Base Oils & Other Ingredients Base oils (also referred to as fixed or carrier oils) is the main ingredients in handmade soaps.  The type of oils used will affect both the saponification (the chemical process in which fats or oils are combined with an alkali (lye) to produce soap) and curing process as well as the look and feel of the final soap bar.  Because each ingredient lends a special characteristic to the finished bar, we can balance the oils to make some wonderful soaps to meet different skin types and needs.  We can also add more oils at trace to superfat (extra oil and fats added to the soap that will not be saponified) creating a soap that is usually richer and milder.  Almond Oil (Sweet) (vegan)  This oil is nutrient rich and is the finest and best all-purpose carrier oil.  It is excellent for sensitive and exzema prone skin.  Neutral, unscented and non-allergic, it is easily absorbed into the skin where it nourishes and moisturizes and it helps to relieve dry itching skin.  It is rich in vitamins A and E and has anti-inflamatory properties which softens and conditions skin. Great for dermatitis, aids the healing from burns and is currently being used in the treatment of stretch marks.  It is commonly used in massage oils, lotions, salves and body butters.   Apricot Kernel Oil (vegan)  Apricot kernel is light emollient oil that is especially good premature aging skin, dry and sensitive skin.  It is highly moisturizing and great in soaps, lotions, creams and body butters.  Is also good for all skin types. Avocado Oil (vegan)  Avocado oil makes a rich additive to skincare products for all skin types, but especially good for dry and maturing skin.  It is excellent oil for sensitive skin as well as eczema as it has both healing and regenerating abilities.  It contains protein, amino acids and large amounts of vitamins A, B1, B2, D & E, Panthothenic Acid, Lecithin and fatty acids.  It is highly therapeutic due to its penetration abilities.  It is highly moisturizing, gives stable lather and is good for all skin types. Babassu Oil (vegan) Babassu oil is non-drying oil used in food, cleansers and skin products.  Its properties are similar to coconut oil.  It has about 70% lipids and is an effective emollient.  It is considered to be beneficial for either dry or oily complexions, moisturizing the skin without leaving an oily residue.  Babassu oil is fast penetrating oil and is often used in lotions, lip balms and hair care products. Borage Oil (vegan) Borage oil is a natural oil that is superior in restoring moisture and smoothness to dry and significantly damaged skin.  It can suppress inflammation and has properties that improve the health and appearance of skin tissue.   It has been shown to be very effective for treating skin eczema and dermatitis.  It is the richest known source of gamma linolenic acid, which was proven in studies to clear severe cradle cap in infants (a skin condition that is characterized by dry scales and crusts on the scalp, eyelids, face and armpits of infants) when applied to the babies skin topically. Canola Oil (vegan)  Canola oil is a close substitute for olive oil when used in soaps.  It creates a hard conditioning soap with stable lather and is good for all skin types. Caster Oil (vegan) Caster oil is a wonderful oil for the use in soaps for it makes long lasting, large, frothy and creamy bubbles.  Ricinoleic acid is the main component of caster therefore, is excellent in moisturizing dry skin as well as having anti-inflammatory effects.  Caster, which is thick in nature, is used to supplement other oils.  It adds richness and mildness to soaps.  It also acts as a humectants, attracting moisture to the skin and is good for all skin types.  Cocoa Butter (vegan) Cocoa Butter has a pleasant aroma of cocoa or chocolate.  It is a relatively hard butter which makes it an ideal base for lotion bars, lip balms, conditioners, and improves the overall consistency of soaps making it creamy and hard.  Cocoa butter is an emollient that reduces dryness and is great for softening skin and improving elasticity.  Coconut Oil (vegan) Coconut oil is used as an emollient is soaps and as a shine enhancer is some hair product.  Surfactants derived from coconut oil have good cleansing properties and are generally known to be mild.  It is also used for its moisturizing and contributes to a quick fluffy lather.  It makes a hard bar soap with excellent cleansing properties, skin moisturizer and softener.  Coconut has high concentrations of lauric acid.  It is a good oil to use for dry, itchy and sensitive skin but if used in excess, will dry skin.  Emu Oil (animal) Emu oil, derived from the fat of the emu bird, contains anti-inflammatory properties.  It helps thicken thin aging skin.  It is an incredible lipid replenishing ingredients which may be use in all types of skin care products.  Its unique penetrating properties make it an excellent carrier for other ingredients.  It is a natural remedy for the treatment of skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, burns, sunburns, abrasions and dry skin in general.  