squeaky soap

[Guest]

This weekend I gave my sister in law a bar of my soap. She loved it, and said that it made her feel so clean, her cheeks squeaked when she walked.

Granted, she meant it as a compliment, but I wonder if there is a way to prevent that really squeaky feel and obtain a creamier skin feeling instead. Any advice? I don't have any idea what makes soap "squeak" so I have no idea how to get a different result.

Thanks!

 

[holly99]

I don't feel squeaky clean unless I use my high coconut oil that has a high cleansing factor. What was in your recipe?

 

[jarvan]

What was your cleansing value and did you superfat?

 

[Guest]

I used a recipe from the Handmade Soap Book (only recipe I've ever followed without tweaking)

Shortening 10 oz.
Olive 12 oz
Coconut 10 oz.
Beeswax 2 oz.
Water 11 oz.
Lye 5 oz.
Honey 2 T.

In looking over my notes, I don't think I ran it through soapcalc. I know, big no-no.

 

[Sparklebrook]

I don't think that recipe looks too bad. It does have 30% coconut which can be very cleansing and drying, thus squeaky clean. Higher amounts of coconut can be fine but I usually like a higher superfat. How do you like the way it bubbles and lathers? I really like to add castor oil to help with that.

 

[Guest]

So I need to look at the cleansing number? That's good to know. Overall, I think the soap is nice.....you're right, though, castor oil is missing. I usually add that, but like I said, I actually followed a recipe.

Hmmm, I usually make goat milk soaps; maybe that's why this soap is different to me.

 

[Sparklebrook]

Well, if you usually make gm soap, that might be a lot of difference in feel. It is adding a superfat that isn't calcuated.

I pay attention to the cleansing number but it can also lie. Castile soap has a very low cleansing number on soapcalc but it is still soap and cleans up just fine. So you have to take those soapcalc numbers with a grain of salt but they are a good starting point on a recipe.

Many people can't handle a high amount of coconut oil. The standard of use is usually around 20-25% but some people can only tolerate coconut oil if its under 15% or not at all.