How to use fresh avocado in homemade soap free recipe

Fresh Avocado in Homemade Soap

using the hot process method with recipe

The avocado is high in mono-unsaturated fats (good fats), and is able to absorb deeper into the skin.

These healthy fats help you to maintain the moisture level in your skin. Fresh avocado in homemade soap softens, hydrates and nourishes skin.

In light of the number of unhealthy ingredients in skin care products, a natural avocado homemade soap is a great addition to your skin care regime. This soap feels absolutely great on the skin. I have found it to help folks with skin problems like psoriasis and eczema by keeping skin hydrated, not stripping natural oils. 

These are my observations, not a medical statement.

Note: this recipe intended for those with prior knowledge of soap making and understanding of safety issues of working with lye.

Lye is caustic and dangerous, strict safety rules must be used.

Recipe for Avocado soap, using 40 ounces of oil
This is superfatted to 6%, and will give 
you a hard, moisturizing bar.

12 oz   Olive oil

12 oz   Coconut oil

12 oz   Palm oil

  4 oz   Avocado oil

15.2 oz   Water

  5.6 oz   Lye

1.25 oz to 2 oz fragrance oil, strength depends on fragrance 

Start with a half of a ripe avocado.

LEFT: Put 1/2 avocado into blender with 1 cup of water.

RIGHT: Blend until smooth. 
No lumps at all. You cannot put chunks of avocado into your soap! It must be completely smooth.


 Freeze pureed avocado.

When you are ready to make soap, take out avocado cubes. 

Measure your water and avocado.  I use no more than 3 oz of avocado in this recipe.

Your avocado is part of your water amount. So in this recipe the water amount is 15.2 oz, 

that means your water with avocado cubes added is 15.2 oz total.

Note: Using too much avocado in recipe will soften your soap. Stick to 3 oz or less. 

Store your left over avocado cubes in freezer for future soap.

Pour your lye crystals right into your water/avocado and stir until lye is dissolved.

Your oils/butters should already be melted in your crock pot on low.

Strain lye water into your oils if you think you did not get all your avocado smooth, no chunks.

   Stick blend as normal. 

(optional) :  Add fragrance or essential oil and stir well. 

Put into mold and allow to sit overnight.

You will get the most amazing, moisturizing soap! Enjoy!

Pumpkin Puree in Homemade Soap Recipe

      Updated: 9/16/16 - Yes, you can put real pumpkin into your homemade soaps!  It makes a lovely bar of rich, creamy goodness. Make your own puree from fresh pumpkins, or pumpkin from a can.

originally published 8/22/13 updated 9/16/16

 Warm, homey and with a scent reminiscent of crisp fall mornings and toasty evenings at home.

I used canned pumpkin puree, yes, the kind that you make pies from. This was pure pumpkin puree, not the variety with spices added.  I made this hot process method in a crock pot and added the pumpkin at trace with a TBL of  honey. Frozen fresh goats milk and Arizona rain water for my liquid. (You can use all water for this recipe if you choose.)

vintage pumpkin seed package

This makes a hard, bubbly, moisturizing bar of soap.

Rich and creamy.  Absolutely decadent!  The lather is light tan.  I put real spice lines of ginger, and just a touch of cinnamon and cardamon. (optional) Spices alone are not strong enough to give a good scent when the soap is done, so I added some pumpkin fragrance oil. The result is a heavenly smelling, decadent bar that just makes you feel good to use.  You will love it.

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 oz beeswax

2 oz castor oil

12 oz coconut oil

12 oz olive oil
12 oz palm oil

2 oz canned pumpkin

1 TBL warmed honey at trace (optional)  FYI ... honey darkens the color of your soap

1.5 oz  to 2 oz  fragrance oil added after the cook. Strength of scent is your choice. 

5.5 oz lye   (6% superfatted using SoapCalc ) Always use gloves and glasses when working with lye (sodium hydroxide). I recommend long sleeve shirt as well, and an apron.

