Homemade Soap

We've all seen the ad campaigns for commercial soap brands that promise you the softest, loveliest, germ-free skin on the face of the earth. And how many of us have actually changed our soap brand to try out something new - based on the advertisement, just to end up being horribly disappointed.

Instead of going into the actual nitty-gritty of how you'd go about making your own soap, let's briefly discuss the benefits of making and using your own personal homemade soap.

• You control what goes into it, so you can make something that doesn't aggrivate or cause allergic reactions
  
• Glycerine is a byproduct of the production process ... and another yummy way of actually getting that amazing soft skin you've been looking for.
  
• The ingredients are fairly easy to find
  
• You can create a combination of scents that appeals to you personally
  
• It can be cheaper and more cost-effective than buying commercial versions.
  
• It makes a perfect gift
  

Let's look at a couple of the benefits in detail.

With the modern world we live in and the pollutants and other nasties that our skin is exposed to everyday, it's not surprising that many of us walk around with a skin sensitivity of some nature. For others, there is the very real irritation of being allergic to certain things. Now if you're like me ... buying commercial soap is like sticking your hand into a lucky packet and hoping like hell that whatever you pull out of there is not going to cause you harm. It could be something as simple as the colourant used, or one of the main foaming ingredients that causes dryness, itchiness and even hives (if the reaction is severe). So - enter the homemade soap. You control what colourants and scents go into it, which oils and which other ingredients, so you ensure that you avoid anything that you have a known sensitivity to. It also allows you to experiment with different forumlations so that you can create a customised perfect soap that leaves your skin feeling glorious.

Sounds yummy, doesn't it?

With a bit of tinkering once you've mastered the basic art of soap-making, you can allow your creativity free-reign. There are many molds available today that allows you to shape and form your home-made soap into something more than just a bar - think roses, hearts, leaves ... you name it, there's probably a mold out there somewhere.

Not only in shape, but in ingredients you can have a field day with combining various essential oils into a fragrance that can be a signature one for your creations. Think Chanel No.5 - but your style. Perhaps you'd like something that's anti-bacterial. Well, just add a couple of drops of Teatree oil and you've incorporated a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal agent into your daily beauty routine. It sure beats paying extra for the shop-bought versions.

The main ingredients that go into making home-made soap are:

• Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) otherwise known as Lye
  
• Animal or Plant fats of some nature.
  
• Various oils
  

That's it. These ingredients can be found at a local supermarket and shouldn't put you out of pocket too much, unless of course you're going for the more refined oils and expensive fats. Adding various oils for softness, scent or even dried flower petals allow you to make something lovely and unique. And it's a perfect gift for those special occasions. What's more endearing than something made with love.

Glycerine is a by-product of the soap making process. It's a humectant, which means it attracts moisture to your skin. Most commercial companies extract this out of the soap in order to sell it as a different product. Well, you can use this as an all-over skin-softener, especially during the dry winter months.

One last thing ... you can even go as far as selling your home-made soap varieties at local home produce markets. So what might have been a hobby could rapidly become a way for you to generate additional income.

Well, there you have it. A quick guide to why home-made soap is worth it.

Safety First:

* If any Lye comes into contact with your skin you should immediately rinse it with vinegar and then with cold water.
* Always make sure that the room is adequately ventilated.
* Always wear eye protection goggles (The goggles should preferrably seal eyes in the same manner as swimming goggles would).
* Always use chemical-resistant gloves.
* DO NOT SWALLOW. Lye can be fatal if swallowed. If ingested do not induce vomiting. Go to the emergency room immediately!
* Keep Lye and any essential oils out of reach of children. Keep it in a locked cabinet and NEVER leave it unattended for one second once you start using it.
* Lye has very strong fumes, so ALWAYS wear a safety mask that covers your mouth and nose.
* Wear an chemical resistant or rubber apron when working with Lye to protect your skin and your clothes.
* If Lye spills on your counter tops you should immediately wash it off, because it can remove paint and varnishes.
* ALWAYS KEEP AWAY FROM PETS, CHILDREN and anyone else NOT COMPETENT to work with Lye.

Containers:
* Always keep your Lye in an air tight container.
* Use safe containers like glass, enamel, plastic and stainless steel.