Nourishing Your Skin with Coconut Milk

Full of Nutrients: Coconut milk is rich in essential nutrients such as vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5, B6, and minerals such as iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. When used in soap formulations, these nutrients contribute to the skin’s hydration and regeneration. Vitamin E, for example, is an antioxidant that shields the skin from free radicals, hence delaying the process of aging.

Soothing and Calming Properties: Other than its moisturizing property, coconut milk possesses soothing and calming properties that make it a wonderful ingredient for sensitive or irritated skin. Coconut milk’s inherent fatty acids can calm eczema and dermatitis, reducing itching and inflammation. This makes coconut milk-saturated soaps a friendly product for those with sensitive skin, providing a better and more pleasant bathing experience.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Benefits: Coconut milk contains lauric acid, a fat acid that possesses antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. When applied to soap, the natural agent cleanses the skin, removing impurities and combating bacteria. Thus, coconut milk soaps assist in maintaining healthy skin by preventing the growth of harmful micro-organisms, reducing the possibility of infection and breakouts.

From deep moisturizing and delivery of essential nutrients, to soothing irritated skin and offering antibacterial benefits, coconut milk is a powerhouse ingredient in natural skincare.

Soapmaker Tips:
Using coconut milk in soapmaking can create a luxurious, creamy lather and add extra skin-loving properties. Here are some tips and tricks to help you successfully incorporate coconut milk into your soap:

🌿 Preparation Tips
Choose Full-Fat Coconut Milk: This gives a richer, creamier soap. Avoid “light” versions, as they contain more water and fewer fats.
Freeze the Milk: Coconut milk can scorch when mixed with lye. Freeze it in ice cube trays and add the lye slowly to keep the temperature low and prevent burning.
Use Fresh or Canned:Both work well, but ensure there’s no added sugar or preservatives that might affect the soap.

⚗️ Lye Solution Tips
Slow Lye Addition: Add lye a little at a time to the frozen milk, stirring constantly. This helps prevent scorching and keeps the milk from turning orange.
Cool the Lye Solution: Keep the lye solution cool by placing the mixing bowl in an ice bath.

🧼 Incorporation Techniques
Replace Water Partially or Fully: Coconut milk can replace some or all of your water content. Full replacement will give a richer, creamier bar, but partial replacement is safer for beginners.
Add Milk at Trace (Optional): For extra control, add part of the coconut milk at trace instead of the lye solution. This reduces the risk of overheating.
Mix with Oils First (Alternative Method): Blend the milk with oils before adding the lye. This can reduce scorching but requires careful emulsification.

🌡️ Temperature & Curing
Keep Temperatures Low: Coconut milk accelerates trace and can cause overheating. Soaping at lower temperatures (around 90–100°F) helps prevent this.
Prevent Gel Phase: If you prefer a lighter color, avoid gel phase by placing the mold in the fridge or freezer for the first 24 hours.

🎨 Design & Additive
Color Considerations: Milk soaps naturally cure to a creamier color. Adding titanium dioxide can help achieve a whiter bar if desired.
Fragrance Timing: Add fragrances after the batter has emulsified but before it thickens too much, as milk accelerates trace.
Watch for Acceleration: Coconut milk can speed up trace, so be ready to pour quickly if you’re doing intricate designs.

🧽 Finishing Touches
Longer Cure Time: Milk soaps benefit from a longer cure (6–8 weeks) to ensure a hard, long-lasting bar with a gentle lather.
Sodium Lactate: Use sodium lactate to help harden the soap and make unmolding easier.