Hi Jo, glad you found success with MP salt bars. I did not have the same experience. I have been making them CP now since early 2005. I use 75-80% salt to oils ratio in mine. I found that equal amount of salt to oils was not producing a nice bar. They contain a large percentage of coconut oil, but the salt does cut down the bubbles, but the lather is dense and creamy, more like a lotion. I don't know what kind of MP you are using and it's difficult to know how much CO it contains. After the first use, the bars do get shiny and smooth like glass. I think the biggest misconception is that they should be exfoliating...they really aren't, but the salt does help to slough off any dead skin.