Myth: Soap Labels Aren’t Regulated

So you have been making soap for along time. The people you given it out to....love it\and say that you should sell your soap.  You may have beard that you can put what ever you want on your soap label because is not regulated.  According to Marie Gale that particular myth got started because of the soap exemption in the FDA's definition of  "cosmetic" which is "A product, except soap, intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or alternating the appearance." That maybe true but there are other regulations that apply to labeling soap.  So before you start creating your labels for your soap, I would suggest reading Marie Gale's post called Myth:  Soap Labels Aren't Regulated.

Honey Bee Funnel Pour Cold Process Tutorial

Have you ever done the funnel pour technique with your cold process soap recipe?  The Soap Queen has a video embedded in her recipe for Honey Bee Funnel Pour.  But if have already done it then you would know how to create this project.  This cold process soap recipe is inspired by the yellow and black stripes on a bee.  Then it it topped with a fluffy cold process frosting and a golden melt and pour honey drizzle. Doesn't this sound heavenly?  Want to give it a try?

Monster-Be-Gone Magic Spray

Parents, do you have problems getting your children to bed because they are afraid of monsters?  You probably have told them that there are no monsters, but help is on the way....Why not spray them away?  If you make this recipe from the Soap Queen called Monster-Be-Gone Magic Spray, you can spray them away.  Once you make this recipe, you spray each night before bedtime can help your child conquer their fear of the dark and the scary things that go bump in the night.

DIY: Herbal Soap Making From Scratch

Did you know that industrial soap companies remove the glycerin from soap in order to produce bars that are firmer and longer lasting?  It is true.  According to The Mountain Rose Blog, glycerin occurs naturally during the soap making process,providing a moisturizing quality to soap.  If you make your own soap, the glycerin is retained which makes the soap more gentler and more moisturizing to the skin than the store bought soap.  A good tip is that handcrafted soap should be placed on a well-draining surface and not left standing water where it will quickly dissolve.  The Mountain Rose Herb Blog recently posted a recipe in their posted titled DIY: Herbal Soap Making From Scratch.

Lavender Chamomile Lotion

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Love to make lotion?  Here is a lovely combination of really cool ingredients which include avocado and jojoba oils. Plus the combination of lavender, chamomile, carrot seed, geranium and frankincense essential oils. Wondering what this recipe is?  It is called Lavender Chamomile Lotion from Lovin' Soap Studio. Once you complete this recipe, you should be able to fill eight - four ounce bottles.

How to Infuse Oils with a Crock-Pot

I have only infused an oil in a crock pot once.  I infused some oil with lavender to make a body balm and it worked out really well. I have been thinking of doing this for future cold process soap recipes. If you want to learn how to do this, then check out the recent posting from The Soap Queen called How to Infuse Oils with a Crock Pot.

TUTORIAL: RAINBOW ELEMENTAL SWIRL/DOUBLE IN-THE-POT-SWIRL SOAP

I love the idea of the In The Pot Swirl Technique for cold process soaps.  In my first attempt I did one color but this project from ModernSoapmaking is a Double In-The-Pot Swirl and it is really cool looking,  In a recent post, ModernSoapMaking shared this tutorial called Rainbow Elemental Swirl/Double In-The Pot-Swirl Soap.  I would like to try this technique but not at the moment.  I would definitely want to practice with a smaller number of colors and then graduate to this.  For the more experienced cold process soapmakers, I thought this was a really cool technique to try.

Natural Cleaning: DIY Toilet Bombs

Are you trying to cut out toxic chemicals from your cleaning regime?  There are a few areas that it can be tough to feel confident in cleanliness with homemade cleaning options.  The bathroom is a perfect example that we have been condition to think we need to use strong bacteria killing, disinfecting chemicals.

A few years ago I tried to use this commercial brand of solid toilet cleaner.  I was not impressed.  Recently, I found this recipe from The Mountain Rose Blog called Natural Cleaning:  DIY Toilet Bombs, they are supposed be packed full of strong cleaning power. Making these toilet bombs are similiar to making bath bombs but there is additional ingredients to make them cleaning your toilet bowl. Think I will give them a try.  How about you?

Spring Room Spray

Even though spring is almost over, would it be nice to bring in a little springtime anytime of the year?  Why not try this recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Spring Room Spray.  This recipe can be sprayed on your silk or dried flowers to fresh them up.  It is a very easy recipe which starts out with a body splash spray mixture and you add some colorant and fragrance. It should take you only a half hour to make four (8) ounce bottles.

How to Avoid Burnt Melt & Pour

Making soap by the melt and pour method is great for beginners.  It is the first technique I learned before I got on bandwagon of making my own bath and body products.  What is great about this method is that you do not have to work with lye, easy to customize color and fragrances plus once it hardens you can use it immediately.  Even though it is considered an easy project, it can be finicky when it comes to temperature.  Would you believe that if the melt and pour base gets too hot, it will burn and become difficult to work with.  If you are new to melt and pour soap making and want to learn about not burning your melt and pour bases, then I suggest you read the posting from the Soap Queen called How to Avoid Burnt Melt and Pour.

