Teach Soap

Can someone explain the difference between Palm oil & palm kernel flakes? I know that both are used to harden soap. Is one better to use than the other? A side question. Are they considered drying to the skin as coconut oil or is one more drying than the other? Thanks.

It's my understanding that Palm Oil is in the same category with Lard and Beef Tallow. You can interchange these for similar qualities (run through a lye calculator first).

And Palm Kernal Oil (which can be bought in solid solid state or in flake form which is easier to use) is in more similar to Coconut and Babasu oils.

But I'm still learning which is best for a hard bar.

zeo

zeoplum got it absolutely right! Palm kernel is generally used as a sub for coconut - that's the closest relative.

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Thank you zeoplum & magic_hands

Okay, so combined (Coconut & Palm Kernel) should not exceed 30% of my recipe without becoming drying to the skin, right? But, combined Palm Oil & Coconut Oil are okay. For example, if my recipe has:

Coconut Oil @ 22% but Coconut Oil @ 22%
Palm Kernel Flakes @ 22% Palm Oil @ 22%

This could be drying? This is okay?

It depends on how sensitive you are to coconut and what other oils you use, as well as how you superfat - if you post the whole recipe, I might be able to give you a better clue.

I also find that regardless of what numbers or guidelines say, I get a much better clue by making a test batch of a recipe and seeing what it's like in the real world.

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Hi Magic. This was just a general question. I have been using these two pretty consistently at these percentages in most of my recipes. I was just wondering if the combined would be drying. I haven't noticed it except in one of my bars where i used some exfoliating seeds & clay. I usually add other oils, olive being the most %, but add avocado, sweet almond, hemp, etc. and usually throw in 5 - 10% butter.

My skin is just fine with relatively high coconut, so that would work well for me. The bar with the clay might have been more drying because of the clay itself - some of them are stronger "drawing" clays than others.

You're using some nice oils in there, too, so it should be a lovely bar.

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Thanks - this soapmaking is soooooo addicting!!!!