A money-savvy individual who likes to keep an efficient eye over their finances and write about ways to optimise their resources.

Microbladding Tip

When it comes to microblading, you might be wondering how much you should be adding on as an extra tip. Microblading is a tough skill, and it can be very challenging to get right. The skill, precision, and technique involved can be hugely impressive. With that in mind, you might want to work with someone who can carry out microblading without making a mistake.

If you find someone good enough to go error-free in this tough technique, you should consider adding a tip. Good microblading technicians are hard to find, so locating someone who meets the expected standard should be a tippable experience. However, the only question you might have is quite a simple one: how much to tip for microblading services?

Tipping is, in many parts of the world, customary. What is less set in stone, though, is the amount. If you intend to head in for some microblading techniques and treatment, then you should absolutely look to focus on the tip you are going to be paying out.

So, with that in mind, how much should you tip for microblading?

Why Microblading Should Deserve a Tip

If you have ever sat through a microblading session, you will realize the investment in time needed by the experts. If you watch them deliver the technique, it is a hugely precise skill. It can be akin to getting a tattoo done, such is the level of precision and hand-to-eye coordination needed. If you would go for a tattoo and add a bit on top, then you should definitely think about adding on a tip for microblading!

These specialists know how hard they work and how challenging it is to get the exact kind of finish that you are looking for. However, the reason to tip purely comes down to the skill. While the actual price of a microblading session might seem outside of the normal means of tipping, the level of skill, organization, and preparation needed is incredible. Therefore, the person carrying this technique out is very much worth a little bit on top from you.

Spend a time in a session, and by the end, you should find it very hard to justify not including a tip. You should immediately notice just how much precision is needed and why the bar for microblading training is so high. Those who can offer this specialist service have undergone a huge amount of discipline and training; they should be respected as experts of their craft.

If you would tip for just about any other salon service, you should definitely consider your microblading practitioner worthy of tipping.

How Much Should You Tip for Microblading?

If you intend to go ahead and start tipping for microblading, you'll want to make sure you offer over a good tip. Some think that something in the range of 5-10% is enough, but most would recommend that you start your tip at the 15-20% range. Obviously, if you are not happy with the end result, tipping would not be expected, but if you feel like the practitioner has pulled off an impressive finish, microblading should be tipped at around the 15 to 20% mark.

However, it depends on how much work is being done. If you go for a shorter session of microblading, then a tip in the 10-15% range is enough. For longer sessions, even multi-session, you might want to go to the 15-20% range. Really, it depends on what you can afford, how much you feel the service was worth, and how happy you are with the end results.

Given that microblading can last for a long time and a good experience is one that can make you feel really confident in your look, tipping a bit on top is worthwhile. You could spend a lot of time and money trying to match this look on your own and reach nothing like the same quality as a microblading specialist can manage in a fraction of the time.

So, try to keep that in mind as you think about tipping for microblading. If you are left with a look that you are happy with, you should always add on a little on top for the overall quality of the service. It just depends on how much your process cost, as microblading can be pretty expensive. Given the cost, though, it should make you appreciate the specialist skills of the person involved. So, should you tip for microblading? Yes! However, how much you tip is down to your own interpretation and financial position.

Alternatives to Tipping

Don't think that tipping your microblade technician just needs to be monetary either; there is a whole array of different options to show that you're appreciative for the work they have carried out. You can show your appreciation through a certain gift that you or even something like voucher codes (I would generally recommend that is something useful like an Amazon gift card that opens a wide range of opportunities for them to utilize).

On the other hand, don't feel like it is something that you have to do and that's obligatory by any means, you don't have to tip your microblade tech, especially if you don't think that they have done a particularly good job or the service that you received was below par. You can simply pay the required fee and not offer anything on top; that's entirely your choice. Any 'tips' that you offer should be very appreciative of and typically goes a long way when you want to continue the relationship into the future for future microblading sessions.

We'd love to know if you have any other experiences regarding tipping microblade technicians. Is it something you do, and how much do you typically tip? Why do you, and why don't you tip? If you can leave your comments down in the comments section below, we'd love to hear about it.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2021 Russel Garret

An avid beard lover who loves helping her partner improve the look of his facial forest.

How to Grow a Pointed Beard

Have you ever wanted to get your beard to be a bit more shapely?

Many guys just have wild beards. Sticking out at one end and totally flat on the other. Most of that comes from how you sleep and the kind of natural parting that you create through hours of being asleep.

However, when you want to get something a bit more specific, you may wish to get a pointed beard. No, not like the caricature style of Satan; more like something akin to a Van Dyke or Stiletto beard style. How, though, do you go about doing that? Specifically, this post will show the steps you can undertake to get an all-around more pointed style beard.

Step 1: Take Your Whole Beard Off

To get a quality pointed beard, we recommend going back to the start.

This means dicing off as much of the beard as you can and then getting it back to totally smooth. We even recommend going for a classic Turkish barbers razor shave. Within a week or two, you should now have a solid level of growth (well, at least the foundations).

Anything from 1/4” to ½” in length should be good enough for this point. This allows you to build the beard from the start into that sharp-pointed overall look for the beard.

Step 2: Get Your Cheeks Nice and Smooth

Make sure that you have your cheek areas entirely smoothed. They should not have any kind of hair or build-up, even those silly whisker-like hairs that come in need to come off. If you do that, then you will already have created a lot more definition.

Now, your beard will have a clear point of definition, especially as the chin is often the place with the most prominent beard growth. You can still use a beard trimmer for most of these steps; again, these are general guidelines and not hard and fast rules.

Step 3: Get the Little Parts Right

The next challenge of making a pointed beard is making sure you leave the right shape for your beard.

So, make sure that you start from the sideburns and then move inward. Get to around 2” from the mouth, and you should shave the neck sides and the bottom hairs underneath and around your Adam’s apple. This should leave you with a kind of circular beard style.

Step 4: Get the Goatee Sorted

Next, you will want to start working on the goatee part of your beard.

This means making sure that you get the line as clear and as defined as is possible. Trim from the neck upwards, taking off increasingly smaller sections of the beard as you go about the shaving process. You should look to use a good quality razor to help you achieve this, as cheaper razors will typically create messier finishes.

Step 5: Style It Right

Now, to finish this cleaner and sharper beard off, you want to use some form of beard wax. It should leave your chin, beard, and your mustache separate from one another. With some wax, you can create some natural protrusion that should help to make your beard a bit sharper and pointier.

This is a hard thing to get right, and it will usually mean that you have to keep coming back and making small adjustments daily. If you want to get a quality pointed beard, though, you’ll need to learn the value of patience and precision.

With the beard trimmer, you will want to start on a higher grade and come in naturally towards the beard. Then gradually lowering the grade more but getting further away from the beard as you reach the bottom of the point. This is what creates that natural point. Less is more at this stage; you rather take off too little than too much. Then make sure to mimic the same actions that you are doing on one side of your face and beard as you do the other to create the symmetry naturally.

Towards the very end, you will be one of the lowest grades but also barely on the edge of your beard as you create the natural curve and pointed aspect of your beard.

You can see a great example of this in the video just above. Notice how the beard trimmer barely gets into the beard towards the end, but make sure to be brave enough to actually shape and curve out the beard-pointed aspect that you want.

The Alternative Approach: See a Barber

If you are looking for a quicker approach to the whole few steps above on styling and growing a pointed beard, you can always just grow a standard one and then head down to the local barbers and ask for that style.

Then take note of what they are doing to form that style you're after, and don't hesitate to just ask them questions about general beard care and how to form the point.

Just to be sure, it's a good idea to bring a picture of the beard style that you're after, so you and the barber are on the same page as to how you want your beard to actually look.

They will be more than happy to help you with the above. Plus, make sure that you do actually take care of your beard the right way as well. Make sure it doesn't get too dry; lukewarm showers and beard oil are good for that. Be sure to wash your beard as well, because just like regular hair that forms on the top of your head, they get dirty and smelly too.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2021 Carlyn Hayes

Want to hear candid views on products? You have come to the right place!

I really love using body scrubs every now and then. But I always feel that the problem with good scrubs is that often they are too expensive. Am I the only one who feels that? There are many scrubs available in the market these days. This time I was looking for a scrub which is not only affordable but also gives good results on use.

While browsing the internet, I came across this product from Dove. Keeping aside my personal thoughts on Dove as a brand, I decided to give it a try. It had some great reviews too. I had to check it on for myself, if those reviews were telling the truth. Also, the combination of crushed macadamia and rice milk felt very intriguing. Personally, I have not come across this variant in any other brand.

About Dove

Dove is a personal care brand owned by Unilever. The brand started in the year 1957 with the introduction of its famous beauty cleansing bar. Today, the product portfolio includes cleansing bars, shampoos, body washes, deodorants, lotions, moisturizers and other products. It has become famous for its unconventional advertisements and focus on ‘real beauty’ that celebrates women.

About Dove Exfoliating Body Polish

The product is a body scrub that nourishes and restores the skin’s natural nutrients. The product also provides gentle exfoliation and has a relaxing fragrance. According to the claims, macadamia fights skin-aging and moisturizes the skin, and the rice milk lightens and brightens the skin tone.

The product comes in 3 variants -

• Pomegranate Seeds and Shea Butter
• Crushed Macadamia and Rice Milk
• Kiwi Seeds and Cool Aloe

I think all the combinations are very interesting, and I would love to try the other two variants in the near future.

The Product

The product has a rich creamy texture with red beads. The scrub has a thick liquid consistency so it is easy to spread on the body. It has a sweet vanilla smell which is not that overpowering. The fragrance is actually quite relaxing. The scrub isn’t very harsh on my skin either unlike other scrubs. It has a perfect gritty texture. On application, the product feels very luxe and indulgent. I think the product lives up to its claims. It leaves the skin very smooth, clean and moisturized. It is easy to rinse out while you are in the shower, which is also great.

