Sensitive Skin

[Possum_Magic]

I get a real buzz when a friend or family member, who has sensitive skin, asks for another bar of my soap because they don't react to it and they love the feel of it.

ATM I scent with essential oils, and I use natural colorants: madder root, chlorophyll (in liquid form which I believe likely part synthetic despite manufacturer's claims), charcoal, annatto, and clay. So far, no one has reacted to these colorants (I realize there are people who probably would).

I want to branch out by trying some other colorants...maybe some oxides and pigments.

In your experience, do people with sensitive skin tend to react to these products?

I really want to try some alkanet, but am thinking maybe I should just get an oxide instead?

I want to keep my soaps as natural as possible, but I do look longingly at the beautifully vibrant soaps clever soapers are creating.

Cheers,
Possum Magic

 

[Ruthie]

WSP says its oxides are from natural sources. The colors are not the vibrant ones, but I've found them to be adequate. I've never have anyone report any reaction.

 

[cmzaha]

I get a real buzz when a friend or family member, who has sensitive skin, asks for another bar of my soap because they don't react to it and they love the feel of it.

ATM I scent with essential oils, and I use natural colorants: madder root, chlorophyll (in liquid form which I believe likely part synthetic despite manufacturer's claims), charcoal, annatto, and clay. So far, no one has reacted to these colorants (I realize there are people who probably would).

I want to branch out by trying some other colorants...maybe some oxides and pigments.

In your experience, do people with sensitive skin tend to react to these products?

I really want to try some alkanet, but am thinking maybe I should just get an oxide instead?

I want to keep my soaps as natural as possible, but I do look longingly at the beautifully vibrant soaps clever soapers are creating.

Cheers,
Possum Magic

There will always be someone allergic to whatever you use. I personally am allergic to eo's, botanicals etc than synthetics. I grew up having to take synthetic vitamins, just do not take any vitamins anymore. Much easier that way. We just cannot make a one fit all product. People need to take responsibility for themselves and we need to label acurately ...:Kitten Love: I have never had a problem with manufactured colorants

 

[IrishLass]

I have 4 people in my circle of family/friends that have a history of sensitive skin issues, and happily, my soap is the only soap they can use that doesn't make them break out in a rash or red bumps. I can't tell you what joy it brings me for my soap to be able to help alleviate that for them. For what it's (surprisingly) worth, I use FO's instead of EOs in my soaps, and my colorants are not what I would term as 'natural'. I use ultramarines, oxides and mica instead of natural powders or oils infused with natural things like roots and herbs and the like.

Seeing as how everyone's skin is different, I can't say that the same will work for you, too, but I would buy a small amount of some of the vibrant colors and test them out to see how they do.

IrishLass

 

[shunt2011]

^^^
This. I have several customers who have sensitive skin (my husband included but doesn't pay) and they have no problems with my soaps either. I use FO's and otherwise un-natural colorants mostly. I do have 1 that I keep uncolored and unscented just in case somebody wants it. However, it's not a fast seller. Folks seem to like colors and scents in my area.

 

[fuzz-juzz]

It really depends on what your friends' skin is actually reacting to. And how is it presented, does their skin go really dry, break out in rash, pimples, etc?
It might be trial and error for the first few batches but you might find the combo their skin likes.
Something "natural" won't necessarily be kind to their skin. If you take certain EOs, they can burn through plastic, concetrated though, but still, they might be very irritating.
I guess, it's best to start with simple recipes, basic oils, no colour or little and same wiht FOs or EOs.
My face for example, breaks out in sore red blotches if I use anything that's scented or any coloured make up. I can't wear foundation, eye shadows, etc. I can wear mascara maybe but I shouldn't touch skin when I'm putting it on. It's same with soap, anything harsh, like CO and it will produce similar reaction. Now I use simple lard, OO and castor oil soap for my face, no colours, no FOs and my face likes it.

 

[Susie]

Gosh, I am so glad to finally hear someone else can't wear makeup. But I react to talc as well as apparently everything in the "hypoallergenic" and "mineral" makeups. I gave up a number of years ago. I can wear my own lip balm, I can even use carmine to color it without a reaction. That's it.

Before I get the lecture about allergies are to proteins, and there are no proteins in talc, I know this. But my eczema does not care if there are proteins or not, it flares up around talc.

 

[OliveOil2]

Allergies are a tough one, you never know what allergies someone may have. I started out only using natural colorants, and essential oils. I had good success with clays, ochers, and natural earth. They are all sterilized before they can be sold. I still like to make this kind of soap, but many people request the pretty colors and fragrance.
Just because something is natural doesn't mean that it is more safe, oxides are a good example, the FDA requires that they all be made in a lab, so the ones allowed to be sold in the US are created, not the ones found in nature. In nature they can contain lead, arsenic and other toxins.
I am still weird about the colors I use, if a color is listed as soap safe, but not safe for a bath bomb or cosmetic I just don't use it. I haven't had any problems with micas, oxides, or ultramarines.