15.2 oz of liquid  ( I used 5 oz of frozen goats milk and 10.2 oz water)
__________________________________________________________________________________
NOTE:  You do not have to use goats milk if you don't choose too. 
You can use buttermilk or cow milk.     Freeze it first. 

frozen milk cubes

Always freeze your milk in cubes, this keeps temps down so your milk does not scorch. Next add water to milk cubes so that your total amount of milk and water is 15.2 oz
Then slowly pour your lye crystals into frozen milk/water,
stir until dissolved. 
It will turn orange, this is normal when using milks.

Don't want to use milk in your recipe at all? No problem...
Simply use the full liquid amount of 15.2 oz as water. This does not change the rest of the recipe.

I've noticed that using purees in my HP soaps makes the soap take a bit longer to get done,
this is normal. Relax and read a book, but don't walk away from a crock pot of cooking soap!

Always run a soap recipe through a lye calculator before making it yourself.   Be safe.

If you don't want to make this fresh Autumn soap yourself, check out my etsy shop. 

    Enjoy,  Anna

Guest contributor Melissa G. on Homemade Rosewater

California Guest bath and beauty crafter Melissa G. has been busy collecting fresh rose petals from her sunny neighborhood. Before they dry up, she wanted to capture some of the natural goodness found in their satiny petals! Ahhhh........ rose water! 

 There is nothing so awesomely pure as homemade rose water. Gathered and steeped without much trouble at all, rosewater makes a name for itself in it's many uses.

photo by Melissa G.

In ancient times there is evidence of the women using it as a rinse to soften their hair.

It is said that Cleopatra used it as an ingredient in her face masks. In your natural made face masks, or clays, just substitute the liquid for rosewater.  It is good for all skin types.

The presence of vitamin C in roses speaks of it's antioxidant property to protect skin cells from damage which makes it great as a refreshing, uplifting face spritz, and natural toner for its soothing qualities and anti-inflammatory properties.

As a cleanser rosewater removes dirt and impurities from the pores leaving the skin hydrated.  Use it in homemade moisturizing lotion.

That said, rose water is pricey............ make it yourself, at home with your own fresh picked beauties!

And, when your lovelies do dry up, you can use them in homemade skin softening bath fizzy bombs as Melissa did.....

photo by Melissa G.

Or bath melt bombs made with natural oils.

Or pour directly into your bath water, and top off with fresh petals.....

An important ingredient in natural skin care, found right in your back yard...

Thanks Melissa !

Enjoy............ Anna

Gentle Facial Soap bar with Rosemary, Lavender and Bentonite clay

I've been working on an all natural facial soap bar for my teens. 

I don't like commercial soap with it's fillers, and harsh chemicals and absence of natural glycerin. 

My family needs a good gentle cleansing, moisturizing soap that will not dry out

 or irritate their already irritated skin.

Rosemary Lavender Facial Bar

First I followed David Fisher's advice on how to infuse rosemary in olive oil right in your crock pot.

It worked like a charm.

Fresh Arizona grown rosemary 

,

Rosemary infusing in my crock pot                                                                                  

Olive oil infused with rosemary, lovely green coloring                                                                                    

Additives to this soap:

Rosemary is a natural astringent and antioxidant.  It is an effective cleanser and detoxifier.

Olive oil naturally has high levels of antioxidants including vitamins A and E. Helps to renew and repair skin damage from free radicals. Naturally hypoallergenic. Nourishes and moisturizes skin.

Bentonite Clay is a powerful skin restorative formed from volcanic activity, in other words volcanic ash, and full of minerals necessary for healthy skin. It is known as a healing clay. Great for detoxing skin, good for oily skin but does not dry it out. Good for all skin types as well.  Makes a really creamy bar of soap. Smooth.

Lavender essential oil is such a soothing, gentle essential oil that packs a punch. Meaning,  it is highly effective. It will help clear the redness in the skin and as an antibacterial will act as a preventive to acne.

And it smells awesome! Blended with this infused rosemary it is a really lovely scent.

I also added castor oil to this recipe as it is a natural humectant and increases lather, creamy too.

Coconut oil for its super cleansing properties and lends hardness to the bar, antibacterial and antioxidant properties as well. A natural moisturizer. When absorbed into your skin, your skin becomes softer, smoother. Soothing to dry, irritated red skin. I love coconut oil.

