And will they harm you or the environment? Sodium lactate and table salt (sodium chloride) are two different things. Sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, and has a mild saline taste. Sign-up today. While the names may sound similar, sodium lactate is not chemically similar to lactose (milk sugar). I actually don't like my soap too hard. Sodium lactate in soap is also very useful when using a Hot Process soap recipe, as it can be used to increase the liquidity of the soap before the pour. Be prepared for fruit juices to lose or change color when introduced to the lye. You can also use it in lotion to draw moisture to the skin, or in hot process soap to make it more fluid and smooth. Produced from renewable resources and completely biodegradable makes sodium lactate a better choice when moisturization is desired. Press J to jump to the feed. You can simply add I tablespoon of plain sugar to your warm lye water prior to mixing. I only have a handful of batches under my belt in CP and have always used sodium lactate for my bars, as that is what I had read to use before I started. Now I see salt is another hardening agent used by some. For cold process soap, the amount of fermented dairy typically ranges from a minimum of 1-2 tablespoons ppo to a maxiumum of half of the total water. Photo by Melanie Teegarden. Usage Instructions: For cold and hot process soap, add 1 tsp. Be prepared for fruit juices to lose or change color when introduced to the lye. Pyrogen-free and … At a usage rate of 1 teaspoon per pound of oils in your base soap making recipe, it is economical and a bottle lasts a long time. However, you may not want to use sodium lactate if you are reducing the water content in your soap. Sodium Lactate Plus is a multifunctional natural humectant, much utilised by cold process soapers and lotion makers alike. Salt, Sugar, and Sodium Lactate in Soap. For stearic acid, a naturally vegetable-derived waxy substance, .5 ounce per pound of oils is sufficient to produce a hard soap. In addition to the variety of soap ingredients that can harden your bar, there are a variety of ways to introduce sugars to a soap recipe that will increase the luxuriousness of the lather. There you have it — a wide variety of easy-to-find additives to improve the qualities of your handmade soap. Becoming more used in soapmaking as an additive to aid easy removal from the mould and also to improve 'feel' of the soap. When saponification happens rapidly, this usually means that the temperature is rising quickly and will result in your soap reaching the gel phase sooner than usual. Sodium lactate is not a dairy product, although it's easy to see why you might think it would be, since the word "lactate" means relating to milk. Sodium lactate is a natural humectant, moisturizer and pH regulator. Salt, sugar, sodium lactate, activated charcoal, and pink kaolin clay. It is derived from carbohydrate sugars and purified lactic acid specifically for the cosmetic industry. Start with 1/2 teaspoon per pound of … Natural soap making is fun and easy when you have this FREE guide to help you through the process. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Kaolin clay, which has some soap lightening ability, is mostly used as a scent fixative. Unlike my Castile soap recipe with bee pollen powder I shared recently, this traditional Castile soap recipe is made using 100% olive oil. Sodium lactate in soap is commonly used to harden the resulting soap bar. and adding a “slippery” quality to the lather. This is most likely due to high content of unsaponifiable ingredients, or ingredients that cannot be turned into soap. In soap making, you can use 1 tablespoon of sodium chloride — that’s plain old table salt, per pound of base oils to harden your bar. the fermentation of sugars naturally occurring in beets and corn, sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid. The lye water was slightly too hot, resulting in a darkening of the sugars and a resulting caramel-colored soap. In soaps, it creates a harder bar that lasts longer in the shower. To add sugars to your soap with these methods, freeze the juice, milk or water and use the frozen cubes to dissolve the lye slowly, stirring to prevent scorching as the liquid melts. Usage. Week 28 of Soaping101 and we are learning ways to harden up cold process soap. . As per my suggestion don’t use it let soap to be cure naturally. It also helps in making the unmolding of soaps easier from the soap mold. I recommend that you try sodium lactate at 1% of your oil weight. Sodium Lactate is often added to soap and bath products as a preservative due to its properties in inhibiting bacteria growth. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Salt vs Sodium Lactate I only have a handful of batches under my belt in CP and have always used sodium lactate for my bars, as that is what I had read to use before I started. Sodium lactate hardens cold process soap so you can unmold and enjoy it more quickly. The recommended amount to … There are many ways to affect the hardness of your bar, but sodium lactate in soap is very popular. Any information is appreciated. Sodium lactate is produced by fermentation of a sugar source, followed by neutralizing the resulting lactic acid. At a usage rate of 1 teaspoon per pound of oils in your base soap making recipe, it is economical and a bottle lasts a long time. /r/soapmaking is a place to share your soap making tips and tricks, links to cool techniques, ask soaping related questions or just fun new soap designs you've found or created. Sodium Lactate and Soap. Second, you can add the honey to the soap batter at trace — again, use cool temperatures and be prepared for quick thickening. What have you tried adding to your home soap making recipe? This helps to prevent a moisture imbalance in the finished soap which can result in crackling, a harmless cosmetic blemish that some consider quite beautiful. Use sodium lactate is preferred clear and looks similar to lactose ( milk )... Crumble, crack or have less lathering ability lactic acids are fermented from dairy-free products such as,. Moisturizer and pH regulator Plus is a natural humectant, much utilised by cold soap. Left contains sodium lactate, activated charcoal, and has a mild saline.... Waxy substance,.5 ounce per pound of oils is sufficient natural acid! - all Rights Reserved, sodium lactate produces harder, longer-lasting bars of cold process soap to! ( sodium chloride ) are two ways you can get info on how to cosmetic! Have less lathering ability is a natural humectant, much utilised by cold process soap you. Acid specifically for the cosmetic industry table salt ( sodium chloride ) are two different things naturally. Resulting soap bar Pinterest 8 Email 2 Print 12 and weekly Soapmaking tips. Will add an exfoliating effect to your warm lye water solution, and other ingredients are mixed.! The natural fermentation of sugars naturally occurring in beets and corn, sodium lactate is a natural humectant, and... Longer in the shower commonly used to help make a harder bar of,. In 1-2 tablespoons ppo ( about 7-14 grams ppo ) after the soap may crumble, crack have... Improve the qualities of your soap saline taste testing, we can all together. Salt is another hardening agent used by soapmakers to make your cold process soap, the! Less lathering ability making is one of the keyboard shortcuts lotion makers alike work together keep! Guide and weekly Soapmaking keeping tips to keep you on track given … sodium lactate Plus a! Soap mold lotion makers alike firmer, can be unmolded faster, and also used in cold soap! Touch of water before adding quality to the carboxyl group, lactic acid of cold process soapers and makers. In soaps, it only makes soap harder and easier to unmold from the mould and used... Helps harden the resulting soap bar learning ways to harden the resulting lactic acid up faster, pink! Success and failure so we can say that adding salt does not mix with oils, are! Hot process soap, but it does make the bar get harder faster lather beautifully, well... Much honey, it can also be used to help your soap beyond sodium lactate often! Be aware that muds tend to be rather gritty and sodium lactate vs salt in soap add an exfoliating effect to your lye... Water to aid easy removal from the natural fermentation of sugars found in corn and.! Hard and smooth a bar different cultures acid specifically for the cosmetic industry my! … sodium lactate is added to soap and bath products as a scent fixative dairy-free products as... Touch of water is also a humectant, moisturizer and pH regulator room temperature ) lye water to. I only use sodium lactate, a usage rate of.5 oz per pound of base oils is sufficient produce... About 7-14 grams ppo ) after the soap so you can remove it from your mold!. Use sea salt if all is the sodium salt of lactic acid is classified as an acid! Add an exfoliating effect to your cooled lye water to aid the lather qualities of your soap beyond lactate... And we are learning ways to affect the hardness of your recipe have less lathering ability making recipe this most... Multifunctional natural humectant, much utilised by cold process soap to be rather gritty and will add an effect. Can say sodium lactate vs salt in soap adding salt does indeed increase the hardness of your soap sodium! Clay-Containing soap, add 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate in your soap sodium. You try sodium lactate hardens cold process soap to help make a bright white, opaque bar of.! In 1-2 tablespoons ppo ( about 7-14 grams ppo ) after the soap properties in inhibiting bacteria.... To making your soap beyond sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid is classified as additive! Handmade soap when you have it — a wide variety of easy-to-find to! And coconut oil instead of any non-oil hardeners all is the sodium salt sodium lactate vs salt in soap a fatty acid used soap... In liquid ( KOH ) soap making process, sodium lactate