Price and Packaging

The product is priced at USD 5.94 (in India it retails for INR 699) for 298 g. It comes in a clear plastic tub with a blue lid. It fits easily in the palm of your hand. The packaging is quite sturdy. It is not a travel size but you can certainly carry it while traveling. The packaging is quite well made, so the product will not spill while travelling. I also like the fact that you can take out the product easily. There wouldn’t be any wastage as you can take out the product till the very end unlike when the scrubs come in a tube and towards the end you cannot take out the last bit of it, so you end up using the scissors to cut the tube and take it out. You know what I mean? Dove has really come up with a good packaging for this product.

Ingredients

How to Use The Product

Just apply some scrub on the body, gently rub it on the skin and wash the area.

Pros of Dove Exfoliating Body Scrub Review

• I love the sturdy packaging of the product.
• The scrub is hydrating.
• It has micro scrub particles which I generally don’t find in other scrubs. This makes it less abrasive on the skin which I really enjoyed in this body scrub.
• People with all skin types can use this scrub.
• The fragrance is luxurious.
• Affordable and pocket friendly.
• A small quantity of the product also goes a long way.

Honestly, I could not find any cons of using this body scrub. Some people with really sensitive skin can find the scrub a little harsh.

My Personal Review

I have tried body scrubs from a myriad of brands. I was not expecting anything from this body scrub when I ordered it. But I was pleasantly surprised by this scrub’s performance. I don’t recall when I was so happy with a body scrub. I generally am not a fan of using Dove products because of the ingredients that they use in the products especially fragrance.

We often use body scrubs for a couple of minutes. We do not allow it to absorb into our skin. So I really do not mind the fragrance in my body scrub. Rather I enjoy having a luxe fragrance in such products. This is definitely one of the products from Dove that I have really enjoyed. It fulfils all the claims that it does. I would like to give it a 5 out of 5 and I would love to try more variants of this scrub very soon. This would definitely be a repeat purchase for me.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2021 PGupta0919

Comments

PGupta0919 (author) on April 26, 2021:

Thank you Amara :)

Amara from Pakistan on April 26, 2021:

Well written hub.. :-)

Alyssa loves trying out new products and services and sharing her honest opinions with the world. She is a budget-conscious wife and mom.

While watching YouTube and tackling my evening chores last April, I heard Shea Whitney mention the Kenzzi IPL. I was intrigued, but didn't give it much thought. A few months after that, she discussed it again and I decided to visit the company website. I never thought I would utter the words, 'I'm tired of shaving,' but that's exactly how I was starting to feel. Wouldn't it be amazing to not have to worry about shaving again? The hefty price tag gave me pause, but the idea stuck in the back of my mind.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2021. Once again, I was catching up on YouTube while doing my evening chores. This time, Brittany Vasseur was explaining how while pregnant, her poor husband had to help her shave. After having her baby, she started using the Kenzzi IPL and loved it.

I decided to bounce the idea off my husband, comparing the price of shaving with the device. We've been Dollar Shave Club members since 2015. Their prices are amazing, and not only do they have a wide-range of products available, the quality is top-notch. However, they recently changed their razor blades, and while my husband loves them, I don't. On top of that, we've been ordering supplies more often this year, which really adds up. If I didn't need to shave anymore, we figured we could save a considerable amount of money. With that settled, I went ahead and made the purchase.

How It Works

How exactly does IPL work? On their website, Kenzzi explains,

Ultimately, there’s a benefit to completing IPL therapy for nearly everyone. It’s important to note that this is not the same as laser treatment. Because IPL releases light of different wavelengths, it’s unlike laser therapy, which only releases one wavelength of light.

In addition to this, the IPL light is less hyper-focused like the laser hair removal usually is. This allows for IPL to penetrate all the way down to the second layer of the skin, which means it doesn’t harm the top layer, and ultimately causes less damage to the skin.

It works because pigment cells in the skin soak up the light energy. That ultimately gets converted into heat, which destroys the unwanted pigment, clearing up freckles or other impurities. This is the same way it works to prevent a hair follicle from growing. The best part is that if you get IPL enough times, you won't have to worry about hair regrowth—you'll basically be hair-free for life.

Chances are you've seen the comical Kenzzi commercials floating around on the internet or heard your favorite internet personality raving about the device. If you haven't, don't worry. Now that you've clicked on this article, you're sure to come across one or five. Oh the joys of our modern age. While the advertisements are certainly entertaining, I think they are a tad misleading. Additionally, I think it's important to lay out how the process works and the time investment involved, something I didn't realize beforehand.

My Experience

I ordered the Kenzzi IPL Handset on January 17. It arrived on my doorstep January 20. I was impressed with how quickly I received it, especially since it shipped from Hong Kong and we were still in the middle of a pandemic.

Everything looked great right out of the box. You get the handset, a power cord, and an instruction booklet. I read through the information and got started right away.

Kenzzi IPL Handset Unboxing

Before I could use my IPL, I had to hop in the shower. It's important to exfoliate and shave any areas that will receive treatment. Removing dead skin cells and clearing in-grown hairs helps absorption of light.

I treat my legs, arms, bikini area, and underarms. This takes a considerable amount of time, depending on the intensity of the light.

The Kenzzi IPL offers five intensity settings and a handy skin tone safety chart. It's recommended to treat each area three times per session, once a week. You can choose to push the button each time or before beginning, hold the button for five seconds to activate glide mode. This allows you to hold the device to your skin and as you move along each area, it will automatically flash. There is also a safety feature built-in which I love: the device will not flash unless it's pressed up against your skin.

I started my first session on the lowest level. It didn't hurt and it took me two hours to get it all done. Because I started on a Wednesday, I created a reminder on my mobile calendar for subsequent Wednesdays to make sure I never miss a session. Consistency is key to seeing results. After each session, I use Dr. Carver's Miracle Repair Serum on my bikini area and underarms. For the rest of my body, I use Gold Bond Ultimate Healing lotion. Hydrating and cooling the treated areas helps keep skin healthy and glowing.

As the weeks went on, I worked my way up to level five. I started noticing slower hair growth the second week. By the fourth week, the hair on my arms was non-existent. From mid-shin down to my ankles, I had a slight case of Strawberry Legs; That was also gone. By the tenth week, most of my hair had stopped growing back, although I was still treating all of the areas noted above. As I increased the intensity of the flashes, so did the amount of time it took me to treat my skin. Using the two highest settings, each session takes me about four hours from start to finish.

I have dubbed two areas of my body "the problem areas." These are my bikini line and underarms. Because the hair is thicker and darker, it's taking longer to see the desired results. Further, these spots are more sensitive and the highest setting I can stand is four. While the lower settings don't hurt, as the intensity increases, there is a little pain with each flash depending on the area of the body. When it hurts, it feels like someone is pinching you with a hot poker. It's not pleasant. If I feel that, I simply drop down one setting.

Using The Handset

According to Kenzzi, most people see results in 12 weeks. Of course, results will vary from person to person. April 21 was my twelfth session, and while I am seeing promising results, I need to continue the sessions until I reach my desired outcome. The hair in my problem areas is lightening and growing more slowly. I'm hoping to be completely hair-free soon.

Important Things To Know

Before you decide to buy, here are some important things to consider:

You should always talk with your doctor before starting any type of treatment. According to the instruction booklet, the following people should not use the device:

• Pregnant or nursing mothers.
• People with active implants like a pacemaker, incontinence device, insulin pump, etc.
• People with epilepsy.
• People with a history of skin cancer or areas of potential skin malignancies, or those who have received radiation therapy or chemotherapy within the last three months.
• People who have taken steroids in the last three months.
• People with a history of Keloid Scar formation.
• Those taking certain types of medication, especially, but not limited to, ones that make skin sensitive to light.
• People with an abnormal skin condition caused by Diabetes or other systemic or metabolic diseases.

Many people like to use the Kenzzi IPL on their face. It's safe to use anywhere below the upper lip. I chose not to use it on my face because I have a history of getting cold sores. The side effects disclaimer in the instruction booklet warns that using the device can reactivate Herpes simplex. I go to great lengths to avoid getting cold sores and the risk wasn't worth it to me.

As with anything, there is a list of other possible side effects. The only thing I experienced was the pain mentioned above. I have sensitive skin, but I didn't have any irritation, redness, swelling, or bruising. I think keeping my skin hydrated with a quality lotion helped.

You should not use the device with a tan. It's recommended to remove any artificial tan and to wait two weeks if you've been tanning naturally. Likewise, it's recommended to wait 48 hours after using Kenzzi before tanning.

You should not use the device over tattoos, dark freckles, or moles.

While the Kenzzi IPL device is technically portable, meaning it's easy to pack, you still need to plug it into an outlet to use.

The device doesn't automatically get rid of hair. It's not going to replace your razor right away. It takes consistent sessions over time to see results.

Above all, this is a time commitment. How long each session lasts will depend on the number of areas you want to treat as well as the intensity you use.

After achieving your optimal results, it is recommended to use the device once every 2-3 months, or as needed, to maintain hairless, smooth skin.

Is It Worth It?

I've had a great experience with Kenzzi. The device is doing exactly what it promised, although it is taking longer to see optimal results in my problem areas. My legs and arms are smooth and hair growth is minimal to non-existent. I have received a few emails checking in to see how my progress was going and to offer helpful tips. The only downside is that it takes me four hours every Wednesday to complete my weekly session. To make it more fun, I use this time to catch up with my YouTube subscriptions.

There's no denying that this is an investment. The device itself is pricey, although Kenzzi seems to always offer the $50 discount. The time involved to complete each session and to see results should also be taken into consideration. This is not a quick fix.

