Help with semi-translucent CP soap!

[Trekracer20]

I'm trying to make a soap that resembles Aveda's "refreshing bath bar"--a tan/light brown soap. It's a soap made from palm oil and coconut oil with mica and fine lines running through it, and a little bit of translucency.

I've made a few batches of soap with about 60% palm oil and 40% coconut oil, Aveda 'shampure' fragrance dupes, and mica. But my soap is a creamy color--not golden tan like the Aveda, and is also completely opaque.

Do you have any suggestions for getting closer to the appearance of the Aveda version?

Thanks very much for any advice or help!

Here is a link to an image of the Aveda version, too:
http://img267.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... barzq2.jpg

 

[ChrissyB]

I had a look at your picture expecting to see a transparent bar of soap. You know that you have to use alcohol and glycerin to get a transparent bar right? Are you cold processing?
You won't get transparent with CP, no matter what oils you use.
And the only other thing I can say is that your soap may be quite drying with that amount of coconut oil.
Some more experienced soapers will respond to this and help you a little bit more.

 

[Trekracer20]

I mean more a subtle translucency, and not the very clear bar you would expect from a glycerin or MP soap--basically the same subtle level of transparency you see in the image. I'm having a hell of a time replicating both that semi-translucent glow and the tan color--not to mention the fine bands of light and dark that are running lengthwise in the soap--I've never seen that in a handmade bar before, and it probably isn't possible.

 

[ChrissyB]

Hmmm, as far as the bands going down the soap, what about using some gold and pearl mica, and painting that into your mould before you pour the soap, dip a paint brush in some olive oil, or some of your melted oils, and just paint it into the mould. It sort of looks like the lines are in the soap though. As far as the colour, maybe you could add something to your soap that is going to discolour to that light tan colour, like goats milk or vanilla?

 

[mandolyn]

Letting your cp go through a full gel will help give it more transclucency.

 

[ChrissyB]

Thanks for that info Mandolyn, I didn't know that.

 

[mandolyn]

Thanks for that info Mandolyn, I didn't know that.

You're welcome. Someone had pics of gelled & non-gelled on the internet. I can't remember where, but you might try doing a search to see if you find it.

 

[starduster]

I wanted to know too

I hope this maybe of some help.

http://www.soapswap.com/index.php?optio ... unc=sb_pdf
I still believe in the soap fairy theory ... sometimes you do everything identical, in the same conditions and get different
results. If the soap fairy has PMS that day, you're in trouble...
;o)
~Maureen~"

I have been watching this thread with interest as one of my earlier batches came out so ethereally translucent and I have been trying work out why that was so I can repeat it.
Your words and that link to reveal some of the mystery.
Thanks
Mary
:idea:

 

[Trekracer20]

What was your recipe for the batch that came out translucent? Did it gel?

I haven't seen any visible signs of gelling in my batches, including one that I mixed with the oils and lye water at 118 degrees or so, and placed into the mold and into the oven preheated to 175 and turned off. Kathy Miller feels that the mica I'm putting in the mixture might just be hiding the gel stage, and has suggested putting a little sugar in the water/lye mix to increase the translucency, but I haven't tried it yet.

I'm also considering using tea water instead of plain distilled water with the lye in order to get the golden tan color that I want, but have not tried that yet either. Maybe a FO with vanilla in it too, but I definitely don't want any kind of medium-dark brown.

 

[starduster]

A bit of a mystery

What was your recipe for the batch that came out translucent? Did it gel?

I not sure that giving you my exact recipe would help so I will list the ingredients.
The reason is that I had a severe attack of builders at my home at the time and it taking much effort to prevent them from rebuilding the Eiffel or some other eddifice and probably upside down too rather than follow my plans and instructions , possibly because I am female, :roll:
So I cannot swear to accuracy.
I remember it was very cold.Sometime in August.I remember it was soft for a lot longer than other soaps and I may have had it very well wrapped apart from peeping and leaving it unwrapped at one stage for a couple of hours before rewrapping it.
My colours being safron and blue titanium to achieve a very soft bluey green I was boiling up amounts till I achieved two lots of varying colours.By this stage the exact proportion of water was unknown as the artist in me was hell bent on getting the perfect colour I felt my Starry Aloe deserved.
The ingredients were Aloe Vera from my garden.
Macadamia Nut oil, that being the majority.
Olive oil
Copha which is coconut with some soya bean oil. I used that because it is easily available here and cheap and I had no Coconut oil on hand which u I can not find here in super markets.
Lye and rain water.
I remember I also was mixing some colouring with oils.
I would say I had a higher than usual water content.
That possibly the intermittant covering, then uncovering it may have had an effect.
I also showered it with only possitive feelings .It did take extra time and I was concerned so I would stop any anxiety conciously and love it. Now that is just my funny little way but I guessed it should be mentioned.
After all Prince Charles plays classical music to his cabbages and such in the belief that helps them to grow better.
The soap I have is still beautiful and Top Cat has used it and can verify that.
I am wondering if the extra water also was one of the ethereal effect.
Appologies for the short book length of answer. :wink:

 

[topcat]

Thanks for that info Mandolyn, I didn't know that.

You're welcome. Someone had pics of gelled & non-gelled on the internet. I can't remember where, but you might try doing a search to see if you find it.

This link may help here.....the eucalyptus soap pic near the bottom of the page shows a gelled and not gelled soap comparison really clearly.

http://www.southernsoaper.com/SoapTempEffects.htm

Tanya

 

[topcat]

I can definitely say that Starry Aloe is a gorgeous soap with an ethereal soft translucency and a delicate colour. I have posted the link to starduster's soap shop so scroll down and look at it.....it is actually more translucent than the pic shows - it seems to almost glow:-

http://www.geocities.com/star_dust_soaps/soap_shop.html

BTW, it is heaven to wash with too!

Tanya

 

[starduster]

Soap Fairy Blessing

I can definitely say that Starry Aloe is a gorgeous soap with an ethereal soft translucency and a delicate colour. I have posted the link to starduster's soap shop so scroll down and look at it.....it is actually more translucent than the pic shows - it seems to almost glow:-

http://www.geocities.com/star_dust_soaps/soap_shop.html

BTW, it is heaven to wash with too!

Tanya

Thankyou Tanya.
Now all I have to do is find out if it was maybe that afore mentioned soapfairy was on a high that day and chose to randomly bless that soap or whether I will be able to reproduce it one day. In the meantime I shall go back to making myTwighlight Soaps Stars soap. Oh so much fun.
Mary

 

[mandolyn]

Thanks for that info Mandolyn, I didn't know that.

You're welcome. Someone had pics of gelled & non-gelled on the internet. I can't remember where, but you might try doing a search to see if you find it.

This link may help here.....the eucalyptus soap pic near the bottom of the page shows a gelled and not gelled soap comparison really clearly.

http://www.southernsoaper.com/SoapTempEffects.htm

Tanya

Yep, those are the pics I was referring to. Thanks!