Shower and bath time rituals can be a soothing way to relax and recharge in a way that feels lavish, yet comforting. The body care items that you use during your bath time can not only enhance the calming experience but benefit your skin in a major way as well.
We may not think too much about the type of soap we use in our daily cleansing routine, however it is a product that has frequent contact with our skin so making sure that it has beneficial ingredients will help your skin to 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 through using natural ingredients and no outside heat to combine the ingredients together.
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 create a chemical reaction without the use of outside 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, that continues to be honored and utilized to this day.
The oils that are used to create the soap are typically coconut or olive oils for their soothing and nourishing properties.
Beyond the base oils and sodium hydroxide lye that is needed to create the saponification process, cold process soaps can also be made to include a number of added essential oils, fragrances, or other skin nourishing ingredients to create luxurious bars of soap that feel good on the skin.
Once the saponification process occurs and all of the ingredients are mixed together, the product can be poured into soap molds to form their shape and settle to be ready to 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 end 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 for cold processed soap is the gentle and nourishing way it feels on the skin. Cold process soaps are ideal for sensitive skin to soothe irritation and provide the much-needed hydration, that can often be stripped of skin from regular soaps.
The cold processed soap method does not include any added detergents to make the soap, 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 are able to be conserved, which will be gentle and soothing on your skin. The cold process soap creates a rich lather that gives a supple feeling to the skin as well.
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 anyway, allowing the skin to receive the full range of benefits from the specific ingredients added to the soap.
As the method to cold process soaps does not include needing outside heat, the process provides more control for the outcome of the soap, including what ingredients can be added during the saponification process.
Along with the 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 to create a unique result 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, rather 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 together and the soap has been formed, the cold process soap takes several weeks to cure, which can take anywhere between four to eight weeks. Hot process soap typically takes about one week to cure.
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 needed ingredients to start are your preference of oil, such as coconut, 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 or 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 is thoroughly mixed together, it 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 the 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, and 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 major payoff.
Even though hot process soaps and cold process soaps have their set of similarities and differences, both options are widely available based on your preferences.
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