If you are tired of shaving and are willing to put in the time and effort, I think this is a great option. I would definitely recommend the Kenzzi IPL!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2021 Alyssa

Comments

Alyssa (author) from Ohio on April 23, 2021:

Thank you Pamela!

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on April 21, 2021:

The Kenzzi IPL is new to me. This was such an interesting article, Alyssa. I would not want to spend so much time at my age as I simply do not have much hair to be concerned with now. It sounds like you have benefited well however. Thanks for this review.

Want to hear candid views on products? You have come to the right place!

What Is Gillette Venus Breeze Razor with Avocado Oil?

Gillette Venus Breeze Razor with Avocado Oil is a razor designed to give a smooth shave. The razor incorporates soap gel bars on the top and bottom of the razor that contain avocado oil and a fresh freesia flower fragrance.

Price of Gillette Venus Breeze and Packaging

The product is priced at INR 299. It includes one razor head and one easy-grip handle. It comes in a cardboard packaging, with the two items. The instructions are clearly written on the packaging.

Advantages:

• The pivoting head glides smoothly along the curves of the body.
• There's no need to use shaving foam.
• The handle of the product is reusable and refills of the razor can be attached to it.
• The handle has a firm rubber grip, which makes it easy to use in the shower.
• A razor is pain-free compared to other methods of hair removal like waxing or epilators.
• It is reasonably priced.
• Refills of the product are easily available.
• It's travel friendly.
• There are no harsh chemicals in the product.
• The razor is very versatile and can be used on all body parts including the arms, hands, legs, underarms, and the bikini area.

Disadvantages:

• The soap gel bar attached to the razor runs out within a couple of uses.
• The initial learning curve for the product can be a long one, which means that it takes time to get used to the product.
• The use of shaving foam acts as a guide for the shaving areas. But in the case of this particular product, it becomes a little hard to spot the unshaved areas. I feel that this point may not be a disadvantage for many.
• To make it more travel friendly, it should come with a travel case. Currently, that is not an option.

How to Use the Gillette Venus Breeze?

I generally follow the following steps to get a beautiful and smooth shave on my skin.

1. Use a gentle scrub on the skin before shaving. Clean the area. This step is optional, but I have noticed that I get a smoother shave if I use the scrub.
2. In a mug or dish, pour a small amount of water to clean off the razor.
3. Wet the area where the razor is to be used.
4. Wet the razor blade, and start gliding the razor against the direction of the hair growth.
5. Wash the area and the razor.
6. Leave the razor in a clean dry place to dry.
7. Apply moisturizer to the shaved area.

Once the razor has completed its course, just replace the razor with a refill.

How long does the product hold up?

If the shaving for all areas is done on a weekly basis, the razor works for around 2–3 months per refill. This can vary from person to person, as everyone has a different usage pattern and different hair growth patterns.

Final Product Conclusion and Rating

If I have to sum it up in four words I would say, “I absolutely love it.” I grew up with a negative outlook towards shaving. I always heard the following things, the hair growth becomes harder, the skin gets darker, or the hair grows darker.

These are just a few of the many myths that I learned. But one fine day on researching a lot about pain-free hair removal methods and reading about how these “facts” about shaving are actually myths, I thought of giving it a try. And guess what, there was no turning back for me. I absolutely loved the experience, and I absolutely loved the product. And for me, none of those things that I grew up learning and hearing about, came true.

Would I Recommend This Product?

My answer to this is, “Yes, Yes, Yes!” I would totally recommend using the product so that you can try it out for yourself. Of course, this is on the basis of my own experience, but you are the ultimate judge of the products that you use. I would definitely give the product a 4.5 out of 5.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2020 PGupta0919

Mel loves creating and making her own herbals, cleaning products, air fresheners, bath, beauty, and body products.

Relaxing Herbal Baths Can Help Soothe and Alleviate Tension

Let's face it; life is hectic! There just never seems to be quite enough hours in the day to get our list of to-dos finished. The ever-increasing busy demands of today's society can take their toll on our mind, body, and spirit. The challenge to keep up can lead to tension headaches, strained and sore muscles, and sometimes even trouble falling asleep.

If you suffer, as most of us do, with the ailments and side effects of living life in high demand, perhaps a relaxing, herbal bath is just what you need. Herbal baths are deeply relaxing and calming. They can take the edge off of your day, relieving your muscles of strain and tension, quiet your mind, and encourage deep, restful sleep.

In the past, herbal baths were more commonly used than they are today. The value and benefits of a good, relaxing soak to calm our bodies and minds has been set aside and is now, oftentimes, replaced with a quick hop into the shower. While a good hot shower is certainly efficient and can be quite relaxing as well, there is nothing quite as soothing and nurturing as a long soak in a hot bath.

Common Relaxing Herbs Used for Bathing

Herbs commonly used for relaxing baths include:

• Lavender
• Chamomile
• Feverfew
• Lemon Balm
• Comfrey Leaf
• Calendula
• Rose Petals

Although roses and calendula aren't particularly considered herbs, they are often used in soothing baths and also in facial and body care. They may help to soothe and soften the skin, adding to that calming, pampered feel that we all know and appreciate so much.

How to Use Herbs in Your Bath

Adding beneficial herbs to your bath couldn't be easier! The easy-to-follow steps below will have you on your way to a much needed soothing and relaxing retreat right in your own home!

1. Select and choose your herbs. Ideally, you will want approximately 1–3 tablespoons per herb. Feel free to adjust amounts to your specific personal needs and preference.
2. Place your herbs in the center a piece of cheesecloth or a clean washcloth and tie securely. (Rubber bands or ponytail ties work wonderfully).
3. Choose your preferred and ideal water temperature. Start to fill your tub.
4. Toss in your tied bundle of relaxing herbs as your tub fills with water. The longer you allow the herbs to "steep" the better.
5. Climb in and enjoy your herbal bath!

Keep in mind, although you do not want your bathing water to be too hot (for safety reasons), you do, ideally, want it comfortably hot. Especially if you intend to soak for 20–30 minutes. If your herbal water starts to cool during your bath, feel free to add more water during your bath to extend your stay. Squeezing your herb bundle periodically during your bath will help to replenish the potency of the herbal water.

Don't Forget the Little Extras!

And finally, now that you know what things to use and how to use them, adding a few little extras to your herbal bath "me time" routine can make the whole herbal bathing experience even better. Try adding soft music, candlelight, incense, a favorite book, a glass of your favorite wine and some peace and quiet (if possible) to enhance your relaxation experience even further.

If you cannot make this an everyday enjoyment, try once a week at first. Experiment! Slowing down, being present, and really relishing this experience, however infrequent, is sure to add some perhaps much-needed quality to your life experience.

Source

Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2020 Melissa Meadow

Comments

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on March 04, 2020:

Thank you, Den!

Den from United Kingdom on March 04, 2020:

Nice ideas. I will be trying this.

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on March 03, 2020:

Thank you, Tori!

I've had wonderful results from this and it's very versatile, too. I love trying different herb combinations in my baths. It feels good to be able to do something so simple yet beneficial!

Best wishes to you and if you do give this a try, I hope you have terrific results.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on March 03, 2020:

Thank you so much, Thelma, for stopping by to read and for commenting! I appreciate it.

It really is simple and the benefits have been wonderful for me. I am able to relax easier, I carry less tension throughout my day to day activities and I sleep more soundly.

If you give this a try, I hope it works just as wonderful for you as well!

Blessings!

Tori Leumas on March 03, 2020:

This is an amazing article! I often have trouble with relaxing due to some hard emotional things in my past. A nice, warm, relaxing bath seems like the perfect thing for me.

Thelma Alberts from Germany on March 03, 2020:

Wow! This is so easy to make. I love lavender bath and I just buy it in the drugstore. Thank you very much for sharing.

For years I have been looking for a deodorant without aluminum and that doesn't irritate my skin. I think I have finally met my match!

Pit Problems

If you're here, you have probably had your own pit problems. The deodorants you've tried might have worked for a little while and then stopped. We all know how that goes. Or maybe they smelled really good, but didn't work at all! Well, let me tell you, I have searched high and low over the years and have exhausted the options. Are you still searching like I was? Keep reading, and you might just discover your new favorite (Hint: it isn't Secret).

Hunting for the Best

To me, the perfect deodorant doesn't have any weird or questionable ingredients, it works all day, doesn't leave a gross residue on clothes, doesn't cause rashes, and on top of all that, smells good. I used Secret growing up (ew, aluminum), tried Men's Degree (stops working, weird ingredients), tried those hippie salt sticks (nope), Tom's (works for about 2 hours), Old Spice (very manly smell, burns on freshly shaved pits), Schmidt's (baking soda causes rashes), and probably many others that I have tried to block out of my memory.

I am from Florida, which is hot and humid. And if you've ever been in the humidity, you know it makes you sweat like nobody's business. So my ultimate test for deodorant is going back to Florida and seeing if it actually works, which is what I did recently with the product below.

Each & Every Brand Deodorant

I decided to try a new brand called Each & Every, which I had never heard of until my recent online search. Over the past month of everyday use, I have been consistently impressed by this product!

Pros:

• Smells great
• Creamy and hydrating
• Doesn't stick to clothes after washing
• Works all day (intense workout requires reapply—but a shower is preferred)
• The only deodorant I've EVER tried that doesn't burn freshly shaved pits
• Quality ingredients, nothing weird
• Paraben-free, Cruelty-free, Vegan
• No icky bacterial pimples or eczema rashes
• Passed the Florida Humidity test on my recent trip home
• Combats stress sweat (work is stressful, okay?)
• Has a screw-on top, which I didn't even know I needed but is way better
• There are many different scents (I tried Lavender and Lemon), and also an unscented one

Cons:

• $15 is a lot to dish out for your armpits
• The container is made of plastic (like every other deodorant)
• Not organic
• 2.5 ounces isn't a lot of product for the value (although it seems to be lasting)

Overall, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. I would say it is well worth it to avoid putting harsh ingredients into your body and not having to worry about being smelly or getting rashes!

