Soap Making Supplies Store Blog

Looking for a healthy and organic alternative to mineral oil? Organic coconut oil may just be what you are looking for. Considered to be a great skin, scalp and hair moisturizer and conditioner with results comparable to mineral oil, it also has antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties and antioxidant properties. This makes it is a great ingredient for foot lotions or soaks. In body butters, it makes the texture of the butter richer. It is also organic, which means no harmful chemicals like pesticides will be going on your skin.

Organic castor oil is renowned for its ability to act as a barrier between the skin and extremes in weather or climate. It is a popular additive to many cosmetics ranging from nail polish remover and lipsticks to soaps and hair conditioner. It is used in soap generally to increase lather and is also used in massage and in aromatherapy. Organic castor oil is great because you wont be adding pesticides or other harsh chemicals to your skin.

Babassu oil is a skin moisturizer that is similar to coconut oil in both its physical and chemical properties. It is often used as a substitute for coconut oil. It is a non-greasy natural emollient that is used in lotions, soaps and in massage oils. It contains minerals and vitamins and is great for all skin types. It’s semi-solid creamy texture melts on contact with the skin. It is usually used combined with other essential oils but can be used alone.

Avocado oil contains vitamins D, A and E, proteins, and beta-carotene. It also contains a significant twenty percent essential fatty acids. Avocado oil is a rich oil and is renowned for its deep moisturizing abilities and is easily be absorbed into deep tissue. It can also help remove age spots, heal scars and heal sun damage. It is an ideal oil to use on skin that is mature, suffering from exposure to the climate and dehydrated and/or undernourished. It is rejuvenating, regenerating and helps to increase the collagen that is in the skin which we lose with age. It can also be used to help with the severe dryness associated with eczema.

As far as massage oils go, almond oil is definitely amongst the most popular. Since it does not get absorbed as deeply as other oils it creates a longer lasting lubrication on the surface of the skin. It works well for all skin types and eases itchiness and/or inflammation and therefore can be used to combat such skin conditions as eczema. It is also simply a great skin moisturizer and is used not only in massage but also on the face and hair.

If you are wondering about which oil to add as a carrier oil in your homemade baby lotions or cleansers than you should consider apricot kernel oil. It is considered to be amongst the most gentle of carrier oils and is a popular ingredient in baby products. It also has great nourishing, moisturizing and revitalizing properties and is therefore also a popular moisturizing oil. Another great quality is its high vitamin E content which is another reason to use this oil for massage or in lotions, creams or soaps.

Now, everyone has heard of citronella candles but how about citronella soap? How about for your pet? There are a variety of recipes for citronella soap but recipes which have citronella and eucalyptus in them will actually keep ticks and fleas away and will make your doggy smell nice and fresh! You might want to try it, and if while trying to clean a squirming dog the soap flies out your hand, don’t worry, soap always floats!

You can use a variety of items as molds for your soap, things that you could possible find around the house such as the ever handy plastic food storage container, plastic plaster crafting molds, plastic candle molds, and of course soap molds. A tip to assist in the release of the soap from the mold is to rub the mold with a thin layer of jelly and this wont leave a sticky residue on the soap. Do not use hard molds made from glass or aluminum as they are just so much more difficult to get your soap out of. Don’t use plastic cups and disposable plasic containers also because they will melt since the soap mixture is very hot. Make sure the mold is big enough because soap shrinks as it cures and dries so if it is too small, there wont be much soap for you to use!

When making soap feel free to experiment with different aromatic blends of essential oils. It is a good idea to get a book on essential oils for reference so you can have it on hand. Feel free to use an essential oil that may be related to another far more expensive essential oil but is more modestly priced. Be sure that you do get pure, undiluted or adulterated essential oils as you can add very little of these scents and it will go so much further than adulterated essential oils. Pure and unadulterated essential oils are also far more effective at remedying anything that you might be having an issue with such as stress or eczema.

Using a foaming bath oil can be a delightful experience. When used they leave a fine film of delicate oil on your skin, sealing in moisture and provides fragrance.  They can also be used as decoration in the bathroom and soften hard water. You can add vitamin E to your homemade bath oils in order to preserve the oil as it will go rancid without a preservative over time. Vitamin E is also good for your skin as it is an anti-oxidant. If you add any herbs and flowers to your oil be sure to add only dried plants as fresh ones will mold and cause the oil to go rancid.