Hand soap using castile and additives.

[orangejello]

Hi. This is my first time trying anything soap related. I wanted to start making easy hand soap for use at home. I found a recipe online using castile soap, water, oil, and fragrance. It seems like the soap makes my hands really dry, almost to the point where my skin starts flaking. Is there any way to tweak this recipe to make it less harsh and more moisturizing?

Recipe

• 100ml castile soap (Yoken brand Pure Castile Soap- the reviews were all raving about how nice it felt)
• 300ml water
• 1 tbsp fractionated coconut oil (Makesy brand from Hobby Lobby)
• 1/2 tbsp swwet almond oil (Makesy brand)
• 1 tsp scent (Makesy brand Candle and Soap Fragrance)

My brief internet search suggested maybe it needs more water? Or that the coconut oil can be drying? I couldn't get a solid answer.

 

[Relle]

First of all you are not making soap as it's already made for you. Adding water is just going to make it runner, 1 tbsp of fractionated CO and 1/2 tbsp of almond oil are not really going to do anything and soap doesn't moisturise, it's a wash off product. You would be better starting making your own liquid soap, then you can make it with what you want in it and not rely on a commercial brand.

 

[Zing]

Hi. This is my first time trying anything soap related. I wanted to start making easy hand soap for use at home. I found a recipe online using castile soap, water, oil, and fragrance. It seems like the soap makes my hands really dry, almost to the point where my skin starts flaking. Is there any way to tweak this recipe to make it less harsh and more moisturizing?

Recipe

• 100ml castile soap (Yoken brand Pure Castile Soap- the reviews were all raving about how nice it felt)
• 300ml water
• 1 tbsp fractionated coconut oil (Makesy brand from Hobby Lobby)
• 1/2 tbsp swwet almond oil (Makesy brand)
• 1 tsp scent (Makesy brand Candle and Soap Fragrance)

My brief internet search suggested maybe it needs more water? Or that the coconut oil can be drying? I couldn't get a solid answer.

Welcome to the Forum! I don't know where you found your recipe but it's important to use trusted websites.

I'm not familiar with the method in your recipe. I know of 3 ways to make soap. Melt and Pour involves melting a pre-made soap and adding color and scent. And then there is Cold Process and Hot Process where you combine lye and oils (and color and scent) to make soap. In terms of procedures, Melt and Pour and lye methods are apples and oranges.

When you see comments that coconut oil can be drying in soap, it's in cold- or hot-process soap. Coconut oil on its own is incredibly moisturizing, but when it's combined with lye, it can be drying. Fractionated coconut oil in your recipe is moisturizing too but it's such a minute amount.

A lot of lay people talk about soap being "moisturizing" but it's a hot button on this Forum because it washes off. Instead, people talk about degrees of "cleansing" and using oils that are least cleansing. It's kind of confusing because all soap is cleansing too!

Take care,