What did I miss when making gel soap from a solid bar soap?

[valen2]

I made my own solid bar soap (Lye + Oil). After cured time, i intend to use that bar to make gel form soap. First, I skive it into pieces and put them with boiling water into my blender, then I blend them so they dissolve. Then I add extra glycerin and honey, blend them once more time ===> I have my own gel soap.

I made one by following that recipe, with 100g bar soap and 200ml boiling water, then the problems came:

1. I did not know if I should use any preservative or not. My gel soap contained water, but I saw nothing grown (bacteria, ...)

2. My glycerine seemed to separate from the liquid. I tried to use 3g glycerine cocoate (an emulsifier from coconut oil and glycerine). But a little separated glycerin still remained. :-|

3. I found out people advised to use co-emulsifier like stearic acid, but i thought it was not necessary. :think:

4. Last but not least, I also found that my gel soap need an antioxidant like vitamin E to prevent transmutation of things (oil, soap, ...) and I decided to use green tea powder :?

So now I need some advises from who used to make gel soap like me. Is there anyone here who can help me?

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

No one here makes liquid soap that way, because the results are usually a total mess when compared to making real liquid soap from scratch

 

[shunt2011]

Nope, only turns into snot. Many have asked and tried with lousy results.

 

[SuzieOz]

Well ... I wouldn't say "no one here" as I was just about to try that idea ... hehe ... perhaps I won't now :razz:

 

[IrishLass]

Unfortunately, making gel or liquid soap from bar soap is actually the worst possible way to go about making gel or liquid soap. I know there are lots of recipes posted out there on the net about it, but according to those here who have tried it, all it does is make a goopy mess that's vulnerable to being taken over by bacteria over time. The absolute best way is from scratch with KOH and oils.


IrishLass

 

[SuzieOz]

Well, that one can go on the ever-increasing TO DO list ...

 

[Susie]

Save your time and effort. Making it this way gives snot. Making liquid soap from KOH and oils gives good soap, and is less trouble and steps than this.

 

[Rowan]

I agree with everyone here. I once tried to make liquid soap that way. It ended up being horrible solid "snot". It was truly horrible. Making true liquid soap with KOH, can be a bit complicated at first but is worth the effort. There are some amazing threads on the forum about it, particularly by Irish Lass and Susie.

 

[DeeAnna]

A bunch of folks tested the "liquid soap using NaOH" theory awhile back. Nearly all of us decided it doesn't work, no matter what technique we used to get there.

Here is the record of the adventures: http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=52597