Liquid Soap for Very Dry, Eczema-Prone Skin

Your proposed formula using 20-30% Oil Soap and 70-80% Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a good starting point for a gentle, oil-rich liquid soap, which is beneficial for very dry skin. Oil Soap is designed to create a high-oil content cleanser that is gentle on the skin. The high percentage of Olive Oil will provide significant moisturizing benefits.

However, there are a few points to consider, especially for very dry skin, eczema, and healing scratch marks:

• pH Level: Oil Soap typically has a pH around 7.0. While the product description mentions pH adjustment to 5.5, this is generally possible in formulas containing water. In an anhydrous (water-free) formula like the one you proposed, adjusting the pH to the slightly acidic range (around 5.5) that is ideal for healthy skin barrier function and often recommended for eczema might not be feasible. A pH of 7.0 might be too alkaline for very sensitive, eczema-prone skin.
• Formula Stability: The product description for Oil Soap (ID 677) suggests using an "Oil Blender" (like Oil Blender) at 3% in anhydrous formulas to prevent stratification (separation). Your proposed formula does not include this, which could lead to the oil and soap separating over time.
• Enhanced Benefits: To specifically address very dry skin, eczema, and help heal scratch marks, you could consider adding other beneficial ingredients:
  • More Nourishing Oils/Butters: Ingredients like Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, or Squalane can provide additional emollience and support the skin barrier.
  • Soothing Agents: Ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, such as Bisabolol or Centella Asiatica extract, can help calm eczema flare-ups.
  • Skin Barrier Support: Ceramides or specific fatty acid blends can aid in repairing the damaged skin barrier common in eczema.
  • Ingredients for Scar Care: While Olive Oil has some benefits, ingredients like Vitamin E or Rosehip Oil are often used to help improve the appearance of scars.

If achieving a skin-compatible pH of around 5.5 is a priority for managing eczema, you might need to consider incorporating a water phase into your formula, which would then require a suitable preservative.

In summary, your base formula is gentle and moisturizing, but optimizing the pH and adding specific active ingredients could significantly improve its effectiveness for very dry, eczema-prone skin with scratch marks.