HOW TO THICKEN HOMEMADE LIQUID SOAP

Making soap requires several stages and one of them is to thicken the soap. Here’s how to do it.

Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum is a plant-based thickening agent while guar gum is a thickener in cosmetic formulations. Add ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum to ¼ cup of room temperature distilled water. Then, use a mixer or use your hands to mix thoroughly for 5 minutes. It is important that you mix it thoroughly with the water or else it may clump up. We find giving the bottle a good shake will often do the trick. 

Guar Gum

Add 3 to 4 teaspoons of guar gum to ¼ cup of distilled water. Then, use a mixer or use your hands to mix them thoroughly for 5 minutes. Some claimed that Xanthan gum is most useful in thickening liquid soap but guar gum does not mess up as easy as compared to Xanthan gum. The different between the two is that Xanthan gum is made by a microorganism and guar gum is made from guar seeds.

Salt

Another way you can also thicken your liquid soap is by using a simple ingredient found in your kitchen – table salt. Add 20g of salt into 80g of warm water and let the soap thicken over an hour. Add this you your liquid soap and give it a good shake.

Email us if you have any enquiries at enquiry@craftiviti.com or pop by Craftiviti Craft Store at 10 Boulevard, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
If you found this post useful, please join us on Craftiviti Facebook or Instagram for more updates and demos!

COLD PROCESS VS MELT AND POUR SOAPS

For a long time, the process of making soap has always been using the cold process method. 

Cold process is a traditional method of making your own soap by mixing Sodium Hydroxide or Lye with ingredients like oil, butters or fats. The lye reacts with the fat to create what we know as soap. 

Cold process soap is a very detailed process. You will need to be careful when selecting, weighing, and controlling the required amount of oils and Sodium Hydroxide to create soap. 

It can be a tricky process but once you get the hang of it, the soaps you can create with the cold process method are limitless. However, do be very careful when you are using lye around children. 

The great thing about cold process soap is that you can determine what kind of oils go into your soaps.

On the other hand, Melt & pour process is a faster and less tricky way. And if you buy good quality M&P soap, the cleansing properties are the same as any other soap.  

Some people belief that Melt & Pour soaps are not as high quality as Cold Process ones. In fact M&P soaps are so much easier to work with and cuts away the stress of dealing with corrosive materials like lye.  Plus, if your M&P soap base comes from a good source, the benefits will be just as good. 

Melt and Pour soaps are easy to make. All you have to do is to melt the M&P base, mix your oils, clays or pigments in, and pour into your molds to create all types of soaps. There is plenty of things you can do with Melt & Pour soap. 

It takes up to 2 hours to harden depending on the size of your mold. Once cooled, M&P soaps can be used immediately, unlike Cold Process soaps which need up to 4 weeks to cure. 

Email us if you have any enquiries at enquiry@craftiviti.com or pop by Craftiviti Craft Store at 10 Boulevard, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

If you found this post useful, please join us on Craftiviti Facebook or Instagram for more updates and demos!

20 WAYS OF USING COCONUT OIL

Did you know that you can use coconut oil alone and do away with all your skincare products? 

Here are 20 ways of how you can use coconut oil as a natural oil to achieve radiant skin:

1. Use coconut oil as a natural butter that is great for your skin. Just slap it on!

2. Mix coconut oil with coconut sugar or regular sugar (it doesn't matter because it's so good already!) to make a luscious body scrub

3. Make coconut oil your go to body oil to be used along with body lotion
4. Treat cold sores by dabbing some of that nutty luscious oil on the affected areas

5. Rub coconut oil into nails and cuticles to keep germs at bay
6. Have a relaxing and detoxifying bath by adding coconut oil with ¼ cup of Epsom salt

7. Guard against diaper rash with a layer of pure coconut oil
8. Slap onto dry hands to keep them smooth and supple 
9. Use as a facial wipe to hydrate and achieve vibrant looking skin
10. Can be used as a homemade natural deodorant (if you don't mind the oiliness)
11. Provides relief against insect bites

12. Apply as an all natural ip balm to get rid of cracked and dry lips
13. Remove makeup without irritating your eyes 

14. Use as a massage oil to alleviate sore muscles. Add a few drops of essential oil for added therapeutic benefits
15. Use as a nourishing night cream to hydrate and repair your skin while you sleep
16. Moisturize your scalp and discourage dandruff
17. Use as a cost effective shaving gel to prevent ingrown hairs
18. Rub on skin to improve skin conditions and alleviate skin symptoms
19. Apply to reduce stretch marks
20. Provide relief from sunburn by reducing redness and soothing inflamed skin

We do not carry virgin coconut oil but we do have refined coconut oil that is ideal for skincare, lip balm, lotion and soap-making. Refined coconut oil does not contain the nutty rich coconut scent and is more shelf stable.

Email us if you have any enquiries at enquiry@craftiviti.com or pop by Craftiviti Craft Store at 10 Boulevard, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

If you found this post useful, please join us on Craftiviti Facebook or Instagram for more updates and demos!

8 BENEFITS OF JOJOBA OIL

Jojoba oil is actually not an oil but a liquid wax and the substance found in the oil is similar to human skin. Therefore, Jojoba Oil has a lot of benefits on your hair and skin. The benefits of jojoba oil are:

1. Jojoba oil acts as a deeply nourishing hair conditioner because of its rich moisturizing properties that are able to help strengthen hair follicles.

2. Ideal oil for hair scalp to reduce hair loss and hair damage.

3. Acts as a natural hair serum to add that healthy shine to your hair.

4. Helps stimulate hair growth

5. Can be used as a facial oil cleanser to clean away make up and dirt without stripping the skin off its nourishing oils.

6. This versatile and nourishing oil is suitable as a head to toe body moisturizer

7. For generations, people have been using this oil to fight acne, blackheads, pimples due to its antibacterial properties

8. This oil also helps to reduce wrinkles.

Usage tips

Our shop carries pure Jojoba Oil that is suitable for your skincare recipes.

· Use this oil direct on skin to moisturize.

. Add 1 tablespoon to 450g of Melt&Pour soap

· Add a few drops of this oil to your shampoo, conditioner or lotion for added skincare benefits.

· Add 2 ounces of Jojoba Oil, 10 drops of rosemary essential oil and 15 drops of tea tree essential oil to a small bottle to treat acne and oily skin

· Mix 1 ounce of Jojoba Oil and 1 ounce of grapeseed oil for skin treatment

· Add ½ cup of Jojoba Oil and ½ cup of coconut oil in a small bowl when usin

g it to protect your skin from the sun.

Email us if you have any enquiries at enquiry@craftiviti.com or pop by Craftiviti Craft Store at 10 Boulevard, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

If you found this post useful, please join us on Craftiviti Facebook or Instagram for more updates and demos!