Teach Soap

Can you use actually blueberries in cold process or hot process soap in order to get a naturally blue color? Would using actual blueberries cause the soap to dye the user or tub areas? Thanks in advance for any input!

Also, what can be added to make soap more white? Would powdered sugar help with white coloring?

Blueberries are blue because of Anthocyanins, which are not at all pH stable. My guess is that even if you used blueberries in hot process after you reached neutrality any blue color would eventually fade to brown. If you're looking for a plant based blue pigment I suggest infusing some of your oil with indigo or woad. It's the same chemical, which is extracted from two different plants. It's the same chemical used to color blue jeans. Indigo or woad added to the lye mixture will fade to grey. I hope that helps.

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Just call me "Apo"

As to your second question which I forgot about while answering the first, Titanium Dioxide seems to be what most people use to whiten their soap. I can't exactly think of a natural alternative, but titanium dioxide is even used as a whitening agent in foods so it's safe. Some people experience problems with overheating from TD as well as a "crackled" effect in their soap if it contains TD and goes through gel phase. Adding powdered sugar might boost the lather a little bit but wouldn't contribute any white color as the sugar has no color once it dissolves, or worse yet, may darken one's soap if mixed into the lye water at the beginning.

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Just call me "Apo"

The lighter your oils and butters, the lighter the soap will come out.

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

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~*~ Jennifer ~*~