Teach Soap

Hi, I've been experimenting with making a hybrid shaving soap with a 65:35 ratio of potassium and sodium hydroxide, respectively. I am seeking to make a soft shaving soap but seem to be ending up with consistent separation of the mixture!. After adding the lye solution to the melted oils, the mixture starts to separate and distinct beads of ?? seems to appear. Once cooled the soap is mostly fine expect for a small layer of white substance at the top and beads of the same white substance (oil??) through the soap. Can anyone help in guiding me towards a more homogeneous soap solution?? I am exasperated

P.S. I'm superfatting at 5%, don't use glycerin or stearic acid and my oils are shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, castor oil and borage oil.

Thanks!

Liquid and cream soaps are cooked. One of the stages can be the paste wanting to break down. You stir it back together and cook some more. This can happen multiple times during the early part of the cook. Is that what you have going on?

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

I make shaving soaps like this and for me, they need to be cooked.

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

Thanks for the replies and sounds like i'll have to get cooking! I'm just wondering though if i'll be able to pour the mixture into tubular moulds after cooking or will it become to set to pour? I want to make rounds to fit into tins. Thanks

Mine are not pourable; more like gloppable.

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

Yes, I thought it might. I'll try cooking it and see how i get on. Thanks for the feedback!

After the cook, make sure to test it with phenophtalein. If it turns pink, cook it a little bit more.

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