Teach Soap

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie here... look foward to getting to know you all. I am relatively new to soap-making, and have a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers to. If anyone can help I would be so appreciative!
Firstly... is anyone else here from New Zealand? I am having a bit of trouble with my melt & pour bases. The main thing is I can't seem to find a Brambleberry distributer here in my country at all. I've purchased from Aussie Soap Supplies, but with the weight of the MP base, it has added an additional $50 for freight from Australia. I have purchased a no-name brand of MP from a more local supplier, but the stuff doesn't foam at all, not one bit, and I would rather not continue to use it. So, if anyone here is a fellow New Zealander, please fill me in on where you purchase your MP base from!

Secondly, I've noticed a few posts recommending both castor oil or liquid soap be added to MP bases that don't foam well. Can anyone tell me if they've had success with either of these methods, and if so, how much should be used?

Thanks!

Welcome!
I don't know about MP base where you are, but adding castor or liquid soap will not help with the lathering. Castor adds lather to cold process soaps. Liquid soap added to MP could make your MP base soft and sticky.

Hopefully someone from your neck of the woods will see this thread and gives you an answer.

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

Thanks so much for that advice, soapbuddy... I won't even go there with the cator oil or liquid soap! I think I read on a previous post that heating the soap too high in the microwave can diminish lather? Perhaps its just a case of practice makes perfect. I shall keep trying! My MP base is SLS free... should I be looking for one with SLS?

Heating the soap too high will make it dry. It shouldn't affect the lather. SLS is a surfactant, so if you want more lather, I would suggest getting one with SLS.

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

Thanks muchly for that. I will keep trying till I get it right