Soap making is fun, affordable and also beneficial for the skin. We show you how to make tailor-made natural soap to suit a variety of skin types and conditions...

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Soap Making

NOTE: To learn how to make skin cream click here

Skin gel is made from water and a thickening agent. They are usually either clear or semi-opaque. A skin gel is used in products where it is desirable to have little or no fat. They are best mixed using a water-based medium. However, if a small amount of fat is required, Vegetable Oil may be added up to 5%.

Skin gel is able to carry an essential oil content of up to a maximum of 5%. Too much of either of these ingredients can result in either ingredient spreading itself unevenly through the product (the thicker the skin gel is the more vegetable or essential oil it will be able to carry).

The thickening agent used in skin gel can either be wholly synthetic, such as a polymer or wholly natural, such as a polysaccharide.

Natural polysaccharides are extracted from plants or algae and are to be found in large quantities in the following:

Carrageen which is extracted from the seaweed Carrageen

Alginates that are extracted from Pectin (extracted from citrus peel)

Cellulose Gum which is extracted from wood fibre

Xanthan Gum which is grown from bacteria

Which of these you use is a matter of how the skin gel feels when applied to the skin, and then how it feels when its moisture has evaporated. In addition to this, different thickening agents are used to carry different raw ingredients. These thickening agents also have a certain effect on the skin; they retain moisture, protect the skin and can also be used as an astringent. The skin does not absorb them.

We prefer to use Xanthan Gum (Xanthomonas compestris) because it is used in medical and cosmetic products, but any of the other thickening agents may be substituted. You will need to find out the right quantities to use for each through your own process of trial and error (for example, you will need more Cellulose Gum than Xanthan Gum to make a gel of the same consistency). If you are just using Xanthan Gum, water and essential oils in a concentration of 4-5% you will not need to add any preservative. However if you intend to add anything else, a preservative should be used to be on the safe side.

Method for Making Skin Gel

1. Heat the water to blood temperature (at which point the Xanthan Gum will melt more easily)

2. Add the Xanthan Gum and beat vigorously. Try to touch the bottom of the pan with your whisk to avoid the introduction of air bubbles.

3. Add the remaining ingredients

NOTE: When making haemorrhoid or foot skin gel, add the Allantoin / Carbamide before adding the Xanthan Gum.

Tip: If your skin gel goes lumpy put it through a food processor or use a hand blender.

RECIPES:

Aloe Skin Gel

89 ml Spring Water
1 gm (or 2ml) Xanthan Gum
10 ml Aloe Vera concentrate
8 drops Paraben

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Strong Muscle Skin Gel

92 ml Spring Water
1 gm (or 2 ml) Xanthan Gum
2 ml Glycerin
5 ml White Crystal

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Tea Tree Skin Gel

83 ml Spring Water
1 gm (or 2 ml) Xanthan Gum
4 drops Paraben
10 ml Aloe Vera concentrate
2 ml D-Panthenol 75%
3 ml Tea Tree Essential Oil
1 ml Lavender Essential Oil

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After Sun Skin Gel

81 ml Spring Water
1 gm (or 2ml) Xanthan Gum
10 drops Paraben
5 ml St. John's Wort Oil
2 ml Sorbitol
10 ml Aloe Vera concentrate
20 drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

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Haemorrhoid Skin Gel

88 ml String Water or Hamamelis Water
0.5 gm Allantoin
1 gm (or 2ml) Xanthan Gum
6 droops Paraben
20 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
20 drops Cypress Essential Oil

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Foot Skin Gel

88 ml String Water
2 gm Carbamide
1 gm (or 2ml) Xanthan Gum
6 ml Glycerin
2 ml Lactic Acid
40 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
10 drops Sage Essential Oil

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Cellulite Skin Gel

97 ml Spring Water
1 gm (or 2 ml) Xanthan Gum
4 drops Paraben
30 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
5 drops Sweet Fennel Essential Oil
35 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
10 drops Juniper Berry Essential Oil

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Scrubbing Skin Gel

97 ml Spring Water
1 gm (or 2ml) Xanthan Gum
10 droops Paraben
3 gm Ground Apricot Kernel
10 drops Cypress Essential Oil
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
10 drops Spearmint Essential Oil

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Rosemary Skin Gel

94 ml Spring Water
1 gm (or 2ml) Xanthan Gum
2 ml Glycerin
4 drops Paraben
2 ml Rosemary Essential Oil
1 ml Lavender Essential Oil

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NOTE: It is useful to write down all your Recipes, including the ones which are not so successful, along with the date, a batch number and the intended purpose of the product. With all this information you should be able to work out the reason for any problems you may have and more importantly will be able to reproduce your successes.

The main thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy yourself!

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