Teach Soap

Hello all:

I am new to this, but have been reading a lot and learning. I will be making a few soaps for friends and family this Xmas and would like to be accurate in my ingredients lists.

I'll be using the BB shea MP base. My questions are as follows: Can I start my list with "Saponified oils of coconut, palm and safflower", and then eliminate the sodium hydroxide? My understanding is that after the chemical reaction occurs between the lye and the oils, there is no longer any sodium hydroxide in the makeup of the soap, correct?

Further, if I do this, are there any other changes I need to make re: the other ingredients? (In other words, are there other chemical changes/reactions with the remaining ingredients that I need to know about?)

Also, what exactly is a "conditioner", and what is its function in melt and pour soap?

Thanks in advance for any help on these things!

I would use exactly the same ingredient list as you see for this base on the BrambleBerry site. It is true that lye is no longer present after the soap is made, but you won't know exactly what proportions of oils or butters were saponified. Sorbitol is a form of sugar.

Like this: Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerine (kosher, of vegetable origin), Shea Butter (refined naturally crushed), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent), Sorbitol (moisturizer), Sorbitan oleate (emulsifer), Soy bean protein (conditioner), Titanium Dioxide (mineral whitener used in opaque soaps).

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

Ah, I see. I didn't realize there might be some unsaponified oils left. Very good. Thank you!

Oh, but I'm still not clear as to what the soy bean protein (conditioner) is for?

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

Thanks so much for your responses, soapbuddy -- I really appreciate your help!

One more question -- and I'm sorry to seem dense, but I really want to grasp the intricacies of this as I want to consider this as possibly a hobby field for myself -- are the terms "moisturizer" and "conditioner", that are being used here almost interchangeable in that they perform basically the same functions? Or is there something each ingredient does that is unique? I know both are good for the skin, but I guess I'm not quite grasping the difference between the two. Is there a difference?

Also, I know one or more of my relatives will ask these questions, so I don't want to seem ignorant.

The terms "moisturizer" and "conditioner" are usually used like this; Moisturizer as in a lotion or a cream, conditioner as a hair conditioner. Technically, both are similar; one adds moisture to the skin, the other add moisture to your hair.

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

Ok, instead of being a pain here on this forum, I think I'd better call SFIC to find out what they mean when they say Sorbitol is a "moisturizer" but soy bean protein is a "conditioner". I thought of the reference to hair, too. But, when both of the terms are used for the ingredients of MP soap, it seems a little confusing. They could just be using the terms interchangeably to mean the same thing, though.

Many thanks for your patient replies!