Teach Soap

I am a newbie to soap making and I tried two batches of hot processing soap this week.
After cooking both batches over 2 hours, my soap still had a ph level of 8 to 10. Is this normal? Should I keep cooking until it gets a ph of 7?
I had 10% super fat, but when I tried my soap, it still dries my skin. Should I go even higher super fat?

Thank you!

Handmade soap will not have the pH of 7. 8-9 is pretty normal.
I normally use a 7% superfat. Give it some time. I find new soap very drying. After a full cure, the soap is much better.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thank you! I will wait longer for them to cure. I'm impatient for freshmade soap!

What types of oils are you using? Soap that is high in coconut oil (over 20%) can be drying, even at 10% superfat. I usually let my hp soaps cure a minimum of 2 weeks, 4 preferably.

Welcome to the addiction that is hand crafted soap!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Thank you!

The second batch was 20% of coconut oil, 50 % of extra virgin olive oil, 15% of grapeseed oil, and 15% of canola oil. The first batch was 20% of canola oil, 10% of shea butter, and 70% of extra virgin olive oil.

will these oils dry my skin?

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist