How to mix oxide powders in M&P

[ctay122]

I have been trying to color some M&P soap with a pink ultramarine. Both times I added it to the fragrance oil and both times it looked like I had it mixed in well. However, when I righted my mold the top of the soap has little flecks in it of what appears to be undissolved color. So I've made 2 batches now and am wondering what I'm doing wrong. I hate wasting oils so can anyone help me and tell me the right way to do it.

 

[tomara]

for M & P, I believe you can disolve the pigments in a bit of rubbing alcohol. HTH

 

[Genny]

It's better to add micas in alcohol or vegetable glycerin before adding it to your soap.
I've had better success by adding it to vegetable glycerin (if I'm out, I use alcohol) mixing it until it's completely mixed into a nice slurry. Melting a little bit of mp base and then mixing completely the mica slurry into that. Then mixing that into the rest of the melted base.

It seems like a lot of work, but it that's the best way I've found to get it mixed.

 

[nc.marula]

I always mix with Liquid Glycerin, works like a charm. I've never had any flaky problems since I started doing that!

 

[Catmehndi]

I always found that any powdered material reacts like corn starch in a recipe: it will clump unless you dilute it first. I personally would never use alcohol but it seems to work fine in a small amount of melted base which is then added to the rest of the base. Just stir well.

 

[Kat2011]

I used my first oxides for coloring yesterday. I wanted to make my lavender EO soap look like lavender too

I mixed the oxide powder into a small amount of glycerin, mixed and mixed and mixed, the added to soap...lots of stirring...

I didn't see any specks, but when de-molding the soaps - the tops had a few little specks.

Actually, it is not unattractive - just not what I planned on seeing.

 

[llineb]

Sometimes I will mix my oxides with a small amount of clear soap base and lots of powder. I then pour it into a small plastic ziplock container. Then I have a color block and use a small slice and add it to my batches as needed. When I mix the slice into the M&P soap base I check the color and if I want it darker I will just cut and add another slice. If you make all your colors one night then you wont have to mix the oxides each time you make a batch.

I hope I explained this ok.

 

[Kat2011]

I like it!! You explained it perfectly!!!
What a great idea!!

 

[ncfox527]

Great Idea!

I normally mix with vegetable glycerin too, but I LOVE the idea of making my own color blocks using M&P base. What a great idea! I'm going to try this.

Sometimes I will mix my oxides with a small amount of clear soap base and lots of powder. I then pour it into a small plastic ziplock container. Then I have a color block and use a small slice and add it to my batches as needed. When I mix the slice into the M&P soap base I check the color and if I want it darker I will just cut and add another slice. If you make all your colors one night then you wont have to mix the oxides each time you make a batch.

I hope I explained this ok.