Very dry and sensitive skin: need moisterizer reccomendation

[badger]

nono, how do you make soap without lye? not that I know anything about soap making at all. Using lye seems rather harsh, too, but who would ever have thought to use fat to clean grease?

Even if soap making is simple, I'd imagine there's basic science to it that would make one soap better than another. I remember making soap in my grade 11 chemistry class. My partner and I ended up making "Ivory" soap - one that floats. Not sure how, but I remember the teacher commenting that to the class when he saw ours.

Does anyone here ever make soap with clay? or try dudu osan, the African black soap? (I bought one last spring authentically made in Ghana when I bought my shea butter, only I have no idea where I've put it. so bummed!)

[NoNo]

nono, how do you make soap without lye?

You can buy pre-made base and all you have to do is melt it, add your color and scent, and pour it into molds. And there's no month-wait to enjoy your goodies The place I order from has laurel/laureth sulfate free bases. I've been using natural colorings like ground spices and cocoa, and use essential oils instead of fragrance for scenting.

Tulip, I'm just finishing up my goat's milk base now. People seem to like it, but not as much as the olive oil base. I actually had a few people kind of scrunch their noses and say "Goat's milk?!" I've yet to make a bar for myself with it. I did like the olive oil, and the honey base wasn't bad. I may try shea butter next time.

Piccies:

[GLC1968]

Wow, Nono...those are gorgeous!

Our soaps are quite a bit more rustic looking...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43625927@N05/4290396525/

(both have the same oils but the darker one has dried cranberry fiber added for gentle exfolliant)

While lye is exceedingly dangerous and caustic - the soaps made with it using today's formulations are perfectly gentle. If you use the correct lye to oil/fat ratios, you don't need to wait ages to use the soap. It can be used the same day if you don't mind a softer bar. The old methods (of making your own lye and then guessing about fat/lye ratios) was totally different and you would absolutely have to let it age to avoid burning your skin (and sometimes, even then, whole batches had to be tossed out).

And there are LOTS of different oils that give lots of different properties to the finished soap (suds factor, moisturizing, cleansing, hardness, etc).

I think I find it so fascinating because I have always loved chemistry.

[sundial]

NoNo, how pretty! I can just see you giving gift soaps to the lucky people on your list.

[NoNo]

Nothing wrong with rustic! There's a woman that's been buying from me that doesn't ask for any coloring or scent. Not because she doesn't like them or they irritate her skin, but because she's just showering with it, so what's the point of making it look pretty? I don't argue, it certainly saves me time!

[TrekTheKaty]

We added a mister to our furnace--a built in humidifier. Kicks on with the heat. I also use body oil--slather it on before I get out of the shower (learned that on the weather channel!) Hubby recommends Bag Balm--his fingers used to split open in the winter (just avoid petting the cat until it soaks in).

I also have naturally curly hair and only shampoo once a week--just rinse and condition the rest of the week. I was grossed out at the concept, but desperate to save my curls.

[shootingstar]

I also have naturally curly hair and only shampoo once a week--just rinse and condition the rest of the week. I was grossed out at the concept, but desperate to save my curls.

I'm lost: you mean washing your type of hair more often, means loss of the natural curliness or what?

From a naturally straight hair person. For certain, I will be unable to leave my hair unwashed up to once a wk. My system still produces plenty of hair oil..even in old, frail age I predict I just need that shampoo sudsing several times/wk.

[GLC1968]

I'm lost: you mean washing your type of hair more often, means loss of the natural curliness or what?

From a naturally straight hair person. For certain, I will be unable to leave my hair unwashed up to once a wk. My system still produces plenty of hair oil..even in old, frail age I predict I just need that shampoo sudsing several times/wk.

Curly hair and straight hair have totally different textures and as such, require different things. It's like the difference between how you would treat cashmere fibers or how you might treat silk. Both can be luxurious but both need different care.

Curly hair tends to be dryer - so it will absorb moisture out of the air. This is why curly or frizzy girls get curlier or frizzier in humidity and straight hair girls don't (or get limper, sometimes!). By not washing, we can keep our curls better naturally moisturized so that they remain healthy and don't need to absorb environmental moisture. Plus, curly hair tends to be fragile, so it can't take constant washing, harsh chemicals, rubbing with towels, rough brushing, etc and still remain curly, smooth and healthy looking. It's a pain for sure!

I did notice that while my scalp produced a lot of oils when I washed daily, part of the reason was precisely because I was washing daily and it was trying to compensate for it. When I stopped washing so much, my scalp calmed WAY down and so did the oil production. Similiar to not using harsh cleaners on oily skin to keep oil production lower (another issue I have!).

[badger]

I did notice that while my scalp produced a lot of oils when I washed daily, part of the reason was precisely because I was washing daily and it was trying to compensate for it. When I stopped washing so much, my scalp calmed WAY down and so did the oil production. Similiar to not using harsh cleaners on oily skin to keep oil production lower (another issue I have!).

I thought this as well when I washed my hair daily. About 4 years ago I decided to wash every other day to stop this oil over-production. I have to say that my scalp is still oiler than ever, much to my frustration. In 24 hours my roots are noticeably oily so the second day I usually have to wear my hair in a pony tail.

[shootingstar]

Plus, curly hair tends to be fragile, so it can't take constant washing, harsh chemicals, rubbing with towels, rough brushing, etc and still remain curly, smooth and healthy looking. It's a pain for sure!

Honest, I had no idea about the fragility of some curly hair. See how different life is for straight-haired chicks.

I think lots of thick fine straight hair or thick, coarse straight hair tends to be stronger than with thin, fine/straight hair. Some people have straight hair that takes ages to grow any noticeable length. My hair grows fast.

But then, how does one explain when curly-haired gals iron their hair to straighten it? That must be awfully tough on the hair especially if the hair has a strong wave/curl. To me, it looks tougher on the hair compared to using a curling iron for touch-ups daily for just a few min.

I'm not keen to try to reduce washing my hair daily, especially when I've been cycling nearly daily since I've moved to Vancouver. I've tried skipping a day of hair washing..at different times in life. Just hasn't worked. My scalp starts to itch, etc. Then skin near hairline tends to break out.

That is why I don't need hair conditioners at all. I probably voluntarily used hair conditioner less than 8 times in my life. And my hair is healthy ..as assessed by every hair stylist I've had. I don't do manicures, pedicures, facials, body wraps, etc. But the health of my hair & scalp is something I make an effort to look after.