Soap Contest---with updated photos

I joined a contest at Great Cake Soapworks. http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/  
I usually pay my dues to join, watch how Amy performs the technique on video, and then I don't make the soap for the contest.  The first time I joined, I panned to participate.   I changed my soap formula to meet the criteria giving the soap a longer time to set up.   I made a huge batch.  Why not?  I had visions of sugar plums in my head.  I seldom use the same exact formula twice, so a little difference is OK with me.   After I made the huge batch, which riced on me, (I used a different brand of fragrance oil and it caused the soap to rice, or become grainy looking like rice) I decided to make smaller batches for future contests. LOL   Instead of sugar plums, I got prunes!  Yes, the soap can be re-batched, and some has been, but there is still a chunk of it on the shelf.  

This contest is to use an alternate liquid, other than water.  I usually use raw milk and a tiny amount of water.  My first thought was lemonade.   Many will use tea, green tea, or something like that.  Maybe a can of Dr. Pepper would work in soap, like in a dump cake.  LOL  Well, Why would someone want Dr. Pepper soap, unless you could manufacture that smell and this contest requires no artificial colors or fragrances.    

I eventually decided to make a lemon-limeade.  I made it the normal way you would make lemon-limeade, except I pulverized the whole lemon (seed, rind, and all).  I added water, sugar, and lime juice.  In the oils I used the zest of a lime.  The oils/fats this time was tallow.  The lemon-limeade was a little tart, but I did add sugar.  Some people swear that sugar and salt make a soap harder.  Too much sugar can make a soap volcano.  I added one teaspoon of powdered annatto seed to make the soap yellow.  I probably did not need to.  The soap looks a more pumpkin color.  I used pink grapefruit and lime essential oils.  After texturing the top a tiny bit, I sprinkled a tiny amount of organic lemon peel powder and salt.  I can't use glitter this time so I hope the salt aids in sparkle!  

Fat, lime zest, and essential oils.

Ready to pour into the mold.

In the mold.


 

The batter did not get very hard, so I had time to try this tool.  I bought this hair pick several years ago and put it away.  I stumbled on it again and decided to give it a go.

This side gave me quite a few ideas.

I had a little extra.  These set up faster.  I used the end that is in my hand in the above picture.

Just out of the mold.  I cut it a little early, but I wanted to see how it looked.  The lime zest does stay green. 

Part of the contest is to explain why we used the liquid.  Is it the novelty of the liquid, or is the liquid great for nourishing your skin?  What are the qualities of the alternate liquid?   Lemons have been used for centuries as beauty aids.  Lemons can lighten age spots, remove black heads, the citric acid exfoliates, etc.  Elbows and knees are darker on most people.  Lemon juice can aid in bleaching elbows and knees to match the color of the surrounding skin.  When I was in high school, I used an astringent with lemon juice in it.  I was told by a teacher that my skin looked too pale.  She wondered if I was feeling well.   Don't over do it with the bleaching.  LOL  One source stated that the PH balance would be altered with the use of lemon juice and if you go out in the sun, your skin could be more irritated.   The links below are great places to read all about lemons.

http://naturalbeautytips.co/apply-lemon-juice-on-face-skin-benefits/

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/uses-for-lemons

http://www.xovain.com/skin/4-diy-beauty-ingredients-to-avoid

Lime benefits on the skin are more controversial since lime oil can burn the skin.   As diluted as the lime is in my soap, it is not going to burn skin.  Lime is also used as a fragrance in cosmetics.  Lime is a great fragrance for men.  Lime also kills germs on the skin. The nutrition in a lime is very high, so put it in your diet.  You can read about limes here:

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-548-lime.aspx?activeingredientid=548&activeingredientname=lime

I will try to come up with a name when I post the cleaned up soap pictures.

I have a second idea for making another batch of soap using an alternative liquid.  Who knows, it may be my entry for the contest.  I hope you had a great week!

Please view my web store at:

http://www.custercottage.com

And visit my Etsy shop at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CusterCottage

Thanks for viewing!  Dawnie

P.S.

I found that this soap does not lather very much.  I personally prefer more lather.  It also takes a while for this soap to get hard.  It initially gets hard enough to un-molded, but it takes a while to get harder.