For many people, selecting the particular soap you apply on the skin will not be an important everyday decision. But if you think about it, you will find out how it should be.

Choosing a good soap that will be able to clean, pamper and renew our skin, is mild and gentle, and smells good altogether may be a little tough. However, if you invest time to do so will surely be worth it in the end.

The skin is undoubtedly precious to us, in more ways than one. One of the best ways for us to maintain it and keep it most healthy is to use only the soap that it truly deserves. It is only in using pure natural soap that our give our skin the opportunity to have the best nutrients and ingredients.

You can try reading labels of ordinary soap bars found in your favorite beauty shop or supermarket. Can you even understand what these strange sounding ingredients are and why they were put there? Chances are, you don't. But you may have an inkling that most of these ingredients are not natural, and that might be a big probability that they will be harsh on the skin.

Lathering pure natural soap is surely luxurious on your skin. It can enrich and pamper the skin in the best way, containing only the best vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

There are a wide number of natural soap recipes widely available. This includes organic soap recipes made out of goat's milk, citrus to lemongrass, brown sugar to honey and shea butter to olive oil. These contain very important nutrients, enzymes and amino acids which are all able to enhance the skin. These components are also very gentle not only on the skin, but on the environment at the same time.

Pure natural soap is free from harmful chemicals and possible even toxins which can quicken aging. With natural soap, you can enrich and revitalize your skin and slow down the process of aging. Homemade soaps can also prevent the occurrences of dark spots and skin thickening. It may also aid in collagen fiber reconstruction, retention of moisture and in keeping skin elasticity.

Making organic soaps have now been made easiest and most convenient. The process is not very time consuming or tedious. You can even use tools, equipment and ingredients that you can find at the kitchen.

There is no better time than now to start properly nourishing your skin by using pure organic soap. This may not be one of our important everyday decisions. However, choosing to go natural might just be one of the right decisions you will ever make now.

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If not then where is the cheapest place to find them?
Where can I buy the melt and pour bars or can you make your own somehow?

probably not - craft stores - and consider the candy and candle molds, too for fun/different mini soaps

I got a soap-making kit and I made up the soaps for people for Christmas this year. I made it several weeks ago to let it cure but I haven't sliced it up yet. The instructions didn't give any suggestions; they just said to cut the finished loaf into 3/4 inch bars.
Do I just use a sharp knife? Do I want to chill the soap first? I don't know and I can't find anything online. I was wondering if any of you had experience with this and could give me suggestions.

I have made soap for many years and started with melt and pour, so have some experience with it.

You shouldn't chill the block of soap, but just have it at room temperature. There are special soap cutters that have very thin blades to use, but you can just cut it with a sharp knife. Use one with a thin blade that doesn't get thicker at the top (as you are looking at it from the top when it is ready to push down through the loaf). A knife that is too thick at the top of the blade can cause the bar to shatter as you cut.

Set your soap loaf on a cutting board and put the knife on top. Use both hands to push the knife down, keeping your fingers out of the way. Wrap it in something like Handi-Wrap as soon as possible since glycerine soap can "weep" and be really messy.

That's all there is to it. This type of soap doesn't have to cure like other types of handmade soap does, so it is ready to enjoy!

Hope this helps!

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The Natural Soap Book: Making Herbal and Vegetable-based Soaps

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Image taken on 2006-07-20 13:49:07 by igloowhite.

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Unlike before, a lot of supply stores are now stocking a lot of ingredients for soap making. Hardware stores now sell fragrances and colorants for the said hobby. For those who want to go the traditional way, the supermarket and specialty shops are good places to find these ingredients.

Fats

Animal fats are easier to find as a lot of butcher shops and supermarket meat sections have excesses of them. The best time to go is in the afternoon where a lot of meats have already been shaved off their fat. Fat drippings when cooking can also be saved. Pig lard or Cow Tallow, usually called hard fat, produces a course and hard type of soap that produces little suds. Still, it'd be nice to experiment with the effect just for curiosity's sake or to increase one's knowledge in soap making.

Vegetable or plant based oils can usually be found at the supermarket. Vegetable oil, coconut oil and olive oil are readily available. If not, specialty stores or organic stores also keep them in storage. Healthy Options have a wide variety of selections when it comes to oils. Even the hard to find Castor oil is usually in stock at organic stores like Healthy Options.

For ingredients which aren't readily available, hobbyists should not be dismayed. Oils can easily be substituted with other oils. For beginning hobbyists, you might not be able to tell the difference but professionals will note the change in quality. Still, substitution is good for purposes of practicing the craft. Coconut oil can be substituted with Soybean or Canola oil. For Sunflower oil, canola oil can be substitute.

Lye

Sodium Hydroxide, although corrosive, is usually an easy chemical to find. Since it is largely used in a lot of food or soap products, it can be found in chemical stores or specialty craft stores. It is usually known as Caustic Soda (or 100% Sodium Hydroxide). Since it can irritate the skin and can prove fatal for those who don't know how to use it, some stores will usually ask for identification or ask questions concerning the purposes of purchase. Hardware stores carry lye.

Additives

Fragrances, essential oils and colorants are easy to find. They can be found at the local chemical store, drug stores, craft stores, aromatherapy stores or even groceries. Food coloring used as colorant can be found in the grocery.

For serious hobbyists, the most effective tool for finding ingredients is the Internet. Google in 'Soap Making' ingredients and over 10,000 results will pop through. Online forums with other hobbyists can help you find prior discussions on where to find these things in your local setting. Mail order companies usually have a website now anyway so these things are made more convenient to find for hobbyists.

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Essential oils, dyes, sodium hydroxide, etc. Is there a single source or do I have to go running all over creation?

I'd try calling your local craft stores to see if they have what you're looking for. You could also try searching online. Not sure what area you're in, but found one place you might like. Good Luck! : )

im looking to make soap on a rope and ones ive seen in soaps are either novelty or expensive for a tiny thing!
coudl i melt soap bought soap down and then reset it with 'rope' set it in or do i need the proper soap making kits?
SHOP bought soap!! sorry!
also dont want to buy melt and pour kits and have searched myself on google and all that comes up is special stuff! i want to know if i can use tescos own brand of soap to make my own funky one!!! thanks

yes you can melt shop bought soap for your own designs but it does cause fumes when melting the soap

where can I find it

Depends on where you live,if you live near the Bead Man,there.
Look for a Pipe Shop. Google it,Google Earth works too.
Pipe Shops often sell incense and body oils so that's where I go.