Soap Colors

The Gourmet Soap Chef  likes to design custom soap using beautiful colorants. Therefore, we only use colorants that are on the FDA Approved list.:

Annatto (no restrictions)
Beta-carotene (no restrictions)
Caramel (no restrictions)
Chromium hydroxide greens (no restrictions)
Iron oxides (no restrictions)
Manganese violet (no restrictions)
Mica (no restrictions)
Titanium dioxide (no restrictions)
Ultramarines: blue, green, pink, red and violet (no restrictions)
Zinc oxide (no restrictions)

Per the above list, we particularly like to use "mica" powders in our soaps because it’s non-toxic and comes in a variety of over 70 colors from 7 color groups: (yellow, orange, red, brown, green, blue and Neutral). Mica makes up about half of most mineral makeup. Mica is a mineral and is used in cosmetic make-up because it’s translucent, and keeps the skin glowing and healthy. So, if it's good enough for the cosmetic make-up used by most women/men (especially in the movie industry), it's good enough for our soap...plus it's FDA approved.
Enjoy the Decadence..your skin will thank you! http://www.gourmetsoapchef.com/

Is your skin clean?

Your skin is on duty protecting your body every minute of the day. It’s also your first line of defense against infections and attacks on your well being. In order to help your skin stay nourished, soft and supple, you really have to take care of your skin (this rule applies to males and females alike). If you want to prevent wrinkles from controlling your skin now and in the future, you should be using a soap made with olive oil or aloe vera. These two ingredients also help control skin cancer (from sun bathing). The aloe vera will heal your skin and the olive oil will help moisturize and nourish your skin.

One of the problems to clean skin is this: many people don’t maintain proper hygiene. They wake up in the morning, put their clothes on and go out into the street. By mid-day, the bacterium on their skin begins to multiply and turn into something called “bad odors”. Remember, your skin is the largest organ covering your body. It covers you from head to toe to help your body control your defense system against germs. If your skin is clean…you’ll be healthy.

So how can you keep your body healthy, when all the commercial soap companies are putting fats, chemicals and the like in their moisturizing bars, and you're using those commercial bars? Easy…start shopping for and using handcrafted custom soap bars that are pure and organic in nature. Our soaps bases are made with vegetable oils and contain no animal by products, detergents or filler such as wax or alcohol. High quality cosmetic grade colorants are used to create true colors for hue blending. In addition, all of our soap bars are CUSTOM made to order, and no two bars are alike. Small imperfections in our soaps are not flaws, but bring out the handcrafted quality of custom made soap. We also use 100% pure essential oils for constant aroma...as well as FDA cosmetic approved fragrance oils in today's popular aromas. So what are you waiting for? Clean your skin...then Enjoy the Decadence...your skin will thank you!!
 Blogged by: The Gourmet Soap Chef: www.gourmetsoapchef.com

Translucent (clear) soap bars

Are you trapped in a world that only uses opaque solid rectangular bars of soap? Do you think about the soap you're using... or do you just get up in the morning, jump in the shower, grab the nearest bar of soap and go for it? Everything you put on your skin is absorbed immediately. Why would you not want to think about the soap you're putting on your skin?

Many people use expensive lotions to help combat the dryness from the commercial  detergent soaps they use. If you have the money to buy expensive lotions...more power to you. But I would like to suggest a "custom" translucent soap bar. These custom soaps smell good, they are attractive and can be obtained in many colors and fragrances.

But most people don't want to spend a lot of money on soap. But they will spend a lot of money on clothing, shoes and hair. They would rather use a detergent based commercial soap bar, instead of investing in their skin by  using a great custom  bar of soap.

Have you ever said to yourself...today I'm going to go soap shopping?  If you haven't...you should. Your skin deserves to be treated with respect because you won't get another skin for your body. You're stuck with the one you have. Sure, you can exfoliate the dead skin cells from your skin to give it a glow...but how many people in this economy can afford a spa visit every morning?

There are many custom translucent glycerin soaps on the internet. Do yourself a favor...next time shop for soap... instead of clothing or shoe shopping. Enjoy the decedance...your skin will thank you!!  (This blog brought to you by The Gourmet Soap Chef) http://www.gourmetsoapchef.com/

Are you really using soap or bar detergent?

Next time you buy a bar of soap, note whether the word "soap" is even used on the labeling or packaging. Much to my surprise, many "soaps" on the market aren't really soaps at all. Rather they are detergent bars. Only the substance that has been created through saponification may be called soap. All other substances will be called bars, as in cleaning bar, family bar, or moisturizing bar. (hmmmmm...something to think about).

Soap Bases & soap additives - Part II

As I mentioned in part I of this series, there are loads of additives on the market that can be added to soap bases. Additives are the ingredients that are used to really give a custom bar of soap that custom feel and flair. Some additives are best added to soap in liquid form or granulated power. But some people really want to see and feel the actual ingredient on their skin, and inside the soap bar as well. I personally have no preference...it really depends on the additive. Below are great additives for the soap bar:

Lavender flowers-lavender has been used for centuries for scent and truly adds a nice touch to soaps. Finely ground lavender leaves as well as lavender essential oil makes for a tryly lovely scent. Very relaxing.

