Sheesh! If I read one more, “Coconut oil is very drying if used above 15/20/25%!!!” statement, I’ll snap! Why do so many soapmakers speak as if that’s a given, when it clearly is not.
Yes, I’ve only been making soap for over a year, and that’s a “truth” that’s simply not true, in all cases. I have a 70% coconut oil soap, and it’s delightful! You know why? Because it’s got 15% refined hempseed oil and 15% unrefined shea butter, and it’s superfatted at…you guessed it…15%. It works for my skin, and none of my testers reported dryness. It’s my “luxury” soap, and I’m still waiting for the DOS (I’m saving a hunk, to see what happens over time).
So, what am I saying? High percentages of coconut oil aren’t necessarily drying to the skin. It depends on YOUR skin, and the soap formulation (including superfat percentage). I wish folks would say, “I haven’t been able to formulate a recipe with higher percentages of coconut oil that didn’t dry out MY skin”, and leave it at that.
NEA
(RSS)
Hello! Absolutely and you can say that again! A 70% coconut oil soap should be just fine. As you said, it really depends on the individual’s skin type, at the end of the day.
Here in the Philippines, a good number of homemade soaps are composed of at least 50% coconut oil. Palm and olive oils, just to name a couple, are usually used for the remainder 50%.
Just my two cents. Take care.
Cheers,
CoconutOilGuy
http://www.coconut-oil-central.com
Your Drugstore in a Bottle
I know for me, the reason I hesitate making soap with over 20% coconut is because not only does it affect my skin in a negative manner it has been reported in large studies to cause problems. I sell my soap to the public so I don’t want to take any chances since I cannot predict how it will affect their skin. I tried to avoid most ingredients that studies show are allergens or cause negative skin reactions. The studies just say coconut oil “can” cause rashes or dryness. If I hadn’t read the study I wouldn’t even have known what the problem was with my skin so I believe it is important to be cautious when making coconut oil soap and selling it.
I agree with what you are saying though. I’ve seen all over the web where it says how CO “causes” dryness and your right, this is not always the case and if someone buys a product that bothers their skin, for whatever reason, they should just discontinue using it.