If you enjoy making your own soaps and skin care products or just prefer natural beauty products, you are probably aware of how versatile glycerin is.It's an extremely effective cleanser, so you can mix it with your own personal care products.If you want a vegetable version that doesn't use any animal fats, you may enjoy making it yourself.You don't need to be a chemistry expert to mix oils and lye and make a chemical reaction that makes vegetable glycerin, as long as you have a candy thermometer.lye is an extremely caustic substance so it must be handled with care.
Step 1: In a saucepan, combine the coconut and olive oils.
Add coconut oil and olive oil to a saucepan.They won't blend completely until they are heated.Coconut and olive oils can be replaced with palm, vegetable, soybean, or jojoba oil.
Step 2: The oils should be heated high.
Put the saucepan on the stove.Allow the mixture to heat for 1 or 2 minutes until the coconut oil begins to melt.To protect yourself from the high temperature and the lye that you will use in the next step, make sure to wear safety goggles or glasses, rubber gloves, and a face mask.It's a good idea to wear long pants and a long-sleeve top.
Step 3: The water and lye have to be mixed together.
While the oils are heating, add 2 ounces (30 g) of lye into a cup of water in a heat-safe glass container.Adding water to the lye can cause it to expand out of the container, so be sure to add it into the water.The best place to buy lye is online.It is hard to find in brick and mortar stores.It is important that you have adequate ventilation when working with lye.Turn on a fan when you open some windows.
Step 4: Put the lye into the oils.
Carefully pour the lye and water mixture into the oils in the saucepan.Make sure the ingredients are thoroughly combined.The mixture of water and lye should not come into contact with your skin.If you get lye on your skin, take off your clothing and flush it with cold water.If you want to seek medical attention, flush the skin with water for 15 minutes.
Step 5: The mixture should be at the right temperature.
Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan after you add the lye solution.Continue heating the mixture on high until the temperature reaches 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius), which should take 20 minutes.When making vegetable glycerin, you need to make sure that the mixture is hot enough to use a thermometer.All of the ingredients should be well blended if you stir the mixture regularly.
Step 6: The temperature of the mixture should be lowered.
The heat should be turned down to medium or low once the mixture reaches 125 degrees.The temperature of the mixture needs to be brought down until it falls to 100 degrees.
Step 7: The mixture needs to be stirred until it is thick.
Continue stirring the mixture for another 10 to 15 minutes after you bring the temperature down to 100 degrees.The spoon's path should be visible for a few seconds after you trace it through the mixture.The mixture may become too thick to stir if it is cooked too long.
Step 8: Remove the pan from the stove.
The pan should be taken off the heat once the mixture has reached the proper consistency.If you want it to be thoroughly incorporated, mix in 12 cup (150 g) of salt.When you add salt, make sure the mixture is still hot.
Step 9: Allow it to cool down.
It takes 20 to 30 minutes for the salt to cool completely after you mix it with the oil and lye.The soap and glycerin will separate as it cools.The soap will solidify into a thick layer on the top of the mixture.
Step 10: The top layer has to be skied.
When the mixture has cooled completely, pour off the soap layer from the top.You can gently lift the soap off with a spoon.You can put soap in a mold and put it in the freezer for 24 hours if you want to use it.The soap bars should be air dried for at least 2 to 3 weeks.You can discard the soap layer if you don't want to make soap.
Step 11: A glass bottle is the best place to pour the glycerin.
Transfer the liquid vegetable glycerine to a glass bottle once you have removed the soap from the top of the mixture.Store the container in the fridge.The vegetable should be kept in the fridge for at least 3 to 4 weeks.It has gone bad if it is no longer clear.A foul smell may be caused by Glycerin that has gone bad.