Aloe Vera Juice - is adding a little effective?

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Very true reminder, thank you, that helps me not feel so bad about some of the supplies I already have. I'm curious, and you don't have to answer if you don't feel inclined. Do you use the same additives in all your soaps, or do you change them up? I realize that's a loaded question because you could make soap for specific uses like face, hair, body. Let's limit my question to just body soap. Do you typically use the same recipe for all your body soaps? (except for essential oils or fragrance oils and colorants). My goal has been to have one good recipe for all my soaps, and I feel you'll be honest with me if that's unreasonable.
My regular additives are EDTA, Sodium Gluconate, BHT in my Tallow/lard recipe, vinegar and sorbitol in all. Some get butters, milks clay, oatmeal etc.

If you happen to live where there is a Hispanic store you may be able to buy a large aloe leaf. I love Canola HO at 15% in soap and for many years used regular Canola with no problems at 15% max in my soaps. I do not go over 15% with the HO just because I do not like high Oleic soap. If I quit selling I will probably go back to regular Canola.
 
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Yes, My regular additives are sugar, salt, mulberry silk, citric acid, Edta. I change up my recipe depending on the design I have planned. For example a soap needing lots of colors, needs a very slow moving recipe and I plan for this. One or two colors are planned differently. Then I would add: goats milk, coconut milk or buttermilk, along with colloidal oatmeal and various clays.
 
I spent several months working on a soap formula that was low cost but still good. For instance, I stopped using jojoba oil in my soap. However, I still think my recipe could be improved. I've been reading a lot about Aloe Vera Juice, and I want to experiment with it, but replacing water with aloe would make my costs soar. Does replacing a small percentage of water with AVJ have any benefits?

Stephd31, I think aloe vera definitely helps with bubbles and lather. I grow aloe so I usually prep the leaves and freeze it in batches and use it around a third to half of the liquid. Aloe powder also works very well to help lather. I haven't used aloe juice but I think that would work well too.
 
I had tried using 100% aloe vera juice in my soaps and those particular soaps I noticed after the cure had little fine salt like crystals almost look like very fine dust. Has anyone else had this problem using aloe vera juice. I didn't do anything else different so I figured it was the AVJ.
 
I had tried using 100% aloe vera juice in my soaps and those particular soaps I noticed after the cure had little fine salt like crystals almost look like very fine dust. Has anyone else had this problem using aloe vera juice. I didn't do anything else different so I figured it was the AVJ.
I haven’t had this happen. When I use Aloe Vera Juice, I use as full water replacement. I use the Fruit of The Earth brand which I purchase at Walmart usually.
 
With cold process and a 2:1 liquid: lye ratio no, with hot process and a 3:1 liquid: lye ratio yes. I assume as the water is evaporating and it is leaving behind little bits of juice. You could lower your liquid: lye ratio a little or wipe off the bars with a damp cloth once they've had a chance to harden.
 
I have used a lot of Aloe juice and fresh Aloe gel as full water replacement with the Juice without ever having it leave any type of fine crystals. I would get that when using citric acid as a chelator. I now use EDTA and Sodium Gluconate.
I’m perplexed also, maybe God-Given gifts used sugar or salt which precipitated out?
 
I have used a lot of Aloe juice and fresh Aloe gel as full water replacement with the Juice without ever having it leave any type of fine crystals. I would get that when using citric acid as a chelator. I now use EDTA and Sodium Gluconate.
I use sodium citrate in all my soap, so maybe I'm seeing that instead?
 
My regular additives are EDTA, Sodium Gluconate, BHT in my Tallow/lard recipe, vinegar and sorbitol in all. Some get butters, milks clay, oatmeal etc.

If you happen to live where there is a Hispanic store you may be able to buy a large aloe leaf. I love Canola HO at 15% in soap and for many years used regular Canola with no problems at 15% max in my soaps. I do not go over 15% with the HO just because I do not like high Oleic soap. If I quit selling I will probably go back to regular Canola.

Thank you, I appreciate your response, and it gives me something to think about. I need to get out of the box I've put myself in and experiment a little more. I haven't looked at additives very much and I'm not exactly sure why. The soap I make isn't bad, but I believe I can make it better.
 
In my bars so far I’ve noticed easier lather with full AVJ than those used with only distilled water and coconut milk powder. Of course now I’m out and have to go hunt some more down. I’ve been experimenting with just sugar but those bars are still curing.
 
Hi there -

Could I suggest you could try powdered aloe vera concentrate? The concentrate I use is 200x so the amount used is actually super tiny - I think WSP have Crafters Choice 100x powder (1/2 oz for $9.60). Also it has a year shelf life - I always store it with a desiccant sachet though as it is inclined to clump. I've just used some in a goat milk, aloe and honey soap and I really like the feel of it. I always use kaolin clay too. :)
Hi, for the 200x aloe powder, how much would you recommend for a 2lb batch?
 
Hi, for the 200x aloe powder, how much would you recommend for a 2lb batch?
Make a solution of aloe Vera juice and use it to replace your water.
To re-constitute 200:1 powdered aloe so that it is a single strength Aloe Liquid you need to add 0.5g of Aloe Powder to 99.5g of Water (0.5% to 99.5%).
Or 5g Powder to 995g water. I use a jewlery scale to measure this accurately. You want to use it fresh not stored for ages so making a huge amount isn’t a good idea.
 
Hi, for the 200x aloe powder, how much would you recommend for a 2lb batch?
penelopejane is right, although to be honest I've never precisely measured. I usually put a ¼-½ tsp in my oils (for 2lb of oils) and stick blend it there. Or I have also done it in the lye water, makes no difference.
You can of course measure it precisely, and it's probably better, but a little more or less really shouldn't be a problem with this one.
 

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