Teach Soap

I keep reading that coconut oil and palm kernel oil are both drying in larger percentages of soap (most sources seem to say to use under 30%). I know that everyone's skin is different, and what's drying to one person may not be to another. I guess my question is... generally, if using both of these oils in the same batch of soap, is it best to use 30% total of the two oils to avoid drying? or will using up to 30% of each still make for a good moisturizing soap?

Thanks!!

Palm kernel oil has very similar properties to coconut oil, it's a coconut oil replacement ( not a palm oil replacement). If I'm using both in a recipe ( I normally use one or the other) I split the difference between the two and keep the total around or just under 30%. That's with a 7% lye discount. I also use some type of butter (shea, cocoa, mango etc.) in my recipe.

HTH

I add everything up front. Butters and hard oils get melted first. Lye remains active long after trace and to me superfatting at trace is an unneccessary step. How do you like Kokum butter? I was thinking of trying it.

I actually haven't tried the Kokum butter yet, it was a recent acquisition. I found it on sale someplace and figured I'd try it.
I've heard a lot of good remarks about it, though. I will say that it looks kind of like a fungus in the jar, and has a very very mild nutty smell to it.

Yep, that's the best descriptor I have for it, lol. On the top of the jar, it's raised in grainy spheres like mold (if that made any sense at all). Regardless, I"m excited to try it. Thanks for your help!

You're welcome. Let us know how you like the kokum butter in your finished soap. Good luck with it.