Lifestyle Choices

Making soap from scratch is a complicated and time-consuming business, and for most people, whose lives are full and busy, far too involved and difficult — even dangerous if you are not an expert, as an alkaline can burn the skin as badly as acid. So leave soap-making to the experts and rather choose a plain soap which suits your skin and grate it. You can then add herbs, oatmeal, honey etc, using the recipes below as a guide. They are quick and easy to make and have been tested and proved suitable for most skin types. Experiment on your own (always test with care) for you will get infinite satisfaction and pleasure out of making your own beauty preparations.

Honey and Lemon Dry Skin Soap

This is a nourishing soap for dry skin, and is particularly good for legs and feet.

500 ml (2 cups) grated plain soap

125 ml (1/2 cup) honey

25 ml (2 tbsp) finely grated lemon skin or rind 12,5 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice

5 ml (1 tsp) oil of lemon

Use the same method as for the Rich Moisturising Soap.

Soft Herb Soap

This is a jelly-like soap that should be kept in a jar beside the wash basin. I use it for washing my hands frequently and, as a potter, when my hands get very rough and sore it has been my salvation many a time.

250 ml (1 cup) borax

500 ml (2 cups) grated plain soap

25 ml (2 tbsp) rosemary

25 ml (2 tbsp) lemon thyme

25 ml (2 tbsp) sage

25 ml (2 tbsp) lemon verbena

250 ml (1 cup) comfrey leaves, chopped

enough water to cover the herbs, approx 375-500 ml (11/2-2 cups) 5 ml (1 tsp) rosemary oil

Place the herbs in a stainless steel pot (never use aluminium) and bring to the boil with the lid on. Remove from the stove and stand until cool. Strain. Grate the soap and place it in the top of a double boiler over gently simmering water.

Dissolve the borax in the herbal infusion and add to the soap, a little at a time. Stir gently until the soap has melted. Add a little essential oil, blend well, and pour into a screw-top jar.

As this soap contains so many herbs, it will not keep indefinitely but if it is kept well closed, it will keep a little longer. It is so easy to make, however, that you should use it lavishly and make fresh batches frequently.

I often change the herbs during the year as the mood takes me and the experiments are great fun. Try the following: elder flowers and leaves, lavender flowers and leaves, scented geranium leaves, myrtle flowers and leaves, sour fig leaves, chamomile flowers and leaves, bergamot flowers and leaves, marjoram flowers and leaves, lemon skin and leaves, orange blossom, calendula flowers, jasmine flowers, borage flowers and leaves, hypericum flowers.

Comfrey, incidentally, is very soothing so always try to include it in your ingredients. In fact, this list includes many healing, soothing herbs, and you will have to test your own to you’re your favourites.

Herb and Oatmeal Soap

This soap is the only one I make from caustic soda. So many of the students who attend my cosmetic workshops at the Herbal Centre ask for this recipe that I couldn’t possibly leave it out. They seem to enjoy the satisfaction of making their own soap in the old-fashioned way:

NB Do not make this soap while children are around. I find it safer to use the caustic soda outside so that the fumes are dissipated. Do not lean over the bowl and inhale, and make sure to wear long sleeves and rubber gloves as the caustic soda burns. Should a drop fall on your skin, wash it off immediately with cold water.

50 g (2 oz) fresh herb, eg rosemary, lemon verbena, comfrey, elder, lavender, scented geranium, finely minced

150 ml (¹/4 pt) boiling water

15 ml (3 tsp) caustic soda

300 ml (1/2 pt) almond oil

100 g (4 oz) coconut oil

12,5 ml (1 tbsp) glycerine

25 ml (2 tbsp) fine oatmeal

10 ml (2 tbsp) essential oil, eg rosemary, lemon verbena etc

Line 2 or 3 small soap dishes or bowls with clingwrap, thin tinfoil, waxed paper or (my favourite) a piece of fine material wrung out in water.

Pour the boiling water over the chopped herb and infuse for 20-30 minutes. Strain into a glass or china bowl, then very carefully stir in the caustic soda (I sprinkle in a little at a time). Leave until lukewarm. Put the oils and the glycerine into an enamel or stainless steel pot and gently warm to dissolve. Then very carefully pour the oil and glycerine mixture into the herb and caustic soda mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until it thickens (about 15-20 minutes). If you have an electric beater, put it on to the lowest speed. The stirring/beating is essential as there is a chemical reaction between the ingredients which makes the ’soapiness’.

Gradually stir in the oatmeal, herb and the essential oil. Pour into the lined and prepared moulds, cover with a clean cloth and allow to set for 2-3 days. When the soap is set take it out of the mould, wrap it in fresh wax paper and leave to mature in a cool, dry cupboard for 2-3 weeks.

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