by: James Pickavance

Goats’ milk is rich with nutrients like proteins, vitamin A, B12, B6, E, beta casein, and minerals. Skin absorbs beta caseins easily and helps in rapid hydration of the dry skins. Goats’ milk helps in moisturizing and soothing the skin as it is natural emollient.

It can make soap creamy, moisturizing, as well as lovely. More over goats’ milk will lower the Ph value of soaps, so that it becomes skin friendly. Goats’ milk soaps are effective for acne treatment as well as other problems of skins. With these qualities, goat milk soaps have positives for regular use.

One can easily make goat milk soap at home. You might be wondering how to make goat soap at your home.

For soap making goats’ milk soaps, milk is used as either liquid milk or powdered milk. It is easier to buy powdered goat milk from food stores. Use either pure milk or equal quantity of water and milk. There is hot process and cold process for making soap with liquid milk.

Two ounces of glycerine, three cups of goats milk, two teaspoon of borax, six and half ounces of lye, one and half pounds of fat etc makes a simple recipe for goats milk soap. Like this, various recipes are there for making goat soaps.

Melt and pour method is widely used for making goat milk soaps. You can buy both bases of pour soap as well as goats milk melt. Decide the recipe for the soap. Decide the type of molds for using.

Decide the shape of the soap that you want to make. Once you stock the goats melt milk as well as base for pour soap, you can look for colours and fragrances for the soap.

It is important that you follow the recipe for goat soap making. Using Vaseline, grease the molds properly so that soap does not stick after it sets. Melt the fat and cool it up to temperature range of eighty-five and ninety-degree Celsius. Pour lye into the paper cup, and then add goat milk. Slowly keep adding the lye. Mix the solution with hand mixer.

Chemical reaction will change the colour of milk to golden one, and the mixture becomes hot. So let the mixture to cool up to eighty-five degrees. To this mixture add glycerine, oatmeal, borax and mix well with the hand mixture for at least fifteen minutes.

Then keep it to rest and then mix at regular intervals of five minutes. Until noticeable changes takes place in consistency keep continuing the above process.

Pour the mixture of soap into the molds and allow it to set. Cover the top part of the molds with cheesecloth. For 24 hours, keep this soap at room temperature, which must be constant.

Remove the cloth off the top of molds and then take the soaps out of it. If the molds used is larger one, cut the soap into equal sized bars.

It is better to cure the soap by the air-drying method for a period of four to six weeks before using.

This formula is ideal for elbows, knees, and other problem areas that seem especially rough and dry.  As your rub the cream into your body, your hands will benefit, as well.  It can also be used as a massage cream.

1/4 cup (59 ml) cocoa butter

1/4 cup (59 ml) sweet almond oil

1/4 cut (59 ml) olive oil

5 to 6 drops essential oil (if desired)

Combine all the ingredients in a double-boiler and warm them until the cocoa butter is completely melted.  Remove from the heat and stir until the mixture is cool and starts to gel; then allow it to rest as it finishes setting up.  When it’s cool, the mixture should be creamy.  If it separates, then use a hand mixer on low speed and beat until it’s smooth.  Store in a decorative container.  If it’s kept in very cool temperatures, this cream will need to be reheated before using.

Shelf life is 3 to 4 months.

by: Abigail Beal

Indulge yourself and make your own bubble bath. Wouldn’t it be nice to relax into a bubble bath that you’d created? Making bubble bath is simple & fun. They can also make wonderful gifts for friends and loved ones for the holidays or other special occasions.

The ingredients used to make bubble bath can be found in most large grocery stores or health food stores. You can also find all of the ingredients online. They are inexpensive.

One of the benefits of making your own bubble bath is that you know exactly what is in it. If you are allergic to anything, you can be certain it is not in your bubble bath.

Another benefit to making your own bubble bath is that you know all of the ingredients are fresh and natural. There is no concern about a product that was left on the shelf for months. Another benefit is that you can be certain that your product is environmentally conscious and that it does not promote animal testing.

Bubble bath is a wonderful inexpensive way to treat yourself. Supplies are easy to find and you can create a bubble bath suited exactly to your personal tastes and needs.

An important ingredient in bubble bath is essential oil. Essential oils add the scent to your bubble bath. Use these sparingly, as you only need to use several drops to get a pleasant effect. Many essential oils should not be ingested orally, so be sure to read the directions. There are also some essential oils such as marjoram that should never be used by pregnant women. You can research any essential oil at the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy www.naha.org. Also look in aromatherapy books and ask questions at the health food store when buying essential oils.