A Cylinder of Happiness

I think I have finally found the best deodorant that fits my picky criteria AND smells good. I will definitely be buying more scents in the future (because who doesn't want to smell like Cedar & Vanilla?!) and I will update this post if the product ever stops working for me or if my cons list gets longer.

So what do you think? Are you planning to try it out? Do you have a different favorite? Share your thoughts below!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Rebecca Swafford

A beard-grooming enthusiast who writes about beard products, styling and other related facial hair trivia who also sports a beardstache.

How to Remove Your 5 O’Clock Shadow

Even after you have trimmed your beard with a beard trimmer at its closest setting, you can still get the remnants of the 5 O'Clock shadow, so this guide will help those who are trying to achieve the closest shave possible.

You've got three methods when it comes to getting rid of the 5 O'Clock shadow:

1. Shaving
2. Waxing
3. Laser hair removal

Proper Skincare Is Essential

Before we get straight into getting rid of stubble, I want first to stress the importance of good skincare. Whether you want to grow or get rid of a beard, get into the routine of washing, moisturizing, and exfoliating your face. It will help to remove dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria which can cause ingrown hairs.

Method 1: Shaving

Shaving is probably the most common method of removing facial hair. I've put together seven steps that will help you get the closest shave possible.

Follow these Steps to Put Your Best Clean Shaven Face Forward

1. Prepare your skin
2. Use a brush to apply shaving cream onto your face
3. Pull your skin back and perform short strokes
4. Rinse your blade after every stroke
5. Apply a second layer of shaving cream and go against the grain
6. Rinse face with warm water and close the pores with cold water
7. Finish it all off with an aftershave

Now let's look at each step in more detail just below.

Shaving Supplies

• A high-quality safety razor with multiple blades
• Shaving towel
• Shaving cream and brush
• Alcohol-free aftershave
• Pre-Shave Oil
• Moisturizer

Why a Safety Razor?

When it comes to trying to get rid of the stubble shadow, the safety razor with multiple blades is better than a beard trimmer. Of course, there are pros and cons to both, but razors can get a closer shave. They also require more care and attention.

Of course, you can get good and cheap razors, but I'd recommend avoiding disposable razors and opting for something that is properly built for the job. There are some great options out there for a specifically built model to give you a close-cut shave.

Step 1: Prepare Your Skin

Before you go straight into shaving your beard with a razor, you want to first prepare your skin with what’s about to come.

The best way to do that is to head to the bathroom sink and splash your face thoroughly with warm water or take a warm shower. Here, we are looking to expose the pores on your skin and help ease up the hairs for when it comes to shaving.

Then pick up a nearby shaving towel to gently pat dry your face.

Step 2: Apply Shaving Cream to Your Face

When applying shaving cream to your face, you first want to get the shaving brush, dip it into some water, and then into the shaving cream. Then apply it in a circulating motion to your face.

The idea here is that we want to create a thick lather for the hairs on your face because it raises the follicles and helps to aid in the exfoliation of your skin.

Make sure you use a proper shaving cream that will be kinder to your skin and result in a smoother finish. You want to avoid the cheaper ones that contain certain ingredients, such as menthol, that will actually close up your pores and make your beard harder to shave.

If you have particularly sensitive skin, you'll want to make sure that you are also using a pre-shave oil explicitly designed to help ease those prone to irritation as it helps to ease razor drag and friction.

Step 3: Pull Your Skin Taut and Perform Short Strokes

Now you have got your facial scruff nicely lathered up with your razor in hand; you want to start shaving. Before doing so, make sure that the razor blade is sharp (and not dull); if it isn't and your face isn't properly lubricated, this can result in a nasty case of potential razor burns and the promotion of ingrown hairs.

To start shaving, you want to pull back parts of your skin so that the skin becomes taut. This then allows your beard hairs to raise up, making it easier to shave while getting a closer result too.

You want to glide the razor rather than apply pressure. The weight of a good quality safety razor should be doing this for you. In the first phase of shaving your stubble, you want to take note of your hair's direction and follow it along. This is a lot easier said than done since hairs go in all kinds of directions. However, it's essential to carry this out, as you will get a much finer and closer shave than if you were to go in whichever direction you like.

Step 4: Rinse Your Blade

Make sure that you are regularly rinsing your razor blade with warm water. This keeps it from clogging up, plus the use of warm water allows your skin pores to remain exposed and the hairs soft.

Personally, I would recommend that after every stroke, that you give the razor a quick rinse under the sink.

Step 5: Shave Against the Direction of Growth

Now, once you have completed the first phase of shaving your stubble, most of the hairs should have gone. However, there is another second phase to carry out. Again, like you did the first time and apply a second layer of shaving cream.

The objective now is to get your razor, again, making sure you are holding it at the proper right angle. Pull the skin taut, but you want to be going the opposite direction of growth of what you carried out initially, going against the grain.

Step 6: Rinse Your Face With Warm Water

Now you’ve finished removing the stubble from your face; you want to rinse your face with warm water.

Remove all the straggling hairs and reach for the towel to pat it dry. Remember, your skin is susceptible at this point, so be nice to it. Ensure that there is no rubbing or severe stretching of the skin or any pulling.

Step 7: Finish Off With Aftershave

Now to finish, you want to reach for an appropriate aftershave that you can apply to your face. This will help restore moisture to your face and recover from the irritation as you go about your day. You certainly don’t want to use an aftershave with alcohol, as it can dry your face out and be irritable.

Ideally, it has some moisturizing element to help replenish the lost oils that will have been removed with shaving. Plus, a moisturizer will help to soothe and quash any potential irritation caused. Feel free to top up on moisturizer at a later period to help with any spots of your skin feeling dry.

Add a small portion of aftershave balm and apply it evenly over your face. Somewhat ironically, beard oil will actually be an excellent product to apply to your face after a shave as it will help replenish the lost moisture, plus it’s great for smelling good.

Method 2: Waxing

To get rid of the 5 O'Clock stubble, this is both an incredibly painful process and one that really we don't highly recommend. Does it work? Sure. You are literally ripping out the roots of your beard in order to achieve this look.

However, the positive outcome of waxing is that the hair follicles will come back thinner and less often the more you wax. Meaning, after a few waxes, you will have less and less hair to deal with.

Ultimately, we don't really recommend it because of the pain it can cause, and there are alternative, less painful methods.

Method 3: Laser Hair Treatment

You also have the potential opportunity for long-lasting impacts with laser hair treatment, though it can be pretty expensive. Before doing laser, you'll need to consider, "Is this something I really want a long-term solution to?"

Many studies indicate that stubble is quite attractive on men, so it's always nice just to have the option of growing out a stubble if you want to in the short term.

While the pain isn't the same as waxing, it still is somewhat uncomfortable. The sensation is similar to getting a tattoo or something of that nature. Not the worse pain you'll ever experience but surely not a walk in the park.

Good Luck!

Of course, let us know if you have any questions and concerns with regards to how to get rid of a 5 O'Clock shadow, and I'd be more than happy to help you. Simply, leave a question in the questions and answer box below.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Jonathan Lees

A beard-grooming enthusiast who writes about beard products, styling and other related facial hair trivia who also sports a beardstache.

If you have a beard that is fairly light in color and you want to give the look of a fuller and thicker beard, a great way to do this is to simply darken the beard. It’s quite simple as to why this works so well.

Those who have a darker beard tend to have less visible gaps than those with lighter ones — hence giving the appearance of a thicker and fuller beard — despite there probably being the same amount of facial hair, all things being equal.

Firstly, we urge you to embrace the one you’ve got and quash any potential beard envy you might have. A lighter-colored beard is something to be celebrated not frowned upon—after all, it is quite rare. So this account is more intended to make the most of the beard that you’ve got rather than to completely change it.

So let’s examine how you can go about darkening the beard you’ve got to give the look of a fuller and thicker beard.

10 Grooming Tips for a Darker Beard

1. Apply Beard Oil Daily
2. Prune Your Beard
3. Separate the Hair Follicles
4. Don’t Dry Out Your Beard
5. Wear Darker Clothing
6. Use Beard Styling Products
7. Shape and Style Your Beard
8. Grow Out the Beard
9. Limit Sun Exposure
10. Die Your Beard

1. Apply Beard Oil Daily

Using beard oil is something that any guy sporting a beard should be carrying out. It’s got a tonne of benefits, including ensuring your beard hair remains strong, keeping your skin supple and leaving you smelling awesome.

Of course, just like dampening your hair , moisturising your beard with oil creates a darker look. You might even want to get a specialised beard-darkening oil. Either way, we suggest investing in a high-quality oil. If you are looking for a particular brand, we advise looking into the Beardbrand range, as they have a really high-quality level of beard oil production.

The best time to apply beard oil is just after a warm shower, when your beard is slightly damp. This is because your facial skin pores are more exposed than usual due to the heat, allowing the oils to seep in better.

2. Prune Your Beard for Split Ends

Split ends are the fuzzy curly bits at the end of the beard that look lighter than the rest of your beard. Firstly, you want to be preventing these anyway by regularly dousing your beard with a quality oil to prevent it from becoming overly dry.

You also want to make sure that when you find a split end, however, that you deal with it when you can with a pair of dedicated beard scissors. Don't just use any old scissors though, as this will likely cause more damage than the original problem you are trying to solve.

