Activated Bamboo Charcoal Facial Soap

I've been wanting to soap with activated bamboo charcoal for awhile.  I have heard so many good things about it.  Bamboo charcoal has been used for centuries in Asia for skin care, medicine and other purposes, especially in Japan, Korea and China.  

Activated bamboo charcoal helps keep skin clear by absorbing oil and getting rid of dirt deep in the pores, removes impurities, detoxes skin, reduce/eliminate acne and whitening your complexion naturally.  Back in the old days in Laos, they used bamboo charcoal to whitening their teeth.  I might give it try, way cheaper than going to the dental clinic :))  

So here's how I made my bamboo charcoal soap with goats milk.

My goats milk lye solution in ice bath to keep it cool.

Oils melted, being that this a facial soap, all of the oils I used are non-comedogenic, that means it won't clog pores.

Adding charcoal and essential oils (tea tree and lavender), one of the best essential oils for clearing acne.

Adding goats milk/lye solution to oils * Sorry it's kind of blurry I took picture with one hand and pour with the other hand.  My multi-tasks skill :}

Stickblend>>>>>> reached trace, ready to be poured.

I used a lot of soft oils, so I have to wait for two days to unmold it.

Here it is, looks like a big block of black chalk :}}  Turn out pretty good.....

I forgot to mention I also made a round facial soap. This one I made with FRESH avocado and FRENCH clay.  I didn't have time to take pictures for this one. I was having a little drama with using a mailing tube.  It was my first time so needless to say, I was struggling quite a bit.

I love the rustic looks of my bamboo charcoal soaps.

Avocado French Clay Soap

Overall, I'm pretty Happy with my soaps. It turns out great:))  Happy Soaping!

I'm Back......

Hello friends and family!  It has been a very long time.  No...., I have not given up on my berry simple life, just enjoying my long personal vacation at Maldives island.  Yeah, you wish, right?  Well, glad to be back..  I'm up early today and I don't feel like getting out of my bed.  It's too damn cold to go anywhere, the temperature here is below zero for the past few weeks. One city up north was (-42) degrees below zero last week, they still go about their normal daily life.  I guess after you live here for so long  your skin grows a thick layer of blubber that protects you from a harsh freezing cold weather like a polar bear. Unfortunately mine didn't grow an inch.  Talk about cold freezing weather, I'm hoping to make a butter bar soap sometime next week.  This will help a lot with your skin during winter.

Last week I got a chance to make some soy candles.  It was fun and easy to make.  Short and simple, soy wax is biodegradable, made from pure soybeans/vegetable, so its natural and non-toxic.  Oh yeah, we best support the American soy farmers as well, because there are over 350,000 soybean farms in the US.  Here it is, step by step:))

        I made a small batch at a time to test it out, plus my pyrex glass is big enough for 16 oz. (1lb).  You probably cannot see, there's a round cookie cutter on the bottom of the glass so it doesn't sit directly in the pot.  My homemade double boiler. The stick in the middle is for stirring.

                                                Soy wax melted.

                                             Getting containers/jars ready                       
              

 

        I used pencil and wooden stick to secure my cotton wax                                                   

When temperature reach around 175 no more than 185 degree, remove from heat and add dye, stir until completely mixed, add fragrance oil.  Stir thoroughly and gently.  FYI - add 1 oz to 1.5 oz of fragrance oil per lb of wax.  Set aside to cool.

Once wax cool to 135 - 145 degree then pour into containers/jars. Let it sit for overnight.

I put a warning sticker on the bottom.  Looks like a store bought candle, ha.