Some essential oils are known to be relaxing and soothing. The most popular include lavender, sandalwood, marjoram, frankincense, myrrh, rosewood and chamomile. These essential oils will calm you down, relax you and help you go to sleep.

Other essential oils will uplift and energize you. Peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus and lemon oil are all oils that will brighten your day and are good to use during the day. Eucalyptus oil is especially good if you have a cold because it will break up your cold’s congestion.

To soften your skin, consider adding either coconut or almond oil to your bubble bath concoctions. Coconut oil has a wonderful nutty and floral fragrance to it. Almond oil is virtually unscented. Adding a half a cup of either almond oil or coconut oil to your bubble bath will soften your skin tremendously. This is a great addition for your bubble baths for the winter months.

Store your bubble baths in a nonbreakable container. The materials you use to make bubble baths can “keep” for awhile. You can store your bubble bath on a shelf in your bathroom or bedroom for easy access.

Personalized bubble baths make an excellent gift. You can find many decorative plastic containers at your local art store. For decorative effect you can add either marbles or seashells to the bottom of the container. If you are giving bubble bath to a child or teenager, consider adding a small amount of glitter. Do not add food coloring because it can stain people temporarily. Tie your container with a pretty bow or even a piece of tulle.

When giving bubble bath as a gift, consider adding some other bath related items. Give bath mitts or a big yellow rubber duck. Your friend or loved one will appreciate such a thoughtful and personalized gift.

Whether you are making your bubble bath for yourself or for someone special – your bubble bath is really a treat to enjoy. Here are some recipes for bubble baths to inspire you and to get your started:

Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath

This bubble bath has lavender and patchouli oils to relax you before bedtime. Use soft music and lighted candles in your bathroom for a soothing effect.

• 6 drops of lavender oil
• 3 drops of patchouli oil
• 1 quart of distilled water
• 1 bar of castille soap. (4 oz. Bar)
• 4 ounces liquid glycerin

Directions: mix the water, soap and glycerin together and stir. Now add your essential oils to the mixture.

Cold Season Bubble Bath

This bubble bath will help you breathe easier, with eucalyptus oil to ease the cold congestion. This is perfect for the cold season.

• 6 drops of eucalyptus oil
• 3 drops of spearmint oil
• 3 drops of peppermint oil
• 1 quart of distilled water
• 1 bar of castille soap. (4 oz. Bar)
• 4 ounces liquid glycerin

Directions: mix the water, soap and glycerin together and stir. Now add your essential oils to the mixture.

Pure Sunshine Bubble Bath

This citrusy bubble bath will cheer you up and energize you. Perfect for a morning bath or use after exercising.

• 6 drops of orange oil
• 4 drops of grapefruit oil
• 3 drops of lemon oil
• 1 quart of distilled water
• 1 bar of castille soap. (4 oz. Bar)
• 4 ounces liquid glycerin

Directions: mix the water, soap and glycerin together and stir. Now add your essential oils to the mixture.

Love Potion Bubble Bath

This bubble bath will put you in a romantic mood. All of the ingredients are considered known aphrodisiac – so look out!

• 6 drops jasmine oil
• 3 drops rose oil
• 3 drops vanilla oil
• 6 drops ylang ylang oil
• 1 quart of distilled water
• 1 bar of castille soap. (4 oz. Bar)
• 4 ounces liquid glycerin

Directions: mix the water, soap and glycerin together and stir. Now add your essential oils to the mixture.

About The Author

Abigail Beal a.k.a. “the Gift-wrap Goddess” teaches gift wrap in suburban New York. She is the author of 2 ezines: GiftWrapGoddessWraps and CreativeCraftsTeachers.

by: Sherry Frewerd

I don’t know about you, but I’m as hooked on bath and body products as I’m going to get! I can’t pass the aisle at Wal-Mart without taking a look. Trips to the mall have become half hour events in the Bath and Body store. Gift buying for female friends and family is now a much anticipated outing because I can wander over to the bubble bath and lotion and pick up a little something extra for myself while I’m buying their present!

Now that there are private label bath and body product businesses online, the adventure never ends. I have found some of the most wonderful products from small, online specialty shops that can’t be found in stores or malls. Many of these darling businesses, such as ‘Marlo Quinn’ and others like it, hand-make and design their own soaps, lotions, bubble baths and other personal care products, most using all-natural, or mostly natural ingredients.