Snip it just under where you can see the breakage happen. Otherwise, it is just going to grow out again. Refrain from going snip-happy though. Be conscious in the snips you decide to take. If you are really unsure, we recommend that you visit a beard barber to help advise and take care of the issue for you.

3. Separate the Hair Follicles

A classic grooming aspect that many beardsmen forget to work on is simply combing out their beard. Sure, using oils and balms will do a great job for the health of your beard, but that’s only half the equation. Actually, ensuring your beard looks good is the other half.

This is where combs and brushes come in. Not only do they help to naturally spread the oils that reside on your face around the beard, but they also help to make sure it looks good. Plus, it prevents the beard hairs from becoming intertwined. This intertwining can lead to a patchier, lighter-looking beard.

Make sure you brush or comb your beard once or twice (and no more) every day. This will ensure your beard doesn’t create knots and will prevent it from getting split ends too.

4. Don't Dry Out Your Beard

This ties into the first point somewhat, as well and the sixth one. When looking after a beard, the main point is to try and prevent it from going scraggly and wiry.

This means that the beard is supplied with plenty of moisture, including from beard oil to top it up. You also want to ensure that you don’t dry out your beard through overexposure to heat. This typically comes in the form of guys using a hair dryer on their beard or, worse still, a hair straightener.

Why this works against you is that you are stripping the oils that reside on your beard strands. These oils help to give the appearance of a thicker and darker beard, as they lie on the hairs throughout. Ensuring that you are giving your beard the proper treatment and respect will do wonders for its overall look and health.

5. Wear Dark Clothing

Wearing a black or dark grey top—as opposed to a light-coloured or white T-shirt—is also a great way to ensure the look of a darker beard. Of course, it won’t make the beard actually darker. But the gaps between your beard will be less obvious when someone is looking at you.

Conversely, a white or light top makes the gaps pop in the beard, which can lead to it appearing thin and light — especially if light is shining at you and the color reflects this. A darker color will blend the gaps and make them harder to perceive at first glance.

What's the best color? The one that matches your beard. Though we’re not sure that many of you want to be rocking a dark brown T-shirt, so a black one is always a good alternative.

6. Use Beard Styling Products

Just like how you can get conditioning products for your hair and the equivalent for beards, you also get styling products for your beard, much in the same way you would for your hair. These are typically known as either a beard styling balm or a beard wax. Both are made of waxes and contain conditioning properties too.

What makes them different to a standard beard conditioning product though is that they offer a hold to them. This then allows you to style your beard and make the hairs lay flat and prevent them from sticking out.

They actually create a matte texture effect to your beard too. This allows the beard to look darker, as opposed to shiny, which is the appearance that beard oil can give.

7. Shape and Style Your Beard

We would also recommend that you head to your local beard barber and see what recommendations they might have for you to achieve the appearance that you want. They might be able to craft a certain style that complements your overall look and gives the appearance of a darker, fuller and thicker beard by focusing in on where it grows best.

Plus, there are other aspects that you can undertake as well to give the look of a fuller beard with regards to styling. With the use of a beard brush and comb, you can ensure that the shape your beard is styled and plays to your advantage too. Start to brush your beard inwards towards your face, giving it a darker appearance.

8. Grow Out the Beard

By growing out the beard further, of course, you are going to create the look of a naturally fuller beard (because you actually are). It will also allow the beard to appear darker. You can see this type of effect with a lot of beard time-lapse videos created over the course of several months. The beard starts off relatively light, but as more and more hairs start to grow and intertwine with one another, the hairs appear darker.

This gives you the look of a fuller and darker-looking beard. Just make sure that you up the quantity of oil that you are applying to your beard as it grows out.

You could even start to grow out your head hair as well to combine the look—especially if your head hair is darker than your bear— and to give the overall impression of darker facial hair.

9. Limit Sun Exposure

When you stay out in the sun for a long period of time, your hair starts to lighten up. Even my typically dark brown hair has attempted going blonde. The same thing will happen to your beard. When exposed to the sun for a long while, it is naturally going to start to lighten up.

You can protect yourself against this by simply remaining in the shade and making use of a range of beard-grooming products to try and reduce the impact. The best course of action though is to just stay out of the sun for long periods of time if you can.

10. Dye Your Beard

Of course, if you really want to darken your beard, dyeing it is the most effective route. I just want to express caution about this method, however, as the result can be sometimes disappointing if you don’t carry it out correctly. Although darker, the beard can look somewhat unnatural, like you just have on a beard wig.

Make sure you invest in a quality product, such as natural henna beard dye. You might even want to consider a professional carrying it out first, then you practice further when you get home.

Be sure to check out some of the comparison before-and-after shots for people who have actually used the range of beard dyes. Then you can ultimately decide if it is for you or not.

If you do have any questions or additional tips about darkening a beard, then let us know in the questions and answers section just below. We would love to hear them.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Jonathan Lees

A beard-grooming enthusiast who writes about beard products, styling and other related facial hair trivia who also sports a beardstache.

Reasons Your Beard Won't Connect

If you are trying to figure out why and how to fix a beard that doesn’t connect with your mustache, this is the guide for you. This is a common issue that is raised amongst beardsmen, and it mainly comes down to genetics— and honestly, it’s not that big of a problem. That said, this is certainly something that can be addressed.

First, you need to know why your beard isn’t connecting to your mustache. Many times, it's simply a case of being very young and not having reached your peak beard-growing years. Sometimes there is a dietary issue, or your genetics simply won’t allow it. There are different reasons for different folks for why this might be happening.

That said, no matter the reason, there are several solutions available to you. What might work for one person may not work for another. So it’s about considering your options and carrying out the best one for you. Whether it’s ensuring you are getting enough biotin in your diet, whether you need to reach for a beard-growth pen or just you just need to mask the patch.

We’ll discuss all the possible options for you to make your beard and mustache connect, but first, we need to discuss what factors have an impact on your beard-growing potential.

Age

One of the most common reasons for not achieving a particular goal with your beard is age. Specifically, being too young. As you get older, your beard potential starts to increase. This is particularly true for those who are in their teen years as well as their early 20s. When you start to get into the late 20s and early 30s, you will have almost reached your peak beard potential. If you are less than 30, there is still a chance that your beard will naturally connect to your mustache. So there’s no need to worry about why your beard won’t connect at the moment. If you are past that age, it is likely due to the following issues.

Genetics

Genetics plays a huge part in a man’s ability to grow a beard. If you are over 30, and your beard isn't connecting, chances are, you’re going to need some outside assistance. Remember, though, genetics play across all aspects of your beard from the color, density of the beard and whether it’s patchy or not. Ultimately though, you can enhance your beard just like any other physical aspect of your body.

Neglect

Although your beard is largely dependent on the genetic aspect, there are additional things that are within your control. There’s what’s known as the inner beard. Is your body getting the right vitamins and supplements to grow out your beard to its full potential? Is your body getting enough rest and sleep to grow sufficiently? Do you make sure stress is kept to a minimum? There are outside aspects too. Are you caring for your beard? Do you supply it with a healthy beard-growing environment by using grooming products such as beard oil?

Time

This one is certainly for those who have just started to grow out a beard and are trying to find out more about the bearded lifestyle. Ultimately though, have you actually given it enough time to fill in the gaps with the beard connectors? You don’t want to be waiting for three weeks and then be wondering why they haven’t filled in. You should be asking yourself this question after three or more months. Your hair grows at different rates, where one part of your face starts off , the other is lagging behind. Give it time, and don’t rush it. Remember, your bathroom mirror is your worst enemy when it comes to growing beards.

Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Beard

When it comes to making your beard connect, make sure you identify the above causes first. Essentially, ask yourself the following:

• Do I have a healthy enough diet to justify good beard growth? If not, this is an area that you can work on.
• Am I old enough to genetically warrant a good beard yet? If you are 12, and wondering why you haven’t got beard connectors, chances are, there’s your answer. If you are 30, and haven’t grown them, please read on.
• If you are a beard beginner and wondering why it hasn't joined up after three weeks of growth, come back after three months and see if it hasn't.
• If you think it might be your weak beard genetics, then the next series of suggestions should be able to help you out.

Let’s take a look at the available options for you.

What You Can Do to Fix a Beard That Won’t Connect

Embrace It

I can almost guarantee that you don't like this suggestion already. However, this is the first recommendation simply because there is a range of really cool beard styles that you can pull off with a beard that does not connect. Check out styles like a goatee or a chin strap. We suggest you head down to your local beard barber and ask them for a bit of advice on making the most of your beard. You will be amazed at what they can pull off. In fact, you will probably be glad they don’t connect as the style overall is easier to maintain.

Potentially Stimulate Growth

There are techniques you can undertake to potentially stimulate growth. This involves increasing blood flow to the areas where there isn’t growth. This only tends to work where there are exiting hair follicles. A good way to do this is by investing in a good quality boar-bristle brush and running it through your beard.

Beard Makeup

Another option for you to consider is beard makeup. There is a range of makeup products out there that are dedicated to helping give the look of a fuller beard, as well as help connect beards to mustaches. A particularly good one we recommend is a beard-growth pen that can be used to help give the impression of hair follicles . These can appear very realistic, even up close.

Keep Growing

This is to take the three-month point further and keep growing your beard. This applies to your mustache as well as your beard. The extra length will give you further styling options to help cover the gaps. You can then start using beard styling balms, waxes and pastes. Products provide hold that you can cover up all the holes and gaps that your beard won’t fill in. So leave it, and keep on growing  it until it literally fills in. Then you can start to get creative when it comes to beard styling, which your beard barber can help out with.

