#5 Olive, Coconut, Palm Kernel & Less Water

This particular olive, coconut, palm kernel & less water recipe came about because of the Blackberry and Orange soap recipe. The finished bars were a little soft – usable, but a little softer compared to the other bars. It was concluded this was because of the huge amount of orange essential oil needed to obtain and decent long-lasting scent. The solution was to add a palm or palm kernel oil PLUS add a little less water, but not too much. The palm kernel oils help to make a harder bar and the less water due to the more liquid of the orange essential oil. And this worked perfectly!

as a soapmaker, you will sometimes need to adjust recipes for specific essential oils or fragrances

The only oil to not use in over 50% of total oils, is canola oil. Although canola oil is the oil of every single restaurant on the planet, it isn’t the best for soap, but only because of the reaction to the lye and the oxidation of the oils. This means that a canola oil-based soap will start getting brown discolored spots on the soap bars. This is too bad really, because the cheaper cost of the canola helps keep the price of your final product lower. more about the type of oils and the pros and cons of each can be found on this basic soap-making recipe page.

This makes about 25 4-ounce bars, so dividing it in half to make test batches would work well.

Palm oil vs Palm Kernel, same tree and fruit

 

olive, coconut, palm kernel & less water :

Continue reading

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#6 Castile, Just Olive

In the beginning of making soap, I started with an Olive, coconut, and palm oil soap recipe, which worked very well. Over the years and depending on supply deliveries, supplies on hand, environmentalism, and ingredient costs, we came up with 6 very tried and true soap recipes, well, except maybe this pure castile soap recipe one.

Plain and simple, you would think it would be a big seller – but no it’s not!

Traditionally, Castile soap was a 100% olive oil based soap. Yet the recipes of today seem to vary – same as the history of Castile soap’s history. As wonderful as a pure olive oil soap will be, it can be temperamental to make. I’ve made Castile a few times and this is what I’ve discovered:

  • people say they want a plain unscented soap, yet buy the scented one, and the plain soaps ended up in the ‘sale’ basket
  • all my castile olive oil bars tended to have soda ash, from high pH, from water/lye/oil saponification process, in the corners and edges of the soap logs
  • the finished bar does not bubble very much, it is the coconut that creates large bubbles
  • people think that if the bar doesn’t bubble lots then something is wrong with it
  • multiple oil soap bases make better bars
  • last I heard from whatever-powers-that-be, is that up to 15% coconut oil can be used and still be considered a pure ‘castile’ bar

Here is an example of Castile Soap that is NOT Castile Soap, the coconut and palm oil amounts are larger than the Olive Oil!

This makes about 25 4-ounce bars, so dividing it in half to make test batches would work well. Continue reading

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Vanilla Soap Recipe

You can make vanilla soap only with a fragrance, as there is no vanilla essential oil.  Although soap supply companies go to great lengths to make their synthetic fragrance sound like a true essential oil.  They’ll use terms like “nature identical”.  Most people love the scent of vanilla, and often this scent is added to other scents, such as raspberry, sandalwood, lavender, and orange.  This is a great selling bar and I have also made a lotion scented with Vanilla that sells well also.

A very nice bar of vanilla soap

make vanilla soap:

Basic #1 with Canola/Olive, and Coconut oils (no palm oils): Continue reading

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Lemongrass

Lemongrass soap is also one of the easiest and least expensive soaps to make, even less expensive than lavender. Again, this is a one-scent and one-color bar. This bar was probably in the top 15 of the best-selling bars. The scent is so fresh and clean that you can’t resist using it to ‘bump’ up other scents, especially the citrus ones.

Here is a perfectly tinted lemongrass soap

make lemongrass soap:

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Tea Tree Soap Recipe

Make your own medicinal products such as this Tea Tree soap recipe. I have added Eucalyptus essential oil to mellow out the sharpness of the Tea Tree or add some earthy warming components. This was a great soap for skin conditions and especially for bug-bitten skin. The tea tree would help to cleanse the bit areas and speed up the healing.  I also make a plain Tea Tree Soap.

Tea Tree soap recipe, with Eucalyptus:

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Blackberry Orange Soap Recipe

This blackberry orange soap recipe was the second best-selling soap in my store. Because of its popularity, I made blackberry orange scented lotions, bath salts, perfume oil, and body butter.  There is no way to make this an all-natural bar as there is no such thing as blackberry essential oil, but you can make it half-natural with Sweet Orange essential oil.

here is a very nice purple and orange bar, perfect for a blackberry-orange bar

blackberry orange soap recipe:

  • Basic #2 recipe: (other base recipes here)
    51.2 oz Olive oil or an olive/Canola blend
    6.2 oz Coconut oil
    6.2 oz Palm oil
    23.4 oz water
    8.6 oz lye crystals
  • for this scented bar, add:
  •  3.5 T blackberry  fragrance oil
  • 5 T of orange essential oil, or 5-fold (blended) orange essential oil
  • colorant:
  • 1 tsp of liquid orange color
  • 1 tsp liquid dark blue
  • for this bar, you could make the base orange with a purple swirl, or split the base in half and make half orange and half purple.

Another nice looking bar, one half orange the other purple

 

Tons of info on sweet orange essential oil, right here.

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Orange Spice Soap Recipe

Orange spice soap, also known as Christmas Spice soap, was one of the top ten bars at the store. The essential oils, especially the cinnamon and cloves essential oils, had a long-lasting scent. The other popular and traditional Christmas scents are nutmeg and ginger, yet the cinnamon and cloves along with the orange scent make for a nice scent blend.

Orange Spice, or Christmas Spice Soap bar

Orange spice soap recipe, aka Christmas Spice

  • Basic #2 recipe: (other base recipes here)
    51.2 oz Olive/Canola blended oils
    6.2 oz Coconut oil
    6.2 oz Palm oil
    23.4 oz water
    8.6 oz lye crystals
  • for this scented bar, add:
  • 3.5 T of orange essential oil
  • 1/2 T of cinnamon leaf essential oil
  • 1/2 T of clove essential oil
  • for coloring:
  • 1/2 tsp orange color for base
  • 1/2 tsp cocoa powder for swirl
  • Remember to mix the base color in one cup of the base, mix well, and add it back in
  • put cocoa powder in one cup of the base, and mix well
  • after soap is poured into the mold, drizzle and gently stir in.

Here is another great way to make your Orange Spice soap, a nice solid dark orange color. This darker color represents the orange with the darker spice colors: (the label is nice and simple too)

Another version of an Orange Spice soap is below. The tint is more like orange juice which is great, then with a small layer of brown to represent the dark spice scents:

If you want to get really awesome, here is a 3 tone, 3 layered version. This has the addition of oatmeal to the base, 3 differently tinted layers, a sprinkling of spices, and the placement of a dried orange slice. Nicely done!

Great article on the origins of spices of Christmas!

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Cocoa Butter Benefits For Skin

Have you ever wondered where the rich, creamy ingredient in your favorite skincare products comes from? I’m talking about cocoa butter, and it’s not just popping out of nowhere. This moisturizing marvel begins its life as seeds within the pods of the cacao tree, primarily found in the lush tropics.

Natural Coconut Body Butter

Now, what exactly happens between those cacao seeds and the cocoa butter in your products? It all starts with the seeds being harvested, fermented, and dried, which provides the base for what will become two beloved ingredients: chocolate and cocoa butter. The next step is pressing the fat out of the cacao beans at high pressure, yielding the golden butter, while the remaining components forge ahead to become cocoa powder.

Cocoa butter is a powerhouse of nutrition for your skin. It’s brimming with fatty acids like palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids, all of which are superstars for maintaining skin’s moisture and elasticity. And that’s just scratching the surface! The butter also contains vitamins and antioxidants that pamper the skin, guiding it towards naturally glowing health. You can imagine your skin saying, ‘Thank you!’ every time you apply it.

I’m sure you’re with me when I say that where our products come from matters. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it shapes the futures of local farming communities and the environment. So make sure you’re choosing cocoa butter that’s sourced ethically. That way, we get to enjoy the benefits without contributing to unwelcome practices like deforestation or unfair labor conditions.

With a better understanding of cocoa butter’s origins and its nourishing substance, let’s explore how this ingredient works tirelessly to keep your skin at the top of its game. In the next section, we’ll delve deep into the skin benefits of cocoa butter and discover how it’s making waves in various skincare products.

