LAMPS Soaps "101"
About our Soaps: All of our soaps are hand-crafted using only plant-based oils, therefore Vegan! Our soaps are also phthalate-free and paraben-free. Our bars are moisturizing with a creamy foamy lather, which softens your skin making it feel smooth. We use the process known as saponification (explained below) which turns the oils and water solution into soap. Our artisan soaps are made in small batches; therefore, bar size and color will vary from bar to bar and batch to batch. Each unique batch is cured for 4-6 weeks to make a nice long lasting hard soap and then cut into bars.
Care Instructions: It is important to keep your soap dry between uses. Using a soap dish will allow your soap to be well ventilated and keep it from sitting in water. You should not unwrap your bar of soap until ready to use. Some bars may be large to handle and can be cut in half. Use one half and store the other in a dry area.
The following information is for educational purposes only. The information about oils below is not meant to substitute the advice provided by your physician or other medical professionals nor intended to prescribe or be taken as medical advice.
The statements regarding health-related benefits of certain ingredients have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be construed as medical advice to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
Lamps Partners, LLC is not responsible for any individual reaction to any ingredient. Each product description on our website includes a complete list of ingredients. (Skin Safe Colorants listed below). People with sensitivities to any listed ingredient should not use the product.
The Cold Process Method
Soap is made using the process of saponification. This process converts the fats, oils, or lipids (fatty acids) into soap by combining them with sodium hydroxide water solution. The chemical reaction relies on friction and self-generated heat. Through saponification, the acids and sodium hydroxide water solution are then neutralized meaning sodium hydroxide has been 100% saponified and none is left in the final product. All oils have a different saponification value and special calculators are used for our formulas. When saponification is complete the ingredients actually change, i.e. olive oil would be called sodium olivate, coconut oil would be called sodium cocoate, etc. But we list the ingredients we start with rather than the saponification names for better customer clarification.
To make the soap we add the sodium hydroxide water solution to the oils and mix until trace has occurred. When trace has occurred, saponification has started and additives such as botanicals, fragrances, clays, and/or colorants are added. We then pour into molds and let the saponification process finish which takes several hours. After approximately 24 hours we then unmold, cut into bars, store in a dry area for about four weeks to let the bars harden.
The cold process method ensures our natural ingredients are better preserved because the soap is kept at a low temperature. The lower temperature helps preserve fragrances and the beneficial properties of all the ingredients.
Our Plant Based Oils
Olive Oil is high in Oleic Fatty acid, Omega-9 fatty acid and contains Vitamin E and anti-oxidants to help moisturize and cleanse skin. Olive Oil has compounds such as squalene and oleocanthal which may help repair skin damage.
Coconut Oil is high in the Lauric fatty acid, which can soothe and calm inflamed skin, as well as inhibit acne-causing bacteria. Coconut oil is also high in Myristic fatty acid which is a “good surfactant that aids in the mixing of water with dirt and oil, allowing the skin to appear clear, soft, and supple.”
Shea Butter is high in Oleic fatty acid and Stearic acid and is packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Shea butter is fat that’s been extracted from Shea tree nuts. Shea butter can help relieve dry skin and ease irritation and creates a smooth and soft barrier that seals in moisture.
Cocoa Butter is high in several Palmitic, Stearic, and )leic, fatty acids, which is why it has the ability to hydrate and nourish the skin and improve elasticity. The fat in cocoa butter forms a protective barrier over skin to hold in moisture. Cocoa butter is also rich in natural plant compounds called phytochemicals which may improve blood flow to the skin protecting against damage from harmful UV rays.
RSPO Palm Oil (RSPO - Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) is high in Oleic and Palmitic fatty acids. Palmitic fatty acid may soften the skin and help “retain moisture by forming an oily, water blocking layer that slows the loss of water through the skin.”
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil is high in Stearic acid and Palmitic Acid which helps to make a bar of soap hard and last longer. This oil helps keep any moisture from the skin from escaping.
Castor Oil is high in Ricinolein fatty acid which smooths and moisturizes skin. This oil acts as a surfactant in soap.
Avocado Oil is also high in Oleic fatty acid with vitamins and antioxidants which may minimize signs of aging.
Jojoba Oil - of all the fatty acids mentioned so far, this oil contains only Oleic Fatty acid and has soothing anti-inflammatory agents, is moisturizing, and is a natural antimicrobial.
Tamanu Oil is high in Linoleic fatty acid and Oleic fatty acid contains antioxidants, is antifungal and antibacterial. This oil also may help to heal wounds and soothes eczema.
Rice Bran Oil is high in Oleic and Linoleic fatty acids. Linoleic fatty acid or Vitamin F is effective as a skin restorative and antioxidant. It provides moisture to your skin without weighing down your skin. It is said to fend off UV rays and air pollutants which can result in aging skin.
Sodium Lactate is a liquid salt that is naturally found in corn and beets. It is used in soap making to help produce a harder bar of soap that lasts longer.
Sodium hydroxide also called Lye is used to make solid soap. When mixed with other ingredients a the chemical reaction takes place known as saponification. After about 4 weeks the saponification process is complete there is no lye left in the soap and you are left with a high quality cleansing bar.
Our Scents
All fragrances, oils, and essential oils used are paraben-free and phthalate-free.
Our Botanicals
Our Botanicals are grown in our garden and then dried for use in soap or we purchase them from a reputable vendor to be specifically used in soap making.
Our Skin-Safe Colorants
Activated Charcoal, French Green Clay, Indigo Clay, Indigo Powder, Rose Clay, Yellow Brazilian Clay, Black Oxide, Chromium Oxide Green, Tin Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Yellow Oxide, Mica, Manganese Violet, Fluorphologopite.
Our Products are Tested on Family Members - Never on Animals!