A Little about Soap Making!

Here are a few basics about soap making. It's fun to make your own and have the colors match your bathroom decor. Not only that but you can pick your favorite fragrances to use. They also make great gifts.

I've seen several soap companies offer customized bar soaps for wedding and shower favors. I think that's a great idea because it's something you can save or use, you can match your wedding colors and pick your favorite fragrance. It would be wonderful to be able to make your own. The only problem would be when you're planning a wedding, who has time to make soap!

There are a lot of resources available on the internet about soapmaking. I hope to add more about soap making to my site as time goes by so keep checking back. Watch for our soap making books!

Have fun with all the bubbles while you're making soap!!!!!!!!!

Super Soap Guide
Not All Soaps Are The Same

1. Functionality From Ingredients

Almost all soaps eliminate grease and dirt because a few of their components surface active ingredients, or surfactants, having a molecular structure acting as a connection between the dirt particles and water. The particles from the underlying surfaces are loosened. One end of the molecule is hydrophilic; meaning attracted to water and the other end is hydrophobic, meaning attracted to substances which are not water soluble. This structure permits the soap to stick to substances that are then, not water soluble. Dirt is then washed away. A handmade soap has glycerin, while the commercial soap does not. It is a clear liquid that can absorb water from the air, making it an important factor in keeping the skin healthy. Glycerin soap is especially suitable for sensitive skin, due to its high quality by-product.

2. Specific Ingredients:

Almond Oil - Works as an emollient, calming the body and the senses

Avocado Oil - Works as an emollient

Birch Sap Extract - An effective astringent, refresher, soother and healer of the skin

Corn Starch - Absorbs excess oil & excess moisture in the skin

Lecithin egg yolk - Humectant and emulsifier

Comfrey Extract - Sooths, heals, and has an anti-bacterial effect on the skin

Citric Acid Citrus - Adjust the pH level

Apple Cider Vinegar - Has high cleansing properties and balances the skins PH level

Cocoa Butter - Forms a moisture barrier on the skin

Corn Flower Extract - Conditions and acts as a skin soother

Lavender Essential Oil - Has aromatic effects that stimulates fast metabolism

Pine Essential - Warms the muscles, has aromatic properties that stimulates the senses

Rosemary Extract - Works as an astringent and hair conditioner

Sea Kelp Extract - Restores the kin's health & vitality and is an effective hair conditioner

Wheat Germ Oil - An emollient

Peppermint Essential Oil - Has aromatic and antiseptic effects & is stimulating.

Birch Leaf Extract - Is an anti-irritant, having analgesic properties

Aloe Vera Gel - Soothes and protects skin

Apricot Kernel Oil - Emollient

Eucalyptus Oil - Has great cooling and uplifting effects

3. Why Handmade Soap?

- A handmade soap uses only food grade oils, such as shea and conola which functions as emollients, olive and natural cocoa oil that makes rich lathers, sunflower that contributes to a creamy bar. - Handmade soaps uses 5 percent natural ingredients, helping the skin feel soft after a bath. - True soap just got to have lye, therefore a handmade soap has lye; once saponification process is completed, the lye and oil molecules chemically have combined and converted into soap, therefore, no lye is present in a finished soap product. - Handmade soaps produces naturally occurring glycerin which is a natural humectant that draws moisture unto the skin. Most commercial soaps have the glycerin removed, containing detergents instead. - Handmade soaps are naturally anti bacterial in composition, having a ph level of 7-8. The higher the ph level, the effective it is against bacteria, due to the fact that bacteria thrive with ph level of - Handmade soaps uses only essential oils that soothes and eases body tension.

4. Buy Better Soap:

- Consider buying natural or handmade soaps. - Keep away from granular soaps. They are too abrasive for the skin. - Glycerin is key. It pulls moisture from the out side environment, bringing it in to the skin. Low grade and commercially produced soap remove glycerin and replaces it with cost effective chemicals that can damage the skin. A handmade soap is of better quality, though much more expensive. - PH balance. Skin is acidic naturally, with a ph of 4.2 - 5.6. Commercial soaps have a ph of 9.5 - 11 which is too high can remove the skins natural acid protection, leaving skin dry. - Pure aloe vera - handmade soaps having pure aloe vera content is the best. Aloe vera retains the skins natural moisture as well as soothes dry skin, keeping skin soft and healthy.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ - Free Articles Directory

About the Author For more great soap related articles and resources check out http://soap.bathnbodyhq.com

Beginners Guide To Soap Making

By Jennifer Christine

Making your own soap is a lot of fun. I love making my own soap for myself and also giving it as gifts to family and friends. If you’re interested in making your own soap but not sure where to start, here’s a brief explanation of the three different soap making processes:

1. Cold Process

Cold process soap making is really making soap from scratch. The three basic ingredients you’ll need to make soap this way are water, oils and sodium hydroxide (lye). Lye is classed as a hazardous material. It can burn skin on contact. When using lye you need to be extremely careful and take all safety precautions, such as wearing safety goggles, protective gloves, clothing and shoes. You also need to ensure you use a stainless steel saucepan and have separate containers for the storing of lye and measuring cups, etc just for soap making.

It’s very important you use a good recipe if making soap this way that tells you all the precautions you need to take when using lye; such as mixing the water and lye outside or in a very well ventilated area. The mixing of water and lye first produces a steam so toxic that it can burn your lungs.

You need to be very responsible when handling lye and it does sound scary, so a lot of soap making beginners prefer starting off making their own soap by the following two methods.

2. Handmilled or Rebatched Method

This method involves the grating of ready made soap (so there’s no lye to worry about) that is then melted with added water. You can add your own additives, such as flower petals, herbs, lavender, oatmeal, spices, soap colors and fragrance. Then you pour it into soap molds and leave to set. This can take 24 hours but for a truly hardened soap it can take up to two weeks.

3. Melt and Pour Method

In my experience, this is the easiest method to use if you’re a beginner. Melt and pour soap comes in ready made soap blocks (no lye to deal with). You just melt it, either in the microwave or double boiler, add your soap color, fragrance and optional additives, pour it into the mold and leave it to set for a few hours. Once it’s set it’s ready to use!

When making soap by any of the methods above, it’s important you use a good recipe so you get the measurements of the soap, colourings, fragrances and additives right. It’s also important that you don’t accidentally splash yourself when dealing with a hot, melted soap mixture.

Soap making is addictive. Once you make your first successful batch, you don’t want to stop! So why not get started on your soap making journey today?

About the Author: Jennifer Christine is a Super Soap Making Enthusiast!

Source: www.isnare.com

Soap Making Tips to Share?