Ever wonder if you could make some of your own bath and body products at home? I know, most of you will audibly laugh at the idea of even having the time to take a bubble bath, much less actually making something you’d want to put in your bath water and sit in! Ok, I get it. You’re busy. But just imagine that you have a few minutes one weekend and get the ingredients together to make your own deliciously scented, natural spa products. Wouldn’t that leave you with a warm sense of accomplishment and ultimately a warm, frothy bubble bath or scrubby facial mask?

Let’s assume you go with option number two, and make a date with yourself to create something wonderful. Hey, you could even go as far as getting together some like-minded (bath product enthusiasts) friends, chill some good wine and make a party out of it! Everyone can take home their creations and report back later as to the overall effect and results. I can make a party out of just about anything these days.

So, here is an easy and yummy smelling home-made soap recipe to get you started and in the mood for more. You’ll want to gather your ingredients a few days in advance. Have fun!

‘A’ is for Apple Soap
4oz. clear, unscented glycerine soap
1 Tablespoon liquid soap
1 teaspoon liquid glycerine
1/2 teaspoon Apple Fragrance Oil
2 drops Red Food Color
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Melt soap in small pan over low heat. Add Liquid soap and glycerine and stir well gently Add fragrance, color and cinnamon. Stir and let stand a couple minutes, until you see it start to thicken and the cinnamon is mixed evenly. Pour into molds such as muffin tins or character candy or soap molds. Allow to set completely and store in zip lock storage bags.

When the soaps are all set, they make great little gifts for special occasions. How cute would they be as a ‘Teacher Gift’ at Christmas time, especially if you use ‘apple’ molds. There are more home-made recipes and ideas at ‘Natural You Mineral Makeup and Skincare.com.’

About The Author

Sherry Frewerd publishes websites on various subjects from crock pot recipes to mineral makeup to toddler learning. Take a moment to visit http://naturalyoumineralmakeup.com for some helpful and fun natural remedies, tips and product suggestions. Forget the Botox, talk to Mother Nature today!

by: Eve Gray

My niece gave me some bath bombs as a gift. I loved them and decided to learn how to make them. Once I learned how to make them, some people wanted to order them so I decided to open a small home-based business.
This is the process that I used:

1. Find your passion.
I loved the way the bath bombs made my skin feel. I loved the pampering, relaxing, and good for the soul type feeling I got when I experienced my luxury bath.

 
2. Read everything you can.
I went to a lot of bookstores and bought many books on the subject. I visited the library and borrowed books. I read eBooks, browsed websites, looked at online databases, and anything else pertaining to my subject that I could find from authoritative resources.

3. Use the Internet and online databases that are available to you.
I used the Internet not only to learn how to make bath bombs but also studied many companies. I especially learned from soap supply and fragrance oil sites. Many sites list their recipes online for you. I visited other bath bombs sites to see how they operated. I reviewed the credentials of some of the people and realized there are plenty of online folks willing to help.

4. Get yourself a mentor and track your successes.
I was lucky, my niece taught me many things about oils, properties of ingredients, labeling, packaging, reputable companies, and marketing ideas. Many sites have FAQ or a contact us section that you could use if you don’t have a mentor. Keep notes and track your successes so you remember what works for you.

5. Refine your skill and test your product.
My family and friends agreed to use my product. I wanted feedback to know that
I was making a quality product and that no one had any trouble with the ingredients irritating their skin. I tried and adapted many recipes until I perfected a process that worked for me. I used many bath uglies before I finally learned but thank goodness they still worked the same as the pretty ones. I practiced shipping and packaging to distant relatives and friends and made sure that a quality product survived the shipping process.
Even with some breakage, the quality was still there.

6. Local county and State assistance.
I went to the local Chamber of Commerce and had a class there. I studied information
and decided to apply for a Doing Business As (D.B.A.) at our local courthouse. I applied as a Domestic Limited Liability Company through Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth and for a Sales Tax License through the Michigan Department of Treasury.

7. Store and organize your websites.
Backflip is the site that I use to store and organize my websites. I set up categories for companies, ingredients, colorants, mentor tips, practice ideas, recipes, and wiki.

8. Use friends, family, and templates to set up your business keeping records.
Free templates were used to create invoices. I adjusted mine to collect for Michigan taxes and add the shipping costs. My friend helped me set up some spreadsheets for orders, expenses, and charts. I created folders as documents for lists, line fragrances, retired fragrances, fragrances to be considered, labels, etc. My daughter designed packing slips for me and helped me select fragrances and names for the bath bombs. I keep these documents in a 3 ring binder with plastic pocket protectors for collecting invoices and receipts. I printed my own business cards with Avery stock and my computer.