Great latherer as you can see.  Creamy, smooth bar.  Scent is pleasing, not overpowering as some lavenders can be.   Leaves your skin with a cool feeling.  Very nice.

Enjoy......Anna 

Gardeners Moisturizing Soap Bowl and Nail Brush

For all the Gardeners in my life,  I made this pretty little bowl of soap rich in vitamin E, moisturizers galore, emollients, all natural oils known for their nourishing, soothing, skin calming and healing properties.

Essential oils of Lemongrass, Orange, Peppermint and Eucalyptus.

Topped off with Calendula petals which are beneficial to dry and damaged skin, as it's anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties promote healing and regeneration of skin.  Perfect for the gardener and outdoor worker to cleanse as well as soothe and moisturize their skin.

You simply wet the soft nail brush and scrub it across the top of the soap bowl creating a lather, then gently scrub nails and hands.

Smells like pure sunshine,   had to share this!

Easy 3 oil Soap Recipe, Cleansing and Moisturizing

Simple, affordable to make, great gentle cleansing, moisturizing natural soap bar recipe

.

I created this recipe for it's (1)  basic ease to make

(2)  affordability and availability of it's ingredients and

(3) most importantly it's great cleansing, moisturizing properties.

AND I used 2 Pringles cans for my molds,  so..... for all you would-be soapers who are wanting to try your hand at soaping but are fearful to get your feet wet, here is a great starting recipe, and no cost molds!

Love how easy these cans work as molds, just rip them open after soap hardens overnight 

and you have awesome soap logs to cut !

I get impatient and sometimes cut before my soap is dry enough, you can see the

results in picture below, just a few flaws that come from impatience!

I just can't seem to help myself, I just HAVE to see the soap cut !

This soap recipe lathers awesome !

Recipe: 

10 oz  Coconut oil  ( for a great lather, moisturizer )

17 oz  Olive Oil  ( don't have to use Extra Virgin, use regular, super moisturizing )

22 oz  Vegetable Oil  ( I use Crisco as it is soybean and palm oil, great cleansing, moisturizing )

6.5 oz  Lye  ( you can find this at Ace Hardware in the plumbing section, make sure it says 100% lye )

16 oz   Distilled water

Essential oil or fragrance oil of your choice and strength.  I used 25 drops of peppermint essential oil, this made a very subtle natural scent which is what my family likes.   Adapt fragrance to your own preference. 

You can find essential oils in most health food stores, natural grocers etc or online.  I get mine from Brambleberry.com or locally I buy the NOW brand. 

Read this post on how to make soap in your crockpot. Feel free to send questions in the comment box!

Enjoy nature's goodness,     Anna

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Spa Salt Bar

Salt Soap Bars.  A combination of natural soap, a sea salt bath, and salt scrub.
                                   Pure Home Spa Luxury !

Natural sea salt is rich in skin nourishing minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium and iodine.

As a skin benefit sea salt cleanses and detoxifies as well as increases blood circulation and helps in
restoring the Ph value of the skin.  It makes dry or rough skin really soft, smooth.
An added benefit is is relaxes skin muscles.

Dead Sea salt is salt that is extracted from the water of the Dead Sea which is a salt lake located
between Jordan and Israel.  The water there has 29% salt, compared to 4% in the oceans.

Dead Sea salt has tremendous therapeutic benefits as it is known to be effective in helping with
common skin ailments such as acne and psoriasis as well as reducing inflammation and improving
skin hydration.  It is also known to relieve allergic reaction by cleansing and detoxifying due to its
high concentration of bromide and magnesium.    It's minerals maintain skin moisture levels, nourish
the cells and are reported to help with fatigue!   It's mineral content far exceeds regular sea salt and
as such has more healing properties.

Dead Sea salt with its high magnesium level will sweat a little in a salt soap bar, so I combined it
with Mediterraneum Sea salt for a luxurious and highly effective spa bar.

There are a few different ways to make spa salt soap bars, this is just one.

