A Dive Into The World of Zero-Waste Soaps

What Exactly Is A Zero-Waste Soap?

A zero-waste soap is a soap made from biodegradable ingredients or recycled materials to eliminate the use of plastic and harsh chemicals, promoting eco-friendliness. Many brands have introduced zero-waste soaps to support environmental sustainability and reduce waste. You can even create your very own zero-waste soap, according your liking!

Using Everyday Leftovers To Make Zero-Waste Soap

Food Waste  – You can make soap from leftover fruit peels (like citrus or avocado) or coffee grounds for exfoliation.

Herbs – Use herbs from your kitchen garden or leftover herbs to add natural scents and skin benefits.

Leftover Cooking Oils – Repurpose used cooking oils (from frying or sautéing) to make soap.

Vegetable Scraps – Use scraps like potato peels or carrot ends to make nourishing soap bars.

Spoiled Milk – Use expired milk (or even nut milk leftovers) for a creamy, moisturizing bar.

Honey & Oatmeal  – Use leftover honey or oats for soothing, moisturizing soap bars.

Nut Shell – You can grind almond or walnut shells to add natural exfoliants in soap.

A Simple Technique To Create Anything Into A Nourishing, Eco-friendly Soap

-Choose Your Base:

Start with either a basic melt-and-pour soap base or cold process soap made with oils and lye.

 

-Prepare Your Leftovers:

Gather food scraps such as fruit peels, coffee grounds, or herbs. You can dry or grind them, depending on what material they possess.

 

-Infuse or Mix:

For herbs and fruit peels, infuse them in water or oil to extract their nutrients. You can add coffee grounds directly to the mixture for exfoliation.

 

-Blend into Soap:

Mix your infused liquids or ground ingredients into the soap base. If you're using cold process soap, add them after mixing the oils and lye.

 

-Pour into Molds and Cure:

Pour your mixture into soap molds and allow it to cure (for cold process) or harden (for melt-and-pour). 

 

This simple but efficient technique enables you to use food scraps, resulting in a product that is both eco-friendly and nourishing for your skin! You can also add materials like nuts, essential oils or even expired coconut oil depending upon your taste, and bingo! You'll have the perfect environment-friendly soap ready.

What other techniques would you use to make your zero-waste soap? Let us know!

 

DIY: The Ultimate Bestie for Sensitive Skin – Goat Milk Soap

Sensitive skin can be quite challenging to care for, especially when it comes to finding suitable soaps. Many commercial soaps contain harsh ingredients that can harm your skin barrier. However, there's no need to worry! With this DIY cold-process recipe, you can create your own goat's milk soap, which not only nourishes the skin but is also gentle and beneficial for sensitive skin types.

Ingredients:

Goat Milk Base (Frozen) – 340g (12 oz) (Use raw or pasteurized)

Olive Oil – 255g (9 oz) (Moisturizing & gentle)

Coconut Oil – 255g (9 oz) (Cleansing & lathering)

Shea Butter – 85g (3 oz) (Extra nourishment)

Castor Oil – 43g (1.5 oz) (Boosts lather)

Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) – 85g (3 oz) (For saponification)

Distilled Water – 85g (3 oz) (For dissolving lye)

Essential Oils – 10-15 drops (Lavender, chamomile, or tea tree)

Instructions:

 

Step 1: Prepare the Goat Milk 

Freeze goat milk in ice cube trays to prevent burning when mixing with lye.

 

Step 2: Make the Lye Solution 

Safety First! Wear gloves and goggles, and work in a well-ventilated area. In a heat-resistant bowl, slowly add lye to the frozen goat milk cubes (never add milk to lye!). Stir gently as the cubes melt. If the mixture turns yellow, place the bowl in an ice bath to cool it down.

 

Step 3: Melt the Oils

In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, and castor oil until fully combined. Allow the mixture to cool to around 38-43°C (100-110°F).

 

Step 4: Blend Lye and Oils

Slowly pour the lye mixture into the melted oils, blending with a stick blender. Continue blending until the mixture reaches "trace," which has a pudding-like consistency.

 

Step 5: Add Essential Oils

Stir in essential oils of your choice for fragrance and additional skin benefits.

 

Step 6: Pour and Set

Pour the soap batter into the mold. Tap the mold gently to release any air bubbles. Cover with parchment paper and insulate with a towel for 24 hours.

 

Step 7: Unmold and Cure

After 24 to 48 hours, unmold the soap and cut it into bars. Cure the bars in a cool, dry place for 4 to 6 weeks to allow for complete saponification.

 

How to Use and Store

Store the soap in a dry place and use a draining soap dish to extend its lifespan. 

 

This soap is extremely moisturizing, lathers well, and is perfect for sensitive skin. The natural lactic acid and fats found in goat milk keep the skin hydrated, nourished and feeling fresh and silky all day, without causing any harsh side effects. 

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What additional changes would you make to enhance this recipe to your liking? 

Let us know below!

 

Soap Saver Bags: The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Lather Booster

 What is a Soap Saver Bag?

A soap-saver bag is a small, convenient, mesh-like pouch that helps enhance soap lather from leftover soap bars. It can be made of synthetic material or natural fibers like jute. They’re simple and effective to use and are also a great way to promote eco-friendliness and reduce waste. 

Benefits of Soap Saver Bags

Exfoliation:

The textured surface of most soap-saver bags gently exfoliates your skin. Using them in the shower not only cleanses but also removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin fresh and smooth.

Easy To Store:

Soap saver bags can be dried and used for traveling purposes. Most of these bags have a drawstring attached, allowing them to hang anywhere, preventing mushiness. 

Maximizing Soap Use:

Soap saver bags promote easy soap management and waste reduction as they allow us to use every last bit of our leftover soaps. 

Eco-Friendly:

Most soap-saver bags are bio-degradable, making them an excellent eco-friendly substitute to body scrubs and loofas.

How To Make Your Very Own Soap Saver Bag

You can create your very own soap saver bag, by recycling something you can find anywhere in the house: old socks!

Cut off the top of the sock to create an open ended pouch, add in your leftover soap/soap pieces and sew or tie the other end together. Pro tip: you can even sew a jute string that can serve as your drawstring to help hang your soap saver bag anywhere. Voila!

Soap saver bags are a small but impactful way to add convenience to your daily routine. Whether you purchase one or make your own, these little pouches can make a big difference in reducing waste and enhancing your skincare. Just add your soap into the bag and you’re good to go.

Use, rinse, dry…..and repeat! 

Let us know what ideas you may have on making your very own soap-saver bags!

Happy soap-saving!