Handmade Soap Questions Answered : Q&A with Painted Lady Soaps’ Jennifer Orth

1.) So what is Soap?

Technically soap is the chemical reaction between a fatty acid and a strong alkai . Fatty Acids are the fats of either animals or vegetables. The alkali is often referred to as lye & usually Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide. It is important to note that while you combine a  strong alkai (lye) to fatty acids, the end result transforms the lye and fats/oils into soap, leaving no lye.

Another common associated definition  for soap is a product that bubbles and cleans. These are often detergent bars or syn-dets(synthetic detergents). Commonly referred to as ’bath bars’ or beauty bars’ as they can not be labeled soap by the FDA.  Chemists  created them by changing the molecular structure of substances and  made stronger cleaners formulated to clean specific types of  dirt and stains.  Commercial bar soaps often contain some or all detergents. Many of the detergents cause sensitivity or allergy concerns for  some people. Ingredients like Triclosan, are listed by the Environmental Protection Agency, as a Pesticide! According to FDA/CFSAN Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, has been known to be contaminated with a known carcinogen, dioxin, which can cause cancer, as well as can  cause Chronic Hypersensitivity in some individuals.

There are several types of processes that you can use to make soap. Hot and Cold Process methods utilize oils, sodium hydroxide and water. Where as ‘Melt and Pour’ uses the commercial detergents.

Since the common definition of soap often refers to the technical and the common definition of soap, the term ‘natural soap’ or  made from scratch are used to refer to technical versions of soap.

2.) What is the difference between your soap and commercial ’natural’ soap?

I make my soap with high quality vegetable oils and by adding more oil than necessary called ‘super fatting’ , this allows the soap to clean and allow oils to reach the skin, helping to nourish the skin. Also naturally occurring glycerin is formed when you make soap, this glycerin softens the skin by attracting moisture.

Commercial soap is made with tallow( beef or mutton fat) some vegetable oils and processed slightly different, it goes through a process which strips all of the excess oil and glycerin out of the bar(using the glycerin for more profitable products), leaving you with nothing but a cleansing bar. This leaves your skin dry, itchy and stripped.

3.) Are there different methods to make soap?

There are a few different ways to make soap Cold Process, Hot Process.

Cold Process soap is created with out the addition of heat. It relies on the exothermic reaction to saponify. This method produces what some think as the ‘most nourishing’ because you are not exposing the oils to extreme heat, damaging the nutritional values.

Hot Process soap is created with constant heat until saponification is completed. The benefit to this method is that some people feel that the ‘scent’ will be stronger because it is added at the end of the cooking phase, thus allowing them to use less.

I use both methods, my bar soap is almost always Cold Process and  my liquid soaps are always Hot Process

4.) How do you prepare soap?

I first gather all of my materials needed, including safety gloves and safety glasses.  I measure my ingredients by weight . I create my lye solution and let it cool, as it becomes hot naturally  due to the exothermic reaction of the sodium hydroxide with water. Once it reaches proper temperature I combine it with the oils. Blending until ‘trace’ which then I add scent & color and pour into my mold to completely saponify. During this stage it continues to create exothermic heat and transforms the oils and lye completely into soap. Once it has completely saponified, it is cut and cured for up to six weeks.

5.) What are the ingredients in your ’natural’ bar soap?

Distilled Water, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Palm Oil, Castor Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Shea butter, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Essential oils &/or fragrance, Iron oxides &/or Ultramarines.

Biogradable

Vegan Friendly

No Animal Testing

5.)  What makes your soap, so extraordinary?

It is important to me to create a the best most nourishing bar of soap. The combination of oils that I choose to use are very intentional. Many of my clients require  real relief and that is what I strive for. All of my formulas are crafted after a lot of research and created to have the highest level of nutrients available.

Using High Quality Vegetable Oils  can produce amazing results!

Organic Coconut Oil

Contains Vitamin-E and Vitamin K and minerals such as Iron.  Rich in Lauric Acid & Myristic Acid which produces a hard bar that cleanses and creates fluffy lather.

Organic Palm Oil

Rich in Oleic Acid and Palmitic Acid, creates a conditioning bar which is hard and has a stable lather.

Apricot Kernel Oil
Rich in Oleic and Linoleic Acids, this oil is great for aging, prematurely aging, dry, irritated skin. Non greasy, soaks in to skin improving elasticity, clarity, calming eczema, irritation, clearing acne & dermatitis. Vitamin rich in A, B1, B2, B6, B17, E.

Avocado Oil
Rich in Oleic Acid and Linoleic Acid, it contains protein, amino acids, and vitamins A,D & E. This is not only conditioning but can aid in healing. Excellent oil to soften body tissue, heal scaly skin & scalp, assists in regenerating cells. Great for sensitive skin/baby skin.

Castor Oil
Over 80% Ricinoleic Acid, this produces fluffy stable lather which is conditioning. Castor acts like a humectant to draw and retain moisture to the skin. Creates creamy lather.

Evening Primrose Oil
Rich in Linoleic and Oleic Acids, this inhibits bacterial growth and encourages antibodies to produce. This helps us fight infection and inflammation. Excellent for dry skin.

Shea butter

Aids  in fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, severely dry skin, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis

For more information on the ingredients I use visit

https://www.paintedladysoap.com/Handcrafted_soap_I.php

Painted Lady Soap Company  www.paintedladysoap.com or www.paintedladysoap.etsy.com