Glycerin vs Goat Milk Soap Base: Which is Better?

Glycerin vs Goat Milk Soap Base: Which is Better?

Soap. It’s a seemingly simple, everyday item until you dive into the labyrinth of options and suddenly feel like you’re making a high-stakes, life-changing decision. Would your skin prefer the luxurious, creamy allure of goat milk soap base, or bow down to the clear, hydrating charm of glycerin? It's a soap opera, quite literally.

In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about glycerin vs goat milk soap base, and why we’re obsessed with the incredible skin benefits of goat milk soap. Keep reading - you’ll be a soap expert in no time at all! 

If you, like us, decide that goat milk is the soap base you’ve been searching for your whole life, you’ll be pleased to know you’ve just stumbled upon the most luxurious, natural goat milk soap in the world. Well done! 

Here at Oshun, we pride ourselves on using the world’s finest ingredients, sourced responsibly from all corners of the globe. Our soap formula (made in small batches, by the way) is nourishing, hydrating, and exfoliating - your skin will be rejuvenated like never before. Try Oshun today and feel the difference for yourself!

What is a “Soap Base”?

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? A soap base is the unsung hero of your skincare routine - the foundation upon which all great soap is built. Think of it as the blank canvas of the soap-making world, ready to be customized with colors, fragrances, and nourishing additives. 

Purpose of a Soap Base

A soap base exists to do one thing exceptionally well: clean. It’s the blend of oils, fats, and alkalis that creates the magical chemical reaction known as saponification - AKA, the science behind lathering up. 

Beyond simply washing away dirt, soap bases provide the structural integrity for soap bars, giving them their shape, texture, and the ability to dissolve in water just enough to leave your hands clean (but not disintegrate in a single shower). 

In short? Without a soap base, you’d just have a sad puddle of unformed ingredients.

How the Soap Base Impacts Skin Health

Not all soap bases are created equal, especially when it comes to how they treat your skin. The type of base you choose can determine whether your soap leaves your skin feeling like a dewy rose petal or the Mojave Desert.

For example, glycerin soap bases attract moisture to the skin, making them a savior for anyone battling dryness. Meanwhile, goat milk soap bases are prized for their creamy texture and skin-loving nutrients like vitamins A and D, which can soothe sensitive or irritated skin. 

Common Types of Soap Bases

Before we talk specifically about whether you should use a glycerin vs goat milk soap base, let’s take a look at some of the other common types of bases, including: 

Whether you’re looking for hydration, nourishment, or a touch of indulgence, the soap base sets the stage for every sudsy masterpiece. 

Overview of Glycerin Soap Base

Glycerin soap base is the clear, hydrating superstar of the soap world. Whether you're after a basic cleansing bar or a soap masterpiece studded with botanicals, glycerin soap base is the ultimate team player.

Glycerin soap base is made from (you guessed it) glycerin, a natural byproduct of saponification (the process that creates soap). Glycerin is a humectant, which means it attracts water from the air and helps lock it into the skin - that’s why it’s so hydrating.

Overview of Goat Milk Soap Base

Often celebrated for its luxurious feel and skin-loving benefits, goat milk soap base is a go-to choice for those who want their soap to work harder than a standard bar. With its natural richness, a goat milk soap base transforms every shower into a spa-like experience.

What is goat milk soap base? It’s made by incorporating real goat’s milk into a traditional soap-making formula. Goat milk is full of vitamins, minerals, and proteins that nourish the skin, and its natural fats lend the soap a velvety texture, while its mild acidity helps support the skin's natural barrier.

Goat Milk Soap Base vs Glycerin Soap Base: Which Should You Use?

So, let’s talk about whether a glycerin vs goat milk soap base is best for your skin. We’ve broken this section down into different categories, so you can choose the right soap based on your skincare priorities. Let’s go! 

Moisturizing Benefits

Packed with natural fats, goat milk deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin. Its creamy texture locks in moisture, making it ideal for dry or winter-worn skin. As a humectant, glycerin attracts moisture from the air, helping to keep your skin soft and hydrated. It’s especially effective in humid environments.

But between glycerin vs goat milk soap base, what’s the winner? If you’re after deep hydration or looking for the best soap for aging skin, there’s no soap base like goat milk. Its deep, rich hydrating properties will soften and hydrate your skin like no other!

Gentle Cleansing for Sensitive Skin

Although glycerin soap base is hypoallergenic and non-stripping, it’s not as good as goat milk soap for sensitive skin. Because goat milk soap has a pH that’s similar to your skin’s, it’s ultra-gentle and soothing. 

Many people use goat milk soap for eczema, goat milk soap for acne, and even goats milk soap for psoriasis - it’s a gentle, effective soap that cleanses and exfoliates without harming sensitive skin. Win-win!

Exfoliation and Skin Renewal

The lactic acid in goat milk acts as a natural exfoliant, gently sloughing away dead skin cells to reveal a brighter complexion. While hydrating, glycerin doesn’t provide natural exfoliation, though you can add exfoliants like oatmeal or loofah for this purpose.

