What is the best foaming agent for liquid soap?
Sarah Duran
Updated on March 01, 2026
Foam or lather is created when foaming agents in soaps, detergents and shampoos mix with air and water. The most common foaming agents used in personal care are chemicals sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (sometimes referred to as sodium dodecyl sulfate or SLS) and coco-glucoside.
How can I make my liquid soap more foamy?
Different oils give different amounts and different types of lathers, so many soap makers turn to sugar to increase the suds. Adding a bit of sugar to a soap recipe can help make a light, bubbly lather with large bubbles when the oils you're using do not lather up as much as you'd like.What is the best natural foaming agent?
The natural foaming agents we use are:
- Quillaja Saponaria (Soap Bark) Natural foaming agent derived from the Soap Bark tree, which is native to central Chile.
- Decyl Glucoside. ...
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CocoBetaine) ...
- Coco Glucoside. ...
- Sodium Cocoamphoacetate.
What are some natural foaming agents?
Oils such as coconut and castor oil help create a bubbly, foamy rich lather. On the other hand, soaps made primarily with olive oil, such as Castile type soaps, will produce a rich and creamy rather than bubbly lather. The naturally retained glycerin in handmade soap also helps create a lovely lather.What is the thickening agent in liquid soap?
A separate cellulose-based thickener such as HEC (hydroxyethyl cellulose) or HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) can be used to thicken liquid soap. Other thickeners that have been used for thickening liquid soap include guar gum, Crothix, and xanthan gum.How to Produce Your Own Foaming Booster at Home
What does sulphonic acid do in liquid soap?
Detergents and similar products like soap use sulfonic acid to break down the surface tension between water and grease, dirt, and other grime for a more effective clean.Is glycerin a foaming agent?
INCI Name: GlycerinOur Glycerin is a sweet sticky 100% natural liquid derived from Yams. It is a humectant, i.e. "draws moisture". It is used in creams, lotions, facial treatments, masks, and other body care products. This liquid does not foam and will not create a solid soap.
How do you make professional liquid soap?
Materials
- 16 1/2 ounce sunflower oil.
- 7 ounce coconut oil.
- 5 1/2 ounce potassium hydroxide KOH.
- 16 1/2 ounce distilled water for the lye mixture.
- 40 ounce distilled water to dilute the soap paste.
- 2 ounce boric acid (or 3 oz. ...
- 3 ounce fragrance or essential oil, as desired.
- Soap dye or colorant, if desired.
How do you make a foaming agent?
A standard recipe is 2 parts of cement and fine, dry sand to 1 part water and foam generator. You will want to have a quality foam generator to get the best results.What ingredient makes soap foam?
Foam or lather is created when foaming agents in soaps, detergents and shampoos mix with air and water. The most common foaming agents used in personal care are chemicals sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (sometimes referred to as sodium dodecyl sulfate or SLS) and coco-glucoside.Why does my homemade soap not lather?
Hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium react negatively with the ingredients in your products. As a result, you don't get the rich lather you desire and may feel the need to use more product (which quickly becomes expensive).Do all surfactants foam?
Cationic, nonionic and anionics surfactants all produce a lot of foam at low concentration in pure clean water. However the level of foam is much reduce by antifoam in real systems where dirt and water hardness are present. The amount of foam will then depend on how the surfactant responds to the antifoaming agent.What does glycerin do in liquid soap?
What Is the Purpose of Glycerin in Soap Products? Glycerin is used as a humectant in soap products. In other words, glycerin helps to ensure that your skin will maintain its own moisture in order to protect it from damage caused by dryness.Can you turn liquid soap into foaming soap?
As an alternative, you can also just mix liquid hand or dish soap with water to make a DIY foaming soap. If choosing this method, use a 4:1 ratio of water to soap. Combine the two ingredients in your foaming soap dispenser and turn it or shake it to ensure they mix together.What does powdered sugar do in soap?
Sample 15: Powdered Sugar2012 testing notes: The powdered sugar sample gave a slightly creamier lather than the granulated sugar sample. Powdered sugar is simply finer ground granulated sugar with added starch to prevent caking, the added starch must have made for the lather difference.
What are the best ingredients for liquid soap?
Here is a great recipe for liquid soap if you don't know where to start.
- Base Oils: Coconut Oil - 10 oz. Olive Oil - 10 oz. ...
- Caustic Solution: Potassium Hydroxide - 9 oz. Distilled Water - 27 oz.
- Dilution Phase: Distilled Water - 62.4 oz. Liquid Glycerin - 15.6 oz.
- Additives: Essential or Fragrance Oil - 3.12 oz.