Cold Process Soap Benefits
Shower and bath time rituals can be a soothing way to relax and recharge, offering a sense of both luxury and comfort.
The body care items that you use during your bath time can not only enhance the calming experience but also benefit your skin in a significant way.
We may not think too much about the type of soap we use in our daily cleansing routine.
However, it is a product that frequently comes into contact with our skin, so ensuring it contains beneficial ingredients will help our skin look and feel its best.
Most commonly, the soaps we see on the shelves are considered hot process soaps, but there are also alternative cold process soaps that are available with a host of proper skincare benefits.
Although both hot process and cold process soaps seem similar, the difference is in how they are formulated and made, which allows for differences in their appearance as well as their performance on the skin.
If you are accustomed to using hot process soap but feel it might be too drying for your skin, or if you want a product more comforting for your skin, cold process soap may be your answer.
What is cold process soap, and what are the benefits?
There are many positives to using cold process soap for both your skin and the environment. The soap is made by using natural ingredients, and no outside heat is used to combine the ingredients.
Cold process soap uses natural ingredients and maintains their integrity to deliver a product that helps your skin feel good and cared for, and below, we’ll explore in detail all that cold process soap has to offer.
What Is Cold Process Soap?
Cold process soap is created with a mixture of ingredients, specifically certain oils and sodium hydroxide (lye), to initiate a chemical reaction without the use of external heat.
The chemical reaction is called saponification, and from this reaction, both soap and glycerin are created.
The cold process method of making soap has been a traditional technique used for centuries, and continues to be honored and utilized to this day.
The oils used to create the soap are typically coconut or olive oil, known for their soothing and nourishing properties.
Beyond the base oils and sodium hydroxide lye required for the saponification process.
Cold process soaps can also be made to include a variety of added essential oils, fragrances, or other skin-nourishing ingredients, creating luxurious bars of soap that feel good on the skin.
Once the saponification process occurs and all the ingredients are mixed, the product can be poured into soap molds to form its shape and settle, ready for use.
The curing process can be done at room temperature, further eliminating the need for outside heat, although it can be a lengthy process overall.
The setting period does take several weeks, but the result is a gentle, unique, and nourishing body care product.
Benefits Of Cold Process Soap
Cold-processed soaps have a myriad of benefits that support your skin as well as the environment.
Because no outside heat is used, it is more energy efficient, and the natural ingredients that are used are often more environmentally friendly and typically biodegradable.
The ingredients used also ensure the soap can be vegan, which also has its own personal and environmental benefits.
The most notable skincare benefit of cold-processed soap is the gentle and nourishing way it feels on the skin.
Cold process soaps are ideal for sensitive skin, as they soothe irritation and provide the much-needed hydration that can often be stripped from the skin by regular soaps.
The cold-processed soap method does not include any added detergents, so the skin is not exposed to any potentially harsh ingredients.
The saponification process also helps to keep the integrity of the natural ingredients and their properties.
All the natural benefits of the ingredients can be conserved, which will be gentle and soothing on your skin.
The cold process soap creates a rich lather that leaves the skin feeling supple.
As the saponification process naturally produces glycerin, the skin’s moisture is not only maintained, but also increased.
The lack of external heat does not break down or alter the active ingredients or inhibit them in any way.
Allowing the skin to receive the full range of benefits from the specific ingredients added to the soap.
The cold process method for soaps does not require external heat.
It provides more control over the soap’s outcome, including the ability to add specific ingredients during the saponification process.
Along with oils and sodium hydroxide lye.
The cold process soap method allows for each batch to be completely customized with the desired essential oils or fragrances, resulting in a unique product every time.
Difference Between Cold Process Soap And Regular Soap
There are a few differences between cold process soaps and regular soaps, also known as hot process soaps.
The main difference is that cold process soaps require no outside heat; instead, they heat from the inside out.
While hot process soaps use an outside heat source that works from the outside in.
As there are no external, high-heat temperatures, the active ingredients of the oils are not broken down in the cold process method, as they can be in the hot process method.
Cold process soap making is more time-consuming than the hot process soap making alternative.
Once the ingredients are all mixed and the soap has been formed, the cold process soap requires several weeks to cure, typically taking between four and eight weeks.
Hot process soap typically takes about one week to heal.
With hot process soaps, they often include added ingredients, such as detergents and fillers, which can affect how the soap feels and performs on the skin.
The detergents can be harsh and can often strip the skin of its needed hydration, especially if your skin is already prone to dryness.
The fillers can also interfere with the other, natural ingredients, and if you have sensitive skin, some filler ingredients can also cause unwanted irritation.
While both cold process soaps and hot process soaps have their differences, ultimately, both achieve the same goal of cleansing the skin thoroughly and delivering their fair share of skincare benefits.
Hot process soaps are the most commonly available soaps on the market; however, cold process soaps are becoming more widely available.
Process For Making Cold Process Soaps
Whether you want to purchase an already-made soap or want to try your hand at creating cold process soap on your own, the process will remain the same.
There are many recipes to follow to make a specific type of cold process soap, based on your ingredient preferences and the desired outcome for your soap.
However, as mentioned above, the two necessary ingredients to start are your preferred oil, such as coconut oil, and sodium hydroxide lye.
Lye is an intense chemical substance, so it is best to use caution when working with this ingredient.
Such as working outside, with proper ventilation, and wearing safety goggles or gloves.
The lye first needs to be mixed with water, and as it is mixing, it will naturally begin to heat itself.
Once the lye and water are thoroughly mixed, they will need some time to sit.
After the proper amount of time has passed for the lye and water mixture, the oils can then be added and mixed into the substance.
It should be mixed thoroughly until it begins to emulsify, and there is no separation between the oils and the lye.
Once this moment is achieved, it is called “trace,” and after trace is reached, additional fragrances, essential oils, or any other skincare ingredients can be added.
Overall, the mixture should reach a thick consistency, similar to that of batter, and can then be poured into the molds to cure.
As mentioned above, the curing process could take several weeks before your soap is ready.
Generally, the curing process can take anywhere from four to eight weeks for cold-process soap to reach its finished state.
If you’re thinking of making your own cold process soap at home, take a look at this tutorial from Royalty Soaps on YouTube.
Conclusion
Cold process soaps deliver both personal and environmental benefits with each use.
They can be an ideal DIY project if you are after a soap that targets a specific concern or has particular ingredients.
The customization of cold process soaps allows you the freedom and control to make a body care product with your own needs in mind.
Although it may be a time-consuming project, the benefit of having your own unique body care items that will nourish your skin and add comfort to your cleansing routine will be a significant payoff.
Even though hot process soaps and cold process soaps have their own set of similarities and differences, both options are widely available based on your preferences.
