Glossary

Glossary of Soap Making + Skincare Terms:

A

  • Acne: A common skin condition that causes pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads.
  • Antibacterial: Property of inhibiting the growth or killing of bacteria.
  • Antioxidants: Ingredients that protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals.
  • Aromatherapy: Practice of using essential oils for their potential mood and therapeutic benefits.
  • Artisan soap: Handmade soap made in small batches with natural ingredients and attention to detail.
  • Astringent: Property of causing tissues to contract or tighten, potentially helpful for oily skin.

B

  • Bentonite clay: Natural mineral added for skin cleansing, detoxification, and gentle exfoliation.
  • Botanicals: Flowers, herbs, leaves, roots, or seeds used in soap making for color, scent, and potential skin benefits.

C

  • Carrier oils: Plant-based oils used to dilute essential oils for safe topical application.
  • Cleanser: A product used to remove dirt, oil, and makeup from the skin.
  • Cold process (CP): Traditional soap making method where soap batter is made without external heat and cures at room temperature for 4-6 weeks.
  • Colors in our soap: Pigments from skin-loving botanicals or clays, avoiding oxides or synthetic dyes.
  • Curing: The period after soap is made where it hardens and neutralizes, allowing the lye to fully react.

E

  • Eczema: A skin condition that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed patches of skin.
  • Exfoliation: A process or product that removes dead skin cells.

H

  • Honey: Natural humectant and antibacterial agent, adds sweetness and skin-healing benefits.
  • Hyaluronic acid: A substance found naturally in the skin that helps to hold in moisture.

I

  • Infused botanicals: Botanicals steeped in oil to transfer their color, scent, and beneficial properties.
  • Infusion: Soaking botanicals in a carrier oil over time to extract their color, scent, and beneficial properties.

K

  • Kaolin clay: Natural mineral added for skin cleansing, detoxification, and gentle exfoliation.

L

  • Lather: Foamy bubbles created by soap when mixed with water.
  • Lye: Sodium hydroxide used in cold process soap making to saponify the tallow and other oils to create soap.

M

  • Moisturizer: A product that helps to hydrate and soften the skin.
  • Muscle tension: Feeling of tightness or discomfort in the muscles.

N

  • Niacinamide: A form of vitamin B3 that helps to improve skin tone and texture.

P

  • Psoriasis: A skin condition that causes red, scaly patches of skin.

R

  • Retinol: A form of vitamin A that helps to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture.
  • Rosacea: A skin condition that causes redness, flushing, and pimples on the face.

S

  • Salt: Coarse or fine sea salt adds gentle exfoliation and can harden the soap bar.
  • Saponification: The chemical reaction between lye and fats/oils that creates soap.
  • Serum: A lightweight, concentrated product that delivers targeted ingredients to the skin.
  • Soothing: Calming and reducing irritation or discomfort.
  • Superfat: Excess oil added to the soap batter before trace for increased moisturizing properties.
  • Sustainability: Utilizing ethically sourced ingredients, minimizing waste, and supporting eco-friendly practices.
  • Superfatting: Adding excess oil to the soap batter for extra moisturizing benefits.

T

  • Tallow: Rendered fat from grass-fed beef known for its rich lather, hardness, and long-lasting bars.
  • Tonic: Stimulating and invigorating the skin.
  • Trace: The point in the cold process method when the soap batter thickens and leaves a trail when stirred. Indicates the saponification process is nearing completion.

V

  • Vitamin C: An antioxidant that helps to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots.

W

  • Wrinkles: Lines and creases in the skin caused by aging.