The final product depends on the oils and butters you choose. They affect moisturizing properties, how well the bars lather, and the designs you’re able to create. To help you in your purchase-making decision, I've listed the oils and additives we use in our soaps, along with some of their benefits.
- Avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, B, D, and E. The high levels of fatty acids make it great for lotion, body butter, and conditioner as well.
- Canola oil is an affordable option for soap. It produces a balanced bar with creamy lather. It’s also a great substitute for olive oil.
- Castor oil is a thick liquid extracted from the castor bean plant. It draws moisture to the skin and creates amazing lather in soap.
- Cocoa butter adds a luxurious and moisturizing feeling to cold process soap.
- Coconut oil is one of the most common raw materials used in the soap and cosmetic industry. It comes in several versions, including 76 and 92°F melting point oils – ours is 76°F. Both have the same SAP value. Coconut oil is super cleansing and produces large bubbles in cold process. It’s so cleansing that it can be drying. Experienced soapmakers increase their superfat, or the amount of oil that is left on the skin, to decrease the drying effect.
- Grapeseed Oil leaves your skin feeling silky smooth. It has a lightweight and thin texture, and it’s high in lineoleic acid and antioxidants. It is great in lotion, massage oil, and body butter.
- Hemp seed oil is an amazing source of fatty acids. These fatty acids help keep the skin hydrated all day long. It also creates excellent lather. We use it in our body oils and body butter for maximum hydration.
- Jojoba oil Jojoba Oil is actually a liquid wax that will contribute to a very stable and long-lasting bar of soap. Because jojoba oil is so similar to sebum and has a high vitamin E content, it's an an excellent skin softener that can smooth dry skin, prevent flakiness, and improve skin elasticity.
- Neem Oil has a distinct odor that is often described as musky or garlicky. Don’t let that scare you away though – there’s a reason neem has been used on the skin for centuries. People love it because it’s incredibly moisturizing and full of antioxidants.
- Olive Oil (Pomace & Pure) is a staple in cold process recipes. It’s a thick oil that moisturizes the skin and creates creamy lather.
- Shea butter has high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins make it an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening skin. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Using shea butter on your body, especially your face, can condition, tone, and soothe your skin.
- Lard or Tallow may seem like an odd choice in skincare, but for centuries, people relied on it to soothe dry, irritated skin and help relieve a wide range of skin conditions. Lard is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E and Vitamin A (1,5). It's packed full of vitamins to give us that healthy glowing skin.
- Black Seed Oil is a natural anti-histamine and anti-microbial. It works to nourish the skin, making it perfect for treating rashes and eczema and even Psoriasis, soothing itching and irritation.
These are just a few of the many great ingredients we use in our handmade products. All of our our raw materials are pure and ethically sourced. I hope you have found this information useful, and that it has helped you in making the decision to switch to all-natural products by ANAN.
Sabrina Shears
Owner, Chief Soapmaker