Home soaps vs. commercial recipes

[Basia]

My husband brought up a theory to me today. He basically said, that even with a moisturizing recipe, superfatted at 5%, he can still feel a "bite" from the soap, indicating that it still feels harsher than what he usually used, which was Lever 2000.

He thinks that most, if not all, commercially produces soaps in the stores are probably superfatted to the point that they probably have very little cleansing properties, because people would rather feel "soft and lotioned", with the illusion of being cleaned, than have a bar of soap that actually is designed for cleanliness. If you were to put one of their formulas through the calcuator, the "cleanliness level" would probably fall below the minimum.

What are your thoughts on this? And, have you had the same experiences with your soap?

 

[Genny]

IMO 5% sf would still feel harsh to me as well. I use at least 7% if not more. Plus, making sure it's cured can affect the "harshness" feeling as well.

The soaps in the stores are made with synthetic detergents & surfactants, which affects the ph of the soap.
Lever 2000 has petroleum & mineral oil in it (at least the ingredient list that I found did), so that will really trap the moisture onto your skin as well, so that's probably why it feels lotion-like to him.

Here's a video of commercial soap being made. It doesn't really have anything to do with this, but I like the video LOL [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuNo99O6Des[/ame]

 

[Badger]

Thank you for posting the video, it is interesting to see how soap is mass produced.

 

[Lindy]

I'm allergic to commercial soaps and can only use hand-made. Depending on the properties of the oils I'm using I can do 5% but I make very high OO soaps (60-70%) so I have a very conditioning bar to start with.

Try different recipes, keep the harsher oils like CO & PKO low in %age, I wouldn't go higher than 15% and only to get bubbles and then play with your other oils to see what you can come up with. Remember all soap gets hard so don't get too concerned with the hardness #'s.

 

[melstan775]

Ah thanks for posting that video Genny. I've been looking for that one but could never find it again.

About the mineral and petroleum in Lever 2000, Mineral oil is a known skin irritant. It doesn't saponify, and would have to have an emulsifier to make it stick. Petroleum, to stick to the skin, would have to have an emulsifier in it as well because it's so heavily oil based. And, no one really likes to hear this, but you don't need soap to get clean. I think maybe your hubby is a homemade soap doubter. I dare you to increase your superfats and get rid of all his lever 2000!

 

[Basia]

If anything, he is brutally honest for my benefit. He would rather have me know the truth right away, so that I don't waste my time and money, thinking I have a great product, when it really needs to be improved. I would rather get an honest opinion that I may not like, rather than have someone tell me something just to make me feel good.

Thanks for all the info as well! It gives me a good direction to work towards. I want my soap to be the best it can, both in function and beauty! ;-)

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

Basia, My hubby is also very very honest, in a kind way. I appreciated his non-sugar-coating. Having said that it took our skin a little while to adjust to handmade soaps. The first few times I showered with my soaps, I went sans lotion (in a attempt to be objective) afterwards, it caused a "tight" feeling. But here we are nearly a year later, my soaps have gotten better and so has my skin. This past winter has been my first on only my soap. I usually have very dry skin this time of the year. The difference in the feel of my skin and use of less lotion is very noticeable to me.

 

[crysvan]

Lever 2000 is also what my hubby uses. Does anyone know if there are any FOs similar to what is used in it? I am planning to make a soap for the hubby but he is a creature of habit and to make me convince him better, I'd like to use an FO with a similar scent and ease the transition better hehe

 

[sistrum]

WSP's Pure Rain is their dupe for Lever 2000. Smells like it oob but I have not soaped with it.

 

[judymoody]

My husband was very skeptical when I began making soap. He was a fanatic about liquid soap for handwashing and used a basic detergent bar (Dove? Dial?) for showers.

I have converted him. He even asks me to bring my own soap in my luggage when we travel.

I superfat at 10% and my base recipe is OO, CO, PO, Castor, and Cocoa Butter. We live in a very arid climate and my skin is much less dry than it used to be. 5% is too low for me.

That said, a minority of people genuinely do not tolerate the pH of CP soap well and detergent bars suit their skin better. I know some handcrafters who formulate their own syndet bars with very nice results.

 

[nebetmiw]

OMG what a wasted process of making commerical soap is. Thanks for the video.

I superfat about 6 or 7% too. It just feels better than 5%.

 

[Mommysoaper]

MY husband has been supportive of my soapmaking and has diligently tried all of my creations in the shower. Currently there are about 5 scraps of homemade soap bars and 2 body washes in the bathroom. He always said the soaps felt "nice" or they had "good bubbles" but didn't get much more specific than that. A few months ago, we traveled to stay with family for a week. My husband took a shower there the first night and upon coming out of the shower asked if I had brought any homemade soap with me. I said of course! He had tried using his usual soap (Dial type I believe) which had been in his travel kit. Said his skin felt tight and uncomfortable after using his old soap and wanted my homemade soap instead. This was the best compliment he could have given me! It surprised him too! Now, he is a very vocal advocate about homemade soap!

Don't worry! I'm sure if you keep tweaking your recipe, you will soon convert your hubby into a true believer. Good luck to you!

 

[nebetmiw]

Yes, that is one of the best ways to have a true convert. My hubby has always loved my soap. We had BIL down this past month and I gave him a bar to shower with. When he got back home up north he asked hubby next time he is up that way( hubby is truck driver) to bring him some of my soap. He can't stand the store bought now. I will package some up and ship it too him if we do not have to get MIL soon to bring her down.

When this happens it is a BIG boost to your ego.

 

[Lion Of Judah]

i myself was a "strickly level 2000" user and had the same feeling when i switched to handmade soap, my own. but over time my skin adjusted and the results could be seen. also, for my personal choice, i use to use olive oil as a lotion after showering so any skin problem was not very much noticeable. am i glad for the switch....... what do you think ?

LEVER 2000 :
Standard Ingredients
All three of the Lever soaps contain glycerin, stearic acid, tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, sodium stearate, tetrasodium etidronate, sodium 1-methyl 2-sulfolaurate, sodium chloride, water, sodium, sulfate, sunflower seed oil, petrolatum, mineral oil, sodium tallowate, titanium dioxide, disodium 2-sulfolaurate, coconut fatty acids, sodium cocoate and cocamidopropyl betaine. There is also fragrance in every bar.

Lever 2000 Original
The only ingredient in the original Lever soap that is not in the others is tocopheryl acetate, a form of vitamin E that aids in moisturizing the skin.

Pure Rain
In addition to the standard ingredients, Lever 2000 Pure Rain and Fresh Aloe soaps have propylene glycol as well as coloring. The Pure Rain is colored with blue and red dye, while the Fresh Aloe has a green dye in it. The Fresh Aloe also contains aloe vera extract and cucumber extract.

>>>>>> Taken from : LIVESTRONG.COM

 

[Hazel]

Mineral oil is a skin irritant?

http://personalcaretruth.com/2011/02/mineral-oil/

http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/2010/11/much-maligned-ingredients-mineral-oil_09.html

http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/myths/_/beauty-myths

I'm posting the link below just because I thought the article was amusing.

http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulating/category/natural/121167814.html?page=1