Image from MarthaStewart.com
Sometimes finding the right beauty products (or even simply the right handsoap!) can be challenging. With so many harmful chemicals and preservatives in everything from laundry soap to lip gloss, sometimes the only way to get what you want is to make it yourself. Luckily, there are some really simple recipes out there that will not only save you from exposure to parabens, phthaltates, and formaldehyde, but they can also save you money and time.
One easy soap-making method is the “Melt and Pour Soap Method.” Simply buy a melt-and-pour base, available at online natural soap materials suppliers such as Jedwards International, Inc. and Bramble Berry Soap Making Supplies, then follow the instructions. These instructions can be as simple as slowly melt and pour into a soap mold, or as complex as adding natural colorants, essential oils, or even fruit, herb, or vegetable purees.
The greatest thing about the ability to make your own soap, aside from the satisfaction it’ll bring you, is the level of control you have over the product that you and your family will use on a daily basis. You can use goat milk bases, olive oil bases, hemp bases, or aloe bases. You can use essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, or cinnamon. You can add color or no color, or even real fruits and vegetables to add color, smell, and extra nutrients.
Plus, once you master the melt and pour method, you’ll be able to move on to more complex, but also somewhat more rewarding, methods, like the Cold Process Method. You can also make your own lotions, lip balms, skin salves, and shampoos! For more recipes and homemade beauty product ideas, visit the Fimby website.
