DIY Cold Process Swirl Soap Tutorial

Spoon swirling is a very simple technique with a big impact. In this tutorial, I will show you exactly how easy it is to create this soap using spoon and two colors.

Ingridients:
Olive Oil ~ 7.9 oz (225 g)
Coconut Oil ~ 4.4 oz (125 g)
Avocado Oil ~ 1.8 oz (50 g)
Cocoa Butter ~ 1.8 oz (50 g)
Shea Butter ~ 1.8 oz (50 g)
Alkanet root powder 1 ¼ tbs
Lye (3% superfatted) ~ 2.51 oz (71.4 g)
Water ~ 5.3 oz (150 ml)

Additives:
Jojoba Oil ~ 0.53 oz (15 g)
Lavender and Orange essential oils ~ 0.4 oz (12 g)

Colour preparations: Infuse the oil of your choice (I use Olive oil) with Alkanet root powder.

To create this soap you will need to follow my basic cold process soapmaking tutorial. Melt your oils, add the lye and stick blend it like you would with any basic batch of soap. At the end of your trace, add extra oils (superfat your soap) and essential oils of your choice. You want a strong trace so that the soap is close to a pudding consistency. It should be thick, but still slide off the spoon easily.

Directions:
1. Pour a small amount of the soap into the separate container and mix it with your infused (colored) oil.

2. Pour one layer of your base (uncoloured) soap into the bottom of a mold.

3. Here's where your artistry comes in. Use the spoon to scoop out the purple colored soap and holding the spoon close to the yellow layer, allow the soap to gently slide off the spoon onto the first layer. The soap should not completely cover the previous layer.

4. Distribute the remains of your base soap as a third and final layer.

5. I dotted the surface with colored soap and then dragged a toothpick through the dots to make swirly designs.

 

 

6. Pop out after 3 to 5 days, cut it in bars and allow to sit for a full 4 to 6 weeks to cure and finish the saponification process. Recipe yields approximately 4 bars of soap, 4.5 oz (~ 125 g) each.

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DIY Cold Process Soap
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DIY Cold Process Swirl Soap Tutorial 
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DIY sunblock recipe, make your own Sunscreen oil - natural skin care product

I love making natural skin care products and most of beauty products in my home are made by me. So off course now when the spring is finally here and vacation season is approaching it is time to make my own homemade natural sunscreen oil. The basic rule for sunscreen oil is carrier oil that has its own natural SPF properties + sunblocking agent (zinc oxide or titanium oxide) and then some extras of your choice. I usually use whatever oils I have at home for the moment but I prefer combination of Sesame oil, Jojoba oil and Avocado oil (70%, 20% and 10%).

Here are some good carrier oils for the recipe: Sesame oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba oil, Hemp oil, Avocado oil, Soybean, and Peanut Oil. All contain SPF levels between 4-10.

Ingredients:
135 ml (~ 4,5 oz) Oil blend (use any combination of the oils listed above)
15 ml (~ 0,5 oz) Zinc oxide (non-nanoparticle)
3 ml (~1/2 tsp) Vitamin E
10-20 drops of Lavender essential oil (or your own choice)

I prefer to mix a small part of my oil mix and oxides before mixing the sunscreen. If you wish to do as me, wearing your gloves and mask, carefully measure zinc oxide or titanium oxide into your blending container. Add approximately ¼ of the oil blend and mixture to the powder, blend well. Continue blending until the powder is thoroughly mixed with oil. Transfer the oil/oxide mix into the new container. Add the rest of the oil mix, Vitamin E, essential oil for scent and shake your container/bottle until everything is thoroughly mixed together. You can also combine everything in your blender from the start, and blend until well mixed.

Transfer the finished sunscreen into the smaller containers of your choice. Recipe yields approximately 150 ml (~ 5 oz) of product.

Notes:

* This recipe contains zinc oxide at 10% which gives it a SPF of around 6-11. See the chart below to reduce or increase the amount of zinc oxide/titanium oxide based on your family’s needs. Make sure not to inhale the zinc oxide/titanium oxide, use a mask if necessary!

* Beneficial, sun protecting essential oils include lavender, myrrh, carrot seed oil, and peppermint.

* Avoid using citrus essential oils, such as bergamot, orange, lemon or lime. They may cause unpleasant skin reactions when exposed to the sun. They also reduce a sunscreen's effectiveness.

* When using this oil you will get a soft white tint on your skin from zinc/titanium oxide. If you wish to make it less visible, add some iron oxides or cacao powder.

* Be aware of the shelf life of products made without preservatives. The beauty (and simplicity) of making your own product is that you don't have to adhere to the stringent industry guidelines of manufacturing to lengthen the shelf life. Simply make enough to be used within a short period of time.

* This is the recipe that I have used for my family for years with great results. However, I cannot guarantee that yours will be the same experience because it has not been tested in an FDA/ EMA approved lab. In other words, by sharing this recipe with you, I hope you understand that I will not be held responsible for any adverse reactions, sunburns, or skin cancers.

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Tutorial - How to Make Homemade Cold Process Lavender Soap with Shea Butter

I’ve been promising to post a recipe of homemade soap, so here is my own recipe of handmade cold process soap scented with Lavender and Patchouli 100% essential oils, which is especially good for dry skin.

Equipment:· 2 mixing bowls, preferably stainless steel or tempered glass
· A cake mixer or a blender.
· A thermometer, scale and a rubber spatula
· Several measuring cups and spoons
· A microwave or a stove top (clean is good, sterile not necessary)
· Container/mold with cover
· Lots of paper towels
· Rubber gloves and safety glasses

Ingridients:
Olive Oil ~ 7.9 oz (225 g)
Coconut Oil ~ 4.4 oz (125 g)
Rice Bran Oil ~ 1.8 oz (50 g)
Cocoa Butter ~ 1.8 oz (50 g)
Shea Butter ~ 1.8 oz (50 g)
Alkanet root powder 1 ¼ tbs

Lye (3% superfatted) ~ 2.51 oz (71.2 g)
Water ~ 5.3 oz (150 g)

Additives:
Jojoba Oil ~ 0.53 oz (15 g)
Lavender and Patchouli essential oils ~ 0.4 oz (12 g)

Directions:
1. Suit up in safety goggles, gloves and long sleeves.

2. Add the lye to the water. Stir well taking precautions to not breathe in the fumes. Set the mixture to the side and allow it to cool to approximately 110F (~45°C ). You can put the lye water mixture outside if you are not in a well ventilated area.

3. Add all your fats and oils together and melt. Allow them to cool to approximately 110F, or within 5 degrees of the lye water.

 

Since I only use natural colorants, I had to prepare my Olive oil with Alkanet root powder in advance, hence the deep purple color of my oil mix.

4. Add the lye water mixture to the melted oils, carefully. Stir vigorously until trace occurs. Trace looks like a thin pudding. A stick blender will help speed trace along.

 

5. At the end of your trace, add extra oils (superfat your soap) and essential oils of your choice.

 

6. Pour your traced soap mixture into your molds.

 

7. Pop out after 3 to 5 days, cut it in bars and allow to sit for a full 4 to 6 weeks to cure and finish the saponification process. Recipe yields approximately 4 bars of soap, 4.5 oz (~ 125 g) each.

More of my DIY Homemade Beauty Recipes