9. Register for a domain name, build a website, and consider a wiki.
I used Yahoo to register for a domain name and make a starter webpage. I used geocities and my email provider to create more elaborate websites. All sites have my email as the way to contact me for orders or inquiries. The template provided for the website worked fine for me. It listed my mission, information, product, news, and related links. Customers order through email, I email them an invoice, they pay with a check (no charge cards), the check clears, and the bath bomb order is shipped using flat rate USPS boxes. I recently created a wiki and am learning how to use that.

10. Enjoy.
I have enjoyed creating BBE. I am still learning but thought I would share the process this far in case someone could benefit with turning their own hobby into a passion. I learned from so many people and wanted to pass it on to others.

About The Author

Eve Gray is a School Library Media Specialist that resides and works in Michigan. She created Bath Bombs by Eve LLC as a home-based business for homemade bath bombs.
http://home.comcast.net/~bathbombsbyeve/BBE.HTML

by: Katherine Durkes

If you think about making your own spa products - such as lotions, body washes, and exfoliating scrubs - you probably think it sounds difficult. It probably brings to mind lots of weird ingredients, chemicals, and slaving away over a hot vat of goo for hours.
After this article, you’ll know that nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, using my method (which I call The Easy Way), making your own bath and body products takes less time than going to the mall, and you get twice the quality of skin care.

The Two Ways Of Making Products - Hard and Easy
There are two ways to make your own bath and body products - The Hard Way, and The Easy Way. The Hard Way means investing a lot of time in books and trial-and-error in your kitchen, and a lot of money in ingredients. Often, you need patience and perseverance as you attempt to make a basic lotion or liquid soap, but it doesn’t come out as well as you’d hoped. Heck, you didn’t even get to the fun part, which adding the scent and color!

The Hard Way Takes Time and Practice
The Hard Way is what is taught in soapmaking classes, websites, and books. It can be fun and rewarding because of the natural ingredients and the high-quality products that result. Shea butter lotions… aloe body washes… If you are prepared to invest the time and money, and you have a lot of patience, The Hard Way does pay off. You get wonderfully moisturizing products in your favorite fragrances - even hard to find ones - that are much better than Bath and Body Works.
The problem is, The Hard Way is often incredibly discouraging to beginners. As they pour their failed body wash down the bathtub drain, most beginners start to wonder if it’s really worth the trouble. Sooner or later, they go back to the mall and pay too much for what is essentially drugstore-quality products in fancy bottles and scents.

Beginners Can Master The Easy Way
The Easy Way of making bath and body products is, well, easy! With The Easy Way, you get all the benefits - the natural ingredients, the high-quality skin care products, and your favorite scents - for only 10% the work. The Hard Way is like baking a fancy Julia Child cake recipe, but The Easy Way is more like making a cake mix.
The Easy Way uses professional unscented product bases (also called "cosmetic bases") that are specially manufactured for this purpose. These bases are made with natural ingredients, such as shea butter, avocado oil, aloe, and goats’ milk, so you still get high quality skin care, the same as if you had made the bases yourself with The Hard Way.

Quickly Make Lotion, Shower Gel, Shampoo, Scrub
You can get unscented bases for almost any liquid product you can think of: body lotion, massage cream, bath oil, shower gel, bubble bath, salon-quality shampoo and conditioner, body scrub, hand soap, and face wash.
Customize High Quality Unscented Products With Your Own Ingredients.
To these basic products, you add your own fragrance, color, and other special ingredients, such as silk proteins and botanical extracts. You can even experiment with natural anti-aging ingredients such as carrot seed oil, green tea extract, and collagen. These ingredients are what makes your products unique!

Just Like The Professionals
If you compare three bottles of shower gel from Bath and Body Works, The Body Shop, and Origins, you will see a lot of similarities in their first few ingredients. That’s because they’re all taking a basic body wash and making their own improvements on it, just like you can with The Easy Way.

About The Author

Katherine Durkes is an experienced teacher of bath and body. She runs a popular website on how to make bath and body products, as well as the Yahoo Group "Home Bath & Body." Her first e-book, "The Fast Guide To Making Bath Bombs (& Fizzies)" has over 10,000 downloads and has been featured on About.com and in Ready Made Magazine.

Lavender Perfume

• Gentle Facial Cleanser
• Gentle Facial Scrub
• Gentle Honey Cleanser
• Homemade Face Scrub
• Honey & Lemon Face Scrub
• Honey Oatmeal Facial
• Kiwi Cleanser for Normal or Dry Skin
• Strawberry & Oat Exfoliating Mask
• Yogurt Walnut Face Scrub