I used a kit for my first cold process soap. I was reluctant to try making a cold process soap, but after watching many of the Soap Queen's videos and little by little buying the basic supplies and ingredients I'd need, I decided to go for it.
My first soap is a recipe from Brambleberry. I have a 9 month old and I've been really wanting to make him a soap. The glycerine soaps I've made are great (https://www.etsy.com/shop/PiccadillyCreations), but I wanted something as natural as possible for him and luckily I saw Brambleberry's kit for Baby Oatmeal Soap. I also pre-ordered the Soap Queen's newest book "Pure Soap Making" and I can't wait to get it.
I uploaded the video to youtube, but it doesn't show step-by-step or ingredients needed so I'm posting that here.
Oatmeal Soap for Babies
Using olive oil infused with soothing chamomile, this unscented, uncolored oatmeal bar is even gentle enough to cleanse and moisturize a baby's skin. Chamomile is said to have calming, relaxing properties, perfect for baby bath time! The adorable stork stamp puts the finishing touch on this pure and fragrance free soap and makes it perfect for gifting or selling.
MAKES 6 BARS
Mold: Brambleberry's silicone cupcake mold
Lye-water Amounts:
1.9 ounces lye (5% superfat)
4.3 ounces distilled water
1 teaspoon sodium lactate (optional) I did use this in my soap
Oil Amounts:
13.8 ounces chamomile-infused olive oil pomace (92%) You could also regular olive oil but it's more expensive than the pomace. Either way you are going to infuse it with chamomile.
0.8 ounce shea butter (5%)
0.5 ounce castor oil (3%)
Additive Amounts:
2 teaspoons bentonite clay dispersed into 4 tablespoons distilled water
2 tablespoons colloidal oatmeal
MAKE THE CHAMOMILE OIL INFUSION: Place 2 tablespoons Egyptian chamomile into a small, sealable teabag. Submerge the bag in 14.5 ounces of olive oil pomace. (The amount of olive oil infused with the chamomile is larger than the recipe calls for in order to account for oil that will be lost in the teabag itself.) Steep the oil with the teabag in a double boiler over medium heat for 2 hours before using. I infused mine differently. I put the chamomile directly into the oil and warmed it up in the microwave, then I let it sit overnight and strained out the chamomile in the morning.
SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! That means goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, and other distractions and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.
MAKE THE SOAP MIXTURE:
1. Add the lye to the water (never the other way around) and stir gently until all of the lye is dissolved. If using sodium lactate, add it to the lye-water and stir to combine. Set the mixture aside to cool until it becomes clear.
2. In a bowl large enough to hold all the oils and the lye-water solution, measure out the chamomile-infused olive oil. In a separate container, measure out the shea butter and castor oil and melt them together in a microwave. Be sure to heat these in 15-second bursts so as not to overheat the shea butter. Stirring gently between each heat burst. Once the shea butter is completely melted into the castor oil, combine with the chamomile-infused olive oil in the large container.
3. When the oils and the lye-water are both below 120°F (43°C), add the lyewater to the oils, pouring it over a spatula or the shaft of the stick blender to minimize air bubbles. Tap the stick blender a couple of times against the bottom of the bowl to release any air that may be trapped in the blades. Do not turn on the stick blender until it is fully immersed. Stick-blend for 40 seconds, or until thin trace is achieved. To check the temperature of the Lye water you're going to need an infrared thermometer. I got mine for $16 on Amazon. Don't pour the Lye into the oils until you've reached 120 degrees.
4. Add all of the clay mixture, and the colloidal oatmeal. Try to trap the additives under the stick blender, and stick-blend until fully blended.
5. Pour the batter into the mold, filling each cavity. This recipe has a lot of olive oil in it, so it may be sticky for a few days.
FINAL STEPS:
6. Allow the soaps to set for at least 3 days before attempting to unmold. If you are having a hard time removing the soaps, you can place the entire mold in the freezer for about 4 hours, and then try again.
7. After the soaps are unmolded, allow them to set for another 2 days. On the third day, use a rubber mallet to tap the stamp into the smaller end of the soaps. The rubber mallet delivers a cleaner impression than simply pushing the stamp in or hitting it with something harder. I'm using this stamp: http://www.brambleberry.com/Giraffe-Soap-Stamp-P5056.aspx
8. Allow the soaps to cure in a well-ventilated area for another 4 to 6 weeks, turning them every few days to ensure that they cure evenly.
Here they are:
