Adding Coconut Milk?

[Confused_Penguin]

My recipe includes 18.86% Coconut Oil, and I'm worried that adding coconut milk will be too drying to the skin (since I heard too much coconut can irritate skin). What do you guys think? Should I use another type of milk?

 

[Obsidian]

The amount of coconut oil in coconut milk is quite small. It will raise the SF a little but I haven't noticed it making the soap more cleansing. Its my favorite kind of milk for soaps, made a batch with it today.

 

[KristaY]

l love using coconut milk. It makes a really creamy bar of soap. I also don't find it more drying or cleansing. I calculated the fat in the brand I buy to see how it would increase the SF. In the brand plus the volume I use, it increases my SF by 5%. You may want to factor that in and decide if you want a higher SF soap or adjust your lye accordingly.

 

[Confused_Penguin]

Sorry SF stands for?

 

[Susie]

SF=Superfat

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=51841

 

[Confused_Penguin]

Oh lol. Okay thank you guys so much! I truly appreciate it!

 

[Cindy2428]

I find exactly the opposite. The coconut milk adds the extra conditioning that my dry skin needs. Do a comparison - use your favorite recipe and sub 50% of your water with the cocomilk. If you don't want the extra step of freezing the milk, use 50% water to dissolve your sodium hydroxide to prepare your lye water and add the remaining liquid (cocomilk) to your oils.

 

[KristaY]

Sorry about that, Penguin! If you decide you want to do the math to calculate superfat when using coconut milk, here's a thread that may help:

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=51437

Edit: I agree with Cindy. The extra conditioning is wonderful!

 

[abc]

Is the preferred coconut milk the canned variety or the carton? I've seen folks mention canned but not in the carton. It's much cheaper in the carton but I think the fat is lower than canned.

 

[Cindy2428]

I can't answer that question. I've used both and my notes don't say anything special of one over the other. I did just start buying coconut milk powder and making my own milk. A big difference - A lot more fat content. I actually plan to reduce my SF. Very rich and creamy texture.

 

[Confused_Penguin]

I want my SF to stay at around 5%. Now knowing that the milk can increase SF, I guess substituting my water content with full coconut milk might be out of the question. I might just do half of it as coconut milk. Is there a calc online or a math formula that can help me know how much lye to add so that my SF will stay the same?

 

[KristaY]

The math formula I used is spelled out in the thread link I attached earlier. (#8 I think) Also, if you want your calculations checked, post it, and we'll be happy to help!

 

[Nevada]

How to calculate Coconut Milk in a recipe.

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=46357&page=3