New soapmaker! recipe help!

[hags]

Hi! I'm a new soap maker who has been experimenting with different recipes... I wanted to get advice on the percentages of the oils I've been using for my cold process soaps. My soaps seem slightly drying and I would prefer something that is more hydrating. I also seem to have problems with my soap crumbling- I believe it happens when I add sodium lactate and titanium dioxide- but I'm not sure. I tried omitting sodium lactate and working with a water discount which was helping, but when I added titanium dioxide I still got some crumbling. Also, I pH tested my soaps and they are definitely not lye heavy. Any and all advice/opinions are welcome!

 

[StephanieIsImmortal]

Hi...

It doesn't appear to be a drying recipe. However, beeswax might be the culprit. I recall that Nature's Garden did a blog post on using beeswax. They tested batches at varying % and shared results.

Beeswax also (likely) speeds trace and it's possible that the batch needs more blending but it may be challenging if you're reaching trace pre-maturely. I exp crumbling 2x in my beginnings. It was because I had not stick blended long enough.

I don't use TD so I cannot comment on that from experience. I've been making soap 4.75 years. I sell B2B (wholesale) and B2C (direct online).

All the best!

 

[OldHippie]

My soaps seem slightly drying and I would prefer something that is more hydrating.

Drop the CO 5% and double the shea.

 

[Relle]

crumbling- I believe it happens when I add sodium lactate and titanium dioxide- but I'm not sure. I tried omitting sodium lactate and working with a water discount which was helping, but when I added titanium dioxide I still got some crumbling.

Looks like you answered your own question. Omit the TD and see if the crumbling still happens. You don't say how much TD you are adding.