Making Natural Milk Soap - Casey Makela.pdf

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Making Natural Milk Soap

excerpted from

Milk-Based Soaps

by Casey Makela

CONTENTS

Introduction

A Glance Back

Milk: The Natural Cosmetic

Not All Milk Is Created Equal

Making Molds

Working with Lye

Preparing the Milk

Basic Equipment

Let’s Make Soap!

Additional Soap Ingredients

Selecting a Scent

Specialty Recipes

Preserving Milk-Based Soaps

Packaging the Final Product

Introduction

Soapmaking is a blend of science and art. Once you have mastered the technique of

mixing fats and alkalis to make soap, you can unleash your imagination. Learn the

basics of soapmaking, then experiment with colors, shapes, scents, and textures to

create one-of-a-kind handicrafts.

Soap is created when a fat is mixed with an alkali. When the two ingredients

combine, a chemical reaction occurs. This reaction is known as

saponification.

Soap can be made with either animal or vegetable fats. In this bulletin, vegetable

fats are used, since they complement the gentle nature of milk-based soaps. The alkali

used most often in home-based soapmaking is sodium hydroxide. It’s commonly called

caustic soda or lye. This bulletin uses the term

lye.

Milk has long been revered as a cosmetic ingredient. It’s an excellent moisturizer

and has been heralded throughout the ages as a skin softener that even the most

delicate skin types can trust. Milk makes soap richer, creamier, and less drying to the

skin.