Teach Soap

I have a friend who states she cannot use handmade soap - she says that sometimes she will get a bar that she describes as more "caustic" than others. I looked at a few of the bars - typical recipes from what I can tell. She says some bars are fine and she really likes them, but others are not - recipes look the same. I try them - they seem fine to me. Ditto The Boyfriend, who has very sensitive skin. I have given her a few of my own (don't worry, she is DTBNL*) same thing - some are great but the same recipe with a different FO feels "caustic" (I wonder if she really means winter dryness...).

I suspect the FO used, as that's the only difference I can tell. Here is where it gets interesting: she has a PLETHORA of food allergies. She's allergic to:

Mint
Tomatoes
Cinnamon
Wheat
Dairy

And that may not be the definitive list. Since she can use similar soaps with no "caustic feeling" - could a person like that be sensitive to one of the many chemicals in the FO? Even though they are synthetics, don't they mimic the chemical composition pretty closely? And some "natural" substances are using when making the FO, correct?




*Determined To Be Non Litigious

Yep, some natural substances are used when making fo's.

What fo's is she having problems with? Also, do any of the recipes contain vitamin E?

_________________
Genny

No vitamin E in any of the bars she bought and none in any of mine.

The one soap I made that she said felt "caustic" had a combo of NG FOs: Cherry, Almond + Coconut. Oddly, The Boyfriend noted this was one of his favorites - and he's my "canary in the coal mine" - no food allergies, but skin so sensitive, he can't wear cut off shorts as the edge of the fabric causes an itchy histamine reaction after two minutes of walking. No reaction on his skin.

She loved the bar I made with NG Lime-Cilantro. But it was also an earlier bar used in warmer months. Even I am getting a tad itchy with all the dryness in the air - I will generally shower every other day for that reason.

Was the cherry, almond, coconut one a newer bar or was it cured for a while?

Also, were the fo's used at under the IFRA level?

_________________
Genny

_________________
Genny

Anyone can be allergic to just about anything; oils, butters, fragrances or essential oils. Has she tried a pure castile made with only olive oil with nothing else added that has been well cured?

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

If there's not any actual marks on her body, it could be all just in her head.

_________________
Genny

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

_________________
Genny

Funny story related to this:

I was so worried about my first soaps being "wrong" somehow - I would wash my hands very vigorously with my soap. Rubbing. And rubbing. Rubbing some more.

You see...if you rub your wet soapy hands together long enough, and hard enough...they will start to burn a little! D'oh! Its called "friction". Ha...I felt pretty stupid when I figured that one out.