I am coming into this conversation late, as usual! I tried using a scrub once, many eons ago and I broke out in a rash, so that wasn't so great. But I use white and green clay masks, which I love! I just mix the clay with water, slap it on my face and neck, let it dry then jump into the shower and rinse it off. I also use plain old Neutrogena face cleanser (recommended by my Dermatologist..I was surprised!) and a face concentrate from Shiseido. I don't like creams on my face, they make my skin itch! Does anyone else have problems with creams on their face? I would like to find a cream that didn't itch!
February 2025 SMF Challenge: Scrub-a-dub-dub!
- Thread starter AliOop
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Made my entry. Experiment with borax. Because I added borax (4.8%) I didn't use faux seawater in the ZNSB. Hardness was a whopping 19 in soap calc. I hope it solidifies by the entry deadline
Edit: OMG it's firm
Edit: OMG it's firm
Last edited:
I can’t find the entry thread either…
Wowsers, sorry guys! I apparently made a typo as I intended to open the Entry Thread on Feb 19, not Feb 16. I'll post that right now, k?
I forgot February is a short month, so I wasn't even looking for the entry thread yet! I guess tomorrow is soap-photographing day.
I cut it.Made my entry. Experiment with borax. Because I added borax (4.8%) I didn't use faux seawater in the ZNSB. Hardness was a whopping 19 in soap calc. I hope it solidifies by the entry deadline
Edit: OMG it's firm
It gushed oil all over the cutting station.
Took a few seconds to register what was happening. Stood the loaf up, cleaned up the oil that spilled, the poured out the loaf oil into the trash. No zapping thankfully
Might not be able to make another attempt
32oz of oils. HO sunflower oil 85%, CO 10%, Castor 5%.
6 Tbsp used espresso ground coffee beans.
3% eocalc bamboo essential oil mixture.
Borax 4.8% of oil weight.
33% lye concentration. Oil temp 150°, borax temp 150°, lye water temp 69°. Borax, essential oils, coffee grounds, and oils combined then lye water added. Batter temp 178°
Planned to do colors with some iron oxides I have but the deep dark brown stopped that.
I'll let it cure and see how it behaves
Awwww @justsomeguy, you described exactly what happened to me last month, and the soap looks similar. My condolences!
@ackosel has started off the entries with a beautiful scrubby soap. Can't wait to see the rest of the entries!
Yoo-Hoo, @KiwiMoose, weren't you the onenagging me asking about the Entry Thread about three weeks ago? Come on, get that soap posted!
@ackosel has started off the entries with a beautiful scrubby soap. Can't wait to see the rest of the entries!
Yoo-Hoo, @KiwiMoose, weren't you the one
Yikes, I better hustle when I get out of bed in a few hours, have been playing around with the Soap Calc. half of the night trying out some ideas.
Going to make mine on Saturday hopefully. 
I made a second one. Only 13oz of fat this time with 6% borax. And I used newer coconut oil after your reminder
It already feels and looks like it'll be soap without gushing oil
akseattle
Well-Known Member
I got alot of practice this month!
My first attempt (Februry 8) and non entry is this yellow, grey, and white soap. I used only 2 teaspoons of sand as the exfoliant. That was not in the ball park of enough. So, I like the soap, but it was a fail as an exfoliating soap.
On February 15, I mixed 1500 grams of oil and made 3 batches. My first batch on February 15 is my entry.
My second batch on February 15 was made with poppy seeds as my exfoliant. (Middle photo)
I used Crafter's Choice Fresh Brewed Coffee FO. When I tested it in January, it discolored quite a bit so to get shades of brown, I used Flash Red Wine mica by MYOB in 350 grams, Nurture Soaps Mocha Brown in 150 grams and nothing in 150 grams. Strangely, the fragrance didn't seem to discolor that much so the uncolored batter is pretty light. I didn't enter this one in the challenge since I've used poppy seeds multiple times and that part wasn't an experiment for me. [Although it occurs to me that I just eyeball when to stop adding poppy seeds and to get consistent results, I should probably use a % to weight of batter.]
