I learned something quickly when learning how to make soap. In my kitchen there were all kinds of additives that would make my soap better. Each one added their own great qualities from more bubbles to more moisture. You should already have them in your cabinets. It doesn’t get any better than that.
If you want something easy to add to your recipe go with castor oil. It can be added along with the oils. This simple additive is known for its moisturizing properties to the skin and hair. It will add a creamy stable lather with lots of bubbles if you use just under 5%. Soaps with castor oil quickly become my favorites.
Honey is also a great additive for soap. Adding 1 tablespoon per pound of soap will add moisturizing properties. Honey helps attract moisture to the skin and then helps keep it there. Honey is also an antimicrobial. People have used it for many generations to treat burns and scraps.
Milk is the most used additive for soap and for good reason. It can be an easy way to improve any soap recipe. All milk has emollients which are vitamins and triglycerides that are moisturizing. It is said that goat’s milk’s proteins are very similar to our own skin and moisturize better. Coconut milk adds a creamier lather that feels fantastic.
If you need an anti-bacterial or anti-fungal then its mustard you should use. It can be mustard seed oil or dry mustard powder. When added to soap it can repel insects, strengthen hair shafts and slow normal hair loss. Caution must be exercised because undiluted mustard is an irritant. People with sensitive skin should test on a small area before full use.
Salt and sugar can also be added to the water before the lye is mixed in. Salt will make your soap firm up quicker making it easier to unmold. Sugar is often added to increase lather and bubbles.
I never knew all the great things that were sitting right in front of me all this time. We could all use more moisture and better bubbles in our soap. All the simple things add up to one great bar of soap.
Want to find out more about Soap Making, then visit Melanie Couch’s site to find a simple lye soap tutorial for you to make.