When used topically, it has been known to relieve muscle and joint pain.  Evening Primrose Oil (vegan)  Evening primrose helps replenish moisture lost to tanning, minimizing flaking and peeling for the appearance of a longer lasting tan.  It is an emollient, conditioner and an anti-inflammatory that helps healing of poor skin condition,  eczema and minor wounds.   Evening primrose oil contains about 9% gamma linoleic acid which contributes to good cellular regeneration and health.  Great for the use in lotions, creams, salves, lip balms and soaps.  Glycerin (vegan) Glycerin is a valuable by product of the soap making process in which large soap companies often remove in order to sell it as a by product.  However, handmade soaps contain all the natural glycerin produced during saponification, making them more moisturizing.   It serves as a humectants which absorbs moisture from the air to keep hair and skin moist and is an enriching agent in various personal care produces.  We like to add glycerin to our soap, sugar and salt scrubs, lotions and creams to give added moisturizing qualities to our produces.  Grapeseed Oil (vegan)  Grapeseed is a good conditioning addition to soap and is easily absorbed by the skin making it an ideal skincare ingredient.  It has a mild astringent quality which helps tighten and tone skin.   It is useful in the care of acne and other skin conditions.  Grapeseed is said to have regenerative and restructuring attributes and is helpful for diminishing the sun?s damaging rays.  Grapeseed oil is also rich in linoleic acid which has excellent skin spreadability and penetrates quickly.  Great for use in sun care lotions, soaps and massage oils.  Hemp Seed Oil (vegan) Hemp seed oil has been used in skin care products for centuries due to its excellent moisturizing properties.  It is one of the ?driest? natural oils available and provides high amounts of fluid and lubricity without feeling greasy.  Excellent for the use in bar soaps, facial creams, lotions and sunscreens to provide moisture to dry damaged skin.  Great for eczema, psoriasis and mastaligia.  It penetrates the skin quickly and has a high content of essential fatty acids.  Jojoba Oil (vegan) Jojoba Oil is not actually an oil, but a liquid wax.  Jojoba oil has very good effects on the skin, acting as a moisturizer and emollient agent to improve skin elasticity and suppleness. Jojoba contains natural tocopherols to minimize oxidation and hence rancidity caused by lipid peroxidation.  Jojoba oil can help heal acne, athlete?s feet, cuts, mouth sores, pimples, and warts.  The oil also helps remove build up around hair follicles and prevents dandruff, hair loss and a dry scalp.  It is a great ingredient to add in shampoos and conditioners as well.  Jojoba oil is widely used in cosmetics, soaps, OTC pharmaceuticals, sun care products, creams and lotions and helps smooth and removes wrinkles and stretch marks. Great for superfatting soaps.  Lanolin (animal) Derived from wool-bearing animals, such as sheep, Lanolin acts as an ointment, water proofing wax.  As an ointment base, it is readily absorbed through skin and is great for chapped lips, diaper rash, dry skin, rough feet, minor burns and skin abrasions.  Lanolin exhibits excellent moisture binding and humectants properties making it an ideal ingredient for soaps, lotions, creams, hair care, lip balms and other products where enhanced moisture retention is desired.  Lard (animal) Lard is rendered fat of pigs.  Soaps made with lard are quite mild to the skin and reasonably hard to the touch.  They do not lather much, so it is important to uses with other oils.  I usually do not use this oil in soaps unless requested by customers. Macadamia Nut Oil (vagan)  This oil is light in color and consistency, offers an exceptionally good emolliency, while at the same time exhibiting good dermal penetration.  It is an emollient, emulsifier, stabilizer and promotes production of collagen and elasticity.  It helps soothe and calm irritated inflamed skin and may act as an antioxidant.  It is reported to have similar characteristics to that of sebum. Mango Butter (vegan)  Mango butter is similar to that of Shea butter but is slightly more solid than Shea.  Mango exhibits excellent moisturizing propertied for soaps, lotions, creams, salves, and balms.  It melts at skin temperatures making It ideal to use as a base in lotion bars, lip balms and ointments.     Olive Oil (vegan)  Olive oil is suitable for many hand and body products but is especially desirable in soaps.  It has healing and soothing properties and brings stable lather, emollient qualities and conditioning properties to soap.  It has excellent spreadability on the skin making it ideal for massage oils or carriers for treatment products.  It adds moisturizing attributes to creams lotions and bar soaps.  Olive oil soap, also called castle soap, is mild and long-lasting.  