What is a cold-process soap?

The Manufacturing Process

What is cold-process soap? It is the result of a reaction between a fat (virgin vegetable oils or butters) and a strong base (lye for solid soaps). The vegetable oils and butters used also contain an unsaponifiable component, which does not react in the process. These are sterols or vitamins, active ingredients that give the soap unique properties (antioxidant, nourishing, emollient, softening, protective, etc.).

This reaction forms the soap, composed of fatty acids from vegetable oils or butters, as well as vegetable glycerin, a liquid moisturizing agent. Saponification stops when all the lye is consumed and unsaponified oil remains in the final soap. This soap is then said to be superfatted.

Saponification is a slow reaction at room temperature where the soap must undergo a curing or drying period of at least four weeks to allow the saponification process to complete fully. Curing also allows the soap to dry. The purpose of this traditional method, which favors working at low temperatures, is to protect the properties of the ingredients used.

This drying time is not "profitable enough" for the industry, which will therefore accelerate the reaction by heating: this is hot saponification.

WHAT IS COLD-PROCESSED SOAP?

Cold Process Saponification vs. Industrial Soaps

Perhaps you're familiar with that feeling of tightness and discomfort after a shower? Then this is the perfect opportunity to try a cold-process soap and see the difference!

Today, all mass-market soaps ( hot-processed ) are made from soap noodles (completely inert industrial soap flakes) and questionable ingredients such as preservatives and synthetic fragrances. These soaps are essentially "dead," and even if they clean, they are often too harsh. The soap is cooked for 10 days at temperatures between 80°C and 100°C to accelerate the saponification process, then rinsed with plenty of water to remove excess lye. This process extracts the glycerin and deprives the soap of its powerful moisturizing and emollient properties. Indeed, the heating process used in industrially produced soaps eliminates most of the expected benefits but offers higher profitability.

Cold process soapmaking offers a much more pleasant feeling after washing. Because the beneficial properties of the vegetable oils are preserved by the cold manufacturing process, your skin fully benefits from their softening, emollient, nourishing, and protective qualities. Cold process soap is therefore more therapeutic and closer to a skincare product than industrial soap.

The benefits of cold-process soap

– Cold-process soap is a complete skincare product. Its richness in active ingredients and its diversity on the market allow us to target and meet a specific need of our skin during cleansing.

– Cold process soap is economical. It replaces approximately two 250ml bottles of shower gel.

Cold-process soap is perfect for washing babies, as it contains no endocrine disruptors. For babies and pregnant women, it's best to choose soap without essential oils.

Cold-process soap is extra gentle and suitable for all skin types and the whole family. It's ideal for washing the body and face without drying it out, and allows for the cleansing of sensitive, delicate skin, including that of babies and children.

Its ecological impact

Cold-process soap is environmentally friendly because it is biodegradable, contains no petrochemical ingredients, and requires no plastic packaging. Its production requires very little energy and machinery, as it is done by hand at room temperature.

Cold process saponification is an undeniable guarantee of quality!

And what about Ernest Ernest in all of this?

We have created a minimalist yet comprehensive skincare range, with the aim of integrating fewer products into our routine, and in order to guarantee fresher and higher quality formulations. Our Fig solid facial cleanser is one of our essential steps for a minimalist routine: cleanse, exfoliate, maintain hydration.

This solid facial cleanser is very gentle and helps combat dehydration. It is superfatted and suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

The superfatted, highly penetrating prickly pear oil makes this solid cleanser gentle and nourishing. This oil tightens pores, refines skin texture, prevents sagging, and reduces scars. Its regulating action is also ideal for combination to oily skin – a perfect facial cleanser for daily use.

This solid facial cleanser promotes microcirculation in blood vessels. Its soothing properties make it ideal for particularly reactive, fragile, or sensitive skin. It deeply cleanses impurities and has rebalancing properties that gently regulate sebum production.