Embracing Natural Care: The Multifold Skin Benefits of Cocoa Butter

So you’ve learned about where cocoa butter comes from and its journey from the cocoa bean to your skincare routine. Now, let’s talk about what it can do for your skin. First up, we’re going to address its hydrating superpowers. Dry, flaky skin is no match for cocoa butter’s rich, fatty acid content, helping your skin retain moisture and maintain its elasticity.

If you’re looking to fade scars and blemishes, cocoa butter could be your new go-to. Some studies suggest that the regular application of cocoa butter might improve the appearance of scars, although more research is needed to understand the full extent of its benefits. But that’s not all. Cocoa butter is also an antioxidant stronghold, providing your skin with a line of defense against the environmental stressors that can lead to premature aging.



Considering the benefits, it’s no wonder you’ll find cocoa butter in a multitude of skincare products. Whether it’s in a luxurious body lotion, a hydrating lip balm, or a creamy hand cream, cocoa butter is everywhere. Its capacity to smooth, soften, and nourish your skin has made it a staple ingredient for those looking to enhance the health and appearance of their skin without resorting to harsh chemicals.

How can you start reaping these benefits? Well, integrating cocoa butter into your skincare regimen is downright simple. Choose products that list cocoa butter as one of the first few ingredients to ensure you’re getting an effective amount. Remember, everyone’s skin is unique, so monitor how your skin responds. Don’t worry too much about getting it perfect on the first try; you can always adjust your approach down the road.

To sum up, cocoa butter is a natural, powerful ingredient that might be just what your skincare routine is missing. By utilizing a product that includes this hydrating, healing, and protective ingredient, you could see enhancements in the suppleness, clarity, and overall resilience of your skin. Choose something that resonates with you, and remember to give your skin the care it deserves. After all, healthy skin is happy skin!

Follow this link to Cocoa Butter and Soap

Here is some more information on the benefits of Cocoa Butter 

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Lip Balm Recipe

You can make your own all-natural lip balm recipes from this one simple recipe.  like in cooking, you can alter the ingredients and get the same but different meals.  Lip balms are no different, well, lotions too.

Generally, you will need beeswax, not crude oil-based paraffin wax.  You could get stearic acid wax or emulsifying wax, just make sure they are vegetable oil-based, usually from palm trees, as these waxes could be petroleum-based as well.

nice labeling on a clear pot, or should you go with a tube?

Not all natural lip balms are natural. Or it’s all-natural till they put in the flavor – which is not natural. There is a lot of leeway on what claims are vs what is really in that product. So making your own is one way to ensure the naturalness of your lip balm.

You will have to decide if to put your lip balm into little pots or tubes. There are pros and cons to both. The little pots are way easier to fill, less messy, and cost about 50 cents and up, the metal pots are about $1.00.  The tubes are way harder to fill, there will be a mess, and cost just a little more than the pots. I have a tool that the tubes attach to making it less messy and you can fill many tubes at the same time.  Below is a link to one they sell for about $15.00 and are well worth it.  The tubes attach to the tray and you pour over it.

Lip Balm Filling Tray

Also when filling the tubes, the warm liquid lip balm is getting thicker by the minute, making the filling a little more harder to do.  Using the filling tray helps with this, being able to pour more than one at a time.  The finished product, a tube is nicer to apply the lip balm with, rather than with your finger with the pots.

All natural Lip  Balm recipes:

  • 4 T of cocoa butter (or shea butter, mango butter, coconut oil)
  • 1/4 oz of beeswax
  • 1 1/4 T of jojoba oil (or rosehip oil, hemp oil, olive oil)
  • couple drops of Vitamin E – optional
  • couple drops of food-grade flavor – optional
  • melt together over a low-temperature

Some butters and oils have different finishes, for example, cocoa butter and olive oil leave a very shiny surface. Whereas mango butter and rose hip oil leave a matte finish. When making this lip balm, if you do not like the finished texture, it is an easy fix. If it is too soft, add more wax, and if too hard, add more liquid oils.

The following lip balm is all-natural, I checked their website. They’re labeling uses only the Latin or nomenclature wording for the ingredients, which is fine except that regular people may want to know what “helianthus annuus” is. It’s sunflower oil, by the way. Nice brand name, nicely separated wording, a great color scheme, and clear tubes.

