Tips on how to care for your soap

First step on how to care for your soap is to place your soap on a self draining soap dish. Standing your soap in water will make it soggy and messy. Soaps last longer when kept dry in between uses. Allow plenty of fresh air to keep your soap dry and it will last longer.

Care for your soap – Use a soap pouch

You can also put the soap in a soap pouch that can be hung up in the shower to dry after using.

Try to use handmade soaps within six months of purchase. Natural soaps are free of preservatives and best to use them fresh.

Storing and care for your soap

We should store all unused soap in a cool, dark and dry place. Do not store natural soaps in warm and humid places.

We can store handmade soaps in ventilated wooden or cardboard boxes. Do not put them in closed plastic containers – this is a very important step to care for your soap.

Our products are

• Palm Oil Free
• Parabens Free
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate Free
• Phthalates Free
• Synthetic Fragrance Free
• Cruelty Free
• 100% handmade in Australia

Ingredients

Please read ingredients description carefully before purchasing our handmade soaps. All our products come with a complete list of ingredients that are used to make them.

If you are allergic or sensitive to any of the listed ingredients, please do not place order. Every body is different and we cannot guarantee you will not get skin irritation or allergic reaction. Please be mindful of that when choosing our products. If you are unsure, please do an allergy patch test on a small area of the skin.

There are reasons why we should use natural handcrafted soap. Handmade soap using the cold process method is a great way to create natural soaps using nourishing oils and butters. Botanicals such as rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano can be infused in oil to make cold process soaps. Roses and lavender are favorite additions to cold process handmade soaps. This cold process method is best for preserving the benefits of plant-derived oils and butter.

Handmade soaps are made with oils, butters, lye and water. The ingredients combine and go through the process called saponification to produce soap and glycerin. There should be no lye remaining in the final bar of soap. Soaps made with the cold process method requires 4-6 weeks to cure. The curing process allows the saponification to complete and excess water to evaporate. The fully cured soap bar will last longer and does not melt away quickly in the shower.

Why You Should Use Natural Handcrafted Soap

Handmade soaps are not cheap. A bottle of body wash or shower gel lasts three times longer in the shower than a bar of handmade soap. So, you may ask why should I buy handmade soap?

Most people are not aware that commercial soaps are full of chemicals, toxic additives and could be carcinogenic. These additives are the main cause of dry skin, rashes and skin redness. In fact, the additives are what you would find in detergents. Laundry and dishwashing detergents are great for clothes and dishes, but you do not want to use detergents for your skin.

Soap that is handmade with natural ingredients is the best for your skin. It washes away dirt and impurities without stripping the natural oils of your skin. Commercial cleansers may add some natural ingredients to their products, but the quantities are usually too small to be beneficial at all. Their main ingredients are synthetic, that cause more harm than good. Commercial soap also lacks glycerin that is naturally found in handcrafted soap. While the soap cleanses your skin, the glycerin helps the skin to restore and retain moisture.

It is amazing to know that we can make handcrafted soaps with a few simple ingredients that are good for our skin. The soaps can cleanse and moisturize without causing irritation or allergies to our skin. Check out Braulio & Co for their range of moisturising handcrafted soaps that are great for all skin types.

Goat milk has gained popularity as an ingredient in soaps, cleansers, moisturizers, and serums.

What Are The Benefits of Goat Milk?

It is a natural humectant and draws moisture to the skin, thus it soothes and nourishes the skin. It also reduces itching and redness in irritated skin. Goat milk soap is creamy and rich in lather. It is very nourishing and is great for all skin types. These are some benefits of goat milk products.

People suffering from eczema and psoriasis have dry and sensitive skin. They usually find most commercial bath products too harsh for their skin. The ingredients found in shower gels and shampoos are often full of chemicals. Those who have dry and sensitive skin should try using goat milk products like natural handmade soaps and goat’s milk moisturisers.

Impurities and dirt can affect the health of our skin, causing itchiness and inflammation. The high concentration of lactic acid in goat’s milk makes it a gentle exfoliator for dead skin cells. Goat milk soap is a natural exfoliator for dry skin and helps to get rid of impurities, leaving the skin refreshed and smooth.

Goat milk can calm troubled skin. If you have sensitive skin, you will benefit from using goat milk products. Look for goat milk products that are made with natural ingredients. Start with goat’s milk cleansers and moisturisers.

Check out Braulio & Co for their goat milk soaps and other moisturising handmade soaps that are great for all skin types.

Methods in Soap Making

Two popular methods of making soap are the cold process and hot process. We can use fresh ingredients like milk and plants in cold process method. This method requires the curing process of 4-6 weeks. The hot process is like the cold process, but the ingredients are subject to heat to speed up the saponification. We can use almost immediately a hot process soap after making. It does not require curing time.

Cold Process Method

Cold process soaps are made by mixing oils and sodium hydroxide (also known as lye) to create a chemical reaction called saponification. The reaction produces heat, glycerin and soap. We choose the oils, butters, fragrance, colorants, and other ingredients to formulate the recipe for making cold process soaps.

Handmade soaps using the cold process method are a great way to create natural soaps using nourishing oils and butters. Botanicals such as rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano can be infused in oil to make cold process soaps. Roses and lavender are favorite additions to cold process handmade soaps. This cold process method is best for preserving the benefits of plant-derived oils and butter.

