Soap

[Penticton mama]

I've been looking for a good soap recipe online and don't know what kind is the best. Some call for olive oil but I have really oily skin. won't that make me break out? same with lard?
What about Lye? What is it exactly? How much do you put in? can I use a lye product on my DD?
I bought some soap from Tami's Soapworks and LOVE them. I just can't afford to buy them all the time. So I have decided to make my own! With a little help.

Thanks
Erin

[KellyB]

From what I know of basic chemistry, oil actually cuts other oils, so don't discount olive oil.
Some people even wash their faces with it to treat oily skin, and it seems to work well about 90% of the time.
Sounds wrong, but works somehow...go figure...lol..

[moss]

when you make soap, the lye saponifies the oils, so when you're done, all you have is soap...no lye, no oils.

there are soapmaking instructions in the archives on the crafts forum. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=114069

in canada, you can buy lye at home hardware. http://millersoap.com/soap/GillettLye.JPEG <--it looks like this

some of my fave soapmaking links: http://www.soapcrafters.com/makebase.htm
http://www.millersoap.com/
http://www.soapnaturally.org/recindex.html#soap
http://www.greensense.com/soap_q_a.htm
http://www.pvsoap.com/recipes.htm
http://www.latherings.sugarplum.net/bb/

read thru the instructions for soapmaking very carefully before you attempt it. it's pretty straightforward, but some of the steps are potentially dangerous, so it's best to be cautious.

happy soaping!

[velcromom]

I really like the Miller's soap site, it has the best instructions IMHO. Do your research first, odds are you will find yourself with a new addiction soon.... !

[crissei]

If your interested in making your own soap:
I made a great soap last year that I love.
I can't remember the recipe but I think it was in the book "Raising Goats the Modern Way"
Lye can be very dangerous to work with so read as much as you can about it(Sodium Hydroxide is its proper name).
Im not sure how they make commercial lye but originally it was made by leaching water through wood ashes.
Sure you can use homemade soap on your daughter (all true soap has lye in it) you just have to make sure that it is aged long enough.
Read about the actual soap-making process before working with a recipe so you know how to handle your ingredients safely. (sorry if if you knew that already) Actually I'm running low on my soap stash and I'm afraid to make more since I'm preggo. So that tells you a little bit about it's dangers. But you better belive, come April I'll be breaking out the soap pot and safety glasses!
About the oily skin thing, I have combination skin and have had no problem using my soap on the oily areas.It made my hair to greasy though.
I hope this helps.

[Penticton mama]

Thank you so much!!!

I don't know ANYTHING so all your information is wonderful!! Thanks!
I will check out that book. I really think making soap is somthing I could really get into. I was making cloth diapers but now my little girl is out of them. boohoo! I now have to find a new hobby!
Thank you everyone!
Erin

[JessicaS]

The best online resource for soapmaking is millersoap.com her recipes tend to have a lot of soft oils so may take a bit to cure. IMO the best soapmaking book for beginners is the handmade Soap book by Country Living. Simple clear instructions, simple basic recipes, good pictures and some really nice ideas.

Olive oil is considered moisturizing but you would probably not only use olive oil in soap, olive palm and coconut are the main soaping oils but many many others are used as well. I have been making soap for about four years now.

Lye sap is perfectly safe, after cure there is no lye left in the soap.