shellsskinsationshandmadesoaps web store FAQ section

The type of soap our ancestors made is called “cold process” soap. It is made by combining oils, butters or fat and sodium hydroxide (lye) together. The chemical reaction that is created from combining the oils and/or fat and lye is called “saponifaction.” During the saponification process, the oils and lye mix and become soap. The entire process from mixing to curing takes 4 to 6 weeks. Cold process soap is known for its hard, long lasting quality and wonderful moisturizing properties. The types of oils, additives (such as herbs, exfoliants, etc.) and butters used in the process determine the kind of properties the soap will have.

When people hear the word "lye" they often think of a toxic, dangerous chemical that can burn the skin. And, of course, this is true. Lye is a dangerous chemical in it's unaltered state, BUT it is also a vital component in the soap making process. All of our soaps are made with a mixture of oils and moisturizing butters, liquid (usually water, or coconut milk), and of course sodium hydroxide or "lye". Lye changes the chemical make-up of oil so that the oil and the water blend together and become soap. You can't have soap without the chemical reaction that lye produces. Rest assured all of the the lye is transformed in the soapmaking process.There is absolutely no lye left over in any of our handmade soaps. The only thing that remains is a wonderful, "skin loving" bar of soap.

Soap that you buy in the grocery store cannot compare to handmade soap. They are often full of chemicals and synthetic detergents which can dry out your skin. Next time you reach for that synthetic bar of grocery store soap turn it over and read the label. If you can't pronounce the ingredients and don't know what they are, do you really want to use it on your skin, the body's largest organ? It is a mass produced product made in HUGE batches where the skin-loving glycerine is removed and chemicals and fillers are added. When we make our handmade lye soaps we make them in small batches to insure that the quality of our soaps remains high. Also, all of the skin-loving glycerine remains in the soap. This makes for a very gentle, moisture rich bar of soap.

Our handmade soaps are made with the finest oils and ingredients, and making our soaps is a very labor intensive process. All of our small batches are measured, mixed, scented, poured, and cut by hand. When we say our soap is handmade, we really mean it! Our soaps have to cure for at least month before they can be wrapped and sold, so a lot of time also goes into our soaps. And because you are getting a product made with the love and attention that we give each batch, you know that you are getting the very best!

We use different kinds of oils in our soaps because each soap has it's own unique qualities. Here is a list of the oils we use in our soaps and the different properties they contribute to our soaps. Avocado Oil - Rich in vitamins A, D, & E as well as amino acids and protein. Wonderfully moisturizing and excellent for anyone with extremely sensitive skin. Coconut Oil - Coconut oil helps to create a harder, longer-lasting bar of soap with beautiful, fluffy lather. Olive Oil - Olive oil attracts moisture to the skin. It helps to soothe irritated, inflamed skin and is very gentle. This oil is high in oleic acid and helps to regenerate the skin. Palm Oil - When used in combination with coconut oil and olive oil, palm oil creates a hard bar of soap. It also helps the soap to resist melting so quickly when used. Palm oil contributes to a nice, stable lather. Lard - Some people wrongly assume that lard soap will clog pores and damage the skin. This is not true. Lard may actually benefit the skin because it is mild, moisturizing, and conditions very well. Canola Oil - Canola oil creates a stable lather in soap and also is a good skin conditioner. Castor Oil - Extracted from the Castor Bean plant, castor oil acts as a humectant, drawing moisture to the skin. It helps to create large, thick bubbles and lots of lather. Shea Butter - Shea butter is wonderful for dry and aging skin. It has been used for thousands of years in Africa for this purpose. It is naturally rich in vitamins A, E & F. Grape Seed Oil - Grape Seed Oil is a lightweight oil that absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving a heavy greasy feeling

Sometimes we add extra ingredients to our soaps to create textures and colors. We use all natural ingredients whenever possible. Aloe Vera Gel is known for it's soothing and healing properties for damaged skin and can also increase skin's firmness. Oatmeal is a gentle exfoliant and is soothing your skin. Coconut Milk Coconut milk soap is high in vitamin E and fatty acids that are beneficial to the skin. Coconut milk soap is great for all skin types and especially dry skin and, besides offering a deep clean, and it does not strip away the natural oils in the skin. It helps to moisturize the skin, keeping it replenished and hydrated. Cornmeal provides extra scrubbiness for pedicure soaps and gardener's soap. Sea salt is mineral-rich and contains Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium. Potassium regulates skin moisture, magnesium helps in healing. Poppy seeds are a natural exfoliant in soaps and adds visual texture. Oxides & Ultramarines are pigments that are FDA approved to be used in cosmetics. Vitamin E is full of anti-oxidants. It can help decrease the harmful effects of the sun and can aide in the healing of burns. Vitamin E heals acne and promotes the healing of wounds and scars. Fragrance oils and Essential oils are used to create the wonderfully delicious scents of our products.

We use both fragrance oils (FOs) and essential oils (EOs) in our bath products. If essential oils are used, it will be listed on our ingredients list. If fragrance oils or used, the ingredients list will just say "fragrance". Fragrance oils are synthetictically produced fragrances. There is a wide variety of scents available in fragrance oils. Using fragrance oils allows us to get beautiful, exotic and unique scents. The only limit to fragrances in fragrance oils is your own imagination. When using FOs, we use only the minimal amount necessary to get enough fragrance in our products. We are aware of the fact that some of our customers are sensitive to "strong" fragrances, so we keep that in mind when making our products. If you are very sensitive, you may want to stick with our naturally unscented soap "Butt Nekkid" or use our products made with essential oils. Essential oils are oils that are extracted directly from plants. Some essential oils actually contain beneficial plant properties. For those customers who appreciate an "all natural" soap, we recommend using our soaps that contain essential oils instead of fragrance oils.

Handmade soaps tend to be softer than their "store bought" counterparts. Even though our handmade soaps are made with palm oil and other "hardening" oils that create a longer lasting handmade soap, they do not last quite as long as mass produced soaps made with drying chemicals. One bar of our soap lasts a family of four about three weeks, but it will vary greatly on how often it is used and how it is stored between uses. Also, if you don't plan on using the soaps right away you should store them in a dark, cool place to help preserve the fragrance. (The linen closet works nicely and makes your linens smell great, too).