Teach Soap

What is the trick for getting mica to blend into the M&P base??

Here is what I did.
Melted the soap a little, stir, stir.
Added mica, stir, stir.
Melted more, stir, stir.
Added FO, stir, stir, stir then pour.

I just dumped the mica powder right into the base and didn't "pre-mix" it with anything". The power would float on top of the soap. I sprayed it with alcohol and that helped some.

I wanted to make some lavender colored soap but I ended up with lavender colored soap with darker lavender specks. The soap looks kinda cool with the specks but it would be nice to make some without

either mix the mica into your FO or into a little bit of rubbing alcohol before pouring it into the soap

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I add the mica to the melted base, spray it with alcohol, then get out my little wire whip that came in my Brambleberry tool kit, and whip it into the melted base. I then stop wait to see if any more floats on top, if there is more I just spray it again and then whip some more. It's very easy, and doesn't take long at all.

I was a little uneasy using the alcohol since I'm new to soaping. It should all evaporate right? I did use a whip (not that kind ) but again was a little leary of making more of those darn bubbles. I guess I will whip the heck out of it next time if I don't remember to mix the mica first.

Another thing I noticed and maybe I'm crazy here, but the color I added for the lavender soaps seemed to fade after the soap set up. Am I losing it or is this something that happens?

I put it into a small measuring cup first, add a drip of oil and mix to a paste, then add some melted base and mix. Works perfectly.

I think the trick is to mix the oil/soap into it as opposed to it into the oil/soap. Mica first.

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tlc,

I experimented for days and had the greatest success by making my own premixed mica colors. I recycled several jam jars (with covers) and mixed each individual color with glycerine. So whenever I need a color, I already have it on hand. I just stir well and add to my melted base. I use 2.5 ounces of liquid glycerine to .5 ounces of powdered mica. It blends perfectly!

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Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera