DIY Naturals Articles

Lemon in soap is a beauty secret that has been cherished for centuries. Lemons are acidic, yet when added to handcrafted soap it is ph neutral. Lemons are renowned for its ability to brighten the skin and even out skin tone due to its citric acid, and when citric acid is added to handcrafted soap it binds to metal ions in water to help prevent rancidity and the creation of soap scum. Lemon helps to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, an effective tool in the fight against acne, reducing excess oil production, preventing breakouts and keeping your skin clear. Lemons are rich in Vitamin C which helps to reduce dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation, leaving your skin with a youthful, radiant glow. The antioxidants in lemon combat free radicals, which can accelerate the aging process, with regular use it can minimise fine lines and wrinkles, keeping your skin youthful and supple. Lemon is a natural astringent, with the benefits of helping to tighten pores and reduce excess oil, yet combined with the right soft oils you have a powerhouse of goodness for your skin.

When making handcrafted soap, the ability to add lemon to your soap is not easy to do. Lemon neutralises the lye, making a soft mucky soap. When I was running Hippy Soap Co I knew that I could formulate a soap that included lemon, but it took many failed batches, and a lot of trial and error, to create the right recipe. Today at The Barefoot Hippy almost all the soap recipes you will see there are made using lemon. This is why I charge the high price of $5 per recipe. You are buying unique. You are buying a one of a kind. You are buying the full recipe, the full processes of start to finish, all the tricks of the trade, with resources of where to buy the ingredients. I have gone above and beyond to help you on your soap making journey to replicate what I make and was selling at Hippy Soap Co.

Now lets get soaping!

Is there space for Natural treatments along with conventional treatments to teat cancer? In my opinion yes on all levels. I would never proclaim one treatment is a cure all, but using the two together can work in harmony.

As I work my way through my various treatments for my uterine cancer I am using Kawakawa for a multitude of uses. I love my Kawakawa, I have seven plants so thankfully am not short. But if you wish to source Kawakawa in bulk I do recommend the listings of Fresh leaves from paora14 on trademe https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/search?member_listing=1009753&bof=Mb0B2FcC and a dehydrator, be it a $60 number from Kmart or whatever.

I have created an infusion of Kawakawa oils, and this I use on my radiated skin. Due to having very sensitive skin I chose to use the Kawakawa infused oils only on my skin instead of the cream offered, this has proved very efficient. Many offer salves and balms for this purpose – after speaking to my radiotherapy team it is ill advised as the waxes and butters can build up on the skin, making it harder for the radiation beams to penetrate the skin, so defeating it’s purpose. Oils are a different story as they wear and wash off with ease. I will share my formulation in the coming weeks. I still have one week of radiotherapy down here in Dunedin, and then I will be having another type over four days in Christchurch.

My radiotherapy concentrates over the pelvis and lower half of the stomach, there are a few common side effects due to this type of treatment, Nausea, Diarrhoea, Constipation, and Urinary burning. But I am experiencing none. I was offered a medication for nausea, but after experiencing every side effect I made the decision to not use it. I had already decided that I would use Kawakawa tea to manage the side effects. Before each treatment I have to consume over one litre of liquid, so 500mls of that liquid is Kawakawa tea. I have had no nausea, no bladder problems, nothing apart from the usual fatigue associated with radiotherapy. I do make my tea on the stronger side.

Please advise your treatment team if you do wish to use Kawakawa or any complimentary treatment, as some may interfere with the conventional treatment you are receiving.

Kawakawa Tea

5 leaves, dried
500mls of water

The leaves are torn up, placed in an enamel teapot or pot and placed on the burner, bring it to boil then. Turn off the heat and leave to cool. I drink it cold the next day.

How to Pick the best oils for you and your skin?

Choosing oils and butters is a balance of personal preference and what your skin needs.
Do you like a hard bar? Do you want lots of lather?
Is your skin dry? Is it important to you to have a vegan recipe?
Some butters and oils, like coconut, are solid at room temperature.

Properties of commonly used soapmaking oils

How do you turn this into a workable recipe?

It’s easy! (Sort of.).

First, you need to convert percentages to weights. This will require little thinking, to know how much your mold holds simply use Soapees lye calculator to work this out for you. So let’s say you have a mold that holds 1 kilogram. So you have approximately 680 grams of oils to work with (depending on your water discount). If 25% of your recipe needs to be olive oil, enter this, keep going down your recipe converting into weights of the oils you want to use, and it will let you know how much lye and water is needed for your recipe.

Try a bar that’s 30% each coconut, olive, and light oils, following the percentages as guides to make up the remaining.