My third batch was to be with Loofah as my exfoliant. It is 350 grams of Seisso Turquoise, 150 grams of Ceya Lettuce Green, and 150 grams uncolored. I used Crafter's Choice Pink Grafefruit and Citrus FO. My first attempt with loofah was April 2024. I didn't use enough and you could not detect the exfoliant. Taking a page from my efforts with sand, I carefully measured 3 oz of loofah and lined it up with the fragrance, the micas, etc. I was trying out a cup with 3 sections that I've had for several months but hadn't gotten around to trying. I must have been focusing on how exactly I would do my pour cuz I had pretty much finished pouring when I realized I had forgotten the loofah!!!! I considered just stirring in all that loofah and thinking of it is a swirl. But, the point of that cup with 3 sections was to see how it would look if I relied mainly on the 3 colors being poured at the same time. So, no exfoliant
Although the blue, green and white soap was last. The fragrance must have really slowed the batter down. It was still a little soft when I unmolded the two other loaves. I should have just waited, but I didn't. So, I didn't get clean cuts. It's been 4 days and it is only now feeling as firm as the other bars. When it's nice and firm but not hard, I'm going to plane it. It smells great, but as an exfoliating soap, another fail
My first attempt (Februry 8) and non entry is this yellow, grey, and white soap. I used only 2 teaspoons of sand as the exfoliant. That was not in the ball park of enough. So, I like the soap, but it was a fail as an exfoliating soap.
On February 15, I mixed 1500 grams of oil and made 3 batches. My first batch on February 15 is my entry.
My second batch on February 15 was made with poppy seeds as my exfoliant. (Middle photo)
I used Crafter's Choice Fresh Brewed Coffee FO. When I tested it in January, it discolored quite a bit so to get shades of brown, I used Flash Red Wine mica by MYOB in 350 grams, Nurture Soaps Mocha Brown in 150 grams and nothing in 150 grams. Strangely, the fragrance didn't seem to discolor that much so the uncolored batter is pretty light. I didn't enter this one in the challenge since I've used poppy seeds multiple times and that part wasn't an experiment for me. [Although it occurs to me that I just eyeball when to stop adding poppy seeds and to get consistent results, I should probably use a % to weight of batter.]
My third batch was to be with Loofah as my exfoliant. It is 350 grams of Seisso Turquoise, 150 grams of Ceya Lettuce Green, and 150 grams uncolored. I used Crafter's Choice Pink Grafefruit and Citrus FO. My first attempt with loofah was April 2024. I didn't use enough and you could not detect the exfoliant. Taking a page from my efforts with sand, I carefully measured 3 oz of loofah and lined it up with the fragrance, the micas, etc. I was trying out a cup with 3 sections that I've had for several months but hadn't gotten around to trying. I must have been focusing on how exactly I would do my pour cuz I had pretty much finished pouring when I realized I had forgotten the loofah!!!! I considered just stirring in all that loofah and thinking of it is a swirl. But, the point of that cup with 3 sections was to see how it would look if I relied mainly on the 3 colors being poured at the same time. So, no exfoliant
Although the blue, green and white soap was last. The fragrance must have really slowed the batter down. It was still a little soft when I unmolded the two other loaves. I should have just waited, but I didn't. So, I didn't get clean cuts. It's been 4 days and it is only now feeling as firm as the other bars. When it's nice and firm but not hard, I'm going to plane it. It smells great, but as an exfoliating soap, another fail
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To enter the February 2025 SMF Challenge, copy and paste these instructions and the entire list into a new post, adding your name and the next number at the bottom.
Sign-up list:
1. Kiwimoose - Three men in a tub!
2. Justsomeguy - my first scrubby soap
3. Mobjack - sounds like a scrub-tacular challenge!
4. Ackosel
5. Bookworm42
6. MissChief - might be a good time to try a specific soap I've had my eye on for some time.
7. Vicki C - oo oo oo I have an idea
8. 2lilboots exfoliate 9
9. ScentimentallyYours - my first scrubby soap, too!
10. Shirley-D I'll give it a try
11. Firefly24~this is perfect for my recent soapy adventures, I'm in.
12. VikingChick- I need to make more scrubby soap anyway…..good timing!
13.akseattle- no excuse now not to try to use this sand! can't wait!
14. Tammyfarms - my coffee soap is a year and a half old and is lovely. Time to get some more curing.
15. Servant4Christ - time to make more, time to get creative
16. Artemis - My "head landscaper" will need this when summer break starts!
17. Barefoot Farm Girl - Now I have a good reason to try a blacksmith’s soap or do another coffee soap
18. Sudds - Better late than never! Close date? I'll be running close, have wanted to try something all winter long, just no time!
19. Relle
20.
Sign-up list:
1. Kiwimoose - Three men in a tub!
2. Justsomeguy - my first scrubby soap
3. Mobjack - sounds like a scrub-tacular challenge!
4. Ackosel
5. Bookworm42
6. MissChief - might be a good time to try a specific soap I've had my eye on for some time.
7. Vicki C - oo oo oo I have an idea
8. 2lilboots exfoliate 9
9. ScentimentallyYours - my first scrubby soap, too!
10. Shirley-D I'll give it a try
11. Firefly24~this is perfect for my recent soapy adventures, I'm in.
12. VikingChick- I need to make more scrubby soap anyway…..good timing!
13.akseattle- no excuse now not to try to use this sand! can't wait!
