Do you ever stop and think about the soap you use. It’s such a simple thing but there is more to it than meets the eye.
Let’s lather up and dive into 5 fun soap facts that you never knew:
The phrase "soap opera" comes from the early days of radio when soap manufacturers sponsored daytime dramas aimed at housewives, who were their target market.
The world's oldest soap that is still in use today is the famous "Marseille Soap," which has been produced in Marseille, France since the 14th century.
In some countries, including Japan and Korea, soap is traditionally made with natural ingredients such as green tea, rice bran, and charcoal.
The world's most expensive soap is the "Cleopatra's Golden Soap," which is made with pure gold flakes and costs $3,800 per bar.
Soap was first made by ancient Babylonians around 2800 BC, who boiled fats with ashes to create a cleaning substance.
Did you know it's already 11 days to go before Valentine's Day?
Have you already decided on what you are going to give your 'one & only' for that special day?
Have you ever thought about making a beautiful gift?
Handmade gifts are:
1. Wonderfully made with passion, which means they are created with love, care and thought, making them more personal and meaningful to the recipient.
2. One-of-a-kind and often not available in stores, making them special and unique
This is why they make the most perfect Valentine's Day Gift.
I have created a YouTube video for inspiration, giving 3 ideas for unique Valentine's gifts. It's below.
Follow the link below the video to see how you can make these beautiful gifts.
The Valentine's Bath Treat Workshop is a recorded workshop with easy to follow instructions. You can work through it at your own pace or because it is the season of love, with your gorgeous loved one, creating special moments and well as beautiful gifts to use together. You can join the workshop here The Valentine's Bath Treat Workshop
This is a little unusual for me as I am a huge technophobe and would rather be making soap and all things that smell nice.
I made the decision to create the channel as I wanted people to learn about the person behind Mel's Little Luxuries, the business and most importantly, how I can help them.
I will also be blending in bits of self care because it's so important for you to prioritise your needs. There are times when we become so absorbed with helping others that we forget to help ourselves first. We become resentful when we start running on empty. We feel obliged in helping others first, (people pleasing), because we are frightened of what people will think of us, when we start saying "no". We have to learn to set boundaries. It all boils down to that old adage of, putting the oxygen mask on yourself first.
I've attached the YouTube video, so take a look and please remember to subscribe.
Have you noticed how harsh the winter weather is? 🤔
It has been bitterly cold and this in turn can have an adverse effect on your skin.
Here are 5 tips which are going to help you to protect your skin during the winter months:
1. Moisturise 💆♀️
Ensure that you are moisturizing your skin daily. Twice a day will help your skin to become perfectly hydrated. Use lotions, creams or body butters with rich skin loving ingredients such as shea butter, mango butter and cocoa butter. These ingredients are rich with vitamins which protect and revitalise your skin. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to avoid the moisturizers which have fragrance. In addition, when you apply the moisturizer, apply it to damp skin as this locks in the moisture.
2. Limit the use of hot water 💦
Avoid using hot water as this dries out the skin. The best water to use is lukewarm water.
3. Humidify
As soon as it gets cold, we tend to crank up the heat and this dries out the moisture in the air. This has a knock on effect on your skin. Try using a humidifier which introduces moisture to the air.
4. Protect you skin from the sun 🌞
The winter sun can be the most dangerous sun. Remember to protect your skin with the use of sunscreen.
5. Protect your skin from the wind 🌬
Cover your face from the bitter wind and use a lip balm to prevent your lips cracking and drying out.
Mel's Little Luxuries has a beautiful whipped body butter which is fabulous for hydrating and moisturizing the skin. It is made with shea butter which is renowned for being packed with antioxidants which fight off the free radicals which damage the skin. It leaves your skin looking radiant and feeling soft. It is a gorgeous pamper treat. Check the link here to find out more:
Nothing says ‘I care’ like a hand picked, hand crafted bespoke gift. While everyone else is out buying mass-produced gift sets, which say ‘I just saw this on the shelf & picked it up’ why not give something unique? Give the gift of luxury & thoughtfulness this year with a gorgeous selection of handmade soaps complete with an elegant wooden storage box. No need to hunt for the perfect present, fighting among Christmas shoppers this year, or spend hours online searching for something special. This selection is perfect to give to that special friend, family member, or to give yourself a luxurious treat!
Each soap bar is 3"x3"x1" and minimum weight of 130 g.
Soap 1: Lavender & Patchouli - Relaxing and calming
Soap 2:Carrot, Orange & Ginger – Warm, rich and spicy
Soap 3: Rose Garden – Hydrating, moisturizing and fragranced with uplifting essential oils This gorgeous gift set is yours for just £22.99, delivered to your door beautifully packaged & ready to go. I ONLY have 10 of these boxes, and with the uncertain postage schedules, you’ll want to order quickly to ensure it arrives in time for the big day! This will be the last batch that will be ready this year, so once they are gone, that’s it. Secure YOUR gift set today, and I’ll get it posted out for you within 24 hours.
When you think of Christmas, what scents does it conjure up for you? 🫢
There are so many different smells but the one that strikes out to me is peppermint.
I remember visiting a Christmas stall in Germany. It was freezing cold and didn’t deter visitors to the market. I recall getting a mug of hot chocolate which had a delicious hint of peppermint.
The drink was warming and somehow made me forget about the cold weather.
I started soap making as a hobby, but it grew into a big interest when 2 of my children had dry skin issues. I was concerned about massed produced products, made with ingredients which often caused skin irritation.
My hobby then grew into a business which I love.
During this time, I have met clients who have been curious about the handmade cosmetic world.
People frequently asked me how they could:
Start a fun interesting hobby
Make their own products for the home
Get quality time bonding with their children
Save money making gifts
Make money from products that they create.
I'm going to be teaching you tips and tricks so that you can achieve these things. It's fun, enjoyable and liberating.
I will be opening the doors to my new Facebook Group on Monday 26th September 2022 at 9 am.
When you join How to Make Soaps, Bath Bombs, Body Butters & Lip Balms for Profit and Fun, you will be joining a community where you can develop skills and the confidence to make your own gorgeous products.