Castle soap dries quickly, lathers readily and profusely, and is considered a very rich and high quality luxury soap. Palm Oil(vegan) Extracted from the palm fruit, palm oil used in soap creates a hard, long lasting bar of soap that is mild and cleans very well.  It makes a rich, luxurious and large creamy bubbles.  Palm oil has similar characteristics to tallow (rendered animal fat) and has been used in soap making since about 1850.  Because these soaps are extra mild, they are particularly suitable for use in facial soaps.  It is similar in the properties of that in coconut oil. Palm Kernel Oil (vegan)  Palm Kernel oil (extracted from the fruit seed of a palm plant) contains a high amount of beta carotene.  It creates a hard soap bar and is solid at room temperature. Peanut Oil (vegan)  Peanut oil has high content of vitamin E and is regarded to add richness and conditions properties to soap.  It is similar to olive and caster oil, but not as thick as caster.  It is good for all skin types and is an emollient for arthritis and sunburns.  High in unsaturated fats, it creates a very conditioning bar soap with long lasting bubbles.   Peanut oil should not be used by anyone that has allergies to peanuts for it may cause a reaction on the skin after use. Rice Bran Oil (vegan)  Rice bran oil is rich in gamma acids and is very moisturizing to the skin.  Despite its similarities to other vegetable oils, rice bran oil has unique properties that clarify it as a specialty oil.  It has a high level of components with nutraceutical value of gamma-oryzanol and vitamin E.  In Japan, this oil is used as a base oil in soaps and skin creams.  There it is reported to reverse the effect of aging by slowing the formation of facial wrinkles due to its rich concentration of vitamin E and gamma-oryzanol.  Shea Butter (vegan) Shea butter, also called African Karite, is a superb moisturizer for dehydrated skin and has exceptional healing properties.  Shea is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins A and E.  It works wonderful in soothing and healing burns, minor cuts and stimulates the skin?s renewal process and is an elegant addition to our products that are formulated for the smoothing and replenishment of dry skin.  It protects the skin from environmental damage and is safe for all skin types.  It has been known to aid in the prevention of stretch marks and has natural anti-inflammatory properties.   Shea butter melts a skin temperature which makes it ideal for lip and body balms as well as bar soaps, lotions and skin creams.   Shea Oil (vegan) Shea oil which offers exceptional skin feel.  It has promotes anti-inflamatory properties due to its natural phytosterol content.  It gives protection against harsh weather, sun UV rays, and aids in the prevention of premature aging of the skin.  It has excellent emollients that is well known to aid against dryness, dermatitis, and dermatomes, eczema, solar erythematic and burns. Soybean Oil/Shortening (vegan)  Soybean is another oil that is known as an emollient, solvent and moisturizer and is a great balance with other oils when used in soaps.  Stearic Acid (fatty acid) Stearic acid is a waxy saturated fatty acid and occurs widely as a glyceride in animal and vegetable fats.  Stearic acid?s soap like character enables it to penetrate the skin and to have emollient, skin softening properties.  It binds and thickens creams and creates a hard soap bar. Sunflower Oil and Safflower Oil(vegan)  Safflower and sunflower oils can be used as fillers when blended with higher quality oils, such as olive, palm or coconut.  These oils are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and can soothe bruises and irritations because it is easily absorbed into the skin.  Safflower and sunflower oils have an exceptionally high linoleic acid content and are an excellent choice for the replenishment of moisture in skin creams and lotions as well as in soaps. Wheat Germ Oil (vegan)  Wheat germ oil, rich in naturally occurring antioxidants fights against free radicals in the skin, while it smoothes and serves as an a rich source of vitamin E and beta carotene to the skin. It contains vegetable lecithin which nourishes skin cells and prevents moisture loss.  It has excellent skin care properties due to its great spreadability and supports the skins natural process of regeneration.  It is particularly valuable for treating dry ageing skin.  Wheat germ oil is proven to help prevent scarring and helps speed healing.  It moisturizes and softens skin, leaving it replenished and nourished.  Wheat germ oil is good for the use in soaps, sun care products, and is good to enhance cellular health.    Vitamin E (tocopherol) Vitamin E oil is an excellent healing oil ad and an exceptional anti-oxidant in bath oils where botanicals have been added.  I use Vitamin E oil in many of our bath recipes for extra conditioning and it helps extend shelf life of the products.  Vitamin E is a natural ingredient which is highly efficient moisturizing component and mainly acts as an anti-oxidizing agent, helping to minimize lipid preordination for body products and skin care.