 

[Dahila]

I have thousand allergies too, so this is the main reason why I make my own products, I can control what is inside. It helps my family too, Eczema is running in third generation already. I do not have it, but from early childchood to present I suffer with atopic dermatitis. No fun , almost everything is is causing itching.........

 

[fuzz-juzz]

Lol Susie
I know, I've always been told I'm weird for not using make up, but somehow I'm still alive hehe.
I'm lucky I have really good genes and my age or wrinkles don't show as much. I've realised this when in my early teens when my cousins would slather on make up and I would do the same, but immediately there would be a reaction. I tried every few years thinking make up is changing and companies might use different ingredients, but it's always the same. Couple of months ago, I tried daughter's mascara and ended up with a red and flaky eye lid. I can use moisturisers (one brand only) and sunscreen but they have to be fragrance and colour free.
Rest of my skin is fine though, apart from legs and arms in summer when I get type of rash which Dr defined as sun allergy. It gets really red and itchy and if scratch a lot I end up with scars. I must wear long pants and light cardigans throughout the summer which it's not easy in Aussie summer.
I agree all kind of sensitivities and allergies are running in families. I never got tested for allergies or asthma, but I finally made an appointment and will get it sorted soon.

 

[Lindy]

Sensitive skin is why I started making my own products.

 

[Dahila]

it seems that many people started due some skin problems I do not feel alone here that for sure

 

[Neve]

My hubby sells my soap to a couple of people he works with that have ultra sensitive skin and they love it.

I started making soap to make shampoo bars because I couldn't tolerate commercial shampoos. Instant success. Scalp loves it. Hair is thicker too.

Now however I am having major skin issues and I don't know why. Hoping it's not my soap

 

[jules92207]

My dermatologist said I am allergic to detergents, not soap. Hence my reason for soaping. Real soap, fragrances, or colors don't bother me but rub a detergent on my skin and scaly red everywhere!

That being said I have a coworker that is allergic to lavender and a girlfriend allergic to yellow 5. You just never know.

 

[Susie]

I have thousand allergies too, so this is the main reason why I make my own products, I can control what is inside. It helps my family too, Eczema is running in third generation already. I do not have it, but from early childchood to present I suffer with atopic dermatitis. No fun , almost everything is is causing itching.........

We had 3 generations with eczema also. But my dad was diagnosed after I had children. Then my dad's siblings were all diagnosed one after the other after my dad told them about how much better his skin was, and that they needed to go to a dermatologist.

I wish I had known about making soap while he was still alive. It would have tickled him pink to make soap(again, as he made it when he was a child growing up during the depression). He is the one I get the whole "let's try to make it with our own hands" bug from. And it would have thrilled him to make the solution to his eczema with his own two hands.

 

[xraygrl]

I started soap making because my twin girls, like me, have very sensitive skin. We don't have any problems with colorants (FDC's Oxides, ultramarines etc), but one of my dd's can't use any products with clays in them...clay makes her skin red inflamed and itchy. Also we have to keep the coconut and or palm kernel % low in the soap, 10% max. Any higher than that and we get itchy.

Oh, and pigments (ultramarines and oxides) are all created in labs now. Most suppliers state they are nature identical (chemically they are the same), but this in no way makes them natural. However, the natural ones contained too many toxins like arsenic, lead, mercury etc so they are better created in a lab.

http://teachsoap.com/2012/03/24/soap-coloring-options/

 

[Dahila]

We had 3 generations with eczema also. But my dad was diagnosed after I had children. Then my dad's siblings were all diagnosed one after the other after my dad told them about how much better his skin was, and that they needed to go to a dermatologist.

I wish I had known about making soap while he was still alive. It would have tickled him pink to make soap(again, as he made it when he was a child growing up during the depression). He is the one I get the whole "let's try to make it with our own hands" bug from. And it would have thrilled him to make the solution to his eczema with his own two hands.

Yes I went through suffering with the skin and I could start it earlier and save myself a lot of scars.....My daughter loves my liquid soap

 

[seven]

Sensitive skin is why I started making my own products.

yep. same here. my skin was badly dry, it almost crack and bleed. not to mention eczema/sensitive skin from my mum's side. continuous use of gm soap has improved my skin a lot.

 

[hlee]

Eczema is the reason I started soap making also. In the winter my shins would itch so much I would scratch them bloody. Steroid creams helped but I was looking for prevention.
This is my 3rd winter with no eczema on my legs and I'm still amazed by that.
What I didn't realize is what a huge fun world soap making is.
I use both EO and FO, any kind of color and have had no more itchy legs.
For me I think it's all about the oil.