Why I Love my own soap
And I hope you love it too!
Many years ago I started having problems with allergic reactions to soaps I had been purchasing from the store. I started buying more natural products at Whole Foods then found farmer's markets where soap was made by hand. I used several types of natural soaps during a three year period and found some I liked and some I didn't. That's when I discovered we each have preferences and needs when it comes to soap. For me I want a full rich lather (one that can stand up in peaks in your hand) that leaves a layer of moisturizing behind at the end of the rinse. I appreciate a soap that has botanicals in it to help keep my skin balanced as well as provide a more natural clean feeling at the end of my shower or bath. I like a soap that doesn't leave a lot of debris or scum on my tub and shower walls so I don't have to clean as much on my day off. After several years I think I have found my perfect base recipe. I hope it will become your favorite soap.
In 2014 I found myself having two knee surgeries and a lot of time lying around recuperating. I started watching videos on YouTube showing how to make soap. They were rather addicting with all the talk about chemical reactions, saponification, bringing the mixture to "trace" and detailed demonstrations about pouring. As a younger woman I attended Culinary school, my special love was Pastry with all the math and chemistry involved. The part of my brain that used to do Pastry work was intrigued and I kept going back to the videos over and over, almost like an addiction.
So I went to a local soap shop that provided a class on basics of soap making using a product called Melt and Pour. But when I used the product I didn't like the effects on my skin. I went back to YouTube and started looking into soap making called Cold Process, where oils are measured and calculated into a solution of Lye Water, mixed together and over a period of days to weeks becomes soap. I was fascinated! So I bought some ingredients and followed a simple recipe, using a whisk and parchment lined shoe box lid made my first batch. It came out PERFECTLY! Or so I though. By the time it dried it was scratchy and didn't have much lather. So it was back to the drawing board. I bought some books, talked with some people that made soap, watched a friend do it and tried again. It took several failed batches before I found the soap I was looking for once all the process finished. Cold Process soaps take 6 weeks to be finished and often the end product doesn't resemble your idea or even what it looked like the day after you poured it. I've also made a special effort to only use natural ingredients so I find many of my best creations fade in color in about 6 months due to denaturing of the ingredients.
Speaking of ingredients, I've spent numerous hours trying to find the most natural ingredients. I have researched my providers carefully to make sure they are obtaining oils from sustainable sources and they are as organic as can be found for their type. Most of the oils used come from small foreign countries that will label items organic when there is little to no regulations in their countries. That said I rarely use the organic word when discussing my products but know I use only the safest ingredients.
Shea Butter has always been one of my favorite products to use on my skin. So I started developing a recipe using this as my base ingredient. Shea Butter provides it's own challenges because it doesn't completely saponify into the lye, thus leaving a large amount loose in the bar. Because of this most soap makers use only 3-8% in their soaps and then prominently display on their label it is a main ingredient. Not ME!
Shea Butter is solid at room temperature it has a relatively low melting point of around 100*F so the big challenge for me was to see how high a percentage of Shea Butter I could get into a soap bar that didn't turn to mush as soon as it got warm or wet. After many failed attempts I was turning out batches of what I call my Bar Soap that was 16% Shea Butter, more than double what most soap makers use! After more changes to my basic recipe I developed what I call my Facial Soap that is 23% Shea Butter! I believe this is the most Shea Butter in any soap being marketed today and it leaves an incredible soft feeling to your skin after washing. I rarely need lotion here in Florida after a shower with my facial soap!
Each of the soaps I have developed have a purpose. I infuse Chamomile, Lavender and Lemongrass botanicals into the Coconut Oil used in the infused soaps. Chamomile is anti-inflammatory, helps fade dark spots and reduces scarring from acne. Lavender is shown to reduce scaring and tighten pores for a finer appearance of the skin. Lemongrass tightens the skin like a toner thus reducing fine lines. By infusing the botanicals into my soaps as well as using high grade essential oils the user often sees better results than a soap made with just essential oils.
My goat milk line was developed for my friends with fair and delicate skin. I currently make it with infused Chamomile or Lavender oils as well as the Unfragranced Line. Only the gentlest of Essential Oils for this line because it is for delicate skin. The lather in this soap isn't quite as thick as my regular lines because of the goat milk, but the finished pH is lower which is why it is gentler on skin.
The Unfragranced line is simply that. My base soaps with no fragrance or colors added. Pure saponified oils do have a distinct fragrance of their own that is not unpleasant. Because I use all natural products, the goat milk version sometimes colors to a light brown due to the natural sugars caramelizing during the saponification process. This is a natural occurrence and does not change the way the soap will work or lather.
My favorite line is truly made with love. I have friends that approached me with special needs. Acne, extra dry skin, mild psoriasis, folliculitis, eczema and other minor skin inconveniences. Many wanted an all natural product that would reduce bacteria as well. With much research into botanicals and essential oils I developed my Refreshing Oil Blend Soaps. This is my most popular selling soap. It comes in both Bath Bars and Facial Soap. It contains a large quantity of Peppermint, Rosemary and Tea Tree Essential Oils to refresh skin, decrease bacteria, fungus, and decrease clogged pores. I also contains Activated Charcoal and Comfrey Leaf swirled into the soap to draw up impurities and help heal open skin. A small bit of Titanium Dioxide is used in the base soap to lighten the color of the soap and brighten skin. This soap is also available as our SPORT SOAP with added MENTHOL which does leave a tingle behind!
Activated Charcoal Facial Soap was developed to draw impurities to the surface of the skin. It has a large amount of Activated Charcoal with Peppermint and Bergamont Essential Oils to help the process. During the initial phase of use it can lead to what appears to be more break outs, but it is actually pulling impurities to the surface. With continued use it can help clear up break outs of black heads and acne. This soap works best if the lather is applied to the skin surface with a cloth using a gentle circular motion for 30-60 seconds before rinsing.
I hope this answers some of the questions I can't answer in person. Feel free to contact us with any other questions, thoughts, or ideas through our email: sales@gonewildsoap.com
Thank you for reading,
Rhea Terdal