With its lovely salt line consisting of the two sea salts and finely ground calendula and corn flowers,
this bar works great on your weary, dry feet and heels as an exfoliater and hydrator and soother.  
Olive oil and castor oil make up the body of this bar, blended in are pure essential oils of tangerine, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and a dash of patchouli.   This bar can be used as a lovely
shaving soap. Best used with warm to hot water to melt butters. Not a latherer.

Note:  sorry all bars of this limited edition soap have been sold

"Patchouli Rain" soap with pure Arizona rain water...a true spa-bar

Balmy, earthy, natural Patchouli blended with an all star cast of essential oils and fragrances: 

 Like soothing French Lavender and exotic Egyptian Jasmine, with a touch of Fir Pine.

Softened with delicate Musks and sweetened with pure Vanilla...and you have my new spa-bar

 "Patchouli Rain".  This soap is made with rain water, the softest water on earth!

I blended pure patchouli essential oil with a stunning fragrance from Brambleberry
called "Relaxing", that really makes a soothing, relaxing gorgeous scented bar.
The all natural oils and butters used to make this bar are olive oil, coconut oil,
grapeseed oil, shea butter, and a soybean/palm blend.
No parabens, formaldahyde, SLS's . Ever.

click to purchase Patchouli Rain

Enjoy !....Anna     

Easy Bath Bomb Recipe

Two main ingredients, plus a little essential or fragrance oil and spritz
with witchazel or rubbing alcohol and you have

adorable, bath fizzy bombs!

Photo by Rebekah Drennan

This recipe couldn't be any easier:

To make your desired amount of bath bombs you just need to remember the ratio
of ONE PART CITRIC ACID to
TWO PARTS BAKING SODA.
(for example: 1 cup citric acid and 2 cups baking soda)
Mix these 2 ingredients in a bowl, then drop in your desired amount of essential oil
or fragrance oil that is skin safe. Mix well, then spritz with witchazel or rubbing alcohol
until mixture holds together when you squeeze a palmful of it.
Put it into your bendable molds, press firmly. Allow to dry overnight.
These bath bombs will fizz delightfully in your tub as they soften your skin!

For a picture tutorial of other bath bomb recipes click here.

My neice made a lovely bed of ocean type scented bath salts to compliment her bath fizzy bombs. 

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Bath Fizzy Melts Recipe and Tutorial

  Scented Bath Oil Fizzy Bomb Melts......almond biscotti scented

             Just made these awesome little goodies for some Christmas treats for my girls.
Made with citric acid, baking soda, corn starch, grapeseed oil, specked with dried rose petals and oatmeal, and fragrance oil from Brambleberry called almond biscotti, (totally yummy warm scent, love it)  and spritzed with a little water to get it to harden, they fizzle away in your tub as your stress and weariness fizzles right away!
         

Bath Oil Melts  
1 cup baking soda
1 cup citric acid
1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup grapeseed oil (or olive oil, or sweet almond, or sunflower its your choice!)
1/2 tsp almond biscotti fragrance oil ( use your own strength and own fragrance choice) )
Dried rose petals (ground in my coffee grinder!!) for accent, optional
Spritzer of water

Put baking soda, citric acid, corn starch and bits of rose petal (optional) in a bowl.
Mix well. I used a small strainer to get it a finer mixture.

Add your oil of choice, and fragrance/essential oil.  (I used grapeseed for its lightness.)

Mix well.  Mix with your hands into a soft dough.   If crumbly, spritz sparingly with water and mix
well. This helps it to harden, it will fizzle slightly. NOT too much water here girls!

Sprinkle rose petals in mold before you put mixture in for added effect. (optional)

You can use just about anything to mold these goodies in as long as its bendable so you can pop
them out.  Or just mold into a ball by hand and let dry.

NOTE:  I tried spritzing  with witchazel and with alcohol as I use in my bath fizzy bomb recipes that do not have oil in them, and it did not work,  they didn't harden.

This makes a lovely bath oil melt. Soothing and soft.  Luxurious and pampering for your skin.

This is the mixture with all ingredients after I spritzed with water and mixed well.

