Cold Process Vs Melt & Pour Soaps: An Expert's Guide
Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? Soap-rising right? Tasked with shielding your sensitive internal organs from the external environment, your skin is an excellent absorber and the key portal of entry into the bloodstream. For the same reason, everything you apply to the skin should be handled with extreme caution. Daily exposure to lotions, soaps and deodorants may expose us to unwelcome harmful fragrance oil and synthetic chemicals. So what exactly is the better alternative for your health and for your skin?
So what exactly is the better alternative for your health and for your skin? Which soap-making technique produces the least harmful soaps? Is there even a reliable source where I can get high-quality, dependable soaps? The questions can be many and overwhelming. But fear not, for we are here to guide you through your soap journey. Melt and pour, cold process, hot process, and rebatch are the four primary methods used to produce soap. They all make fantastic bars of soap, but they do so in very different ways. The biggest confusion among them all seems to be between melt-and-pour soap and cold-process soap. The following article intends to shed unbiased light on both these techniques to help you get clarity on which soap you must get to make your skin bubble with happiness.
Cold Process Soaps; The What’s And Why’s
The ancient Babylonians developed the concept of soap as we know it thousands of years ago. Although modern soaps frequently integrate chemicals, they are fundamentally still based on this ancient form from 6000 BC. There are many different ways to produce soap, but cold process soap-making is one of the most often used techniques.
All soap is the result of a chemical reaction called the saponification process. When fat and a strong base are combined, saponification occurs. The strong base for liquid soap is potassium hydroxide, often known as potash, while the strong base for solid soap is sodium hydroxide lye. Glycerin and soap are the two byproducts of this process. When all of the lye has been chemically transformed and none is left, cold-processed soap is complete. The oils or butter are used excessively in order to ensure that all of the lye is converted into soap. The "trace" that the combination leaves when the oils and lye start to emulsify is the primary sign that the two are reacting with one another. To preserve their natural qualities, some soap makers prefer to add their treasured essential oils as soon as the trace starts to form.
As the name suggests, cold process soap-making does not include the use of heat. Without warming or rinsing, saponification of cold process soaps takes place at room temperature. That said, making cold-process soap takes a while. The mixture has to cure before it is placed into a mold to make soap. Usually, this drying process takes at least 4 weeks. This enables the soap to dry and the saponification process to be fully completed. The fatty acids in the oils are broken down by the caustic soda during the cold-process soap-making process. The link they create next has oil at one end and water at the other. As you lather up, you can see these chains in action. The end that prefers oil clings to the gunk, while the end that prefers water holds onto the water that washes it all away.
The quality of the soaps is what distinguishes the cold process from other soaps the most. Making hot process soap, for instance, is all about getting outcomes much more quickly. Instead of curing the soap in a mold, the liquid is heated until it hardens in a heat source. Creating cold process soap has the benefit of a more natural, slow chemical reaction, which produces a soap that is more nutritious and friendly to the skin.
Benefits of Cold Process Soaps
Packed with nutritious goodness for your skin, here are 3 advantages of using cold process soap:
1. As gentle as a feather is cold process soaps to your skin
The major feature of cold process soap that makes it so mild on the skin is glycerin. Glycerin, a by-product of the saponification process, is a humectant, which means it draws moisture to your skin. Because it keeps your skin nourished, cold-process soap is a great option for persons with dry or sensitive skin. They deeply hydrate the skin while still feeling like a bar of soap, giving you the feeling of a rich moisturizer!
2. East or West, Going Natural is the Best
Natural-ingredient soaps have been making a resurgence in recent years and for all the right reasons. Since our forefathers and the Indian culture have traditionally valued these ingredients, organic soaps have made a comeback in our beauty regimen. Natural herbs are amazing since they not only don't contain any chemicals but also make us feel good. No hazardous substances, such as parabens or sulfates, are present in cold-pressed soaps. All skin types can use cold press soaps since they are mild on the skin and don't irritate, itch, or cause allergies. You may select the soaps that are most effective at treating your skin problems based on the issues you are having.
3. Hugs For Your Skin And Kisses For The Earth
Cold process soap has the additional advantage of being biodegradable, which means it will decompose naturally and won't contaminate the environment. When you use cold process soap instead of the majority of store-bought soaps, which typically include synthetic components that might take years to disintegrate, you can be certain that you are not endangering the environment.
Melt & Pour Soaps; A Detailed Review
A ready-made soap base composed of fatty acids, glycerin, and other natural components is recognized as melt and pour soap. Before it can be used, the finished product must cure for up to four weeks. Melt and pour soap can be used right away, unlike cold process soaps that are manufactured entirely from scratch. It only requires you to melt the base, add scent and color and put it in a mold to make a melt and pour soap. These bases frequently include skin-beneficial ingredients like shea butter, argan oil, or olive oil. The quickest way to create a bar of soap that looks decent is using melt and pour soap! These bases have good visual appeal, good scent lift. They are favored by both novice and expert makers due to their adaptability, and they provide a wealth of creative alternatives. However, you should be aware of a few downsides of melt & pour soaps before adopting them.
Keep A Cooler In Handy
In humid environments, the glycerin that is prevalent in melt and pour soap has a propensity to sweat. Melt and pour soaps draws in atmospheric moisture, which beads up and provides the impression of perspiration. The humid atmosphere is where this is mostly an issue. Heat is another factor to acknowledge. The majority of glycerin soaps bases melt at a temperature of roughly 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Shipping melts and pour soap goods to a warm location might also be a challenge. It might spend a day cooking in a steel mailbox or soaking up the sun on the front steps.
Adieu Customisation
The base for melt and pour soaps cannot be custom-made. You cannot choose the oils or butter in the soap since saponification has already taken place. This implies that your chances of finding a soap that meets your skincare demands are slim.
Ew. What’s that smell?
In soaps manufactured employing the melt-and-pour technique, fresh components like milk and purees eventually spoil. While using a soap that doesn't meet your skin's demands is bad enough, using a soap with expired components and an unpleasant fragrance is a real headache.
Melt And Pour Vs Cold Process: Who Is The Winner?
When all the benefits and drawbacks of the two types of soaps are considered, it is clear as day that cold process soaps come out on top. Unlike the detergent-like soap from the store, the handcrafted cold process soap doesn't include any harsh chemicals or synthetic colors. All of the components are organic. Therefore, while using cold process soap, only natural components are absorbed into your skin. The best part about making cold-process soap by hand is that you may add whatever oils, vitamins, and herbs you choose to make the perfect bar of soap for your skin type. Although handcrafted cold process soap is more expensive than other soap bars, they make a distinction because they are beneficial to your skin. In other words, cold process soaps are the best secret for keeping your skin bubbling with happiness and brimming with nourishment.
Despite the countless benefits cold process soaps offer, it might be challenging to find a store that offers authentic cold process soaps. If you are frustrated and spiraling as you navigate the numerous phony websites on the internet that advertise the sale of cold process soaps, it is time for you to relax as we come with good news. Your search for authentic cold process soaps ends here. At Mrija, we're dedicated to providing you with the finest cold-processed soaps in town. These soaps are the product of the optimum fusion of chemistry and artistry, crafted with care to guarantee an excellent customer experience. Whether it be vegan soaps or rakta Chandan soap, we offer everything you could want in one spot. Learn more about us now!
Photo from Free pick