS) What jcandleattic said!

 

[Newbie89]

thank you have not yet managed to get individual moulds so will have a go in the morning when can keep an eye on my big one! haha wish me luck

 

[jcandleattic]

thank you have not yet managed to get individual moulds so will have a go in the morning when can keep an eye on my big one! haha wish me luck

Good luck, just remember, it will most likely still be warm when you need to cut it otherwise it's going to get too hard to cut.

 

[SaltedFig]

thank you have not yet managed to get individual moulds so will have a go in the morning when can keep an eye on my big one! haha wish me luck

I'd really suggest you use any little container you can, rather than trying to cut from a log or slab.
The timing is so tight, for getting the cut done without it crumbling (too early or too late, and it will crumble).

If you do go ahead with a larger mould, cut while it's still warm (as soon as it doesn't dint when you poke it).

Good luck!

(! PS again ... I am going to get coffee )

 

[shunt2011]

Depending on the size of the container you’ll need to watch it closely to cut. My 5 lb loaf I can generally cut in about 3 hours. Make sure to wear gloves as lye will still be active.

 

[Techie Joe]

There are Wiki links on SoapCalc about Lauric Acid and Linoleic Acid, it says they are good for Acne.

Lauric acid is found in Coconut and Palm Kernel
Linoleic acid is found in [paraphrasing] nuts, seeds, bean oil and corn
The links are the small i buttons next to the acids list, and the Wiki pages can tell you more