Leaves skin feeling sticky

[user 59805]

Hi all,
I made my first batch of cold process soap about 6 weeks ago. I followed the recipe to a tee. It came out perfectly but the soap leaves my skin feeling sticky until I dry off. I've noticed this with some other homemade soaps that I've used in the past. Is this common with homemade soaps or is there something I can do to prevent that?

 

[KiwiMoose]

Do you means sticky or do you mean not dried out like with commercial soap?
Please share your recipe so we can troubleshoot.

 

[user 59805]

Sticky. If I'm washing my hands...when I'm rinsing, as the lather gets washed away, my hands won't smoothly slide against each other. But as soon as they are dry, there is no stickiness. Does that make sense? Lol. Here is the recipe I used. And thank you for responding.

• 8 oz. Coconut Oil (24%)
• 15 oz. Olive Oil (44%)
• 11 oz. Palm Oil (32%)
• 4.8 oz. Lye
• 11.2 oz. Distilled Water

 

[KiwiMoose]

I think what you are describing is the same as what my husband and son describe as 'not rinsing off properly'. Most handmade soaps tend to leave a small residue of oils on the skin (known as superfatting) which serve to soften or 'moisturize' the skin. If this is what's happening that that is normal.
Did you recipe just give the amounts above? Or did it say what the lye concentration was?

 

[AliOop]

Do you have hard water or soft water? That can make a big difference as to how well the soap washes off your hands.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I ran the recipe through the SMF c@lculator and it’s 30% lye concentration and 5% superfat, but that doesn’t give me any insights for the sticky feeling.