Understanding Lye in Artisan Soap: Safe & Gentle Crafting
Table of Contents
What Is Lye?
Lye is a strong alkaline compound, also known as sodium hydroxide (for bar soap). It sounds scary — but it’s essential to making real soap.
Without lye, there is no true soap. It’s a required ingredient in the process called saponification — where oils and lye react to create soap.
Why Is Lye Used in Soap Making?
When lye is mixed with oils like olive, coconut, or shea butter, a chemical reaction occurs. This process:
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Converts oils into cleansing molecules
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Produces glycerin, which moisturizes the skin
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Creates a gentle, effective bar that rinses clean
Is There Lye in Finished Soap?
Here’s the key: There is no lye in the final bar of soap.
Lye is completely transformed during saponification. When made correctly (as Josspure always does), the result is a mild, balanced soap — with zero leftover lye.
That means it’s:
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Safe for all skin types
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Gentle enough for dry or sensitive skin
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Free from any harsh or active chemicals
How the Saponification Process Works
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Oils are measured precisely
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Lye solution is created with water
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The two are mixed and blended to trace
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The mixture is poured into molds
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Over 4–6 weeks, the soap cures and hardens
This slow curing time ensures that all lye is neutralized and the bar becomes firm, mild, and long-lasting.
Shop our cold process soaps
Lye and Skin Safety
Many people with dry or sensitive skin worry about lye — and that’s totally understandable.
But when soap is properly made and cured, there’s nothing left to irritate your skin.
In fact, Josspure’s bars:
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Contain natural glycerin to hydrate and protect
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Avoid detergents, SLS, and alcohols that are harsher than lye-based soap
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Are tested for pH balance and safety before they ever reach your skin
Explore our dry skin-friendly formulas
Why Josspure Uses Lye in Cold Process Soap
We choose cold process soap because:
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It allows full control of ingredients
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It preserves delicate botanicals and essential oils
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It produces a bar that is mild, nourishing, and long-lasting
Our certified herbalist carefully calculates every batch — so the final bar is pure, balanced, and completely safe.
FAQs
Q: Does Josspure soap contain lye?
A: It’s made with lye — but none remains in the final bar. It’s completely safe.
Q: Is lye dangerous on skin?
A: Only in raw form. Once saponified, it’s no longer active and can’t harm your skin.
Q: Why not make lye-free soap?
A: Real soap requires lye. Products claiming to be “lye-free” are often detergents, not soap.
Q: Is cold process better than melt-and-pour?
A: Cold process offers more ingredient control, longer-lasting bars, and retains glycerin.
Q: Can I use lye soap on my face?
A: Yes! Josspure’s formulas are gentle, balanced, and safe for facial use.
References
Summary
Is lye safe in artisan soap?
Yes. Lye is needed to create soap, but when properly made and cured, no lye remains in the final bar. Cold process soap like Josspure’s is safe, gentle, and deeply nourishing.
