Teach Soap

My first batch of soap has only olive, coconut and palm oils in it, and it was rebtched however my MIL has told me it irritates her skin. I have given this soap out to 5 other people who all say how much they love the bar so I am not sure why its irritating her skin! There is no fragrance at all in it and I followed the recipe so what gives? I myself have used it and like it, she told me she likes it on her hands but in the shower on her body caused a reaction. I asked her if she used anything else along with it and she said no, than I told her to 'not use' the bar with FO if her skin is that sensitive! She asked me about the lye in it but my zap test was fine so I hope someone might have some insight to this little glitch!

What if this happens to a customer???

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www.fostersfields.ca
https://www.facebook.com/FostersFields

Honestly it could have been anything.
When she says it irritates her skin, does that mean a visible rash immediately after using the soap?

I'm going to assume it wasn't an allergic reaction since she uses it on her hands just fine. Could the reaction just be in her head? (Mean that in a completely non-offensive way).

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Genny

Maybe the coconut oil is the irritant. I personally can't use coconut over 10% in any soap, as it irritates my skin awful. On my face it's even worse, that gets red and blotchy.

Maybe it's just a mother in law thing

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Laura<3

Since she specifically asked about the lye, I am betting that she thinks the lye is SUPPOSED to be harsh on her skin, so therefore it is. Did you explain that the lye is not longer lye once the saponification happens?

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Dawn

I think it is a "mother-in-law" thing

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Handmade Soaps
http://www.ForTheLoveOfSuds.com

I'm with the "mother-in-law thing" train of thought. I gifted my MIL with some beautiful looking and smelling soaps, balms, and whipped shea butter that I made. No response except for a card in the mail with "thanks for the nice gifts" message. Eeerrrrgggggg...... Guess we won't be going that route again

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Carrie
Wife to my Best Friend and Homeschool mom to 7 beautiful gifts

My MIL loves my soap and is a huge fan!
What was your superfat percentage? Some of the older ladies (age 60+) that I had test my soaps found the lower superfat soaps made their skin feel drier. Maybe that was her irritation. For you to really know, she'd have to be very specific about the type of irritation she was feeling. I wouldn't let it bother you too much. Your soap is never going to be perfect for every single person. My sister won't use my soap because she prefers syndet bars, but her husband loves it. If you're in the testing stages, just make another batch of the same recipe (since most of your testers liked it) and up the superfat 1%. See if that makes a difference.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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www.fostersfields.ca
https://www.facebook.com/FostersFields

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www.fostersfields.ca
https://www.facebook.com/FostersFields

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www.fostersfields.ca
https://www.facebook.com/FostersFields

I've learned there are some people you just can't win over no matter how hard you try, and then there are also some that are just downright hateful about it.

I upped my SF from 5% to 6 and sometimes 7% about three months ago and I can tell a major difference.

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Laura<3

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www.fostersfields.ca
https://www.facebook.com/FostersFields

Here's a good post on Lovin Soap about superfatting, really helped me understand it better.

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Laura<3

I cannot use soap below 7% superfat. I can tell a difference.

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