If you have sensitive or problem skin, buying soap can be a nightmare. Most of the soaps available in the stores contain an array of harsh chemicals that can wreak havoc on your skin. An easy solution is to make natural goats milk soap at home, in the comfort of your own kitchen.
You will find different recipes and many of these are available online. The best ones use nothing more than fresh or powdered goats milk, some oils and lye. For the oils, choose some that will nourish and moisturize your skin. These include olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil, rice bran oil and cocoa or shea butter. If you want to make a scented soap, you can also add a blend of essential oils, such as tea tree, lavender, ylang ylang, rose or orange. Most essential oils also have properties that are therapeutic.
The first step is to mix the lye with the milk to start a process called saponification. This is the chemical reaction between an alkali and fats. Sprinkle the lye bit by bit over the milk and mix it. You'll need to wear rubber gloves and take care though because lye can burn your skin. It's a good idea to keep the mixture in an ice bath to keep it cool.
Now you need to prepare the oil mixture. Cocoa and shea butter and certain oils, especially coconut oil, are solid so you need to slowly and carefully melt them on the stove, in the microwave or even in the sun. When they are melted, blend in all the other oils as well.
The next step is to blend the oils with the mixture of lye. Use a whisk or a spoon to stir everything together and get rid of lumps. At some point, which in soap-making circles is called trace, the mixture will emulsify. This means that it has reached the point where it won't separate.
When your soap has reached trace, you can pour it into molds. There are many different shapes available, including loaf shapes and spheres that you can buy from craft stores. Use molds that have been cooled in the fridge so that the soap won't heat up. Smaller molds are better for keeping the soap mixture cool.
For the next 24 hours, let the molded mixture set. Then remove the solid shapes and if they are too big, slice them into the size you want. They now need to cure for a minimum of four weeks, after which you can wrap them in the paper of your choice or simply tie colorful ribbons around them.
Homemade goats milk soap has several benefits. Because it doesn't have any harmful chemicals in it, it will be gentle and moisturizing rather than drying. In fact, it's great for treating redness, itchiness, eczema and acne. Because it lathers into a creamy foam, it makes a great shaving soap too. Best of all is that it makes unique, special gifts.
You will find different recipes and many of these are available online. The best ones use nothing more than fresh or powdered goats milk, some oils and lye. For the oils, choose some that will nourish and moisturize your skin. These include olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil, rice bran oil and cocoa or shea butter. If you want to make a scented soap, you can also add a blend of essential oils, such as tea tree, lavender, ylang ylang, rose or orange. Most essential oils also have properties that are therapeutic.
The first step is to mix the lye with the milk to start a process called saponification. This is the chemical reaction between an alkali and fats. Sprinkle the lye bit by bit over the milk and mix it. You'll need to wear rubber gloves and take care though because lye can burn your skin. It's a good idea to keep the mixture in an ice bath to keep it cool.
Now you need to prepare the oil mixture. Cocoa and shea butter and certain oils, especially coconut oil, are solid so you need to slowly and carefully melt them on the stove, in the microwave or even in the sun. When they are melted, blend in all the other oils as well.
The next step is to blend the oils with the mixture of lye. Use a whisk or a spoon to stir everything together and get rid of lumps. At some point, which in soap-making circles is called trace, the mixture will emulsify. This means that it has reached the point where it won't separate.
When your soap has reached trace, you can pour it into molds. There are many different shapes available, including loaf shapes and spheres that you can buy from craft stores. Use molds that have been cooled in the fridge so that the soap won't heat up. Smaller molds are better for keeping the soap mixture cool.
For the next 24 hours, let the molded mixture set. Then remove the solid shapes and if they are too big, slice them into the size you want. They now need to cure for a minimum of four weeks, after which you can wrap them in the paper of your choice or simply tie colorful ribbons around them.
Homemade goats milk soap has several benefits. Because it doesn't have any harmful chemicals in it, it will be gentle and moisturizing rather than drying. In fact, it's great for treating redness, itchiness, eczema and acne. Because it lathers into a creamy foam, it makes a great shaving soap too. Best of all is that it makes unique, special gifts.
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Find an overview of the benefits of using natural goats milk soap and view our selection of natural skin care products at http://mountainworks.ca now.
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