Has anyone made soap with cleansing value at 33
- Thread starter Cynthia pv&v
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ResolvableOwl
Notorious Lyear
Anecdotally, many people don't like soaps with high “cleansing number”, i. e. those that are high in lauric oils (coconut, palm kernel oil): they report a harsh, stripping and drying experience to the skin. But not all people, some are fine with 50%. You might be fine, or might not. You won't know until you make a small batch first and test if your skin likes it.
To a limited degree, the harshness of high coconut/PKO soap can be moderated by lye discount (superfat). But here again, it's best if you test it. Too much superfat in recipes with some soft oils (sunflower oil is one of them) can impair the shelf life (worsen issues with rancidity).
Welcome to SMF, by the way!
To a limited degree, the harshness of high coconut/PKO soap can be moderated by lye discount (superfat). But here again, it's best if you test it. Too much superfat in recipes with some soft oils (sunflower oil is one of them) can impair the shelf life (worsen issues with rancidity).
Welcome to SMF, by the way!
I have not made a soap with 50% PKO, nor one with so high a cleansing number. Have you made and used soap with either that high before?
If you only want to use those oils, I might suggest lowering the PKO and increasing the Sunflower Oil & perhaps the butter, although I don't know which butter it is you have listed there, as the image cuts off the edges on both sides. Others here at SMF have made soaps with high percentage shea butter and really like them, so if it's shea butter, you can go up fairly high and end up with a very nice soap after a bit longer cure, from what I understand.
If you only want to use those oils, I might suggest lowering the PKO and increasing the Sunflower Oil & perhaps the butter, although I don't know which butter it is you have listed there, as the image cuts off the edges on both sides. Others here at SMF have made soaps with high percentage shea butter and really like them, so if it's shea butter, you can go up fairly high and end up with a very nice soap after a bit longer cure, from what I understand.
Cynthia pv&v
New Member
Thanks so much. Ok, I will increase my shea and sunflower oil and try.
I make soaps with high cleansing numbers all the time.
But that's because I want my soaps to do more (than the current commercial soaps).
My soaps cleansing # have been rated as high as 45, and I honestly don't see what the fuss is all about.
If you consider that a pure Coconut Oil bar should be rated as 67 and a soap only using olive oil should be a "0" -- you can see that those numbers don't always translate to what folk say.
My soaps with above average cleansing numbers give you a "squeaky clean" feel without drying, but that's because I superfat at 5% or higher and I try to get my "conditioning" numbers as high as possible.
So, for me, I don't get the skin drying and tightening as one might expect. In fact, after a long day sweating in high humidity weather, I prefer walking out of the shower squeaky clean (since I've spent the day with a film on my skin).
My wife doesn't like the squeaky clean feel.
For a hand soap - a cleansing # of 33 or higher should be fine (depending on your skin type.)
For a shower soap, a high cleansing number will depend on who you're making the soap for.
But that's because I want my soaps to do more (than the current commercial soaps).
My soaps cleansing # have been rated as high as 45, and I honestly don't see what the fuss is all about.
If you consider that a pure Coconut Oil bar should be rated as 67 and a soap only using olive oil should be a "0" -- you can see that those numbers don't always translate to what folk say.
My soaps with above average cleansing numbers give you a "squeaky clean" feel without drying, but that's because I superfat at 5% or higher and I try to get my "conditioning" numbers as high as possible.
So, for me, I don't get the skin drying and tightening as one might expect. In fact, after a long day sweating in high humidity weather, I prefer walking out of the shower squeaky clean (since I've spent the day with a film on my skin).
My wife doesn't like the squeaky clean feel.
For a hand soap - a cleansing # of 33 or higher should be fine (depending on your skin type.)
For a shower soap, a high cleansing number will depend on who you're making the soap for.
My 70% coconut oil/30% mango butter bars have a cleansing # of 47. I superfat those @ 15%, and to me and my family they are wonderful. Our particular skin-types/tolerances are able to handle it quite well.
My salt bars made with 100% coconut oil have a cleansing # of 67, and we love those, too. I use full-fat coconut milk as my soaping liquid in those and superfat them at 13% and they are quite lovely to us.
Everyone's skin-types are different in how much cleansing their skin can handle. My best advice is to make a few small batches (500 grams each) with varying levels cleansing to see what your skin can handle, then formulate from there.
IrishLass
My salt bars made with 100% coconut oil have a cleansing # of 67, and we love those, too. I use full-fat coconut milk as my soaping liquid in those and superfat them at 13% and they are quite lovely to us.
Everyone's skin-types are different in how much cleansing their skin can handle. My best advice is to make a few small batches (500 grams each) with varying levels cleansing to see what your skin can handle, then formulate from there.
IrishLass
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