Take Extra Care of Your Inner Beard

Make sure that your body is getting all the good things (and avoid the bad things) that your beard needs to grow. For instance, a good diet that includes plenty of biotins (you might need some supplements if you have a poor diet), as well as exercise (particularly pumping iron). Make sure you get plenty of sleep and avoid stress. These all have an impact on the level of testosterone your body is maintaining, as well as the nutrition that the beard hairs are getting. Both are vital for your beard to be the best it can be and will have an impact on how much and the quality of the beard hairs you can produce.

Invest in the Outer Beard

As touched on briefly above, the way you look after your beard from an external aspect will have an impact on how well your beard grows out. Invest in a quality beard oil that will help to improve your skin and the health of your beard. Make sure you exfoliate and moisturise your skin. Investing in beard grooming tools such as a comb and beard brush will go a long way to not only improving the look of your beard on a day-to-day basis but the beard growth aspect as well.

Cover It With Hair

You have the chance to cover the gaps with more beard. However, you could potentially cover it with the actual hair on your head if you grow it long enough and style it in a way that helps cover any missing beard connectors. Again, this is something that I would advise you to ask your barber. Make sure that you are also looking after your beard and ensuring the beard lays flat (rather than spiking out everywhere) to give the maximum coverage for your beard.

Other Beard Connecting Methods

There are other more drastic measures that you could take, such as using rogaine, potentially looking into beard transplant surgery or even microblading for beards. These three options require a word of caution and a lot of research to ensure this is actually what you want. I would recommend you look back to my first suggestion, and embrace the beard style you’ve got. However, we want you to be aware of all of the options that are available to you.

Let us know if you have any questions on how to make a beard and mustache connect, and we will be more than happy to help.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Jonathan Lees

A beard-grooming enthusiast who writes about beard products, styling and other related facial hair trivia who also sports a beardstache.

How to Get the 10-Day Stubble Length

If you have done any research into facial hair attractiveness, you might have found that numerous studies show that a bit of stubble is the most attractive. Stubble is more attractive than being completely clean-shaven or having a full-on beard.

So you have an upcoming date, you might just want to skip the razor (or in the case of a long grizzly beard) give it trim down. Now that you know, you want to get a stubble though — how can you make the most of it? That’s exactly what we want to discuss right here.

1. Feed Your Stubble With Beard Oil
2. Use a Stubble Softener
3. Tidy Up the Stubble Beard Lines
4. Fade Your Stubble Beard
5. Make Use of Stubble Dye

Note: A 10-day stubble in terms of length and the mm you are looking at between 4mm to 5mm. So you will get somewhat of a light to heavy stubble.

1. Feed Your Beard and Use Beard Oil

Now you might be thinking that beard oil is literally just for those with a good solid beard, when in fact it can be very much used to help bring out the most in your beard stubble too. See, beard oil is basically a specialised concoction of carrier oils as well as essential oils. With regular use allows your stubble to be soft as well as smell freaking great.

If you take a look at the ingredients, you will see the likes of Argan Oil, Coconut Oil and a range of other carrier oils that all contain great hair properties that include strengthening, softening and basically bolstering the hairs. This will not only work great for the stubble that you are now sporting, however, but it will also work very well for the very foundations of your beard, your skin.

See, the main job of a beard oil is to not just keep the hairs themselves healthy but also help aid the oils that naturally reside on your face (namely sebum). It keeps the hairs moist. What tends to happen is that as you grow out your beard, they naturally soak up the oils that reside on your face that can leave it feeling dry and itchy (this combined with the fact that your hairs are shorter and stubbly) this is what causes the ‘itchy beard syndrome’ which causes a guy to shave it off (and repeat the whole process again).

So by applying beard oil, you are adding surplus oils to your face that can help keep your skin moist as well as the beard hairs, leaving you with a fresher looking skin, a non-itchy beard and not to mention due to the essential oils — you will smell fantastic as well.

In truth, if there is any tip that you want to be using from this guide to achieving the best possible looking stubble you can, it would be investing in a top-quality beard oil. If you are looking for a particular brand to do that with, I highly recommend the Beardbrand beard oil range, all fantastic beard oils that will really help to bring out the best in your beard as well as smelling absolutely great.

2. Use a Stubble Softener

Now as mentioned, using beard oil will definitely help to soften up the stubble beard somewhat. However, if you are particularly conscious of a rough stubbly patch — you can take further precautions to help soften up your stubble further.

For instance, you can use a product called Soft Goat, which is basically a pad that you can use across your stubble to smooth out the hairs. How this works is basically like the following.

When you shave or trim your beard, you are basically creating sharp jagged edges. That’s what you can feel as you brush your hand across your stubble and it feels rough — almost like a sandpaper type feel.

What Soft Goat essentially does after applying it a few times, will start to get those sharp-edged hairs and smooth them over. Creating a much smoother surface, and less jagged edges. This will then allow your stubble to not only be smoother but it will have a cleaner looking appearance too. Once using it though, I definitely recommend that you then top up your stubble with a few dabs of beard oil as it will also remove some of the much-needed moisture that keeps your facial hair in good condition.

3. Tidy Up the Stubble Lines

Now, to get the perfect stubble you need to make sure that it doesn’t go out of bounds. The styling doesn’t stop for the stubble just because you have trimmed it down to your desired length.

You need to account for the lines that you are making. There are two sets that you need to pay particular attention to. The pairs of cheek lines as well as the necklines. You don’t want to be going too low or too high.

The video below has a good demonstration of what and how to go about making sure they are in sync with one another. The general aspect to bear in mind is that they want to be parallel to one another and naturally contour your face.

Plus, ensure that you don’t follow the common but horrible beard and stubble shaping grooming error of mistaking your neckline for your cheek line. You don’t want to be clean-shaven underneath your chin. Otherwise, it looks like you have a range of floating hair upon your cheeks.

Instead, naturally, follow your jaw around but at about two fingers above your Adam’s apple. This is where your neckline should follow around. Make sure you take a look at the video to get a good understanding of this before you take a good quality beard trimmer to your beard.

4. Fade Your Beard Out

Now if you are looking to earn some extra style points — you can try some beard fading. This is basically where you can fade your beard into your hair or just fade it across your neckline.

You will need a sophisticated beard trimmer (or general clipper) to do this. However, if we start with your neckline. As you are sporting a 10 day stubble at roughly 5mm. What you can do, is set your beard trimmer down to around 3mm and then shave slightly inwards from your beard line all the way parallel to your beard line with about one finger in.

This gives the look of a faded inwards beard as it naturally draws the eye in to a faded out look.

A similar method can be carried out with your sideburns in the way it connects into a disconnected undercut style hair cut. Where the beard length joins up with the same length hair cut — with incremental fades that take place. See the video below for further explanation. However, this is quite an advanced undertaking for a first go — so I recommend either heading to your local barbers to get it done or at least trying it out a few times at home before you head out on a date.

5. Make Use of Stubble Dye?

If you are worried about sporting the odd grey hair or simply that your stubble is spouting a lot of different colours. Firstly, I think this is not a big concern and it can really add a lot of character to facial hair. That said, some guys can be conscious of this fact and hence I recommend that you reach for a dye.

You can natural dyes such as the Henna Dye to match up with your beard as well as other options. Ensure you follow the right instructions to get the results that you want. Then carry on with the above steps to make the most out of the 10-day stubble length that you've got. I'd recommend trimming and shaping up the beard first and then applying the dye. If you want, you could even get a professional to carry this out for you. However, there are plenty of great guides on there on how to do this such as the video below:

What If You Have Patchy Stubble?

If you have a patchy beard then that's absolutely fine. In fact, they add more character to stubble and you will see plenty of people rocking a mighty fine looking patchy beard. It doesn't need to be exactly uniform to look perfect. Much like, beard and stubble dye really aren't required - having a patchy beard adds authenticity to the stubble and it's only really the first three points that you might need to take care of.

Let us know how it goes with your quest to achieve the perfect stubble and if you have any questions or comments, then please let us know. If you want some studies to take a look at to prove stubble is the way to go, the see the following:

References

The Role of Facial Hair in Women's Perceptions of Men's Attractiveness, Health, Masculinity and Parenting Abilities (2013)

The Masculinity Paradox: Facial Masculinity and Beardedness Interact to Determine Women’s Ratings of Men’s Facial Attractiveness (2016)

The Effects of Facial Hair Manipulation on Female Perceptions of Attractiveness, Masculinity, and Dominance in Male Faces (2008)

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Jonathan Lees

A beard-grooming enthusiast who writes about beard products, styling and other related facial hair trivia who also sports a beardstache.

Stop Your Beard Hairs Sticking Out and Get Them to Lay Flat

When you first start growing out a beard, everything is reasonably organised. Sure you might go through a slight itchy phase and a bit of a patchy beard, but on the whole, everything is neat and organised — besides there is not that much there to actually look after. However, when you start getting around the two month mark, you will find your beard starts to get a bit of out of control.

If your beard is particularly unruly, you’re going to have bits of your facial scruff stick out in every direction but the way you want it to go. That’s what this guide is going to be about — how to get your beard to lay flat and prevent it from sticking out everywhere (and give an overall darker beard look that looks fuller and neater).

Beard Grooming Products You Need

Firstly, we are going to cover your beard grooming arsenal and potentially what you might actually need to combat this. If you haven’t already got the following, I recommend you look into potentially purchasing them from a top-quality beard brand.

These are products are specifically designed to help keep your beard in top condition. In the same way that you might use argan oil for your hair or a conditioner, there are products out there that help to tame your beard and keep it healthy and strong (not to mention smelling great as well):

Beard Oil

Beard oil is pretty much your staple go-to product, it’s a concoction of carrier oils (that do the most good for your beard) such as coconut oil and argan oil as well as essential oils (that provide the scent). This is what you should be using day-in-day-out regardless of the state of your beard, whether you are 1 day in our 1001 days into growing your beard. It keeps the skin fresh, the beard hairs healthy, not to mention they offer come in a variety of gorgeous scents.

