Jo Ann Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 since shea butter does nothing really for conditioning in soap, why is it used???I haven't made soap in a while but i am out and so are some people at work buying it. so i thought i would throw shea butter in, but i see no real reason to use it if you go by the numbers. i thought it would have some conditioning properties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adillenal Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 label appeal, perhaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Ann Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 kinda wondered if that was it. i read somewhere for it to be benefical, its has to be the main oil outside of coconut oil....thanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 it impacts the soap as a whole - as does any choice of oils.In my particular recipe it contributes to a creamy lather and the unrefined adds a bit of a nutty scent. I use it because I like it.Soap is not a nutrient-rich product... it's soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Ann Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 thats true, but i would rather save it for cream than in soap since it doen't do much for conditioning. i just don't want my soap to be too drying. was hoping to find some good oils in my stash that will help the soap from being too drying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I just started soaping with shea this year and use a small amount and absolutely love it. I've only used the unrefined type and it just feels so luxurious and creamy. Not all my soaps have shea butter in them and I'm almost out so have been trying mango butter, wheatgerm butter, monoi and they all work well for me.It's a personal preference thing too. Try maybe a test batch for yourself to see what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Ann Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 well if it makes it creamy, maybe i will give it a try. but i have to make sure i have enough left to make cream for my mother-in-law cream for her leg.how much do you use, about 5%? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 As I understand it, through some reading, it also has some unsaponifiables or makeups that don't break down. I can't prove that, but came from a pretty reliable source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soycrazy Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I know I don't go without it in my soap. I noticed my skin gets more drier if I leave it out. I use the unrefined kind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 thats true, but i would rather save it for cream than in soap since it doen't do much for conditioning. i just don't want my soap to be too drying. was hoping to find some good oils in my stash that will help the soap from being too drying.try increasing your superfat a tad. and there are other oils that also seem to be non-drying (crisco comes to mind, and it also makes a great massage oil LOL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Ann Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 good massage oil...hmmmm gee carebear, all i can do now is picture my husband all white and slippery from crisco glaring at me and the more he glares the more it melts and makes a puddle at his feet:psoycrazy. I may give the shea a try after all cuz i think i read the same thing now that you mention it. :smiley2: question for you soycrazy, what do you think about soy oil. i have some organically produced soy oil. but i didn't care for its breakdown of numbers in the calc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carriegsxr6 Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Its a hard oil that adds creaminess, because of the high steric, yet its more of a silky creaminess because of the high oleic as well. If you look on the list of oil properties, its one of the first listed "hard oils" with the highest oleic value. To me, its adds "true" conditioning creaminess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Ann Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 thanx carrie, i am going to give it a try. I am kinda hoping to make a basic soap recipe that is good and i can just add things to if I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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