 

 

The famous Burt’s Bees, which has been sold to the Clorox company for millions, gotta retire sometime right? Their labeling states “aroma”, for the vanilla and pumpkin spice varieties, and says 100% natural, yet I don’t think I can go a pick “aroma” off a tree. Anyway, I have used this brand before, and it doesn’t have the staying power that cherry chapstick does. I’ve tried a lot of natural lip balms and none of them have. My lip balm was probably a little on the harder side. Nice when making your own, you can perfect it the way you want.


Read about the amazing skin benefits that cocoa butter has, here.

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Honey And Skin Care

Why is Honey Good for the Skin?

I’ve always been amazed by nature’s gifts.

Honey ranks high on my list for its array of uses and not only does it sweeten my tea, but I’ve also incorporated it into my skincare routine with impressive results. Why is honey good for the skin, you ask? Well, this delightful substance is much more than just a natural sweetener; it’s a powerhouse of skin-loving properties.

Honey acts as a natural moisturizer. Its humectant qualities allow it to draw moisture from the air into the skin, ensuring your face stays hydrated and supple. This is especially useful for those who experience dry skin. Additionally, honey’s rich antioxidant content helps to protect the skin by fighting off free radicals that can accelerate the aging process.

But the benefits don’t stop there. Honey comes packed with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can calm irritated skin and promote healing. It’s a common go-to for acne treatment because it can help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that cause skin blemishes. Moreover, the gentle exfoliating effect of enzymes found in honey helps to clear dead skin cells without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

Manuka Honey Antibacterial Wound Care

Now, when we talk about tackling skin blemishes, honey is a real game-changer. It can improve the appearance of persistent blemishes and scars, thanks to its soothing and repairing qualities. The enzymes in honey clarify the skin, while its natural antiseptic properties can reduce the appearance and prevent the occurrence of acne.

Honey’s Healing Touch: Beyond Skin Deep

While it’s no secret that honey can work wonders for the skin, its impact on health spans much further. Honey, a gift from bees, is a potent elixir that supports general well-being, but how does it fare when we look closer at its purported health benefits?

Honey’s composition is as complex as it is beneficial. It’s filled with natural sugars, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These components have been celebrated for their healing properties. When regularly incorporated into a diet, honey could play a role in antioxidant defense systems, contributing to reduced inflammation and improved heart health.

The idea that honey can improve athletic performance isn’t baseless either. Its natural sugars, glucose, and fructose act as energy sources, which can be particularly useful for endurance athletes seeking a quick burst of energy. However, despite the potential benefits, it’s important for athletes to consume honey in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.

Organic Honey Energy Chews (gluten-free)

But honey’s influence doesn’t stop at diet and energy levels. Scientists have scrutinized honey for its therapeutic potential, finding evidence of its ability to combat certain bacteria and support digestive health. This supports the concept that honey’s use in medicine could go beyond a simple home remedy.

Crafting Honey-Infused Skincare Products at Home

It’s empowering to take skincare into your own hands, especially with ingredients as natural and effective as honey. The combination of clay and honey in a face mask harnesses their collective benefits for an at-home spa experience. Making your own Clay and Honey face mask not only personalizes your skincare regimen but also ensures you’re using the freshest, most natural ingredients. I’ll guide you through creating this simple yet potent mask, focusing on the complementary roles of clay’s purifying properties and honey’s hydrating effects.

However, the adaptability of honey extends beyond face masks. It’s also a fantastic addition to homemade soaps, providing moisturizing properties that leave the skin soft and supple. If you’re intrigued by the idea of crafting your own Honey-infused soap, I’m here to walk you through the benefits, along with a word of caution. Honey can be tricky to work with due to its thickness and the way it reacts during the soap-making process, but with precise instructions, you can create a luxurious soap that elevates your daily routine.

You can purchase this Oatmeal and Honey Melt and Pour Soap on Amazon – just click on the link

Remember, while incorporating honey into your skincare products offers numerous perks, it’s crucial to be mindful of any allergies and to conduct a patch test before indulging in a full application. With careful consideration and a little creativity, honey can become a staple in your beauty cabinet, naturally enhancing your skin’s health and glow.

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