As you probably already know most soaps that you buy in
the store contain lye. While the amount used in soap is perfectly safe the
truth is there is an alternative that is much better for your skin and will
make a difference that you will notice immediately.
The coolest part of all is that you can make this at
home. It’s a great hobby that won’t destroy your schedule and a fun way to
spend some quality time with the kiddies. Natural homemade soaps are also a
great conversation piece for visiting family and friends and make a very
thoughtful gift for the holidays.
To get started you will need to buy something called
glycerin blocks. Regular glycerin is clear and will produce clear soap. It can
be bought in 32 ounce blocks that will make approximately 6 or 7 full size
bars. You can get it at many home stores
and also at your local Wal-Mart.
If you want to use small molds to make the soap (such as
flowers or starfish or whatever you prefer) you will only need 1 cube of
glycerin. Full size soap bars require about 6 cubes. The 32 ounce blocks that
I’ve seen are packaged as 40 cubes so that should give you some idea as to how
much you will need to use. Simply figure a “normal” size bar of soap to be
about 4.8 ounces or so. It doesn’t really matter but this will provide you with
a guide to get started.
All you need to do is melt the glycerin in the microwave
(any glass container will do) and pour it into the molds! It’s better to melt
most of it and then stir with a spoon to complete the process. You can also add
any scent that you prefer. I think the vanilla is fantastic but you can pick
your favorite! 5 – 10 drops for a full size bar should be adequate. Of course
every microwave is different but a good estimate is about 1min. 20 secs. for 10
cubes or 2 full size bars. Just keep an eye on it and remove it when the
glycerin is almost completely melted. You can also add food coloring to create
an abundance of different colors.
BE CAREFUL when pouring the hot soap into the molds. It
will be easier to remove the soap from the mold if you don’t fill it all the
way to the top. The trick here is to pour the soap close to 160 degrees. Too
hot can cause the mold to “wrinkle” and too cold will cause the soap to get a
sort of opaque layer on the surface that won’t look quite right. It’s not
really that complicated and you’ll get the hang of it after your first batch or
two.
Depending on the size of the mold let the soap sit for
between 5 – 30 minutes. You can simplify removing it from the mold by putting
it into the freezer for 20 minutes or so. Be creative! Experiment with
different herbs, your favorite scented oils and use different colors! Think of
all that you can do. What about a little starfish in the center of an aqua blue
soap or a little read heart in the middle of a clear bar? Wouldn’t it be fun to
have little gingerbread soaps for the holiday party?
The possibilities are endless and remember; this soap is
actually good for your skin and perfectly healthy to use.
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