I admit it... I bought some micas

[Mobjack Bay]

I’m dutifully following in the footsteps of so many newbie soapers before me... I’m not planning to give up botanical colors, but I do want to play with micas.

What now??? The micas are from Nuture and they’re fine for CP. 1 tsp ppo seems to be the general guideline, and especially for purple (which I didn’t buy), but I feel like I read someplace in my travels that you can use some colors at lower concentrations, maybe?

What are the pros and cons, if any, or mixing them with oil versus glycerin? Can it be any oil? I don’t use much SAO, and have plenty of OO, sunflower, safflower and RBO. Should I mix them in a little cup or bowl, then scrape them into a bigger cup or pitcher and add the batter on top, or is it better to add them on top of the batter, or does it not matter as long as everything is mixed well?

If you’ve written a great post on how you do it and can point me in the right direction, thank you in advance. I’ve been reading a lot, but it can get overwhelming sometimes.

ETA: I rarely make more than a 2 lb loaf at a time in case that matters.

 

[dibbles]

Welcome to the wide world of color Yet another addiction. This is what I do, and others do things differently. I use a craft (popsicle) stick to transfer some mica into a cup and add only enough oil to make it pourable. I don't use batch oils as I sometimes don't use all the mica I mix. I think if you want really bright colors, 1 tsp PPO is a good guideline, but I have found that I can get good color saturation at lower amounts. I almost always disperse in oil (I tend to use sunflower, but I think any would be fine) which allows me to stir in the mica until I get the color I want. Adding it dry requires more stick blending, which I don't want to do most of the time. I add the mica after I have split the batch, on top of the batter. I only tried glycerin once, but others (IrishLass is one) prefer to use glycerin, so I think it becomes a matter of personal preference. I think you will quickly get a feel for the amount of mica you need - just like everything soapy - it just takes a bit of practice. This is a video I think is quite helpful:


Have fun

 

[earlene]

I let desired intensity of color be my guide. When I want a paler version of the color, I use less. When I want more intensity, I use more.

You can mix with oil, water or glycerin. I have done all 3. Some mix better with oil; some better with water; and I think most do well with glycerin.


Oops, deleted the video as dibbles already included it her post above.

When mixing with glycerin, I found that it's best not to go overboard, as adding too much glycerin to soap can create problems in the soap (not ever getting hard, for example; attracting moisture from the humid air also). When mixing with oil, I deduct the oil from the recipe. When mixing with water, I deduct the liquid from the lye solution liquid.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Welcome to the wide world of color Yet another addiction. This is what I do, and others do things differently. I use a craft (popsicle) stick to transfer some mica into a cup and add only enough oil to make it pourable. I don't use batch oils as I sometimes don't use all the mica I mix. I think if you want really bright colors, 1 tsp PPO is a good guideline, but I have found that I can get good color saturation at lower amounts. I almost always disperse in oil (I tend to use sunflower, but I think any would be fine) which allows me to stir in the mica until I get the color I want. Adding it dry requires more stick blending, which I don't want to do most of the time. I add the mica after I have split the batch, on top of the batter. I only tried glycerin once, but others (IrishLass is one) prefer to use glycerin, so I think it becomes a matter of personal preference. I think you will quickly get a feel for the amount of mica you need - just like everything soapy - it just takes a bit of practice. This is a video I think is quite helpful:


Have fun

I’m glad you made the point about using batch oils or not because otherwise I would get all ocd about trying to figure out the exact amount in advance. That’s a super helpful video! I’ve been looking at some of Amy’s videos but never came across that one. Typically, I look and look and look, give up looking, do something one way and then immediately stumble across the video that has all the answers. Sometimes it makes more sense to ask the wise ones!

 

[steffamarie]

I mix all my micas in oil as I really hated the way the glycerin interacted with my soap batter.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I let desired intensity of color be my guide. When I want a paler version of the color, I use less. When I want more intensity, I use more.

You can mix with oil, water or glycerin. I have done all 3. Some mix better with oil; some better with water; and I think most do well with glycerin.


Oops, deleted the video as dibbles already included it her post above.

