History of Soap Making

Anyone who has seen Fight Club knows that Tyler Durden said that soap was the yardstick of civilization. Now whether that was an actual quote from someone of historical importance or not, it is difficult to deny the influence soap has had on human civilization.

When studying the history of soap, many theories emerge. Some claim that soap was first used in prehistoric times while others claim that the Gauls created it. There is even the possibility that soap may not have been used as a means to clean at first. In fact, it may instead have been used as an antiseptic to heal wounds.

The History of Soap Making by the Greeks, Romans, and Hebrews

Before soap became popularly used, the ancient Greeks were said to have used a combination of lye and ashes as a cleanser for pots and to clean the statues of their gods.

Goat's Milk Soap Recipes seemed to be the soap of choice by the Gauls and the Romans. They combined goat's tallow and the ashes of the beech tree to create both hard and soft soap products.

Today, soap is made from of fats and an alkali. In the past however, people made their own soap from animal fats and wood ashes. Regardless of who first created the concoction, it was undoubtedly used in Rome. This is an established fact because a soapmaker's shop was discovered within the rubble of Pompeii after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius...

Read more... http://www.soapmakingfun.com/making-homemade-soap/history-of-soap-making2.shtml

Is it really 'Hypo- allergenic' ?

"Hypoallergenic"- adjective.
Definition: non-allergy producing. A term applied to a preparation in which every possible care has been taken in formulation and production to ensure minimum instance of allergic reactions. (Blakiston's Medical Dictionary)

The definition of hypoallergenic is "having a decreased tendency to provoke an allergic reaction". Based on this definition, our products, including comforters are definitely hypoallergenic. The definition of non-allergenic is "having no tendency to provoke an allergic reaction". Therefore, it cannot be said in truth any product is really non-allergenic. Somebody somewhere will have a reaction.
For many years, companies have been producing products, which they claim are "hypoallergenic" or "safe for sensitive skin" or "allergy tested." These statements imply that the products making the claims are less likely to cause allergic reactions than competing products. But there has been no assurance to consumers that this actually was the case.

Here is then the truth. Despite all the reassurances and claims that manufacturers give us about their products in terms of allergy reactivity, nothing is 100% guaranteed to be non-reactive.

Read More:
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/hypoallergenic.html

DIY Liquid Soap

This recipe is a great way to turn your slivers of natural soap into great handmade liquid soap.

Method:
Take one cup of well dried shredded soap and one cup of boiling water. Pour boiling water over the soap and stir until soap is completely dissolved. It's important to stir mixture slowly or you will end up with unwanted lather. Cool. Store in a pump- type dispenser or a squeeze-top plastic container. Use within 1 month. (You can also add a couple of drops of your favorite Essential oil!)

Aging Skin Fighter - Easy and affordable!

Your anti aging regime doesn't need to cost the Earth! Try this recipe and enjoy some 'me' time... or maybe, invite some girl friends over and make it a fun night in!

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
3 capsules Vitamin E (can be purchased from pharmacies or health shops)

Method:

Combine yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Prick open the vitamin E capsules and fold contents into the mix. Leave on Skin for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.
Can be applied once or twice a week on both face and body.