Is this true

[MeadowHillFarmCT]

I read on the internet that if your soap makes your fingers shrivel (like when you have been swimming or soaking in a bath for a while) you have to much lye in the batch?

I've noticed one of mine does that. It doesn't zap at all and has cured for 6 weeks. I usually superfat 8% and use GM in almost all my batches.

I am nervous now.

 

[IrishLass]

Not saying it can't be true, but that's one that I've never heard before!

These are the typical signs of too much lye:

-Zapping when applying the tongue test (the foremost #1 indication)
-The soap is very hard and brittle. When you go to cut it, the soap breaks up into shards.
- It makes the skin tingle and burn, and/or feels very drying (although the 'drying' sensation can also come from other factors- i.e. too much coconut oil, etc..- not necessarily lye heaviness).

If your soap does not zap, I highly doubt it is lye heavy. I just want to clarify, though- is this one soap that does the pruning thing to your fingers from the same batch of soap or from a different batch? If it's from a different batch, I would suspect your formula- maybe it's too cleansing for your skin-type?

IrishLass

 

[Sauboon]

I've never heard of soap causing your skin to shrivel. The best way to make sure that your soap has the right amount of lye is to use a lye calc. You can also check by touching the tip of your tongue with the soap. If there is not zap then there is not lye. Maybe you used too much coconut oil. Hope this helped.

 

[busymakinsoap!]

I've heard it before!

I never used to wear gloves and handled raw soap a bit - my fingers were like prunes (with no finger prints ). I can't remember where I read it, but it made sense at the time, I actually think it might have been on wikipedia.

I'm off to find it again...

 

[cp chick]

Funny that you post this question. I often try a leftover sliver after cutting my soap. I've sometimes felt like my palms were "pruning up", but can't specifically see it. I always assumed it was because lye was still present. It definitely doesn't happen with a fully saponified bar.

 

[MeadowHillFarmCT]

I Know my soap doesn't zap - I am always licking it (my husband doesn't understand)....lol

I think it may be the cleansing factor. My tester people have not mentioned it but I notice it 'prunes' my fingers. Not my body... but my fingers.


My basic recipe is...
VO 10%
CO 22%
OO 40%
PO 20%
Rice Bran Oil 8%

I SF 8% and use 36% GM to oil percentage