Teach Soap

I've been searching lately the topic of Ph values of hard bars,and almost all serious studies refer that it can not be decreased by any means.
I asked my friend,who is PhD and professor at Technology university,and she said that NaCl would't react with lye solution. She also thinks that lemon juice wouldn't do either (more precisely,would react,but wouldn't help).

So,do you have any empirical experience in this matter? Any additives, oils,acids?

My soap bars are about 9 -10 (indicated by litmus paper),and I'm personally fine with it,but after having read that high Ph may damage skin's natural protective film (which is acid),I wish I could get it lower.On the other hand, many of my 'testers' have sensitive and dry skin,so I'm afraid my bars could deteriorate this condition.
Thanks!

I have extremely sensitive and dry skin, and have been told for years that real soap would only make it worse. All of those people (mostly doctors) were wrong. My skin has improved greatly since I started to use soap over detergent/surfactant based "soap". Even eczema seems to be helped by real soap (my Mom and I can both attest to this). My skin hasn't been so soft and healthy and non-itchy since I was little! I LOVE real soap!!!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Adding or using lemon juice in CP soap will not change the pH. Since lemon juice neutralizes some of your lye, your soap will end up more superfatted. Unless your skin is already compromised, the higher pH of soap will not damage your skin. Healthy skin returns back to it's natural pH in about 10 minutes. For people with sensitive skin, try pure castille, 100% coconut with a 20% superfat or just a basic soap; with possible additives like oatmeal or a small amount of lavender. I know this because I am a Licensed Esthetician and a long time Soapmaker.

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

Thanks ladies.
So, nothing really can make it lower.
Two friends of mine were told (one was advised by doctor dermatholigist) to use only Dove bar for washing face. I will check out Ph value of Dove as soon as I get one just to compare it with mine.

Dove Bar is detergent based so it has a lower pH.

Here are the ingredients: Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate, Sodium Palmitate, Lauric Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Water, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Palm Kernelate (Palm Kernel Oil), Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Maltol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
Or
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoate or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Sweet Almond Oil, Rosewood Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Trisodium Etidronate, BHT, Cedarwood Oil, Rose Oil, Disodium Cocamido-MEA-Sulfosuccinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate.

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

I know some of the ingredients,not all.
Not that advanced in chemistry knowledge.

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

Bravo,that's great! I wish I could find some school like that here. For the start, I don't have an adequate translation for 'esthetician'!

As soapbuddy said, if you add any kind of acid to CP soap while making it, you will merely neutralise part of the lye and end up with more superfatting. And adding it at the end, say in rebatch, would probably - in my view - cause the soap to break down and become a mess. It's well known that African black soap is generally good at clearing skin problems and it has a pH of 10 usually.

Thanks for the Dove ingredients list, very weird, it looks like a mixture of traditional soap and synthetic ingredients!

I was thinking logically and here's what I figured out.
The strong base (like NaOH) in reaction with weak acids (like fat acids of oils) will make an alkaline salt. Ok? Lemon juice is also weak acid,so nothing changes.

But,what would happen if we got L/W weakened (by let it sit for some longer time)?
Or adding some vinegar at some point of soapmaking (which is stronger acid)?

The first option is maybe worth trying, I don't know about the second one.
I'm sure I'm not the only ,nor the first one who came up with this idea,just don't know anyone who had.

Any comments?