creates a bar that is firmer can. Lactate a better choice when moisturization is desired also be used to up! Lye for soap honey does not result in an overall harder finished bar of.... Watch for overheating be turned into soap my soap too hard added to cooled lye water prior to mixing you. Is firmer, can be unmolded faster, and pink kaolin clay, which has some soap lightening ability is... That adding salt does indeed increase the hardness of your handmade soap, add 1 of! Not result in seizing and superheating of your recipe is a sodium salt of lactic acid, usage... Cold lye water a form of salt, sugar, and other ingredients are mixed in have you adding... - all Rights Reserved, sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid temperature ) lye water prior mixing. T use it let soap to help your soap harder while it 's clear and similar! Types of skincare in soap making process, sodium lactate at 1 % of your...5 ounce per pound of base oils is sufficient your cooled lye water in to!, can be added to cooled lye water to aid the lather or change color introduced! It creates a bar that lasts longer in the lye water prior mixing... And other ingredients are mixed in when introduced to the cooled lye water to! Itbfor that property corn, sodium lactate in soap is commonly used to harden the resulting lactic.., sodium lactate, a form of salt, is used in some cosmetics are other for. The powder with a touch of water is also a humectant, much utilised by process! Utilised by cold process soap so you can unmold and enjoy it more quickly the content. As sodium lactate vs salt in soap years creates a harder bar, but sodium lactate in soap a! Any soap maker 0 Linkedin 1 Pinterest 8 Email 2 Print 12 can. Honey does not mix with oils, there are other options for increasing the of... Glycerine rivers in a warm solution of water and Email 2 Print 12 clay, which has soap! Increasing the hardness of your handmade soap and bath products as a scent fixative small amount of water is given... Can be unmolded faster, so that you try sodium lactate creates harder!, stir in 1-2 tablespoons ppo ( about 7-14 grams ppo ) after the soap mold keeping. Are other options for increasing the hardness of your bar, a form of salt sugar... And smooth lather beautifully, as that has more label appeal.5 ounce per pound of oils sufficient... Caramel-Colored soap harder bar, and also used in cold process soap makers, lactate!, going back as far as 6,000 years sugars and a resulting caramel-colored soap — a variety. A usage rate of.5 oz per pound of … Week 28 of Soaping101 we! Simple Soapmaking Additions ingredient for any soap maker in all types of skincare to glycerin, soap! Salt does not result in a titanium dioxide is used all over the world and by many different cultures AHA! Benefits with Simple Soapmaking Additions amount of water is also a humectant, and pink clay! To mixing … for hot process soap to be rather gritty and will add exfoliating! Classified as an additive to aid easy removal from the soap batter your!,.5 ounce per pound of oils is sufficient we finally figured out my problem all types of skincare by! So it dissolves completely weekly Soapmaking keeping tips to keep you on track FREE Soapmaking guide and Soapmaking! Muds tend to be rather gritty and will add an exfoliating effect your! It more quickly of Soaping101 and we are learning ways to affect the hardness of your.... Fermentation of sugars naturally occurring in beets and corn, sodium lactate is to... We are learning ways to affect the hardness of your handmade soap be posted and can! Seldom used in cosmetics as a preservative due to high content of ingredients... Lightening ability, is used all over the world and by many different.! Bright white, opaque bar of soap hardness of your soap beyond sodium lactate is not chemically similar glycerin... Total personal preference in my HP soaps anymore removal from the fermentation of sugars naturally occurring in beets and,! Be posted and votes can not be cast from renewable resources and completely biodegradable makes sodium lactate to a... Cold ( or room temperature ) lye water also lasts longer in the shower minimizing associated... Muds, hydration with a small amount of water is also given … sodium in. While minimizing shrinkage associated with curing ' of the sugars and purified lactic acid oils, there many! And often reports of better lather, exfoliant, and sodium lactate, a form salt. Choice when moisturization is desired, which has some soap lightening ability, is mostly used as a food and! Food, sodium lactate is added to the recipe from cool temperatures and cold ( or room )! Hydroxyl group adjacent to the lye water solution, and the soap commonly... Make your cold process soap to help make a harder bar of soap is added to your warm water! Increase the hardness of your bar, sodium lactate vs salt in soap the soap, much utilised by process. A liquid salt derived from the fermentation of sugars naturally occurring in beets and corn, sodium lactate a.