When mixing with glycerin, I found that it's best not to go overboard, as adding too much glycerin to soap can create problems in the soap (not ever getting hard, for example; attracting moisture from the humid air also). When mixing with oil, I deduct the oil from the recipe. When mixing with water, I deduct the liquid from the lye solution liquid.

I tried glycerin for something one time and it didn’t work all that well. I think I was in an “emergency” situation and the glycerin was cold and thick and it just went downhill from there... It’s good to have choices! Thanks Earlene!

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I mix all my micas in oil as I really hated the way the glycerin interacted with my soap batter.

I was cross posting my bad experience with glycerin What did it do in your batter?

 

[dibbles]

I’m glad you made the point about using batch oils or not because otherwise I would get all ocd about trying to figure out the exact amount in advance.

Me, exactly me. I don’t use much oil to mix the mica, and it doesn’t seem to mess with my soap or superfat. If I am using lots of colors, like more than 4, I will lower my recipe superfat a percentage or 2.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Me, exactly me. I don’t use much oil to mix the mica, and it doesn’t seem to mess with my soap or superfat. If I am using lots of colors, like more than 4, I will lower my recipe superfat a percentage or 2.

I’ve been lowering my SF in my recipes just for that reason!

 

[steffamarie]

I was cross posting my bad experience with glycerin What did it do in your batter?

It was just very difficult to mix in fully without stick blending which I try to avoid doing.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

It was just very difficult to mix in fully without stick blending which I try to avoid doing.

That’s basically the same problem I had.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

For testing micas & FOs at the same time, this has worked for me on several occasions and I get lovely colors. The white Kaolin (China) clay seems to help keep colors true and stick the fragrance as well.

6 Pop! Mica Sampler from TBK, one each of: Raspberry, Strawberry, Tangerine, Lemon Drop, Apple Green, Blueberry,
Use 1/4th tsp mica per 4 oz bar.
6-Cavity Mold, Makes 4 oz. Round Bars

6 FOs from whatever supplier. Use 3 mls per 4 oz. bar.

SOAP RECIPE (18 oz. oils = 24 oz. soap/6 = 4 oz. bars)
8 oz. lard 44.4%
5 oz. coconut oil 27.7%
3.5 oz. olive oil 19.4%
1.5 oz. castor oil 8.3%
18 oz. TOTAL (INS 162)

LYE SOLUTION
6 oz. water (33%) - (6.75 oz. 38%)
2.7 oz. 76 grams NaOH (1%)

DIRECTIONS
Set out 6 small Pyrex bowls. Melt oils.
Put 1 Tbls. warm oils in each bowl.
Add 1/4 tsp. Pop! Mica. Mix well.
Add 3 ml FO. Mix well.

Add lye solution to rest of oils and bring to light trace. Add 1 tablespoon China Clay. Pour 4 oz. soap into each bowl, one at a time. Mix well. Pour into individual molds.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

For testing micas & FOs at the same time, this has worked for me on several occasions and I get lovely colors. The white Kaolin (China) clay seems to help keep colors true and stick the fragrance as well.

6 Pop! Mica Sampler from TBK, one each of: Raspberry, Strawberry, Tangerine, Lemon Drop, Apple Green, Blueberry,
Use 1/4th tsp mica per 4 oz bar.
6-Cavity Mold, Makes 4 oz. Round Bars

6 FOs from whatever supplier. Use 3 mls per 4 oz. bar.

SOAP RECIPE (18 oz. oils = 24 oz. soap/6 = 4 oz. bars)
8 oz. lard 44.4%
5 oz. coconut oil 27.7%
3.5 oz. olive oil 19.4%
1.5 oz. castor oil 8.3%
18 oz. TOTAL (INS 162)

LYE SOLUTION
6 oz. water (33%) - (6.75 oz. 38%)
2.7 oz. 76 grams NaOH (1%)

DIRECTIONS
Set out 6 small Pyrex bowls. Melt oils.
Put 1 Tbls. warm oils in each bowl.
Add 1/4 tsp. Pop! Mica. Mix well.
Add 3 ml FO. Mix well.

Add lye solution to rest of oils and bring to light trace. Add 1 tablespoon China Clay. Pour 4 oz. soap into each bowl, one at a time. Mix well. Pour into individual molds.

Nice plan of attack, plus, you did the hard part for me