Newbie Post: My first attempt at CP soap & lip balm!

[stephasafari]

Hello SMF

I'm new to the world of soap and bodycare product making! I've been wanting to do this for years and just recently starting building a supply inventory.

A few days ago I attempted my first lip balm! I went by a ratio and the recipe I came up with was (note: this was to make only 4 tubes as a sample test)

3g beeswax
2g candelilla
6g cocoa butter
4g mango butter
3g jojoba oil
3g castor oil
.5 each of caramel & cinnamon stick FOs

Here's a picture of three of the tubes- with no labels, of course.

The lip balm turned out smelling beautifully- very Christmas-like! My testers have all said, and I agree, that it's a touch hard and difficult to apply the first few strokes until your lips warm it, but once it's on it is very hydrating! How could I make it a touch softer? Could it be the candelilla (I found it took longer to melt down than the beeswax and the chips are much more firm).


On to soap!


I wanted to make my own recipe for my first time. Maybe adventurous, but SoapMaker 3 Software helped me a bunch!

I made the following recipe for a 2lb loaf mold:

5.5oz olive oil
5.5oz coconut oil
6.6oz shea butter
2.2oz castor oil
2.2oz almond oil

I colored 1/4 (est.) of the mixture with ultramarine purple and the rest with French green clay. I should have written the amounts but at the point of coloring I had already gotten the soap batter to a thicker trace that I assumed was appropriate so I was frantic!

SO frantic, in fact, that I totally forgot to add my EO blend that I created! DOG! :? :x

The EO blend I was going to use was lavender-vanilla-patchouli. I took the blend out of a book I had.

Anywho, here are some pictures!


In the loaf mold. I tried to make some sort of decorative top. Meh- at least it's something!

This is the loaf itself! I did tap the mold down a few times after pouring. Could the bubbles be there because I didn't tap enough or could it also be because I poured it at a thick trace?

24-hours and some soap cutting later and VOILA! [I was more than thrilled at this point]

It's unscented soap. I think it looks sort of pretty!

As you can see from the photos, I definitely could have blended the colorants better but, as I said, I was frantic. And I also didn't pre-mix them with any water or carrier oil, just threw it in with the batter and mixed.


I'm glad to be on SMF- hope to learn a lot from you all!

 

[Hazel]

Congratulations on your first batches of balm and soap!

I think your soap looks wonderful so don't be down about it. I really like the colors and you did a great job with the textured top. Your soap is much better looking than my first attempt. The bubbles could be either reasons you stated but they don't detract from the soap. I'm sorry you forgot to add your scent. It happens and I've actually had it happen several times to me. I've taken to adding the fragrance into the oils before I pour the lye solution to make sure I don't forget. I don't know if this will help you any because I mainly use FOs. Your recipe looks like it's going to be a lovely soap.

Candelilla is harder than beeswax. I don't make balms but I was wondering how adding one gram or two of shea to the recipe might work. It might help give just a little bit more softness without making it too soft. Plus you could call it Triple Butter Balm which sounds kind of catchy. :wink:

eta: Another suggestion - maybe add a gram of tocopherol? It would help extend the life of the oils and it's also good for the skin.

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

very nice. the tops on your soap are lovely, soft and almost feminine looking. your EO blend sounds very nice also. May I suggest (if you havent already) checking out the 'fav soap making myths' post. there is alot of info, that ive found to be helpful, about trace and adding fragrances on the front end.

 

[stephasafari]

Congratulations on your first batches of balm and soap!

I think your soap looks wonderful so don't be down about it. I really like the colors and you did a great job with the textured top. Your soap is much better looking than my first attempt. The bubbles could be either reasons you stated but they don't detract from the soap. I'm sorry you forgot to add your scent. It happens and I've actually had it happen several times to me. I've taken to adding the fragrance into the oils before I pour the lye solution to make sure I don't forget. I don't know if this will help you any because I mainly use FOs. Your recipe looks like it's going to be a lovely soap.

Candelilla is harder than beeswax. I don't make balms but I was wondering how adding one gram or two of shea to the recipe might work. It might help give just a little bit more softness without making it too soft. Plus you could call it Triple Butter Balm which sounds kind of catchy. :wink:

Thank you so much! I feel much better about how it turned out now! And thank you for all of the suggestions!
About adding the fragrance to the oils before the lye is added- will that alter the soap in any way? I think this is a brilliant idea but I always thought because most of the resources (if not all) that I have referred to state to add after mixing the two that there was some sort of negative effect of adding it to the oils.

I love the idea to add the shea! I'm definitely going to try that out to see how it works out. And the name is adorable!

You're a peach, Hazel. :wink:

 

[stephasafari]

very nice. the tops on your soap are lovely, soft and almost feminine looking. your EO blend sounds very nice also. May I suggest (if you havent already) checking out the 'fav soap making myths' post. there is alot of info, that ive found to be helpful, about trace and adding fragrances on the front end.

Thank you, thefarmerdaughter! I'll have to look into finding that post- sounds like it could be a lot of help to me!

 

[Hazel]

You're welcome! Did you see my edit about tocopherol? Also, I'm glad thefarmerdaughter made the excellent suggestion about checking out the thread on soapmaking myths. I'm glad someone's brain is working this early in the morning.

 

[stephasafari]

Hazel, just saw the additional comment about the tocopherol now.
I'll have to check with the suppliers I use to see if they carry it. Is it a common item? I'm a browseaholic on Voyageur, New Directions and Bramble Berry and don't think I've seen it...
Isn't tocopherol a form of Vitamin E? Or am I mistaken...? Would this not be the equivalent to just putting vit. E oil?
My brain could also not be working well this morning- lol.

 

[Hazel]

It's vitamin E. http://www.brambleberry.com/Vitamin-E-O ... P3200.aspx

I guess I should have stated it was vitamin E but I like to differentiate between the types. Tocopherol is the "natural" (I know - there's that word again :roll: ) form of E as compared to E which is manufactured. It's derived from vegetable oils and it's heat stable. You could buy vitamin E capsules and squeeze a little out for your balm. You just want to check the ingredients to see if it lists alpha or gamma types.

However, manufactured E works as well as tocopherol so it really doesn't matter. I just mentioned it because a lot of members prefer to use "natural" as opposed to synthesized ingredients.

 

[stephasafari]

Guess I didn't browse too, too hard to miss that on BB! Thanks again, Hazel! You're wonderful!

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

Also, I'm glad thefarmerdaughter made the excellent suggestion about checking out the thread on soapmaking myths. I'm glad someone's brain is working this early in the morning.

you have no idea how many cups of coffee got me there!

stephasafari, its a current post in CP section

 

[Hazel]

You're welcome! But someone else would have mentioned vitamin E. I just beat them to it 'cuz I was up early.

 

[Lynnz]

Wowser that is a beautiful first soap!!!!! Your EO blend also sounded amazing, I think we have all left our smellies out at some stage of the game!!!! Balm recipe looks nice, I have not ventured into this area as my time is pretty much all taken and any less sleep and I may have to be committed

 

[soapcakes]

Nice stephasafari, that's a super nice soap for your first attempt!!!

 

[stephasafari]

thanks all =)

 

[Bama]

YOur soap turned out great. As lynne said we have all left the FO out somehow at some point. I have ruined a swirl leaving out and then remembering and trying to add it after the fact. Just part of soaping experience. Congrats on the Lip Balm. I went to a beekeepers soap clas as she showed how she made lip balm and gave us a recipe and a tube of what wss made. So cool I never have tried it though

 

[DragonQueenHHP]

I think they both look great!!