Teach Soap

Hi all~ I'm new here & very excited to be a part of your supportive chats about my newfound & addicitve love...soaping! I have about 7 batches under my belt. I have a few questions...

-I made a goats milk soap at 80 degrees, based upon what I read about making milk soap. Is there such a thing as soaping at too low of a temperature?

- How do you know when all the lye is dissolved in goats milk? Using water is much easier to see!

- None of my batches have gone through a gel phase (except the one I made in my intro to soap making class). What is the purpose of gel? Is it "bad" for non-milk soaps not to gel?

-Does anyone have a good facial bar recipe? My skin is pretty sensitive. I made a batch yesterday that has goats milk, olive oil (73%), coconut (20%), sweet almond (2%) , jojoba (2%) & casor (3%) and no scent...any ideas?

Thanks!!!

I don't gel and prefer not to. For goat's milk soap I touch the pot and the lye water and if they are warm to the touch, I go ahead and mix. I think my temp is higher than yours though.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks Soapbuddy. I guess it's like cooking...a little of this & a little of that. Do you use a thermometer when you soap? Do you think 80 degrees is too low to have a final bar that works? I looked online & a few sites said 80 - 85 degrees for gaot's milk. I'll keep you posted in about a month on how it turned out!

I do weigh my ingredients when I soap. I don't when I cook. I don't use a thermometer anymore when I soap. I've learned about how warm the oil pot and lye water are through my hands.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.