With so many different types and brands of soap available today, choosing the best one for your skin can be quite tricky. It’s tempting to just settle for what’s popular to avoid the tedious task of scanning labels and reading online reviews. Most of them look and smell the same after all.
Being particular about your soap, however, has its fair share of merits. At N-Essentials, we understand the importance of using products made from natural, pure ingredients, such as homemade soaps, natural soaps and melt-and-pour soap bases. It is a greener way of living and making sure that your skin and hair care routine does not include a plethora of chemicals, some of which may even be harmful.
Why should I make homemade soap?
It’s not surprising that homemade soaps have some amazing qualities that you won’t find in their commercial counterparts. Whether you’re looking for a new hobby or making a gift from the heart, soap-making is a great way to include more natural ingredients in skincare. At N-Essentials, all soap-making supplies are natural and pure.
Here are four reasons why more and more people are falling in love with homemade soap.
They contain more glycerine than commercial soap
Soap-making is easier than most people think. After all, a soap’s main ingredients are oils, colour, water and glycerine. While glycerine sounds like a harmful synthetic chemical, it’s actually natural and has a wonderful effect on the appearance of your skin.
Unfortunately, glycerine is an expensive substance, which is why many commercial soap manufacturers don’t use it as much. Instead, they use cheaper chemicals with similar saponifying effects, but with little cosmetic value. In contrast, natural or DIY soap normally has a glycerine base.
The nourishing ingredients of homemade soap are kept intact
Ideally, natural soap products are made through the cold process soap-making method. This method doesn’t involve heating or boiling any ingredients, which could trigger chemical reactions. As a result, the nourishing ingredients that are capable of preventing dry and itchy skin are preserved.
When you make soap at home, you mix all the ingredients together and process them as little as possible. Your soap ingredients remain in their natural state.
You can be sure they have alkaline PH levels
It’s important to factor in pH levels when choosing a body or facial soap. Products with pH levels lower than 9 are too harsh for your skin. Natural or homemade soap normally has a 9 to 10 pH, making it an effective cleanser. Sometimes, coconut oil is added to the mixture to improve its moisturising effect.
They contain essential oils
Perhaps the most important quality of homemade soap is its essential oil content. Like glycerine, essential oils are pricey compounds, so regular commercial soaps with essential oils are hard to come by. Most commercial soap products obtain their scent from fragrance oil, the synthetic equivalent of essential oil. Irrespectively though, some fragrance oils, such as those supplied by N-essentials, have a combination of both synthetic and natural components in them.
Besides giving natural soap its alluring scent, essential oils also help improve its cosmetic value. Essential oils are known for their moisturising effect on the skin. It pays to know that the soap you are using is made from high-quality materials.
Essential oils from N-Essentials are safe to use as a soap ingredient. Some of the popular ones for soap-making are lavender and frankincense. You can even combine essential oils to make your very own blend. Keep in mind that essential oils are very potent. So, only use a few drops. Since essential oils are more expensive than other fragrances, N-Essentials has a range of sizes that you can choose from. From 20ML to 5L quantities, you can buy small amounts, or buy your favourite oils in bulk to make soaps.
How to make soap at home?
Soap-making is an art as old as civilization itself. For centuries, soap-makers have used simple ingredients and essential oils to create beautiful, handcrafted soaps. Today, making soap is easier than ever, and there are many soap-making kits available that make the process straightforward and fun. Whether you're looking for a creative outlet or simply want to make your own soap, here's everything you need to get started.
The first step in soap-making is to gather your ingredients. While the exact recipe will vary depending on the type of soap you're making, most soap recipes call for a combination of fats and oils, lye, and water.
Once you have your ingredients gathered, it's time to start soap-making! The process begins by heating the oils and fats until they melt, then add the lye carefully until it is fully dissolved. Next, the soap mixture is poured into moulds and left to cool and harden. Once the soap has hardened, it can be cut into bars.
Making soap is a satisfying and fun activity that anyone can enjoy. So gather your supplies, invite a friend over for a soap-making party, and let the creativity flow!
A soap-making recipe for you!
We have a wonderful recipe for you to try, curated by our in-house soap-making experts. You’ll soon be whipping up your own home-made soaps in no time at all.
Fresh, fun and free: Our citrus recipe
This is a simple recipe that uses soap bases. Soap bases are a great starting point for people who are interested in making their own soap but do not necessarily possess the technical skills required for more advanced methods.
To create your very own citrus soap, simply heat up your melt and pour soap base according to the packet instruction — we recommend the clear soap base or the Goat’s Milk soap base.
Add a few drops of the sweet orange essential oil and mix well. Pour your mixture into moulds and let it rest until it hardens. Your soap will be ready to use!
This can also be a great gift, and citrus is a scent that both men and women will love.
Where can I buy ingredients for making soap?
N-Essentials stocks a wide selection of pure, raw and natural ingredients for all your needs. If you have questions, just contact us today.