14. Tammyfarms - my coffee soap is a year and a half old and is lovely. Time to get some more curing.
15. Servant4Christ - time to make more, time to get creative
16. Artemis - My "head landscaper" will need this when summer break starts!
17. Barefoot Farm Girl - Now I have a good reason to try a blacksmith’s soap or do another coffee soap
18. Sudds - Better late than never! Close date? I'll be running close, have wanted to try something all winter long, just no time!
19. Relle
20.
To enter the February 2025 SMF Challenge, copy and paste these instructions and the entire list into a new post, adding your name and the next number at the bottom.
Sign-up list:
1. Kiwimoose - Three men in a tub!
2. Justsomeguy - my first scrubby soap
3. Mobjack - sounds like a scrub-tacular challenge!
4. Ackosel
5. Bookworm42
6. MissChief - might be a good time to try a specific soap I've had my eye on for some time.
7. Vicki C - oo oo oo I have an idea
8. 2lilboots exfoliate 9
9. ScentimentallyYours - my first scrubby soap, too!
10. Shirley-D I'll give it a try
11. Firefly24~this is perfect for my recent soapy adventures, I'm in.
12. VikingChick- I need to make more scrubby soap anyway…..good timing!
13.akseattle- no excuse now not to try to use this sand! can't wait!
14. Tammyfarms - my coffee soap is a year and a half old and is lovely. Time to get some more curing.
15. Servant4Christ - time to make more, time to get creative
16. Artemis - My "head landscaper" will need this when summer break starts!
17. Barefoot Farm Girl - Now I have a good reason to try a blacksmith’s soap or do another coffee soap
18. Sudds - Better late than never! Close date? I'll be running close, have wanted to try something all winter long, just no time!
19. Relle
20. CLMP - This was a tricky one
21.
Sign-up list:
1. Kiwimoose - Three men in a tub!
2. Justsomeguy - my first scrubby soap
3. Mobjack - sounds like a scrub-tacular challenge!
4. Ackosel
5. Bookworm42
6. MissChief - might be a good time to try a specific soap I've had my eye on for some time.
7. Vicki C - oo oo oo I have an idea
8. 2lilboots exfoliate 9
9. ScentimentallyYours - my first scrubby soap, too!
10. Shirley-D I'll give it a try
11. Firefly24~this is perfect for my recent soapy adventures, I'm in.
12. VikingChick- I need to make more scrubby soap anyway…..good timing!
13.akseattle- no excuse now not to try to use this sand! can't wait!
14. Tammyfarms - my coffee soap is a year and a half old and is lovely. Time to get some more curing.
15. Servant4Christ - time to make more, time to get creative
16. Artemis - My "head landscaper" will need this when summer break starts!
17. Barefoot Farm Girl - Now I have a good reason to try a blacksmith’s soap or do another coffee soap
18. Sudds - Better late than never! Close date? I'll be running close, have wanted to try something all winter long, just no time!
19. Relle
20. CLMP - This was a tricky one
21.
My first soap is a disaster my next one is in the oven.
@akseattle cool soap with a fun story!
You may want to add/insert a thumbnail of your entry photo with your curser somewhere above the lush photo.
"The first photo in your entry thread post will be used as the entry photo for voting."
You may want to add/insert a thumbnail of your entry photo with your curser somewhere above the lush photo.
"The first photo in your entry thread post will be used as the entry photo for voting."
Given that the 2nd attempt is awesomer, I'm gonna chuck this one cause the coconut oil is problematic and probably off.I cut it.
It gushed oil all over the cutting station.
Took a few seconds to register what was happening. Stood the loaf up, cleaned up the oil that spilled, the poured out the loaf oil into the trash. No zapping thankfully
Might not be able to make another attempt
32oz of oils. HO sunflower oil 85%, CO 10%, Castor 5%.
6 Tbsp used espresso ground coffee beans.
3% eocalc bamboo essential oil mixture.
Borax 4.8% of oil weight.
33% lye concentration. Oil temp 150°, borax temp 150°, lye water temp 69°. Borax, essential oils, coffee grounds, and oils combined then lye water added. Batter temp 178°
Planned to do colors with some iron oxides I have but the deep dark brown stopped that.
View attachment 81111
I'll let it cure and see how it behaves
