Acne Treatment

Soap making is much easier than most people think. The best reason for using homemade soap is because of the natural ingredients used. Natural soap with healing essential oils is much gentler than most commercial products. There are lots of soap making books out there. I avoided making soap for years because I had the idea that it was hard to do. I kept having this imagine of old time movies showing pioneers stirring a big black pot of an outdoor fire. It truly is easy. I like to make soap with small molds and give them for gifts. I just made a batch of heart shaped soaps to give to my friends at work for Valentine s Day. It was very easy to do. First the recipe and then I have some tips for you. This recipe makes a small batch. Once you get the hang of it, you may want to make more at a time. 8 ounces glycerin soap 1-teaspoon water 15-20 drops of essential oils (your choice) I put the soap and water in a 16 ounce Pyrex measuring cup that has a pouring tip. Put this in the microwave, and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir gently. Put the cup back in the microwave for 30 seconds, and again stir gently. Do this until the soap is melted. For this amount of soap it will probably take you 4-5 times. Add your choice of essential oils, and then pour the mixture into molds. Let this set for a couple of hours. About 20 minutes before you are ready to remove the soap from the molds, put them in the freezer: this will help them easily pop out of the molds. Now the purist will have you use a double boiler and candy thermometer. If you use a double boiler, heat the soap and water until melted, and stir very gently, as vigorous stirring causes the soap to bubble. Heat to about 155 to 165 degrees F. Add the essential oils and gently blend them into the soap. Pour into molds. If you don t use molds, use a square pan, and then you can cut the soap to the shape you desire. I stir with a knife. If a film collects on top, I just use the knife to skim the film off. Clean up is easy. When I first started making soap I thought it would make a mess like in candle making, but soap is easy to clean up after. Check with your aromatherapist to see which essential oils might be recommended for your particular needs. Honestly, my thought is that the heat of the soap will deter the therapeutic effectiveness of the essential oils, but not the aroma. The aroma is what I really like about soap making. For the soap I made for Valentine s Day, I added a blend containing bergamot, ylang ylang, geranium, rosewood, lemon, mandarin, jasmine, Roman chamomile, palmarosa, and rose. It smells heavenly! Soap making is very versatile. Have fun experimenting with different essential oils or skin care products like honey or oatmeal. A registered nurse and a registered aromatherapist, Judy has a special interest in using essential oils in health care and prevention. As an instructor in the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy, she teaches classes all over the United States and Canada in a program leading to certification in clinical aromatherapy. Visit the ISHA website at http://www.ishahealing.com