Sweet Almond Oil is one of the most useful, practical, and commonly used oils. It is great for all skin types as an acting emollient and is best known for its ability to soften, soothe, and re-condition the skin. Sweet Almond Oil is often used for superfatting soaps and makes a stable lather.
Beeswax has the sweet smell of honey. Beeswax makes a harder bar of soap and is also used in creams, lotions, lip balms and candle making. It contains a high percentage of unsaponifiables.
Canola Oil is a good moisturizer but is less saturated than other fats, so it can be slow to saponify.
Castor Oil is often used to superfat. It attracts and holds moisture, is very soothing to the skin and acts as a barrier agent and protective medium against harsh conditions and extremes.. Use it in combination with other vegetable oils to produce a nice hard bar of soap.
Cocoa Butter is used to make soaps harder. When used in soap as a superfatting oil it acts to lay down a protective layer which holds the moisture to the skin, so it is an excellent skin softener. It has a natural chocolate scent but is also available in unscented versions.
Coconut Oil is a great oil for general moisturizing and serves as a protective layer, helping to retain the moisture in your skin. It also acts as a mild oil suitable for those with inflamed and irritated skin, and those with skin sensitivities. Coconut oil is without a doubt, the number one lather-producing agent used in soaps but it can be drying when it makes up a large portion of the soap's fats. Coconut oil rich soap even lathers in very hard water or even sea water.
Grapeseed Oil is a lightweight oil that absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving a heavy greasy feeling. Used in soaps as a superfatting oil.
Honey is also a humectant, so it helps retain moisture on the skin in much the same way as glycerin.
Lard is made from pig fat much like bacon fat. Its advantages are that it is cheap, easily obtainable, and makes a nice lathery, white bar of soap.
Olive Oil is excellent as a base oil in soaps, either in whole (Castile soap) or in part. Avoid extra virgin olive oil. It is great for cooking but not for soap making. The lower the grade the better. Olive Oil prevents the loss of your skin's natural moisture, softens skin and attracts external moisture to your skin. It helps keeps your skin soft, supple and younger looking. If you're making an especially mild soap use Olive oil.
Palm Kernel Oil is pressed from the fruit kernels of the palm tree Elaeis guineensis.It is most commonly found in handmade soap to increase its lather and hardness and for its moisturizing properties. It has most of the same qualities as palm oil.
Shea Butter is derived from the vegetable fat of the Karite Tree. It forms a breathable, water-resistant film and is the leading natural product for moisturizing. It is a wonderful superfatting agent and contains a large percentage of ingredients that do not react with the lye thus remaining in the soap to nourish your skin.
Soybean Oil produces a mild, stable lather.
Sunflower Oil is a less expensive alternative to olive oil. It contains Vitamin E, so it naturally resists going rancid (Vitamin E is a preservative).
Wheat Germ Oil is thick, sticky and antioxidant. It's also very rich in vitamin E. Can be used to nourish dry or cracked skin and soothes skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. Helps to prevent and reduce scarring and may prevent stretch marks. Mature skin, in particular, will benefit from wheat germ oil.
Excerpt from Mountain Rose Herbs and Colebrothers.com
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