Sodium Lactate Pockets?

[Ellacho]

I don't use sodium lactate regularly in my soap, but sometimes I use liquid sodium lactate in CP milk soap. I am out of it right now, so I am using the SL powder(Lotioncrafters) instead. For the first batch, I used 100% water and added the SL powder in warm lye water. No problem.

For this particular recipe, I used the milk in oil method where 50% distilled water and 50% buttermilk use in soap.

Since it's milk soap, I added 1 teaspoon/ppo in cooled lye water(around 100F ) I did not want any overheating issue. But then, when I poured SL powder in lye water and stirred, they did not dissolve at at all. I was thinking it might be due to lye the water being too cold or too concentrated.

At that moment, I was a bit hesitant as to whether I'd proceed or not but I decided to move forward with it and make the soap, hoping and praying that they would dissolved.

NO, they didn't . The next day, I cut my soap, ugh...I saw the SL pockets! They could not be lye pockets because lye was completely dissolved and cooled off before I added SL flakes in.

It's the second day, I see the pockets are not dry yet.

I am wondering if anyone has ever used SL powder and had a similar incident. Can I confirm that they are SL pockets :cry:? More importantly, is it safe to give my soap away?

Thank you for your input.

 

[hmlove1218]

*Disclaimer: I've never used SL so someone else may correct me.*

The quickest way to find out if it's safe is to zap test one of the pockets. If there's *any* chance it could be lye, wet the tip of your finger, rub it on one of the spots and then lick your finger (trust me, you don't want to stick your tongue to a lye crystal. Just don't ask how I know..). If no zap, I'd probably stick my tongue to it just for ease of mind. If still no zap, just let it cure because it should be fine.

 

[shunt2011]

I'm with hmlove1218. I use SL in most all my soaps but have never used the powder/crystal form so can't help there. I would test them and if not zappy then just let them cure.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I put the SL in to the water before adding the lye - the same with all things that I add in to the water like citric acid and sugar.

 

[Ellacho]

Thanks guys . I did the zap test and I felt something but it was not zappy at all. I'm just going to let them cure for now.