If you've ever looked up how handmade soap is made and seen the word "lye," you might have paused. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a powerful alkali. So why is it in soap and is it.
The short answer: yes, completely. Here's why.
What Is Lye?
Lye (sodium hydroxide) is a strong alkaline compound. On its own, it's caustic and must be handled carefully. But in soap-making, it doesn't stay as lye. It transforms into something entirely different.
What Happens During Saponification.
When lye is combined with oils or fats, a chemical reaction called saponification occurs. The lye and oils react completely, and in the process, both are converted into two new substances: soap and glycerin.
By the time the soap is fully cured, which takes 4 to 6 weeks for cold process soap, there is no lye left. It has been completely consumed by the reaction. What remains is a mild, moisturizing bar of soap with naturally occurring glycerin.
Why Does This Matter for Your Skin?
Glycerin is a humectant. It draws moisture to the skin and helps keep it soft and hydrated. Commercial soap manufacturers often remove glycerin and sell it separately. In handmade cold process soap, it stays right where it belongs.
The result is a bar that cleanses without stripping and leaves your skin feeling balanced rather than tight or dry.
No Lye, No Soap
Here's something worth knowing: every bar of real soap, whether handmade or commercial, is made with lye. There is no alternative. The difference is that in quality handmade soap, the process is done carefully, with precise measurements and proper curing time, so the final product is gentle and safe.
At Source of Beauty, every bar is fully cured before it reaches you. What you're getting is pure soap, no lye, no shortcuts.