Seaweed & Cucumber

[cmzaha]

This is a pic of the Seaweed Cucumber soap I poured yesterday afternoon that was water discounted 2.2:1 water to lye and I am sorry I did not discount to my average 2:1. Not really sure why I upped the liquid, so it gelled partially even in the freezer, which can be seen around the outer edges. The only color I added was spirulina for the darker portion. Infused the cucumber, coconut liquid with seaweed and celery leaf, fragranced with Tea Tree EO, Rosemary Eo, Lime EO and Litsea. It is still zappy in the ungelled area so I am not testing the lather. The lauric number is 4 with myristic @2 so it will be more of a creamy lather. Did use a couple tbs of powder sugar to up lather. It smells great for so much tea tree. The specks are mostly from the cucumber peel.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Looks very good, even with the gel. On my screen at least, the greens seem to work with it and it's not too obvious.

 

[FlybyStardancer]

I think it's pretty!

 

[cmzaha]

Thankyou all, and yes you have to look quite hard to see the partial gel. I really hate it when I get a partial even putting my batch in the freezer. Had to be the amount of powdered sugar since that was really the only heater and I soap room temp.

 

[seven]

i too could not see the partial gel. all looks good to me. i've yet to soap with cucumber. very interesting, maybe i must try it..

 

[Saponista]

I think they are really pretty, you can only just make out the partial gel and it doesn't detract from the soap.

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

Agree that the partial gel isn't noticeable. Looks great. That ingredient combo sounds awesome.

 

[cmzaha]

Thanks everyone I was pleased with the outcome. Partial gels do not really bother me, but this really should not have gelled when I put it in the freezer immediately. I am going to be interested to see if the 2 tbs up the bubbles with the low coconut oil percentage.

 

[Candybee]

Those are beautiful Carolyn! I love, love, love the flecks from the cucumber skin. Do they act as an exfoliant at all?

I made one cucumber soap but I cut off the skin and threw it in my juicer. So I only used the straight juice. I would love to try the whole cucumber on my next batch.

I have some spirulina. How much did you use PPO for that lovely green? I have used it on one recipe and got a weird dark teal. I want to get that color green! LOL

Also, did you use real seaweed? and if so how did you incorporate that into your soap? I would love to make a seaweed salt bar but have never used seaweed before and don't know which to buy and how much to use.

Sorry for all the questions but I love your soaps and find you always inspire me to try something new!

 

[judymoody]

I would have not seen the gel line if you hadn't pointed it out. Beautiful soap!

 

[cmzaha]

Those are beautiful Carolyn! I love, love, love the flecks from the cucumber skin. Do they act as an exfoliant at all?

I made one cucumber soap but I cut off the skin and threw it in my juicer. So I only used the straight juice. I would love to try the whole cucumber on my next batch.

I have some spirulina. How much did you use PPO for that lovely green? I have used it on one recipe and got a weird dark teal. I want to get that color green! LOL

Also, did you use real seaweed? and if so how did you incorporate that into your soap? I would love to make a seaweed salt bar but have never used seaweed before and don't know which to buy and how much to use.

Sorry for all the questions but I love your soaps and find you always inspire me to try something new!

Since selling my boat and not going out to kelp patties or the beach much anymore, get to depressed when I go to the beach and miss my boat, I settled for infusing dried seaweed into my liquid which why I also added in some of my kelp powder. If this sells well I might suck it up and visit the beach to collect some kelp to dry. The cucumber pieces usually give a little scrub nothing serious. The color of the main base was the actual color and I just add in enough spirulina to get the color I want. Be aware spirulina is uv sensitive, and after having them out at markets for awhile they will turn color, many time a light greenish brn. Not a bad color but noticable under the labels notice it under the labels. I just inform my customers so they know nothing is wrong with the soap. In fact many colors change with uv but I choose not to use uv inhibitor
Thankyou Judy I was just looking to make a little something different, besides my Kelpie

 

[Candybee]

Thanks for the advice. You were the one that inspired me to try my first cucumber soap. Now I will check out my local health food store for some dried seaweed or kelp powder.