Goat's milk soap can be made at home.
Goat's milk soap is nourishing to your skin and feels good on your body. Making it at home using a cold process method, however, can be difficult if you are not an experienced soap maker. Lye is typically used to make goat's milk soap and it can be dangerous if mishandled. Using the melt and pour method of soap making does not require special equipment or extra precautions. It's an easy way to make your own goat's milk soap at home.
Materials
You will need to purchase a slab of goat's milk soap base. You can find this at a number of online soap suppliers. You will also need access to a microwave, a large microwave-safe bowl, a spoon, essential oil or fragrance oil, coloring (if desired), cooking spray and soap molds. The essential oils, coloring and soap molds are available at most craft stores, as well as at online suppliers.
Method
Before you start melting the soap, spray your soap mold with cooking spray. This will make it easier to remove the soap once it is cooled. Set the molds aside. Cut the slab of soap base into chunks. Place the chunks into your microwave-safe bowl and melt them in the microwave at 30-second intervals. Be sure to stir the soap every time the microwave stops. It doesn't heat evenly, so stirring the soap base will help disperse the heat.
When it s completely melted, add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of fragrance oil per pound of soap, if desired. You may also leave it unscented. Then add in soap coloring if you do not wish to leave it the natural color. Stir the soap again and pour it into your prepared soap molds. Let the soap cool at room temperature. It will harden as it cools. Then carefully pop the soap out of the molds. Your soap is ready to be wrapped for gifts or stored in a container for your own personal use.
Benefits
Goat's milk soap is not inexpensive, but it does not dry out your skin like many cheaper commercial soaps that contain chemicals. Goat's milk is moisturizing and rinses clean off your body. It can help lessen the problems associated with psoriasis, eczema and other dry skin ailments. The pH level of goat's milk is similar to the pH of your own skin. It acts as a neutralizer, helping to ward off bacteria and other contaminants.
Considerations
Melt and pour soap bases contain water as part of the formula. It is not recommended that soap bars be left out unwrapped after they have been cooled and unfolded. Wrapping the entire bar of soap in plastic wrap will help avoid shrinkage caused by evaporating water.
Tags: soap molds, goat milk, milk soap, milk soap, soap base, your skin