Suitability for Soap Customization

Goat milk’s creamy consistency works well with additives like essential oils, but its opaque appearance limits creative designs somewhat. That said, you can still add plenty of ingredients in goat milk soap, including fragrances and colors.

On the other hand, glycerin soap base has a crystal-clear finish, which makes it perfect for vibrant colors, embedded botanicals, or artistic layering. If you’re making your own soap and you really want to get creative, goat milk is good but glycerin might be best. 

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

It’s difficult to compare glycerin vs goat milk soap base in terms of their environmental and ethical considerations because it ultimately depends on the specific brand or product you’re using. 

In general, goat milk soap base is more environmentally friendly. It’s almost always (confirm before buying) sourced from cruelty-free farms, whereas many glycerin soap bases are mass-produced in factories under questionable conditions. The choice is yours. 

Pricing and Availability

The cost to make goat milk soap is generally higher, but that’s because it’s packed with premium ingredients that bring amazing benefits for your skin. Given that there are so many goat milk soap uses and almost no disadvantages of goat milk soap, it’s almost always worth the investment. 

As for glycerin soap base, it’s often more affordable, sure, but if it’s not making every shower feel like a luxurious spa treatment, is it really worth saving a few dollars? We think not. 

So, Which is Better?

So, the moment of truth - who’s the winner between goat milk soap base vs glycerin soap base? At the end of the day, glycerin is good, but goat milk is great. It brings better hydration and nourishment, it’s safer for skin conditions and sensitive skin types, it’s luxurious, and often more ethical. 

Glycerin will get the job done, but is that really what you want for your skin? Why settle for second best when you could be unlocking softer, smoother, more youthful skin with a gentle, natural bar of goat milk soap? 

Quick Comparison With Shea Butter, Olive Oil, and Other Bases

Each soap base has its unique strengths, and pairing different bases can create the ultimate blend of benefits. You might like to combine goat milk soap with: 

  • Shea Butter Soap Base: Exceptionally moisturizing, similar to goat milk, but with a heavier feel. Best for very dry skin.
  • Olive Oil Soap Base: Gentle and conditioning, though it may produce less lather compared to glycerin or goat milk bases.
  • Coconut Oil Soap Base: Offers excellent cleansing and lather but can be too drying for sensitive skin.
  • Honey Soap Base: Naturally antibacterial and moisturizing, but less customizable visually compared to glycerin.

Now What?

So, you’ve chosen goat milk soap base vs glycerin soap base - now it’s time to bring your soap to life! You can check out this guide on how to make goat milk soap or take a look at this goat milk shaving soap recipe, but in a nutshell, the process involves: 

  • Melting: Chop your soap base into small chunks and melt it down using a double boiler or microwave (stir every 15-20 seconds to avoid overheating).
  • Customizing: Add your favorite scents (essential oils), colors (soap-safe dyes), and extras (dried herbs, exfoliants, or oils) to make it uniquely yours.
  • Pouring: Pour the mixture into a soap mold of your choice. Silicone molds are beginner-friendly and easy to use.
  • Setting: Let the soap cool and harden completely, typically for 1-2 hours. Pop it out of the mold, and voilà - your custom soap is ready!
  • Storing: Wrap in plastic or store in an airtight container to keep your soap fresh and prevent it from sweating.

How long does goat milk soap last? It’s thick, so a little goes a long way. As long as it’s stored properly, it won’t go bad, and as long as it has a chance to dry between uses and isn’t always wet and mushy in the shower, it will last for months!

See and Feel the Difference Goat Milk Soap Can Make in Your Skin Health at Oshun!

Now that you have a better idea of what goat milk can do for your skin, you’re probably wondering where to buy goat milk soap that lets you unlock all these amazing benefits without having to spend days making your own soap. 

Guess what? You can find the best goat milk soap right here at Oshun! Made in small batches, and never with harmful, unnecessary chemicals, our premium goat milk soap is the best possible thing you can do for your skin. 

With unmatched hydrating power, the natural nourishment of nutrient-packed goat milk, and a few extra-special ingredients we responsibly sourced while we were traipsing the globe, you’ll have softer, healthier, glowing skin with every lather. Get yours today! 

Bringing Our Glycerin vs Goat Milk Soap Base Comparison to a Close

In terms of glycerin vs goat milk soap base, there’s a clear winner - goat milk soap is just unmatched with it comes to skincare. It’s packed full of skin-loving nutrients, it’s the gentlest choice, and it’s so hydrating you won’t even recognize your own skin. 

Oshun’s goat milk soap is the best of the best, because we harness all the natural goodness of goat milk and do everything to preserve its nutrient profile, making every bar a luxurious, nourishing spa day for your skin. 

Don’t just take our word for it, though - treat your skin to the best there is with Oshun. 

Can’t get enough goat milk soap tips? Check out these guides on how to melt goat milk soap, cold vs hot process soap, and goat milk soap for laundry detergent

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