Plan, Ahead

Skincare was always an issue for me as an acne-prone teen. Products I have purchased over the years range from Nutrigena to Lancome and Clarins, to Clean and Clear and back again! But now, on this path of maker, I am moving into soapmaking. Yes, making my own soap. My first batch of Exfoliating Soap is currently curing (see pictures above). It will take a total of 6 weeks for the soap to cure. The exfoliator here are cranberry seeds. The oils included in this soap are Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Canola Oil, Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Vitamin E. The only "unnatural" component is sodium lactate (used to harden the bar). The fragrance is Lychee Red Tea (amazing).

A word. It is not possible to make soap without lye. Through the chemical process of saponification (no, I did not make that up), lye (an alkali) mixes with fats (oils) and is transformed into soap. Upon completion the lye no longer exists. Fear not!

This batch of soaps is from Brambleberry and came in a kit, all the necessary items were provided. I put on the goggles, gloves and went to work hand-mixing all the ingredients according to instructions. This particular batch is "cold process" soap. Cold process soaps take up to six weeks to cure. I have a plan for a Castile Soap (pure olive oil), which can take as long as 6 (six) months to cure (Christmas presents, anyone?). On the idea board, too is an activated charcoal (known for drawing impurities from the skin) soap.

Over the next few months I will be researching and experimenting. What kind of soap would you like to see on the menu? Do you have normal, oily, dry or combination skin? Are you interested in all natural soaps, and want to break-up with harsh, unnecessary chemicals in your skincare? Me, too!

Sawyer