Monday 20 May 2013

Did you Know?


Cosmetic products have been in existence for thousands of years –
  1. In 400 BC, Greek Olympic athletes covered their bodies with a ‘sunscreen’ mixture of sand and oil to protect their skin from the sun!
  2. The Chinese Cho Dynasty (600 BC) used gum, egg whites, gelatine and beeswax to create nail varnish.
  3. The use of henna as a hair colorant was first recorded around 1400-1500 BC.
  4. A soap formula was found written on a Babylonian tablet around 2200 BC.
  5. Ancient Romans used a mixture of soil and water in their hair, rolled with textiles and baked it in the sun to create temporary waves.
  6. In 5000 BC the Egyptians made a bath powder from myrhh, the powdered ashes of ox hooves, powdered and burnt eggshells and pumice.
  7. Use of perfume dates back to the beginning of mankind; the first perfume bottles were found in the Mediterranean in 7000 BC.

Thursday 16 May 2013

Using Sodium Lactate in Cold Process Soap

 Sodium Lactate is a liquid salt that is naturally derived from the natural fermentation of sugars found in corn and beets. In food, Sodium Lactate may be used as a preservative, acting as an inhibitor of bacteria growth. In CP soap, Sodium Lactate helps to produce a harder bar of soap that lasts longer in the shower. Because Sodium Lactate is a salt, it is a natural humectant, providing moisture. This makes it a great additive to lotions, typically replacing glycerin in the recipe.
Usage rate: .5% - 4%, or 1 tsp per pound of oils.
Usage Instructions: Add Sodium Lactate to your water phase (cooled Lye water) when making Cold Process Soap.
Use of Sodium Lactate hardens the soap in a few hours, making it ready to use much faster.     But beware, use too much and you end up with a very dry crumbly soap that won't cut.    It also does not seem to pipe well, so avoid if making cupcake soaps.    Because SL does indeed harden soap quickly, be sure to cut within a few hours, otherwise it's just too hard to slice well.   
It will also cause seize, so beware.

Cold Process Hot Process Soap

If you've ever wondered what CPHP soap means, then here's a short explanation.

You make your soap in the usual way, cold process.  Once you put the soap into the mould you then bake it in the oven on a very low temperature, as low as the oven will go.   I leave mine in for anything up to an hour, but half an hour is the usual time.  

This literally bakes the soap, and speeds up saponification, forces gel and makes a much harder bar very quickly.   I find the soap can be cut in 24 hours and is ready to use in a week or so depending on how hard your bar is.

Don't ever attempt this if you decorate your cold process soap with melt and pour shards, or toppings.  The M & P will simply dissolve in the heat.

Karma Blue

All time favourite, Karma Blue, the fragrance is patchouli, sandalwood, orange, cedar and musky woods with a topnote of ozone and fresh  cut grass.


Spring Sherbet for 2013

The all new Spring Sherbet, this time we've made this soap entirely from essential oils.   Lemongrass, Sweet Orange, Grapefruit, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli.   Smells unbelievable.