Melt & Pour Soapmaking – FAQs: Additives & ColorantsUpdated 3 months ago
Additives
Can I add palm oil or shea butter to my MP Soap Base?
It is not recommended because the oils will likely go rancid or mold in the soap base. They will also greatly decrease your lather.
You will see soap making recipes that call for oils and butters, such as those you mention, but those recipes are most likely cold or hot process soap recipes.
Does my MP Soap with duck embed need a warning label? Does it need to go through special lead testing?
Yes, you will want to put a warning label on the soap, especially for children under 3 years old. The soap does not need lead testing. This is a requirement of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Your soap likely falls within the FDA’s jurisdiction.
How much of an additive can I add to my MP Soap Base?
You need to contact your supplier because additives often come in different concentrations. You vendor has the best information on what you have purchased. Do not assume that two products with the same name, have the same concentration. Confirm your information first hand.
My additives are floating in my MP Soap Base...help!
Depending on the additive, floating is a common problem. You can use one of two soap making techniques to over come this dilemma.
Some people add this to make the bar harder. In general they add 3%. Depending on your formula, it may cloud the soap and/or decrease lather. In some all natural bases, it can actually soften the base because it increases the percentage of fatty acids.
Will additives grow mold in MP Soap Base?
Some will and some will not. When in doubt….preserve it!
It is not recommended because the oils will likely go rancid or mold in the soap base. They will also greatly decrease your lather.
You will see soap making recipes that call for oils and butters, such as those you mention, but those recipes are most likely cold or hot process soap recipes.
Does my MP Soap with duck embed need a warning label? Does it need to go through special lead testing?
Yes, you will want to put a warning label on the soap, especially for children under 3 years old. The soap does not need lead testing. This is a requirement of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Your soap likely falls within the FDA’s jurisdiction.
How much of an additive can I add to my MP Soap Base?
You need to contact your supplier because additives often come in different concentrations. You vendor has the best information on what you have purchased. Do not assume that two products with the same name, have the same concentration. Confirm your information first hand.
My additives are floating in my MP Soap Base...help!
Depending on the additive, floating is a common problem. You can use one of two soap making techniques to over come this dilemma.
- Melt the soap, add color, fragrance and additives. Leave soap in mixing container and cover with plastic wrap. Once the soap reaches 115ºF. Stir once and pour into the mold. The soap will re-harden quickly, not allowing additives to float.
Some people add this to make the bar harder. In general they add 3%. Depending on your formula, it may cloud the soap and/or decrease lather. In some all natural bases, it can actually soften the base because it increases the percentage of fatty acids.
Will additives grow mold in MP Soap Base?
Some will and some will not. When in doubt….preserve it!
Colorants
Can I use fabric dye to color soap?
It is highly recommended that you only use FDA approved cosmetic color additives in soap and cosmetics. Soap has an exemption from the FDA color additive rule but that does not mean you can use anything to color your soap. Soap meeting this definition and exemption, falls under the Consumer Product Safety Commission rules. In the event of a problem, the CPSC will likely say that the FDA has established safety guidelines for color additives in skincare products.
Help...my layered soap colors are blending.
The migration or "bleeding" of color is because you used a dye. Dyes are great because they produce bright, stained glass clear color. Dyes are water based. In MP Soap Base dyes will migrate together in layered soap. If you do not want your colors to migrate or "bleed" you will need to use a cosmetic grade pigment, lake color or non migrating mica.
How are Iron Oxides, Pigments, Dyes, Lakes, and Mica Colors different?
Iron Oxides (sometimes called pigments) are generally considered to be all natural and will not migrate in soap. They tend to be very dull and earth like in color. The red tends to be more of a brick red and the yellow more of a mustard yellow.
Dyes are water based colors. They are bright and vibrant. They look much like stained glass on a church window. They will always migrate in mp soap. They are the only color that allows a clear bar of soap to stay clear.
Lakes are dyes that have been processed with aluminum, barium or calcium. They are bright colors that, when used in moderation, will not migrate in mp soap base.
Mica can sparkle brilliantly. They can also have a soft frosted appearance. Some micas migrate while others do not.
How do I know if I used too much color?
If your soap bubbles are the color of your soap, you have used too much color. Your soap bubbles should always be white.
How do I make a red bar of soap?
A true red bar of soap can only be made with a clear soap base. If you try to make it with white soap, it will turn pink. It is sort of like mixing white paint and red paint…you will always get pink paint. If you would like to make a red bar of mp soap that you cannot see through, color your clear soap red and then add a very small piece of white soap. This will cloud the clear base and your soap will stay red.
It is highly recommended that you only use FDA approved cosmetic color additives in soap and cosmetics. Soap has an exemption from the FDA color additive rule but that does not mean you can use anything to color your soap. Soap meeting this definition and exemption, falls under the Consumer Product Safety Commission rules. In the event of a problem, the CPSC will likely say that the FDA has established safety guidelines for color additives in skincare products.
Help...my layered soap colors are blending.
The migration or "bleeding" of color is because you used a dye. Dyes are great because they produce bright, stained glass clear color. Dyes are water based. In MP Soap Base dyes will migrate together in layered soap. If you do not want your colors to migrate or "bleed" you will need to use a cosmetic grade pigment, lake color or non migrating mica.
How are Iron Oxides, Pigments, Dyes, Lakes, and Mica Colors different?
Iron Oxides (sometimes called pigments) are generally considered to be all natural and will not migrate in soap. They tend to be very dull and earth like in color. The red tends to be more of a brick red and the yellow more of a mustard yellow.
Dyes are water based colors. They are bright and vibrant. They look much like stained glass on a church window. They will always migrate in mp soap. They are the only color that allows a clear bar of soap to stay clear.
Lakes are dyes that have been processed with aluminum, barium or calcium. They are bright colors that, when used in moderation, will not migrate in mp soap base.
Mica can sparkle brilliantly. They can also have a soft frosted appearance. Some micas migrate while others do not.
How do I know if I used too much color?
If your soap bubbles are the color of your soap, you have used too much color. Your soap bubbles should always be white.
How do I make a red bar of soap?
A true red bar of soap can only be made with a clear soap base. If you try to make it with white soap, it will turn pink. It is sort of like mixing white paint and red paint…you will always get pink paint. If you would like to make a red bar of mp soap that you cannot see through, color your clear soap red and then add a very small piece of white soap. This will cloud the clear base and your soap will stay red.