Walnut Facial Scrub for Men

Men like no fuss to their bath and beauty products.  Most of them probably do not think of facial scrubs, but here is a recipe from The Soap Queen called Walnut Facial Scrub that foots the bill.

Sherbet Surprise Bath Fizzies

Love bath fizzies? Do you think that you cannot make bath fizzies any more special?  Here is a recipe from The Soap Queen called Sherbet Surprise Bath Fizzies that has a special surprise in the middle.  Would you believe that this recipe was a guest post by Holly Port who wrote the book, Make it Fizz: A Guide to Making Bathtub Treats. I have this book and I have not tried any of the recipes but I am planning to try some really soon.

Mango Papaya Sugar Scrub

Do you love to use sugar scrubs while you take a shower?  Would you believe that making a sugar scrub is really easy to make?  Yes, it is.  Just take a look at this Mango Papaya Sugar Scrub recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus.  It contains moisturizing oils and accompanying exfoliants that are infused with the aroma of papaya and mangoes.

Electric Lemonade Column Pour Tutorial

Have you ever tried doing the column pour technique before? It involves pouring layers of soap on top of a column shaped tool.  As more layers are poured, the soap spreads through out the mold creating more fun patterns depending on the shape of your column tool.  This advanced project  called Electric Lemonade Column Pour Tutorial from The Soap Queen looks really cool and I will have to try it sometime.  It yields about 12 pounds of soap.

How to Store Handmade Bath Products

If you are new to making bath and body products or new to make one particular product and you are wondering what the tips and tricks to storing the products you made?  I found a posting from The Soap Queen called How to Store Handmade Bath Products.  This posting covers how to store the following items:  Cold Process Soap, Melt and Pour Soap, Bath Bombs, Lotions, Balms, and Scrubs. There is also an video episode on packaging.  This is surely something not to miss.

Dry Shampoo Tutorial

I have heard of dry shampoo before and I think may have used it once when I was younger (when was a child).  I remember not liking it every much.  If you have not heard, California is experiencing a severe drought. As a California resident I have been thinking of ways to save water. Maybe it is time to rethink of using a dry shampoo every other day to save on water.  The Soap Queen has recently posted a recipe for Dry Shampoo.  It looks like a very easy recipe to make which makes me think of giving it a try.

Tequila Sunrise MP Loaf Soap

It has been a long time since I had a Tequila Sunrise but when I saw this melt and pour soap project from Wholesale Supplies Plus, it brought back memories.  Whether you like the drink or not, this soap does look like a beautiful sunset from any beach.  If you would like to learn how to make this Tequila Sunrise MP Loaf Soap, check out it on on the Wholesale Supplies Website.

Coconut Banana Lip Balm Recipe

Is Banana Creme Pie your favorite dessert?  Well, I found a lip balm recipe on Wholesale Supplies Plus called Coconut Banana Lip Balm.  This is a highly nourishing tropical lip balm goes on clean and provides long lasting moisture at any time of the day.  It is a very easy project to make.  A half hour is all it takes to get (10) .15 ounce lip tubes.

Apricot Mango Lip Shimmer

Do you like to wear lip shimmer?  I know how to make a lip tint so I am sure it is the same thing.  But I do agree with the author of the recipe that adding Mica colors to lip balms is the color tends to be more sheer.  The author recommends adding liquid lecthin.  At any rate if you would like to learn how to make lip shimmer, check out The Natural Beauty Workshop's Apricot Mango Lip Shimmer recipe.

Goat Milk & Oatmeal Cold Process Soap Tutorial

Goat's milk may be the most popular type of milk that is used for cold process soap making.  Most of the recipes I have seen have used goat's milk.  According to the Soap Queen, goat's milk is moisturizing and nourishing, contains lactic acid which helps keep skin smooth by naturally exfoliating the skin.  Would you like to see a recipe that uses goat's milk? Goat Milk and Oatmeal Cold Process Soap Tutorial from The Soap Queen is a good place to start.

How to Make Naturally Tinted Lip Gloss

Do you wear tinted lip gloss?  Would you believe that it is really easy to make? Well, it is.  I did take a class at The Nova Studio but I found this recipe from The Mountain Rose called How to Make Naturally Tinted Lip Gloss.  Just to let you know that this recipe will not color your lips, but it will provide a silky shine with a pink to natural hue that will make your lips look and feel fantastic.

Oat Oil Cleansers for Dry & Oily Skin

Have you ever heard of cleansing your skin with oil cleansers?  To be honest, I never have. Plus since I have oil skin, I never thought of going this route and I am not sure if I should try.  But The Soap Queen was skeptical herself and she says that cleansing with oil leaves her skin feeling clean and extremely soft. In a recent blog post called Oil Cleansers for Dry and Oily Skin, The Soap Queen discusses how to use this type of cleanser, a recipe and more!

Creamy Cow Milk Cold Process Tutorial

Cold Process Soap makers - have you ever tried using milk in a soap recipe before?  Instead of using water with your lye, you use milk.  I know that sounds strange but in this recipe from The Soap Queen called Creamy Cow Milk Cold Process.  Using goat's milk is more popular but if you use whole cows milk it can add extra moisture and skin-loving properties.