Teach Soap

I know in most things there is an upfront cost and I accept that. When does this start to even out in soapmaking, where you can say - hey that only cost me $1 to make?

I bought an organic face moisturizer from the company I got my first bar of soap from. There are two sizes, 2.5oz for $12.48 and 1.25oz for $7.98. I think I bought the small one. I absolutely love it, and for the hell of it tossed the ingredients into a shopping cart and it was over $50 before shipping! Plus one of the ingredients is hemp oil which I don't think has a long shelf life? I realize some of this had to I know there are oils and butters you'd use in many batches but does it ever turn into a break even proposition? I'm sure it must as I am guessing many of you are as frugal as I am! I also realize the health benefits are huge!

And I guess this is another place where the forum is invaluable - I had made the shopping cart in BB where the hemp seed oil can only be gotten in 1 lb or more. WSP has it in a 2 oz format but you still have to have $30 minimum orders from them.

My head is still spinning from all this lol

YOU'RE NOT HELPING!!!

LMAO

I keep telling myself to just pick one! I am a lotion snob, so picky, they have to feel right and not smell too much. I've been using Aveda for 4-5 years now LOVE it but oh my $$$$$$$

Then I bought the shampoo bar at a fair and got on the natural shampoo thing which of course led to natural shower soap and damned if I don't like liquid better than bars so I have to try that.......

Then I am also a lip balm snob, I have them ALL over the place, little tubes of chapstick, all kinds. The cats don't help, they scatter them around, I leave them places.....

Plus I've been using Nuskin facial cream since 1990 as a distributor (my only customer is ME) but it still costs me about $50/yr for two little jars............

So of course I want to replace ALL those products and hey why don't we add housecleaning products too

SO deep breath now.... I am going to buy materials to do a small CP batch and the Liquid Soap guru kits and see where it goes from there. I've fallen in love with sweet almond butter so I am buying some of that. WSP doesn't carry it, they have a mix but BB has some that says "for a limited time" yep I fell for that, in my cart it went! I want to try the ultra healing lotion bars but I am going to see how everything else goes first, I think I will have most of the ingredients by the time I am ready. Boy I wish I could find this stuff locally but even when I do it's so damn expensive!!

And since I am so frugal I will still use up the commercial products I have already purchased, though I may freecycle the little bottles of Keri I've had for 10 years that my ex's company used as a promotion. I tend to leave them at work but they are really horrible and feel like water.

I've been selling for a year now and have just gotten to the point where my income can (usually!) pay for my supplies.

I highly recommend http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/ for info on all things skin & hair care related. You can make some very basic lotions and creams that feel wonderful on your skin and don't cost a ton of money. I mean, honestly, the main ingredient in lotions is distilled water! Susan has so much info on this site that you can pretty much find answers to everything and it's fun to read.

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

You probably don't want to know that I'm still nearly five figures in debt to my 'hobby'.

I'm the same... M&P soaps led to me CP, which is now leading me to liquid soap. In amongst that is the lip balms, lotions, body butters and more. Ingredients, trying packaging, working labels, buying storage items, etc...

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

LALALALALA I didn't hear that!

Got a crockpot at a swapmeet for $5 today. I can use this for liquid soaps, but is it still best to use a regular pot for HP?

Crock pots are great for HP as well. And for rebatching.

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

You can regulate the temp well enough for CP? Is there a tutorial? For some reason I thought a regular pot was best for that.

Thanks!

I wouldn't use a crockpot for CP. I don't even use a regular pot anymore for CP.

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

Now Linda, that's not fair to drop that hint and not say what you do use????

CP = Cold Process = No Heat. So no need for a crockpot. A simple quality plastic bucket, stainless steel bowl, etc will be fine.

If you want heat, that's HP and the crockpot will be fine.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

Oh boy. There I was with my liquid soap guru kit instructions in front of me and I thought I was being cute. I knew that, honest!

good Lord you do not want to see how much I am spending today. Just placed a much needed order for some supplies and some not needed so much but wanted and since my sales were so good this last weekend I am about to splurge on a new cutter. My home made one just isnt holding up well and I want cleaner cuts. See we can justify anything we "need" LMAO

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Dawn