sugar

[lovetosoap]

Plain sugar is all that is needed to add bubbles to soap.Powdered sugar is nothing but sugar and cornstarch. Unless cornstarch does something for the soap, it is a wasted ingredient.

Brown sugar is sugar and molasass. To me that is just adding extra sugar.

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

Cornstarch seems to add a sort of "silkiness" to the soap. I have also used it to anchor citrus EO's and it seemed to help them "stick".

 

[lovetosoap]

Thanks for the reply. I asked before if the cornstarch did anything and received no replies.
I may try using it if it adds a silky feel.

Did using the cornstarch keep the scent for the life of the bar? I love citrus scents but was advised not to use citrus eo in soaps.

 

[holly99]

Well, that's interesting on the cornstarch!

 

[Guest]

Cornstarch seems to add a sort of "silkiness" to the soap. I have also used it to anchor citrus EO's and it seemed to help them "stick".

Ditto , I add icing sugar to every batch . Citrus is the hardest scent to make stick , if you add other eo's that will anchor it , it does help . Lime is the only citrus I have made that has stuck very well for close to a year on its own.

Kitn

ETA more info

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

I make Sweet Orange with a touch of Cinnamon and Clove, add about 1 TBS cornstarch per 1000g oils and the Orange lasts to the end of the bar.

You can also anchor the citrus EO's with a bit of Litsea, but it is very intense so use it sparingly otherwise it overpowers the citrus.

 

[lovetosoap]

Thank You. My questions have been answered. I just might give it a try with my next batch.

 

[Bnky]

Magia: Do you add the T of cornstarch in the lye water or do you just add 1 T powered sugar to the lye water? Or both?

 

[Sparklebrook]

I like this idea of the powdered sugar/cornstarch! I've never heard about it before.

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

Magia: Do you add the T of cornstarch in the lye water or do you just add 1 T powered sugar to the lye water? Or both?

I always add granulated sugar to the water and dissolve it properly before adding the lye.

I mix the cornstarch with my EO's (and then "rinse" with a little extra oil like OO or Avocado) and add that last, but that is for Whipped Soap. For CP I guess you would add it after trace.

ETA I add 60 g granulated sugar per 1000 g oils, but added to the water as above.

 

[Guest]

I was using brown sugar, however, it does affect the color of the soap. I only use confectionars sugar now and love the results.

 

[jarvan]

Ditto adding the sugar and dissolving it before the lye. I knew this and forgot to do it the other day and ended up having to keep stirring the lye solution to stop the sugar from forming a cake on the bottom of the lye pitcher!

 

[Sparklebrook]

UGH, I think I'm going to be a large font check-list and put it on the wall so I won't forget things.

 

[Bnky]

Magia: I read this in a website today and thought you might be interested. "Do not add cornstarch to soap. Cornstarch can leave a thin film on your skin that might attract bacteria". I don't know if it is true or not as there are other sites that give recipes with cornstarch. Have you ever heard anything like that?

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

I have never heard that, Bnky.

I used cornstarch in my Bath Fizzies and also in a powder deoderant a long time ago. Never noticed any problem resulting from the use of either. Cornstarch has also been used as a substitute for Talcum powder on babies with sensitive skin. While the Fizzies were "rinse off", the others are "leave on". The deoderant used under arm would surely have been one of the best tests for the formation of bacteria as that is precisely what the deoderant is trying to prevent. It was one of the most effective deoderants I had ever used and the only reason I stopped using it was because of the white residue it left on the clothes.

Cornstarch baths are also advised in many health care sites to relieve the itching from Chicken Pox.

There is one soap website where the soap maker uses cornstarch in every type of soap she makes, not just the ones containing citrus EO's.

http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com/soapbars.htm

 

[Sparklebrook]

Very interesting.

 

[jarvan]

I saw the article that Bnky refers to. It doesn't really say what research backs up their claim. However, I saw another poster talking about using cornstarch on a baby for rash and the reason they gave made a bit of sense. The basic reasoning was that unlike talc, cornstarch is a vegetable based product and that when it is wet, it can promote bacterial growth.

That said, I would want to know what testing has been done to prove that a soap made with cornstarch produces that film that is claimed by the first article and then the testing that proves it causes bacterial growth.

I personally, have not used C-starch in my soaps. I saw a bath fizzie recipe that used C-starch and I wasn't sure what was better, so I used a different recipe.

Use your own discretion and if you are comfortable using C-starch, go for it.

 

[GoldenSeal]

I was wondering. Could you add the sugar at trace too? I make my soaps with goats milk and when mixing the lye and milk together my milk is solid ice chunks because I find it doesn't turn colour by the time I'm finished adding the lye to it.

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

I was wondering. Could you add the sugar at trace too? I make my soaps with goats milk and when mixing the lye and milk together my milk is solid ice chunks because I find it doesn't turn colour by the time I'm finished adding the lye to it.

The sugar would have to be dissolved, otherwise it may make the soap gritty. Perhaps if you reduced the amount of GM by the amount of water required to dissolve the sugar, then add the dissolved sugar at trace it could work. Worth a shot perhaps with a smaller batch.

I use sugar in every batch I make and it definitely produces more lather and a harder bar.