Monday, April 26, 2010

Soap - From My Point of View

Nicole amazingly chronicled our first foray into soap making a few weeks ago. I loved her post, and I really, really loved the pictures she took of our finished product. I've been using our peppermint concoction for weeks now and wanted to give you my opinion of actually using the soap.

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical. Scratch that, a lot skeptical. First off, it had been eons since I'd used anything but body wash. I mean, I honestly couldn't remember the last time I had even held a bar of soap, let alone used one. Secondly, I love me some loofah. I was worried that a pouf or loofah wouldn't pair well with a bar of soap. I mean, what's better than squeezing some body wash onto a pouf? Lastly, can you say Lye? Because I can, and the thought of lye scared the pants off me. Let's address these issues, shall we?

Working backwards now, just to mix things up. I love science. Chemistry was my best friend through high school and into college. Mixing dangerous chemicals never made me nervous, not a single time. I have no idea why the thought of Lye just about gave me hives. No, I do know why. Because it is dangerous. And the book we were reading said that a single bead of sweat mixed with the stuff would eat through your arm and a steal plate and all the concrete surrounding Chernobyl. I exaggerate, but that's exactly how I felt. Nevertheless, I put on a brave face, some goggles, and some gloves. Guess what? Not only am I alive to talk about my not-at-all harrowing experience, but it really wasn't bad at all. Don't worry, you can do it! Just use common sense and caution (and it wouldn't hurt to have three lovely ladies standing by your side, either).

Concerning a loofah or pouf. You needn't give them up and use a (gasp) washcloth. I found a lovely sponge loofah and it works wonderfully with my bar of soap. The soap we made lathers beautifully. Honestly, I do not believe I have ever had such a rich, creamy, beautiful lather. My body wash never lathered so well, and certainly never left me feeling so squeaky clean and silky smooth. I've even used the lather to shave my legs (As I've recently run out of my homemade shaving cream and have yet to whip up some more). I step out of the shower and my legs automatically feel as though I've already put lotion on...but without that grimy feeling I'd get from certain body washes. You know, where it leaves a sort of film all over your skin, or was that just me? Suffice it to say, loofah or not I get an amazing lather.

Alright, here comes a shocker. I am officially a bar soap convert. Good Bye body wash, Hello (Hand/Homemade) soap!!! At first I wasn't sure, now I don't think I'll go back to using body wash. Especially because my soap is Handmade, Homemade, Lathers great, and comes without all that nasty plastic packaging! Just another way for me to help reduce my plastic consumption, all while using something I made with my very own hands! I don't think I can say enough about this soap, but I'll stop, for now. ...I love it!!!!....ok, done....seriously though....I think I'll go take a shower now...

No comments: