Real Soap doesn't dry your skin

I have been making Natural Soaps for some time due to the fact that commerical soaps dry out my skin.  Recently a Dove Soap has had an advertisement on the TV on why people shouldn't use soap.  They are stating all soaps are bad for your skin.  How wrong can they be.  Handmade natural soaps are full of goodness.  Real Handmade Soaps are natural.

What is really on the store shelf?
We have become accustom to mass produced soaps in the supermarket and $2 shops. But did you know quite alot of the soaps we purchase in the supermarket are really beauty bars full of chemicals including Dove.  Lets look at their ingredients label of Dove Soap.

 Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Slearic Acid, Sodium Palmitate, Aqua Lauric Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Parfum, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, zinc Oxide, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Alumina, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool.....

I don't think any of these ingredients are good for your skin.


Homemade Cold Process Soap
Real homemade soap is natural. It starts with three simple ingredients: water, sodium hydroxide and oil. The water dissolves the sodium, allowing it to be evenly distributed during mixing. The sodium solution is then mixed with the oils. The sodium reacts to the oils using aggressive mixing. This reaction is called saponification, which literally means “to make soap”. There is absolutely NO SODIUM HYDROXIDE remaining after the mixture saponifies.

Handmade soap is not mass produced and soapmakers around the world take pride in their products.  Real Handmade Soap doesn't dry your skin because it is made from nourishing oils.

 Lets look at the oils I use in my soapmaking.

OLIVE OIL: Contributes to: soap hardness, stable lather, slippery feel, conditioning, moisturizing, Olive Oil attracts external moisture to your skin, helping to keep skin soft and supple.

CASTOR OIL: Contributes to: fluffy lather, stable lather, conditioning, moisturizing, quicker
trace, softer soap. Often used to superfat soaps. Castor oil is unique in being almost entirely composed of ricinoleic fatty acid, found in no other oils and possessing a high affinity for water molecules. This makes it an excellent humectant, attracting and holding moisture to the
skin.

COCONUT OIL:Contributes to: soap hardness, fluffy lather, quicker trace. Coconut oil makes soaps lather beautifully . It will make a very hard, white bar of soap that lathers well even in very hard water - even in sea water. Coconut oil is light and not greasy and is resistant to spoiling. Used in skin care formulations, coconut oil is emollient, moisturizing, conditioning and protecting to the skin.

GRAPESEED OIL:Used in soaps as a superfatting oil, grapeseed oil is a lightweight oil that absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving a heavy greasy feeling. It has mildly astringent qualities and is said to be useful for acne and other skin complaints.

SUNFLOWER OIL: Contributes to: stable lather, conditioning, silky feel, softer soap, slower trace. Sunflower oil contains Vitamin E, so it naturally resists going rancid.


RICE BRAN OIL: Rice bran oil is moisturizing and is a good choice for inclusion in formulations intended for mature, delicate or sensitive skin.

All natural oils that are great for your skin.

I can actually call my soap soap but Dove has to call their product a beauty bar.  I know what I would prefer to use.

The Handmade Expo- Morayfield.

I would have to say when I talked previously about getting my Mojo back in my last blog who would of predicted the last couple of weeks. With christmas fast approaching I have been so busy creating new product lines and twigging the old so they look totally amazing for the markets I attend.  I have had a market every weekend for the last 5-6 weeks so it has been quite busy.  Last weekend was the new Handmade Expo which was held at Morayfield Leisure Centre.  It was a fabulous market for their first one being held there.  The Handmade Expo has certainly grown over the last few years.  Who would of thought that a little Handmade Expo which started in Ipswich Showgrounds would now continue to grow throughout Queensland with new ones popping up around the place.  The team has grown and I do believe the people have spoken and now so many people are embracing Handmade.  Below is a few photos I managed to take of some amazing handmade goodies. 

 

 

 

You want soap- You've got soap

Its been awhile since I have had a chance to write something.  This is the businest time of the year for markets and of course my soap.  At one stage this year I was trying to get away from making soap but you ask any soap maker and it is an addiction.  So now I go with the flow and don't fight the addiction any more........

Enjoy the photo's

Bubblegum soap


 

Oranges and Lemons Soap
 

lavender fields cupcake soaps

 

Blueberry cupcake soaps

Cream Soda Cupcake Soaps.

 

Loads of wrapped cupcakes about to head to the markets this weekend.


 

If you are in the Hamilton Area this Saturday why not head to Racecourse Road for the BrisStyle Eco Markets. Some of these soaps are still curing and won't be available but I have lots of other beautiful soaps for sale.  I will also be conducting Kool Candle workshops throughout the day.  Any one will be able to make a candle with no heat for $5 and take it home with them.

Brown, Brown, Brown

Joining in the fun again with Sister Sun with the colour Brown.  I never realised how many photo's I had of brown shades.  First attempt of Sour Dough Bread turned out so good.  I fed my sour dough bug for over a week.  

Yummy Christmas cake.  Every year at christmas hubby and I head over to a church at Sandgate to look at the christmas lights.  Every year I always purchase fudges and jams from the stall that is run by the parishers.  I was lucky last year to pick up this cake.   This year I will attempt to make my own.

Green Me Up Granny is all about recycling, upcycling and a back to basic way of life.  Homemade products.  The sign of Green Me Up Granny is made from recycled products that I purchased from Reverse Garbage on the southside of brisbane near the PA hospital.  It is like an Alladin's Cave.  You never know what treasures you will uncover.

Handmade beanie made from a couple of old cardigans that were starting to wear.  Also has a matching set of gloves and scarf.

Handmade Silk Soap.  Love the silk soap.  It lathers so good.  I haven''t bought shop soap for many years and why would I.

The old drawing of the Laidley Hotel.  My son was in an art exhibition awhile ago and this was done by one of his friends.

A couple of mushrooms hanging out in my garden.

Have a fantastic week everyone.  Don't forget to check out all the other bloggers that are linked to Evi Blog for their colour Brown.

Sue xx

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My favourite low cost recipes (Washing Detergent)

I have not purchased any commercial washing liquid in ages.  I prefer to make my own and at least then I know what  is actually cleaning my clothes.  There are so many on the market today and it is so confusing and honestly I just wanted something that cleaned my clothes and was gentle, not highly fragrant and something that was safe for septic and grey water.  I wanted a product that was safe enough to use on my garden.  Below is my recipe.  There are many different recipes on the internet.  I make mine without Borax.  Borax to me is still a chemical and cannot be used on the garden. 

1-2 cups of grated pure soap.  (Start saving soap scraps like our grandmothers did or sunlight is fine)

1.5 litres of water

1/2 cup washing soda (this is found in the washing powder isle.  It is about $3.50 a bag)


In a large saucepan on the stove melt the grated soap in the water.  I normally have it on a low setting until all the soap is dissolved.  Once it is dissolved turn the stove off.  Let cool.  When lukewarm add the washing soda and stir.  You will notice the liquid will start to thicken.  As it cools down keep stirring occassionally.  This will stop the lumps from forming.  Now if you like if you have any essential oils at home you can add some to the liquid.  Only a small amount is required.  This is not necessary but I normally have either lavender, eucalyptus or tea tree at home.  Now you need to add about 7 litres of cold water to the pot.  Once you have done this it is now ready to store.  I use old juice bottles for this.  Funnel into the bottles but don't fill to the top.  You will need to shake the bottle when you use as it will seperate.  You only need to use about a 1/4 of a cup for a full load of washing.  I wash only in cold water.  .   Now your washing liquid is ready to use.  You now have over 8 litres of washing powder which has cost you under $2.