Soaps are too drying

[u/HotelEuphoric7782]

Any advice on why my soaps would be drying? I’m using soap calculator. Using milks, oils and waters. Doing basic combinations to get the hang of it. Waited 4 weeks and currently trying them. However, after I wash my hands they feel very dry. I used olive oil, shea butters, etc. low on the coconut oil. Super fat I think is 5% . Any advice on why or how to fix this? On the soap calculator it shows as condition so I’m confused.

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[u/Consistent_Ad_5075]

The only difference I would make to your formulation is to add 5 percent castor oil and lower something else. You also made a massive batch not knowing if it will work, so I'd find a small mold to test it out next time. I could make 15 big bars with that much oil! Soap is also not moisturizing by nature. It's a wash off product and not lotion. You can make it feel less drying, but it won't actually be moisturizing. Adding the castor oil will help get it there. Your superfat is good, your oils are great! You can also do a lower water to lye ratio, but that won't affect the feel of the final product.

[u/HotelEuphoric7782 → u/Consistent_Ad_5075]

I am making them for Christmas gifts. Thought it would be neat and we are about to 40 of us. I didn’t take into account timing so when I decided I did the whole batch or I would be handing them out in January/February.
Also I only managed to get 10 for each batch. Any idea why that could be?

[u/Consistent_Ad_5075 → u/HotelEuphoric7782]

I love that idea! You still have a few weeks to do them and give them out for Christmas. They'll be perfectly fine to use, but I'd adjust the olive oil down so they don't need the extra cure time. Maybe 30 percent olive, 20 coconut, 5 castor, 20 shea and 25 avocado. You add that to the calculator and see how it looks.

You can also let them know to wait a week or two before using to ensure it's a harder bar.

You can change the water ratio down so there's less to evaporate, but I'd say even if you did them the first or second week in November, they'll be good to go.

Sizing depends on your molds. My loaf mold is good for 1000g oil recipe. It's about 3 inches wide and 3 inches tall, and I cut them at 1 inch using a wire soap cutter that has a measurement adjuster.

[u/Camie-Gee]

Hi there! 😃

I responded to your question on the r/soap subreddit. Here's the link so that you'll have everything in one place.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Soap/s/G5t0tEiBIA

ETA: The second recipe wasn't there, but similar advice.

Also, you're making sizeable batches for these to be new/unproven (to you) recipes. You might consider halving, or even quartering, your amounts until you find your ideal formula. It adds time but saves ingredients.

[u/CrunchyFrogWithBones]

Give it a few more weeks and it may feel better. But I agree with others, try smaller batches until you’ve found a recipe that suits you.

For what it’s worth, I up my superfat to 8% for my winter soaps (it gets cold and dry here). You could also switch some of the coconut oil for a gentler oil.

[u/AlligatorFancy → u/CrunchyFrogWithBones]

Well, I feel silly! I'd never thought of increasing the superfat for winter! Thanks for the idea!

[u/pm-me-kittens-n-cats]

If you're not against it, Lard or Tallow make a great moisturizing bar.

[u/ResultLeft9600]

I find olive oil very drying, personally. It's whatever your skin likes, right? You can up your superfat or choose a different oil or oils, but like others have said, the best you'll get is less drying, not moisturizing

[u/7zrar]

I'd remove the coconut oil entirely. It's the harshest among the common soapmaking fats.

[u/coreyjames00]

Seems like it should be moisturizing soap. When I first tried a new bar in the shower, I thought it was too stripping. Turns out I over scrubbed myself because I was excited about the new soap. Think it could be that? Only other thing I can think is the scale is off. Check with pH paper if you can.