
Most of us were taught from a young age that teeth hygiene is very important. When plaque builds up on your teeth it can lead to bad breath, bleeding gums and some studies surmise that plaque build-up, if left untreated, can…
Natural soap is much better for your skin than the mass-produced types commonly found in supermarkets, as they’re free from artificial chemical substances. When you use a natural, mild soap your skin will reap the rewards of greater dermatological benefits – things such as better hydration, more nutrition because of the natural oils, a proper pH balance, suppleness, elasticity and an amazingly antioxidant and toning effect!
Perhaps you’ve already had a go at making natural soap at home with oils, lye and glycerine. No? Well, if you have never tried and would like to know how to produce a handmade soap that will brilliantly enrich your skin, bookmark this article now. You won’t regret it. This deliciously scented, healthy soap would make a great gift for your friends and family, too. Eager to try? Let’s go!
There are thousands of types of natural soaps. Each one has certain specific properties, making it easy for you to know what you want to use it for. Let’s do a small review first. Natural soaps can include:
Here’s a simple recipe for aloe and agave soap to get you started. You’ll love it because it’s not too difficult to make and it’s very gentle for your skin. When you combine these two nutritional powerhouses – aloe and agave – you get an unbeatable team for dermatologic regeneration. They work together to keep your skin healthy, hydrated and glowing. This soap will also suit the entire family!
Now, for the recipe. We use glycerin in this soap because it’s easy to incorporate and makes a high quality, moisturising soap. There are other, more complicated methods involving ingredients such as leftover oil you may have round the house. However, this normally also requires that you add caustic soda, or lye (sodium hydroxide), which – as the name suggests – is quite a dangerous element and can harm you when you handle it. For the purposes of this instruction, we’ll stick with the easy way to ensure your complete success and safety.
You will need:
1. Put the two glycerin soap bars into the glass bowl and place it in the microwave straight away. Melt it on a medium-high setting, but keep a watchful eye on the mixture. It shouldn’t take more than 3 or 4 minutes.
2. Next, put the aloe (aloe vera) pulp in the bowl with the four spoonfuls of agave nectar and the lemon zest.
3. Heat a small amount of olive oil, but only to lukewarm. It shouldn’t be burning hot, as it will lose its beneficial properties when overheated.
4. Time to blend! Whisk the mixture with your electric whisk or blending wand on low whilst adding the warm oil bit by bit as you go. You’ll soon see the mixture become a lovely-smelling, brightly-coloured dough.
5. Now, put the dough in a pre-prepared mould. The mould you’ve chosen should be plastic and should be the shape that you want your soap to be. A square or a rectangle would be the most obvious choice, but you can let your imagination run wild here. Pour in the dough until there are a few extra centimetres remaining in your container. This will make the removal of the finished product easier.
6. Next, put your mould (with the dough in it!) in the refrigerator so that it can set. How long does it need to stay in the fridge? One day should be sufficient. Once it’s set, you can remove it from the mould and cut it into smaller bars for daily use. Don’t forget: