Welcome to Skinsations Handmade
Soap and Bath Products!
I first tried soap casting, or glycerin
soap making in 1999 as a rainy day project with my young son. I
have always loved scented soaps and bath products, but have sensitive
skin and often had allergic reactions. I also was wary of the list
of unpronounceable ingredients on most of the products offered in
stores. I found that I could use handmade soaps and glycerin soap
without any problems.
Q. What is soap?
A. Chemically speaking, soap is
the sodium (or potassium) salt of a fatty acid. When a fatty acid
(fats such as tallow or live oil), is mixed with an alkali (a substance
that corrodes, such as lye) the fat splits into 2 parts- fatty acid
and glycerin. The sodium part of the lye joins with the fatty acid
to become soap. This process is known as saponification. Simply
put~ Oils + Lye = Soap. You can not make soap (of any kind) without
lye (sodium hydroxide) or potassium hydroxide (used to make liquid
soaps). However, once the chemical reaction takes place the lye
is no longer present in its alkaline form. As a matter of fact,
it has now turned into something very pleasant and wonderful.
History of soap:
Soap making can be traced back to as early as 2800
B.C.. The first evidence of commercial soap making can be found
in ancient Rome. The ancient Celts also were know for making soap.
This early soap was likely made from goat tallow and wood causticized
wood ash and was used mainly for cleaning textiles such as wool
and cotton. While public baths were popular in Rome, soap was not
used for personal cleansing. During the Dark Ages, the making and
use of soap fell off drastically and wasn't fully revived until
around the 13th Century when France joined Italy and Spain in the
production of soap. Due to its availability olive oils were used
in the southern regions while to the north, beef tallow was more
commonly used. Colonists in the New World found it easier to make
their own soap than to have it imported. Soap was usually made once
a year at butchering time to utilize the animal fats and ashes that
had been gathered from the hearth. This soap was generally a very
soft soap, stored in barrels. Lye was made by running rain water
through wood ash and was tested by dropping an egg in. Depending
on if the egg sank or floated indicated whether or not the lye was
strong enough or too strong. It was difficult to get good results
and this soap was often very harsh. Salt was a rare and expensive
commodity, but if available could be added to the soap to make it
harder. Since then, soap making has evolved. Instead of wood ash,
we have sodium hydroxide (lye) or potassium hydroxide (used to make
liquid soap) and have formulas that tell us the proper ratios of
oils to lye to get consistent results. We also have a wider variety
of oils and fats, as well as exotic butters to choose from. Most
commercially made soaps today are actually detergents, or petroleum
based rather than animal or vegetable based.
Skinsations Soap uses only the highest
quality ingredients in all of our products. Our handmade
soaps are ecologically friendly and do not contain any harsh, unpronounceable
chemicals. We use food grade vegetable oils, plant essential oils
and top quality cosmetic grade fragrance oils. We use a variety
of colorants including FD&C food colorings, micas, oxides, and
herbs and spices.
Here are a few facts about glycerin soap:
- Glycerin occurs naturally in the soap making
process and is a moisturizer.
- Glycerin is "hydroscopic" or"humectant",
which means it draws moisture to itself by absorbing it from the
air.
- Glycerin is removed from commercial soaps and
sold in more profitable ways. (i.e. as a base for lotions, as
a mold lubricant, in cake and candy making, etc.)
- It is often replaced with chemical substances,
such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which are irritating to the skin.
- The softer the soap, the gentler it is on your
skin.
About our ingredients:
Rosemary essential oil is steam
distilled from the tops of the rosemary plant and is imported from
Morocco. It has a lovely aroma. It is stimulating and is used to
energize, brighten mood, and for improving memory. It is antiseptic
and is used to help with headaches.
Lavender essential oil is steam
distilled and is imported from France. It is used to relieve headaches
and stress and to promote sleep. It is highly antiseptic, and can
be used directly on the skin to treat burns and minor wounds. Combined
with rosemary it makes an effective soap for treating blemished
skin.
Tea Tree essential oil is steam
distilled from the Tea tree native to Australia. It is highly antiseptic
but gentle enough to be used directly on the skin. It is anti-bacterial
and fights viruses and fungi. It is good for acne, oily skin and
for relieving inflammation. Tea tree oil is also used to treat athlete's
foot and makes a good deodorant soap.
Honey is a natural emollient,
which means it softens and smoothes.
Goats milk is very moisturizing.
(Cleopatra was fond of milk baths to keep her skin soft)
Oatmeal is soothing as well as
being a gentle exfoliant.
Cocoa butter comes from the seed
of the Cacao tree, it is known to stay on the surface of the skin
to help protect and lock in moisture.
Shea butter comes from the fruit
of the Karite tree, and is one of the best butters for dry, cracked
skin. It helps to heal scars, eczema, as well as revitalizing skin,
protecting from aging and providing a slight natural sun protection
Olive oil contains nutrients which
help keep skin moist and is exceptionally mild to the skin.
Castor oil acts as a humectant,
draws moisture to the skin and produces a rich bubbly lather
Coconut oil is the only oil that
lathers in any type of water. If used in the right percentage in
a recipe, coconut oil is moisturizing and makes lots of fluffy lather
Read
an interesting article on the FDA website pertaining to soap.
See our Soapmaker Resources for additional information.
Q. What is your handmade glycerin soap
made out of?
A. I use the most "natural"
soap base available. Our soap base contains the following ingredients:
Saponified vegetable oils, vegetable glycerin,
purified water, sorbital (a natural humectant derived from fruits
and berries), aloe vera and propolyene glycol (a common ingredient
in cosmetics, it penetrates the skin and promotes retention of water)..
- It is a pure soap product without any harsh
detergents or animal products.
- We use only cosmetic grade colorants and fragrance
oils. Each soap is hand made.
- Our soaps are being used by friends and family,
many of whom have sensitive skin. We recommend testing the product
on a small area of skin, however.
- Our products are not tested on animals.
Q. Do you make these yourself?
A. All of our soaps and bath products
are made by hand right in my own kitchen. While I do make loaf soap
upon request, the majority of my soaps are individually hand cast.
No two are alike. I usually make very small batches, often with
the help of my son who likes to weigh and measure for me.
Q. My glycerin soap gets beads of sweat
and becomes slippery to the touch. What causes this?
A. This is caused when the soap
draws moisture from the air and it gathers on the surface of the
bar. This occurs when humidity is high. It is harmless, and means
that the glycerin is doing its job. Simply rinse it off.
Q. Where are you located?
A. We are located in Muskegon,
Michigan.
*Comments from our Customers*
*** "...I LOVE it! The scent has held while
the soap has gotten smaller without being overpowering in the beginning...
but best of all was the way it lathered. I've had a lot of fancy
soaps, and some are hard as rocks and about as lathering. This soap
lathered beautifully each and every time I used it, sending fragrant
bubbles all over my hands..."
Valerie L. from Pennsylvania
***"Got the soap today. I gotta tell you your
soap is awesome."
Sue V. from Rhode Island
***"I keep meaning to write to let you know
how much I enjoy my soaps! ...Anyway, they smell great, the lather
is incredible, and I've even been using it instead of shaving cream
(great $$ saver). Thanks again! You are fantastic!"
dvorah_97@yahoo.com (D'Vorah)
*** "Once again...you're soap is wonderful...DH's(=dear
husband) first thought was--"You gonna cut that up tonight??"
when it came! *g* The one thing he doesn't get mad about when I
order online! *g*"
Christine |
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)