Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
Solid perfume is convenient for traveling, or for touch ups throughout the day. This sophisticated Honeysuckle Solid Perfume has notes of tuberose, nectarine, jasmine and of course, honeysuckle. The Solid Perfume Base makes this project easy to make: melt down the base and add the Heavenly … Continue Reading
Melt and pour soap and cold process soap are both made by emulsifying sodium hydroxide lye and a variety of oils. Both are skin loving and far more gentle than store bought, detergent based soap. Despite these similarities, melt and pour soap have very different textures. These textures lend … Continue Reading
Have you used jelly soap before? It cleanses just like regular soap, except it's wiggly, jiggly and guaranteed to entertain. The fun texture is perfect for kids. They'll love the way it bounces all over the table. Although I have to admit, all the adults in our office had a lot of fun with it too. … Continue Reading
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells. It's key to healthy, soft and glowing skin. Exfoliation can be done physically by using an abrasive material on the skin, or chemically with substances such as glycolic acid. There are lots of scrubby exfoliation options for bath and beauty … Continue Reading
Summer is perfect for outdoor get togethers. And what's a gathering without delicious food? I recently attended a barbecue at a friend's house and needed to bring a side dish. This fresh and simple Zucchini & Pesto Pasta Salad was quite a hit! Full of fresh veggies, tangy feta cheese and … Continue Reading
I have been making soap for more than 20 years. New techniques are constantly being created, and I'm always learning something from others in the soapmaking community. While progressive techniques are fun, I like to revisit the basics of soapmaking with simple recipes and techniques. Practicing the … Continue Reading
The Back to Basics series ended this week. It was nice to revisit important soapy concepts, like how to choose a mold. There are several different types of molds, including silicone and wood molds. Each type of mold has pros and cons. For instance, recyclable molds are cost effective, but you may … Continue Reading
Today the Back to Basics series wraps up with the final tutorial, this Crisp Cotton Swirl Cold Process Soap. Swirls in cold process soap require a thin trace, so it's important to not over stick blend the batter. It helps to have a recipe with a large percentage of slow moving oils, like olive or … Continue Reading
Soap making molds come in various shapes, sizes and materials. It's crucial to consider what kind of mold you'll be using when designing a soapy project. The mold will determine how big your batch needs to be, and may influence ingredients and cure time. One of the most popular soap mold options is … Continue Reading
Today is the third tutorial in the Back to Basics Cold Process Series. The first two projects were designed to give you a "feel" for soaping, and did not feature color or any complex design elements. Now, we are ready to work with color, thick trace and gel phase! The Back to Basics Soapmaking … Continue Reading
Last week featured two recipes perfect for beginners: the Simple & Gentle Cold Process Soap and the Creamy Orange Cold Process Soap. Both of these projects are made in a recycled box and do not contain complex design elements. If you have never made cold process soap before, I highly recommend … Continue Reading
Making lotion from scratch is a fun project. The process includes emulsifying water and oils, much like making soap. Other additives such as extracts, vitamin E and DL-panthenol can also be added to increase benefits to the skin. If you love the feel of homemade lotion but don't want to formulate it … Continue Reading
It's always fun to try new soaping techniques, but it can also be valuable to revisit the basics. The past week I shared two tutorials perfect for the beginner soaper as part if the Back to Basic series. If you have never made cold process before, the first tutorial in this series, Simple & … Continue Reading
There are many factors to consider when making cold process soap. This week and next week will focus on the basics of soap making. One of the most important parts is safety. When working with sodium hydroxide lye, it is important to wear safety gear like goggles, gloves and long sleeves. With the … Continue Reading