Put it in your palm and squeeze.

If it holds together like this, it is ready to go in mold. Mine would not harden without that spritz of water.  I had left them in the mold overnight, and they were still oily and not hardening. I took them out of the mold, put them in a bowl, crumbled and spritzed with water.  I then re-molded them and let them sit over night and they were hard as a rock.  

                                                         

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Milk Bath Recipes: Luxury Spa-Baths at home!

                          Updated 10/6/17      Make your own MILK BATH, 4 free recipes!
                                       pure pampering luxury for  your the home-spa experience.

photo source flikr

Warm water from a spa or a bath helps to relax our bodies by warming muscles, allowing them to relax, as well as improve blood circulation. 

            If you can’t step into a spa for that much needed soak, turn your tub into your                      own personal spa with ingredients you probably already have.  

Surround the tub with candles, soft background music if you like, a good book, or simply just relax in the peaceful atmosphere as research shows that taking a warm bath an hour before bed can help you to sleep.

photo by Anna

              The home-spa-bathing experience is more than  unwind time.  It’s a great way to hydrate yourself and soak in skin loving natural ingredients that soothe, nourish and moisturize  your skin, aiding in elasticity, cell renewal, anti-aging and overall skin health.  Leaving you with a natural glow and general well being. 

Here are a few ideas to get you started....

·       The Milk Bath:

There are many variations of the milk bath.  The lactic acid in milk along with its fat and vitamin content is simply unparalleled.  It is soothing, nourishing and a gentle exfoliater that loosens the bonds that hold dry, 
dead skin cells allowing them to slough off. New skin 
cells are revealed and new skin cell growth is stimulated.

It will leave your skin refreshed and renewed, literally.   

           Recipe 1 :  Milk and Honey spa bath

1  ½  cups dry powdered milk or liquid milk.( Use full fat or lowfat, the
     higher the fat content the more nourishing and soothing to skin.

¼ cup baking soda (cleans, soothes, softens skin)

¼ cup Epsom salt  (magnesium rich, is great for your skin)

¼ cup warmed honey  (humectant, anti-inflammatory)

  

Use: Pour all ingredients under warm running bath water. You can also

 make up the dry ingreds in advance and store in airtight container.

 Recipe 2 :  Rose - Milk spa bath

1 ½ cups – 2 cups milk (dry or liquid) full fatted works best

2 – 3 cups homemade rosewater (simply steep rose petals like tea and strain. Use 1 cup dried petals or 2 cups fresh petals to 2 cups boiling water to steep)

A few drops of rose essential oil (optional for scent)

          Drop a few handfuls of fresh petals into the tub for the finishing touch,

          This is my personal favorite.

.

 Use: simply pour ingredients under running water.

 Recipe 3:  Oatmeal and Milk

1 ½  - 2 cups Milk (as above)

½ cup oatmeal finely ground ( grind in coffee grinder or bullet type)

    The finer you grind your oatmeal, the more it will suspend in

 your water, (which is what you want) this is called colloidal oatmeal. 

Use:  Pour milk and ground oatmeal under warm running bath water.

 Some will settle on the tub bottom, just stir around a bit. It  washes

 down the drain just fine.   Can be a bit slippery.    Colloidal oatmeal is

 great for itchy skin, dry skin, acneic, or oily skin. Soothing.

 Recipe 4:   Scented Milk Bath

1 ½ cups milk (powdered or liquid)

¼ - ½ cup cornstarch (anti-   inflammatory, soothing to skin)

¼ cup baking soda

**Essential oil of your choice 

Use:  Combine dry ingredients 

well.  Put them in a glass container

with a lid and add essential oil(s), shake to combine well.  Use 1 to 2 cups per bath.

** HOW to add essential oils to your bath water:
Mix 5-6 drops of essential oil into liquid whole milk, pour into tub water
or
Mix 5 drops essential oil into 1 TBL of carrier oil (such as sunflower,
grapeseed, olive, sweet almond, etc) pour under running water.

 Take a moment and check out my Face Book page and You Tube channel for
more free recipes and info on natural bath and body!

Enjoy,    Anna