Why Choose Natural Soaps?

There are many reasons to avoid commercial produced detergent bars that are commonly dressed up as “soap”.

For a start, the glycerine that is a naturally occurring by-product in the soap making process is removed by manufacturers and sold to other companies in the beauty industry as a lucrative side-line. Glycerine helps stop the skin drying out so it is a vital component of any product being put on your skin. Secondly, there are synthetic lathering agents used in commercial soap as well as other chemicals and artificial colours. At best they are just harsh on your skin, at worst exposure to some of these chemicals has been linked to cancer.

The skin is porous and absorbs creams, water and any substance that is put on it. We know it is bad for our health to consume manufactured and processed food, and the same can be said for using commercial soaps. Aside from the negative effects on our health, these chemically filled commercial soaps are bad for the environment too, filling the eco-system with pollutants and toxic substances.

The alternative is all natural, organic handmade soap that is good for your skin and kind on the environment. People think all ‘soap’ is bad for our skin - that is simply not true. It is the detergent style soap bars that are bad for our skin, the ones containing the chemicals and toxins. When looking to purchase a pleasant and natural soap, look for those that are made with pure or essential oils and fats. Any plants that have been used in the soap should be certified as organic and avoid anything with artificial colour or fragrances. The label will provide all the information you need so make sure you have a quick check over the ingredients list and product information found on it before purchase.

If any of you have noticed a difference between commercial and homemade natural soap bars, send in your comments here.

5 Reasons to Make your own Soap

You are in control of what goes in

If you don’t want to expose you or your family to harsh chemicals then making your own soap can guarantee they won’t be. You can control the ingredients used, the colour, the texture and smell as well as the ingredients that are included.

It makes a wonderful present

Homemade soap is a very thoughtful and nice present to give someone. Not only are they relatively cheap to make, they can be beautiful to look at and of course are a pleasure to use. They are a great item to fill your present drawer with too so if you are ever stuck without a gift for someone, you can head straight for your soap!

There are no chemicals included

The ingredient list on the back of a soap packet can display all sorts of unrecognizable chemicals. If you make your own soap you can guarantee it is chemical free. Furthermore, you can add your own ideas and turn soap into a nice, healthy product by including all sorts of additional essential oils and essences.

It saves you money

Making soap is definitely a cheaper alternative to buying it. Also, once you’ve been bitten by the soap making bug, the chances are you will want to start making other natural products like washing powder, floor cleaner and maybe even other cosmetics. It is possible to save a bundle when you make all cleaning products and cosmetics yourself.

It’s fun

There is no doubt about it, making soap is both a fun and satisfying hobby. You can let your creatively run wild, adding differing natural items, oils, essences and more into the recipes and even make some nice packaging to finish off the products. The whole family can get involved too so it can be a family project that you can all enjoy together.

How to get rid of headaches

Headaches and migraines are a common problem and can easily ruin a perfectly good day. Here are a few ideas on how to rid yourself of a headache in both the short and long term.

Avoid processed food
Don’t consume anything that is not totally natural when you have a headache. In particular avoid monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and preservatives which are often found in man-made, processed food. These types of foods create work for the body to digest which means your headache is likely to continue as the body goes into overtime dealing with these substances.

Drink water
Dehydration is one of the major causes of headaches, and even other illnesses. Water helps the kidneys function and removes toxins from the body. Drink 2 litres of water every day.

Keep blood sugar levels constant
Don’t skip any meals as this will affect your blood sugar levels. Include plenty of fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and pulses.

Avoid chemicals
Chemical smells from perfume, deodorant, shampoos, cigarette smoke and other nasties can all contribute to the onslaught of a headache or migraine. Switch to natural shampoos, conditioners and other cosmetics to avoid this. Natural oils can be used instead of manufactured perfumes and natural cleaning products should replace chemical varieties.

Relieve stress
Don’t be afraid of gentle exercise when you have a headache. This is an excellent way of relieving stress which can reduce the severity of a headache. Yoga, meditation or even just abdominal breathing can also help.

Holistic Therapies
Acupuncture and acupressure points is effective for relieving pain from a headache. Try applying a moderate pressure to the webbing between the thumb and forefinger on both hands for 30-60 seconds. There are other places on the face, head and at the back of the skull that can help when pressure is applied. Massage, reflexology and hypnotherapy have also been shown to help battle migraine sufferers.

Have any of you any other ideas of how to combat headaches and migraines? Send in your comments below.

Homemade Soaps

Making soap is a wonderful pass time to have. Both relaxing and satisfying, you can unleash all your creativity that is undoubtedly lurking beneath the surface! Although soap is cheap to buy, it is often full of chemicals and ingredients that are not necessarily good for your skin, and can leave it irritated and dry.

When you make your own soap you can add as many ingredients as you like and design soap for a specific purpose. For example, you could make up a batch of soap designed for a pair of mechanics hands. By using ingredients such as turpentine and ground almonds for a pumice effect, this soap will clean even the most oily and grime caked hands, and leave them soft and lovely. By adding a splash of your favourite essential oil too, hands will smell wonderful as well.

Alternatively you can make clear soaps and add pretty flowers or rose petals. This will look great and with carefully selected essential oils, soap like this will be a treat for both the eyes and the nose.

Homemade soaps are a fantastic gift too. You can experiment with different packages and designs and the end result will be a fantastic looking product that you would be proud to add your name too. The chances are though you will want to keep the first batch of soap you make for yourself, as you will think it too good to give away.

There are many combinations of ingredients you can add to your soap and can experiment with a host of natural ingredients such as herbs, spices, olive oil, honey, milk, colourings even coconut. If you are looking for a hobby or fancy trying your hand at something creative, making your own soap could be just the thing.

At the moment here at Baldwins the Melt and Mold Soap Making kits are on special offer, so you can even save a few pennies in the process.

Do any of you make your own soaps? Do you have any combinations that you find work particularly well? Send in your comments.

Valentine's Day

Valentines day has just been and gone and this year, and although it is quite a commercial day, it is still nice to acknowledge it I think with a small token or gift of some sort. My favourite presents for Valentine’s Day are undoubtedly bath accessories or some delicious smelling creams or lotions. Chocolates and flowers are also nice, but they lack the imagination I feel, plus the chocolate goes in a flash and the flowers don’t take long before they start to wilt and die.

Lotions and potions not only make you feel good but they last for a long time. I am finding too that in this cold weather I need larger daily amounts of moisturizer to stop my skin from drying out due to the harsh weather conditions we are all suffering from at the moment. My current moisturizers of choice are Laughing Bird Neroli Face Cream for my face and the Laughing Bird Shea Body Cream which are both excellent creams for keeping your skin looking good. They also smell fantastic which is a bonus. I am suffering particularly from chapped lips at the moment I think caused by this dreadful weather so I’m using a lot of lip balm each day to keep them soft.

I would like to know what all your ideal valentines presents would be - maybe you received something extra special this year, or maybe your present was forgotten about! (This has happened to me a few times!) Send in your comments here and tell us what you did or did not receive this year and what you would have really like to have received!