Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are two ingredients used to turn oils and fats into soap. Sodium hydroxide is normally used to make bar soaps. Potassium hydroxide is normally used to make liquid soaps. Both are extremely corrosive and must be handled and stored with care. Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide come in bead form, flake form, or liquid form. Most soap recipes call for bead form, and this is the easiest to handle. When storing your sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide be sure to store them in air tight containers in a cool, dry place.

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Most of the ingredients you use to make handcrafted soaps and cosmetics are relatively harmless. Even so, there are some safety issues to be aware of when creating your own bath and body care products. Here are some tips for working safely :

Protect your hands: Wear rubber gloves when working with caustic chemicals such as sodium or potassium hydroxide or essential oils that can cause burns (cinnamon and cloves).

Protect your skin and clothing: When you are working with ingredients that can cause burns (sodium or potassium hydroxide) or ingredients that can discolor your clothing (colorants) wear an apron, an old long sleeved shirt, pants, shoes and socks to protect your skin from accidental spills.

Protect your eyes from accidental splashes: wear safety goggles when working with liquid mixtures such as soap in the raw state.

Protect your nasal passages and your lungs: Wear a face mask with a filter to protect your nasal passages when you are -

a) Working with soap. When sodium hydroxide is combined with water the reaction emits fumes that will cause coughing. If you don’t have a face mask with a filter you will have to hold your breath or walk out of the room for a few minutes.

b) Working with large amounts of finely powdered ingredients: If you use large amounts of powdered ingredients in any of your products (corn starch, powdered pigments, clays, etc.) you have probably noticed clouds of dust as you mix the ingredients. Protect your lungs and nasal passages by wearing a face mask with a filter.