Teach Soap

I've almost waited too late to babble about this, but I'm signed up on the next four Mondays to take a lotion making class.

I can't wait!

Anita

Have fun! Where at?

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

The city's senior center, believe it or not.

They offer all kinds of classes at the various facilities around the city. You can learn to swim, dance, make a quilt, take pictures, and also make soap. (I'm afraid I'd have to sit on my hands for that one!)

They put out a catalog once a quarter. Since I signed up for the lotion making class (I'm guessing), I got a copy of the next quarter's offerings in the mail. Interestingly enough, no soap or lotion making classes next quarter.

The same person who teaches the lotion making class also teaches the soap making class.

Don't know how many folks are in the class.

I'll report back!

Anita

I would love to know what you think. Please keep us posted. (I really, really hope that use uses a preservative )

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

Cool beans! Can't wait to hear about how it goes.
And, I'm also hoping that preservatives will be used!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Well, she sort of believes in preservatives.

I got there before the class actually started, so I had time to look through the little booklet that is part of the class. The first thing I see is her list of recommended oils - okay, until I got to Vitamin E oil "which is sometimes used as a preservative".

Sigh. Wonderful.

I continue to flip through the booklet, and find her list of "rules", and spy this statement: "I don't use any preservatives other than Vitamin E and citric acid occasionally".

Great. The class hasn't even started yet and I'm in trouble.

So, we got started. First we kind of went through the little booklet. "Parabens cause cancer" came up pretty early. I pointed out that parabens are in a lot of foods, including blueberries.

Yes, and it's up to each individual to decide what kinds of things you are willing to use and put in and on your body.

Um, okay.

At some point the idea of refrigerating stuff came up. I mentioned Anne-Marie's fuzzy cream. "Yes, you need to throw it out if it gets to that point."

Me, groaning inwardly: "But there can be a whole bunch of icky things in there before you can actually see anything."

Now at some point, she did mention, in passing, Germall. So I guess she's not completely anti-preservative.

We touched on Vitamin E, and I pointed out that it was NOT a preservative, but rather an antioxident. And for my classmates benefit, said that an antioxident would help keep your oils from going rancid, but it wouldn't keep assorted creepy crawlies from growing in your stuff.

"That's why you refrigerate and use within two months."

We made a clay mask. It may be really nice stuff, but I'm not about to use it. Nobody was wearing gloves, and the ick factor is just too high for my taste.

I wanted to make sure I said some of the stuff I did in the class in case there are folks in there who don't have much knowledge, and maybe won't just accept some of what is being said by the instructor as the be-all and end-all of how to do this.

The bad thing is she is a really, really nice lady. And she did say she doesn't sell. (Whew!) I don't know if I'll actually use any of the stuff we make. (We're doing lip balm next week, so I'll see how that goes.) But I'm there to see the actual physical processes involved, and will take what I can from the class and leave the rest.

And maybe I'll just smuggle in some evil parabens.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

Anita

Thanks for the update Anita. No wonder there are so many people that STILL believe that Vit E. is a preservative. People like her are propagating it. Can I do a face palm now?

PS. Feel free to send her this link> http://www.lotioncrafter.com/microbial- ... combi.html

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

"I don't use any preservatives other than Vitamin E and citric acid occasionally"
(Groan) If citiric acid was a preservative, oranges and lemons would never rot...
Yes, smuggle your own preservatives in. Thanks for the update, most interesting.

Sounds like you had an interesting time!

Can't wait for your next class.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Genny

Not to mention the whole Pinterest craze is driving misinformation rampant. I have seen so many posts that are just wrong. My sister (who knows that I make scrubs, etc... and that I have done tons and tons of research) decided to make a scrub recipe off of pinterest for christmas gifts. I asked her did you use a preservative? No, it has vitamin e in it. Oh, my head hit the table so fast it was ridiculous. Plus, she couldn't figure out why all of the oil was rising to the top and spilling out of the jars...... It was a mess.

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Haven

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Genny

I found another couple of pearls of wisdom in her booklet after I posted last night.

Evidently we will be introduced to the wonders of beeswax and borax as an emulsifier. (No, I am not kidding.)

And after you make your lotion, you might have to shake it if it separates. Assuming you haven't already contaminated it by stirring it with your finger.

And I wish I could ask her to repeat something, but I'm afraid that I did hear correctly the first time.

She says shea butter shouldn't be used because the karite nuts "used to be harvested by slaves".

I chewed my tongue nearly in half not to pertly ask, "Do you wear cotton?"

I guess she's unaware of the fact the shea butter production is a primary source of income for a lot of young women in the region of Africa where the karite nut tree grows.

She did ask me at the end of class if I planned to attend next week. She didn't scream and throw herself on the floor when I said yes. (Not only will I be there, but I plan to keep speaking up, not being the shy, retiring type at all! )

I'm off to make some whipped body butter. I plan to use an evil paraben preservative and evil shea butter in it.

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha.

Anita

People like her shouldn't be teaching class; period. Beeswax and borax used to be used, but this type of a formula is not stable. That's why it separates. OMG! If I was in a class like that, I would have probably been thrown out. What a bunch of BS!!! Send her here; we'll set her straight.

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