Lemon peel-The oil in the peel is antibacterial in nature and contains high levels of vitamin C. Lemons are renowned as a food and cosmetic ingredient and some think are medicinal as well.

Oatmeal-has long been used to soothe sensitive or irritated skin. Works also as a great skin exfolliant to remove dry skin cells.

Pumice-we are all familiar with the traditional punice stone. But finely ground, pumice can be added to soap bars...but I would use it on hands and feet only, and not the body. Not recommended tor sensitive skin.

Rosemary-often used in cooking but can be used in a soap bar because it's very fragrant and can have a mildly astringent effect on the skin. I recommend using it in powder form.

Rose water-is an emollient (thick) liquid made from commercial rose oil; it lends to soap its gentle fragrance, softening properties and in some soap recipes...color.

Sage-is very pungent and has many antibacterial, astringent, and antibacterial qualities. Used in solid or oil form I like to mix it with palmarosa oil because the fragrance is fabulous.

Sweet Birch oil-has been used for years in Northern Europe to soothe skin afflictions such as eczema. In Scandinavia, people use birch twigs to flog their bodies after taking saunas. By jumping into icy water afterwards, they effectively trap the birch oil in their skin pores. I think it's easier to just include this oil into a soap bar.

Tea Tree oil-is definitely used for healing the skin. The aromas is very pungent, but when used in a soap bar, the smell becomes somewhat likea eucalyptus smell. Very strong scent. But has great medicinal properties when used in a steam shower.

Vitamin E oil-this oil is so powerful and great it can be used in undiluted form and has been used for centuries to soothe the skin and prevent wrinkles. People know about vitamin E...they just don't use it as often as they should. So if wrinkles are beginning to creep onto your face from sun or weather...use vitamin E!
more to come...

The Healing properties of handcrafted soap

There is plenty of evidence today about the healing properties of handcrafted soap. People that suffer from psoriasis, hand sensitive skin and eczema find instant relief when they switch to handcrafted soap. This fact is true because handcrafted soap is very mild and chemical free. The soap we manufacture is made from vegetable based oils such as coconut oil, olive oil as well as mango butter do not contain the harmful chemical found in commercial bar soaps that are sold on the market. Handcrafted soap is special because it contains Glycerin. Glycerin is a clear liquid that absorbs water from the air and is a key factor in keeping skin soft and healthy. It should be noted, glycerin is especially good for children because they also have delicate skin.

Lotions and skin creams have high contents of glycerin, because glycerin is the by-product that commercial soap makers often extract for resale for lotions and skin creams. They don't leave it in their commercial soap bars because they want the profits from reselling the glycerin. Since this is the case, that glycerin is better for your skin and our skin absorbs anything that is put on it...stop using caustic commercial skin soap and make the switch to pure glycerin. Enjoy the Decadence, your skin will thank you!

Soap Bases and soap additives-Part I

Additives are soap enhancers that not only change the overall look of a given soap, but which also lend their own special qualities to it. Soap enhancers range from honey, a fabulous skin softener, to aloe vera which has healing qualities for burns and skin abrasions. All additives give gourmet qualities to facial and body soaps.

Below are some additives and soap bases that may surprise you, but can be added to soap bars. But the benefits they bring to your to your skin, are well worth buying handcrafted soaps versus commercial soap bars. Below. I've listed a few additives as well as some soap bases. I will add more in blogs to come.

Almond Meal-acts to unclog skin pores and absorbe excess oil from the skin. The finely ground kernels of blanched almonds will gently exfoliate and give you baby soft skin.

Aloe Vera Gel-used alone (a piece cut directly from the plant), this gel will assist healing extremely quickly. When placed into a soap bar, the results are amazing. Your skin will radiate because all imperfections on your skin will disappear.

Avocado-the oils in this delicious fruit were used in cosmetics during ancient times. So if it's good enough for Cleopatra, it's good enough for the soap bars of today.

Carrots-high in vitamin A. When used as an oil i soaps the vitamin E comes forward to help stretch marks and other marks on your body. Results are not instant, but they promise to surprise you with continued use.

Cocoa butter-is an emollient and adds soothing properties to any soap. Many women use cocoa butter to erase stretch marks. It can also be used on burn scars. Using it as a pure soap bar not only makes your body feel extra soft, but it definitely will erase stretch marks on most body types.

Coffee-coffee grounds are reputed to remove kitchen odors from your hands. If you peel onions, cook fish or use garlic, coffee in a soap bar will remove odors immediately.

Cornmeal-cornmeal absorbs oil and if too much is used it can be mildly abrassive. But it will unclog skin pores and make your skin look radiant and "glowing".

Cucumbers-when liquified or used as an oil, acts as a mild gentle cleanser and astringent.