Soaps made with the cold process method requires 4-6 weeks to cure. The curing process allows the saponification to complete and excess water to evaporate. The fully cured soap bar will last longer and does not melt away quickly in the shower.

Benefits of Cold Process Soaps

Cold process soap is good for the skin because it is made from natural ingredients and does not contain harmful chemicals that are toxic to humans. Glycerin is a natural by-product that is produced during saponification. It is also a humectant that is beneficial to the skin.

The nourishing plant oils and butters in handmade soaps create a rich creamy lather that is moisturising to the skin. Cold process soaps do not have the chemicals that are found in shower gels that can strip away the natural oils on your skin. Using cold process soaps may prevent skin irritation, dryness and other allergies.

Check out Braulio & Co for their moisturising handmade soaps that are great for all skin types.

Where does activated charcoal come from? Activated charcoal is produced by burning coconut shells, wood or bamboo. They are subject to high temperatures. The charcoal becomes porous when subjected to high heat. The final product is black and odourless. Sold in chemists and health stores, it can be supplement tablets or in powder form. We use the activated charcoal powder for personal care, medicinal purposes, pet care and skincare. They use charcoal in treating certain food poisoning cases in emergency hospitals. Charcoal has antibacterial properties. Activated charcoal is a common item in fish aquariums, as the charcoal is effective in filtering toxins and improving the quality of aquarium water.

Uses of Activated Charcoal Powder

Charcoal is one ingredient in products for teeth whitening, facial wash, shampoos and also in soap making. This black powder is very light and fine. We must handle it with extreme care. Do not use charcoal powder in front of the fan. It can get very messy and very hard to clean up. Wear a filtered mask if you are handling and blending large quantity in handmade soaps or gels. The fine particles can get into your lungs.

Charcoal Used in Skincare

Facial wash and soap products that contain activated charcoal powder are perfect for cleansing your body. The charcoal draws out impurities from your skin as you wash. Charcoal has antibacterial properties. It is suitable for cleansing problematic skin prone to acne. There are people who may be allergic to charcoal products. It is best to do a patch test on your inner arm with a new skincare product. If the new product does not cause skin irritation or allergic reaction, you can safely use it on your face and body.

Charcoal toothpaste can cause staining to the teeth if used every day. It may wear down tooth enamel, as charcoal is mildly abrasive. That will cause tooth sensitivity.

Activated charcoal supplements are available in chemists. Before introducing charcoal into your diet, it is best to consult your doctor first. Taking too much charcoal can cause vomiting and nausea.

Where to Buy Natural Charcoal Soaps

Check out Braulio & Co for their moisturising charcoal soaps that are great for all skin types.

Matcha is green tea leaves that have been grounded into fine powder form. They widely use green tea extract in skincare products, food colouring and culinary purposes in parts of Asia. They use matcha powder for flavouring and food colouring.

Green tea leaves are rich in antioxidants. We often used premium grade matcha for tea because of its freshness and subtle taste. Drinking green tea can have positive effects on cholesterol, blood pressure, and mental health. Matcha tea is rich in antioxidants that provide anti-aging and health benefits.

Culinary grade matcha is cheaper and has a bitter flavour, we use it in cooking and flavouring dishes. It has a vibrant green color and an aromatic flavour. Matcha ice-creams, lattes and green tea milkshakes are some of the popular desserts in Asia.

Matcha Benefits in Skincare

When used as an ingredient in skincare, it can absorb matcha powder can be absorbed through the skin. Some of the matcha benefits in skincare include:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Promotes even complexion
• Protects against sun damage
• Antioxidant
• Protects collagen in the skin
• Controls acne
• Improves skin health
• Enhances the skin barrier
• Prevents premature aging

Make A Green Matcha Mask

Combine one teaspoon matcha powder and one teaspoon honey, mix into a paste. Apply to face and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off.

Butterfly pea is a plant species native to South East Asia. The flowers are famous for their bright blue colour and earthy flavour. Butterfly pea flower drinks are popular and easy to make at home. There are many butterfly pea flower benefits that are worth mentioning. It is good to drink the blue tea and use the flower extract for cooking. The butterfly pea flower extract is now widely used in skincare products, food colouring and culinary purposes.

To make a herbal tea infusion, we steep the flowers of the butterfly pea in hot water for several minutes. The deep blue hue gives the tea a unique and interesting colour. The butterfly pea flower tea has a subtle sweet flavour. By adding a few drops of lemon juice to the tea, the colour will change to purple. The change in the pH level of the tea causes this. Butterfly pea flower tea is said to reduce stress.

The butterfly pea flower contains naturally occurring polyphenols and flavonoids. Flavonoids are antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation, itching and irritation on skin that causes redness. The anti-glycation properties of the butterfly pea flower slow down skin ageing.

This amazing flower contains anthocyanin, which increases blood flow in the scalp, strengthening hair follicles. We consider it one of nature’s most effective ingredient for promoting hair growth and darkening hair naturally.

Butterfly Pea Flower Benefits in Skincare

They used the flower extract as an ingredient in skincare – they easily absorbed it through the skin. Some of the butterfly pea flower benefits in skincare include:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Soothing
• Boost collagen and elastin
• Antioxidant
• Astringent
• Improves skin health
• Enhances the skin barrier
• Reduces the aging of skin