Glycerin-has no lyeor caustic properties, and is a sweet colorless by product that acts as a soothing skin emollient. It lathers really well. It's great for sensitive skin and for people that don't want fragrances in their soap bars. But it's too soft for the commercial soap bar because it contains absolutely no hardeners (stearic acid).

Honey-this sweet fragrant gel has beenused as an emollient for centuries and makes a great addition to soap bars.

More to come...

Handcrafted cold process soaps and LYE

Some soap companies on the internet are boasting they are "handcrafted" from scratch using a method called "cold process". So what is cold process, and what ingredients are included to make soap using this process. Well, before cold process will make soap bars...you have to add key ingredients: lye, animal fats and water. Lye? I've heard about lye... and according to ask.com, " Lye is an extremely caustic agent", and the soap maker has to be careful to have just the right concentration.

Too much lye would cause the soap to burn the skin, and too little will keep the soap from hardening. The word "caustic" is very scary. Why would I want to put that on my skin? No I wouldn't!

Many household products contain lye,( the chemical sodium hydroxide). Lye is a caustic, alkaline chemical, which means it dissolves sticky substances like fat, and has a high degree of reactivity with other materials. Lye, in a flake, granular, or liquid form, is very dangerous and can cause damage to surfaces and "people".

Lye is formed thru a process called Sponification (The process by which soap is formed). It occurs when fats and/or oils are combined with an alkali or LYE. After sponification, the fats and animal by products are often exposed to hydrogen which further hardens it. So yes...it's handcrafted soap, but looks what's in it...LYE. Do you really want that absorbed thru your skin?

I don't consider LYE to be a natural product that I want to work with, or have on my body. But...the decision is up to you. Do you want "handcrafted" cold process soap or do you want something better for your skin? The decision is up to you. Be careful!

Do you really know what's in your commercial soap bar?

What type of environmental footprint are you creating using commercial soap? What are the chemicals in a commercial bar doing to your skin? These are questions most people don't ask themselves, when they purchase a bar of soap from their local grocery store or department store. So let's answer question #2 first..what chemicals are in a commercial bar of soap? Well, there's...BHT which is a preservative and a common skin irritant, sodium stearate which is an emulsifier and is also used as a stabilizer in most plastics. stearic acid a hardner, coconut acid which is the sodium salt of coconut oil, titanium dioxide which is a whitner used in house paint, sodium isethionate which is a "BIG" word for "detergent", sodium chloride? we all know that is SALT, industrial cleaning products better known as trisodium EDTA (WOW), and let us not forget trisodium etidronate which is a preservative and chemical that's put in commercial soap to prevent soap SCUM. Soap SCUM (Yuk!!). Commercial soap also has this little beauty called sodium dodecylbenzonesylfonate which is a synthetic detergent as well as a skin irritant.By now you're probably saying..Is there more? Yes, there's more. How about sodium tallowate or cow fat, and let us not forget sodium cocoyl isethionate or synthetic detergent. Synthetic?...Yes synthetic...you read correctly.

That was question #2..now, let's answer question #1. What type of environmental footprint are you creating using commercial soap? Ans: You're washing your body with detergent each and everyday. Detergent is only good for one thing...and that's washing your clothes. Detergent strips your skin of natural oils. (that's why people buy expensive lotions to replace the oils).

Detergents are a petroleum based product like kerosene and gasoline. You take a bath every day lathering up thinking you're getting clean. Your skin is absorbing those chemicals..are you feeling sick? Could be your soap. So I guess the next question is this...do you love your skin and want to treat it with care... or do you want to stop putting detergent on your largest organ (your skin), and finally treat it with care and give it the decadence it deserves? Only you can answer that question. I have already told you most of the soap available is not really soap at all, but is detergent. The most common ingredient in conventional bar soap is tallow, beef fat, and lye. Ooh...sounds yummy...beef fat (yuk!!). Well those are the facts, I didn't make them up. If you want a solution to using commercial soap...here it is...glycerin or hand crafted soap. last Friday ·

Why you should use handcrafted soap

I'm the Gourmet Soap Chef and I'm located at http://www.gourmetsoapchef.com/
Many people still use commercial soap bars and probably never think twice about it. But there are some really big drawbacks to using commercial soap bars on your skin.

Many soap bars contain animal by products, detergents, fillers such as wax or alcohol...not to mention hardeners (that's why your soap bar is so dense). Using handcrafted soap eliminates excess film and buildup on your body that commercial soaps often leave behind...you can see the build-up with the ring that's left in your bath tub or your shower floor. (ugh!!) That's soap film...

I have some really good tips to help keep your skin soft and supple...the way it's suppose to be. The first handcrafted soap you should use is "Cornmeal Pore Cleansing". Yes, you read right...Cornmeal. Cornmeal is suitable for cleaning clogged pores because it's a gentle abrasive and stimulant. It imparts a nice straw coloring to a soap bar and is gentle to your skin. It's the first step you should try if you want to get your skin back to that "baby-butt smooth state".  If your skin is too sensitive for a gentle cornmeal cleansing, try our glycerin soap bars. end