Beard Balm

This is also a conditioning product, very much like beard oil, however, is the ‘solid version’ — it’s basically a mixture of butters and waxes in addition to the essential and carrier oils. So it is great for your beard hairs as well as the foundation of your beard (your skin) but it also provides a bit of hold to the beard. This gives you somewhat of a styling capability.

Note: Using beard balm itself might well be the answer to help you to stop your beard sticking out and getting it to lay flat. This will only really work for those who have got quite a tame beard though and is only slightly unruly — where just a bit of help is needed.

Beard Styling Products

Now if we take the analogy of your hair again, like you get hair clays and hair pastes to style your hair. You also get beard products that are meant specifically to help how they look as well. The key with these products is that they often a high wax content along with a range of butter, this is what’s going to help give you the hold to help your beard lay flat.

Beard Styling Balms

Like we mentioned before, however, these beard styling balms usually have a much higher content of wax and butter content and can be used somewhat as a paste. This ensures that it is not only good for your beard but also helps you to style up your beard.

If your bead is quite unruly, this is the one you want to be going for. This where most beards will fall into.

Beard Wax

The clue is in the name, but a beard wax is majorly made up of wax and has a very high level of hold. They should be only really used for the most serious beards that are struggling to stay down. The reason being is that they tend to be quite discomforting for the beard and can feel somewhat greasy, so usually, try to avoid this.

Steps to Get Your Beard to Lay Flat

Follow these five steps to keep beard hairs from sticking out:

1. Wash your beard
2. Apply beard oil
3. Comb your beard
4. Apply beard styling balm
5. Shape with a beard brush

How to Get Your Beard to Lay Flat

1. Wash Your Beard

Ok now you have you got everything you need. It is firstly time to hop in the shower and give your beard a wash. Make sure the water isn’t too hot (as this can potentially damage the beard by drying it) but at a luke warm temperature and that you wash the beard with a ‘beard friendly’ conditioner (usually not the same stuff that you used for your head) and certianly not a standard shampoo.

A standard shampoo acts to firstly not only strip the natural oils that are within your beard (such as sebum) to keep it moist but it will also provide a coating that will prevent extra moisture from getting in. Great, for making it look healthy and shiny, bad for the actual beard.

2. Apply Beard Oil

Now, once you have washed and towel patted dry your beard to a certain dampness — you can apply some beard oil. This is a great time to do this as this is when your skin pores are most exposed. Continue to pat and dry off your beard.

3. Comb Your Beard

Comb it through to help spread the beard oil right throughout the beard and untangle potentially any beard hairs that have become intertwined. Make sure you do it in a motion that isn’t tugging on the beard — short simple strides is fine. If you prefer to use a beard conditioning balm here that’s fine too, but instead of a comb — I’d recommend reaching for a brush instead.

4. Apply Beard Styling Balm

Now reach over to the beard styling balm and emulsify it through your hand and start to spread it out across the beard and right through it. Then gradually start to shape it downwards towards your cheeks and face. Essentially, with the hold that the balm is giving you, you will be able to help it lay flat.

5. Shape With a Beard Brush

In addition to this, reach for the boar bristle brush and run it through your beard and do this regularly for a few weeks. This will start to train your beard to grow in a certain direction. You are essentially shaping it into place. Then for the really sticky out bits, either just give them a snip or reach for a wax to apply just to that particular section.

Still Got Beard Hairs Sticking Out?

Ok, you can take it a step further. However, this poses potential risk and damage to your beard, so you have to be incredibly careful as to how you go about straightening your beard.

You will need to invest in a beard straightener (basically a short hair straightener). The reason why this isn’t mentioned in the tools above is that in the long run they can be potentially harmful to your beard. You are applying a lot of heat to it, which can in turn, sap out the natural oil that resides in your beard, causing the hairs to go brittle and in turn weak and scraggly.

However, using it the correct way can help to achieve your flat beard (and is particularly useful for those wanting to get dressed up or might even have a beard competition coming up). Invest in some heat protection spray as well as getting a straightener that has heat insulation pads too.

The way you want to approach is much like before but the final step before adding any products is using the straightener. As soon as you are done with the straighteners, your beard will be crying out for some moisture — so be sure to add some beard oil with a comb straight after.

Please see the instructional video guide above to get more of an idea of what you can do to keep your beard laying flat and prevent hairs from sticking out.

Does Your Beard Need a Trim?

Failing this, it could simply be the case that your beard is due a trim. Head down to your local beard barber (who you trust with your beard) and get it a proper trim down. Then this will then give you the framework to maintain yourself for a while. Then use the beard styling balm to help you keep it under control.

If you are looking for a beard styling balm to try out, I would certainly recommend the range that Beardbrand offers in their white, silver and gold line (old money, certainly goes down as a personal favorite).

Then once that it is no longer working after a while, it will be time for you to revisit the barber (unless you are confident enough for yourself to sort out). Let us know how you are getting on with your beard and if you have any questions on how to keep your beard hairs from sticking out, please make them below.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Jonathan Lees

Comments

Blow it out your ass on January 18, 2020:

I refuse to read this because the picture the man doesnt have a FULL beard. Thats what i had in 9th grade.

I have worked hard to stay fit and understand the complex relationship between aging, nutrition, and exercise.

What Makes a Good Aftershave for an Older Man?

Older men have older skin—and it needs special treatment. The aftershave that a teenage boy who is just learning how to shave splashes on his face is fine for kids and rookies, but us older men deserve better. We have come a long way, and the experience and wisdom that comes with age shows in on our skin.

In this article, I have gathered together aftershave options for men who are a little older but are still focused on looking and feeling good. I don't just talk about older men—I am one myself. Here are my personal best choices for the best aftershave options for older men like me.

1. Brickell Men's Instant Relief Aftershave for Men

This company is a fairly new one, especially in the field of men's fragrances—it was started in 2014, in the garage of one of the founders—but has quickly become one of the fasted growing men's skincare and grooming companies in the world, per the Brickell website.

Brickell makes a premium aftershave that is lighter and less lotion-like than many others. It also has a fragrance, which I quite like—I want to have a little scent in my aura when I'm meeting and connecting with people. Aftershave fragrance, in my experience, is a more subtle presence than a straight-up cologne or perfume, so I prefer to get my scent that way.

Ingredients

• Aloe Vera: Soothes and repairs the skin after your shave, helping to reduce irritation. Penetrates the skin to supply moisture and antioxidants to your skin tissue.
• Hyaluronic Acid: Rejuvenates your skin with fullness and volume
• Coconut Oil: Strengthens the underlying skin tissue after the carnage your razor did to it and provides deep moisturizing.
• A proprietary blend of other powerful, natural ingredients, including peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemongrass.
• No alcohol, sulfates, parabens, glycol, or synthetics.
• Vegan; no animal testing, 100% organic ingredients when possible.

One of the features of this aftershave that I like is the attention to skin health. The idea behind Brickell's is hydration and pure ingredients. My skin has seen enough BS and harsh treatment—it may be getting older, but it still needs to be babied now and then.

I won't bother with a run-down of ingredients in English Leather aftershave -- it sets your face on fire and it smells like the back room of an Elk's Club. Enough said!

2. English Leather Classic Aftershave

A true classic. To be honest, I almost didn't include this bottle here. I splashed my dad's English Leather on my just-shaved face when I was a squeaky-voiced adolescent back in the 1970s, and I still remember the burn. This is an old-school manly aftershave if there ever was one—it's designed to sting! For some of us, that's the whole point of aftershave, which is why I ended up including English Leather in this article.

For those men who are accustomed to conclude their shave with a brisk slap in the face from a 100-proof concoction of whiskey and tobacco fragrance, then there's really no substitute for English Leather. It's a true classic, and you can't argue with a classic.

I won't bother with a run-down of ingredients—it sets your face on fire and it smells like the back room of an Elk's Club. Enough said!

3. Truefitt & Hill Aftershave Balm

One of the truly great men's grooming houses, Truefitt & Hill have been helping men look and feel great for more than 200 years. Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the oldest barbershop in the world," they have taken care of the grooming needs for Prime Ministers and Kings. In my book, that means that they are probably capable of taking care of you and me.

Trafalgar is one of Truefitt and Hill's signature fragrances, and it gives their aftershave balm a kind of dignity and power that other brands can only envy. Their aftershave is made with lanolin and aloe vera, two reliable old-school standbys in the world of skincare, so it's a good choice for older skin.

But don't take my word for it—check out this list of men who have trusted their grooming to Truefitt and Hill:

• Charles Dickens
• William Thackeray
• Lord Byron
• Oscar Wilde
• Beau Brummell
• Alfred Hitchcock
• Laurence Olivier
• Danny Kaye
• John Wayne
• Frank Sinatra
• Stewart Granger
• Fred Astaire
• Cary Grant

Did we miss anyone? Oh yes—Winston Churchill. Mic drop.

Check out this list of men who have trusted their grooming to Truefitt and Hill: Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, Beau Brummell, Alfred Hitchcock, Laurence Olivier, Danny Kaye, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Stewart Granger, Fred Astaire and Cary Grant.

4. Vera Wang For Men Aftershave

This is a more modern aftershave option that may appeal to the more fashion-forward older men among us. There's no substitute for quality, and Vera Wang has been a leading perfume house for years. Their aftershave gets high marks from reviewers and fragrance sites like basenotes.net, who offers this take on Vera Wang's aftershave:

"A lovely, elegant masculine in the same lane as Guerlain's L'Instant Pour Homme EDT, which released the same year. While it doesn't offer any single note quite as arresting as L'Instant EDT's gorgeous floating cacao, Vera Wang for Men is nevertheless an impressive expression of tasteful balance that is just as immaculately blended as the Guerlain...It's refreshing and decadent without being oppressive or heavy, and the lift from the citrus keeps it feeling youthful and vibrant."

As counter-intuitive as it may seem to choose an aftershave from a fashion house known for couture as much as for fragrance, this is an affordable, top-quality, fragrance-based aftershave that I could see working for men who already know their scents, and know what they like.

5. After Shave Balm for Men by Bevel

Bevel makes a quality, non-alcohol-based shave balm that smells great and brings your skin back from the scrapes and bumps of shaving. This lotion helps to reduce shave irritation by using Tea Tree oil and Witch Hazel, mild astringents that cleanse and refresh facial skin.Includes shea butter, which helps moisturize and reduce blemishes.

Resources

• Skin care tips for men | American Academy of Dermatology
  When it comes to skin care, men have traditionally kept it simple. However, more men are now pursuing healthier, younger-looking skin, making it a great time for men to evaluate their skin care routine. To help men develop healthy skin care routines,
• History - Truefitt & Hill US
  THE BEGINNING The story of the Oldest Barbershop in the World, as recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2014, began in fashionable Mayfair in 1805, the year of Nelson's victorious Battle at Cape Trafalgar, while King George III sat on E

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Mike White on November 07, 2019:

I'm looking forward to Vera Wang its look amazing, thanks for sharing :)

Ed Palumbo from Tualatin, OR on October 03, 2019:

I am 73 and I've been disappointed with many of the after-shave products that have offended my nostrils in the recent past. I thank you for these recommendations, and I will seek them out.

Krystal is a working mother of two teenagers who enjoys "spa days" at home whenever she can get them.

As a busy mother of two, I take any opportunity that I can find to indulge in a bit of "me" time. Usually, that time comes in the form of a glass of wine, a chapter or two (or four) of a good book, and a nice, long, soak in the bathtub.

I had seen a lot of advertisements recently for bath bombs from two, of what I am guessing, are the biggest names in the game at the moment. Bubbly Belle and Fragrant Jewels. And I decided, why not try them both?

Bubbly Belle Bath Bombs

When you first visit the Bubbly Belle website, you are greeted with the chance to get a bath bomb, with a ring inside, for one dollar. I decided to take them up on their generous offer and purchased three additional bath bombs from them as well. Unfortunately, I used all three before I decided to write this review (fun fact—this review initially was going to go in a whole different direction).

The bombs themselves were of a decent size, and the smell was amazing! Seriously, you could smell them the moment you opened the box.

Sadly enough, I used all three within the same week. It wasn't that I couldn't get enough of the surprise rings (quite the opposite, but I will get to that in a few minutes), but the way my bathwater smelled, and how soft my skin felt after. Bubbly Belle seemed like a dream come true!

Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting high-quality rings when I bought these bath bombs. I did expect them to look a bit less like costume jewelry (which to me is what these two pieces looked like), but heck I wasn't going to complain.

But when the stone fell out of not one, but BOTH of the other rings? Yeah, I'm no longer going to waste my money on these. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the second ring this happened to, because when I lost two large stones within three days of each other? I was so dang irritated that I threw the entire thing in the trash. Especially when the second ring was one of those "fake diamond" rings that the one stone was the only stone.

Fragrant Jewels Bath Bombs

And so, I went to visit Fragrant Jewels. Immediately upon visiting their site, I was informed that if I purchased items from a specific collection that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to a charity. But then, I was burned before. So I chose the safe route and purchased one bath bomb from them.

The one I received from Fragrant Jewels not only looked a bit bigger than the ones offered by Bubble Belle, but it was also much easier to open. The Fragrant Jewels Bombs have an easy-open tear line where Bubbly Belle ones needed to be cut open.

And while my bathwater didn't have the same strong odor that it did when using a Bubbly Belle bath bomb, my skin still achieved the same desired level of softness.

As for the quality of the ring? This one not only looks like it is a higher level of quality than the ones from Bubbly Belle, but I have been wearing it for over two weeks with no issues (knock on wood, my Bubbly Belle rings only lasted about a week or less before the stones fell out).

Fragrant Jewels Is the Winner!

Consider me a Fragrant Jewels fan! I will pay a bit extra for a bigger bomb with (thus far) better-looking, and more durable, jewelry.

© 2019 Krystal Marie

Comments

Luz Rosado on August 18, 2020:

I am a monthly bubbly belle suscriber and git over 20 rings and I dont see an issue with their rings to be honest for me the rings are a bonus and they do not look cheap and none of broken on me and I have gotten for over 3 months I havent tried fragant jewels and I will to see but again maybe it was you bombs but mine all my rings look good and durable

Cindra Harding on July 26, 2020:

Wish i would have read this before i ordered too much on bubbly belle

Sarah on April 23, 2020:

Appreciated this review. I have purchased from fragrant jewels before and like the product and rings but was curious which of these two companies was better. I wont bother to try bubbly belle's, thank you.

I have worked hard to stay fit and understand the complex relationship between aging, nutrition, and exercise.

Unique Specialty Soap, Especially for Men

My first experience with specialty bar soap was literally an eye-opener -- a citric wave of orange peel and cedar that had me looking at the bar of soap in my hand like a dog looks at a new squeaky toy. What is this? Is soap allowed to smell like this?

Since then I have come to appreciate the world of specialty soap for men, small world though it may be. There are a (literal) handful of specialty soaps out there that are designed for men like me -- a little older, a little disgusted by the smell of Axe -- and this quick guide will discuss the most interesting ones. Cedar oil, Dead Sea mud, and even pine tar have a role in these unique men's bar soaps, and pioneering brands like Viking and Dr. Squatch also get their due. So let's unpack a crate of high-end bar soap for men, and talk about what to expect when you lather up.

1. Dr. Squatch Men's Cedar Citrus Soap

This bar is my top choice for men's specialty bar soap. The top notes of this soap are citrus and cedar, with a base note of rosemary. The effect is sharp but pleasant—a serious departure from your usual perfumed soap. I actually feel like Dr. Squatch understands men like me.

This perfectly balanced, just-intense-enough specialty soap has me looking forward to my morning shower. A good men's bar soap should remind you that it's there throughout the day but never intrude on your peace of mind. Dr. Squatch has this figured out.

Details:

• Refreshing and energizing blend of rustic cedar and zesty orange oils
• Naturally made using the cold process method.
• Full body soap for the shower
• Support small business: all of their soap is handmade in the USA
• Made in small batches
• Perfect for exfoliating, shaving, and manly activities such as bathing in the woods

Another cool thing about Dr. Squatch is their refusal to use cheap glycerin like bigger companies. Overall, this is just a great bar of soap to pick up first thing in the morning.

2. Brickell Men's Purifying Charcoal Soap Bar for Men

Charcoal soap is a relatively new thing, but like charcoal toothpaste, it's quickly becoming a stand-by in a man's shower routine. Brickell's charcoal bar soap is one of the better and more popular brands on the shelves. While it may look like a black chunk of coal, Brickell's bar soap is actually a gently, frothing soap that smells of mint and tea tree oils. While I still prefer Dr. Squatch's cedar and citrus bar (above), Brickell's charcoal is a close second. I love the way it goes from a black chink to a sweet-smelling froth in the shower, and I can carry that good aroma with me throughout the day.

Details:

• Frothy lather deeply cleanses without drying out the skin
• Mint and tea tree oils
• Natural and organic
• Uses activated charcoal to cleanse and purify skin
• Organic coconut and olive oil
• Peppermint and tea tree oil
• 100% natural, 85% organic

This company was founded in 2014 by two men who wanted to create men's skin products that used natural ingredients and would be affordable for regular men to use every day. They began their business in one partner's garage, and five years later sell their products in over 20 countries.

3. Viking Revolution Activated Charcoal Soap for Men w/Dead Sea Mud

I wouldn't normally rush to clean my face with mud, especially from the Dead Sea, but this activated charcoal bar soap gets stellar reviews and is much more than the sum of its parts, which are, you know, dredged up from the bottom of an inland sea known for its kill count. Like all of many new charcoal bar soaps out there, it's jet-black and looks something like a chunk of coal—but magically produced a clean, fragrant froth. Not mud. Were you expecting mud?

If you're a fan of sharp, clean combinations like this bar's eucalyptus and peppermint profile, then this "new-wave" men's bar soap may light up your receptors. At the very least, it will give your house guests a moment's pause.

Details:

• Suitable for facial skincare as well as cleansing your whole body.
• Clears pores without tightening and drying facial skin.
• Essence of eucalyptus and peppermint
• Activated charcoal creates a great lather.
• Natural, organic, and clean
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

4. Crate 61 6-Pack Box Set

If you're going to get adventurous with your bar soap, then you might want to invest in one of the very good multi-packs out there. Maximize your bar-soap dollar by sampling a range of fragrance combinations without going all in on a ten-dollar bar of soap. I got lucky right off the bat with Dr. Squatch, but you never know. It's very possible to invest good money in a bar of quality specialty soap, get it home, get it in the shower get it wet, and discover that it smells like a dryer sheet.

A variety box like this one from Crate 61 is a good way to start figuring out what works for you. I got lucky right off the bat when I realized that sharper, more acidic fragrances were what I needed to almost literally lift me up in the morning. My wife's sweet-smelling botanical products are all well and good, but for me, they're no competition for cedar and bitter orange.

Crate 61's 6-pack features a range of bar soaps for men and women and will give you an opportunity to see what's new. I can't personally vouch for all of these combinations, but there's a good chance you'll find the bar that speaks to you.

Details:

• 100% natural; vegan
• Cold process
• Essential oils; no artificial fragrances
• No synthetic chemicals
• Made by hand in small batches
• Includes Activated Charcoal, Oatmeal Shea, Eucamint, Alpine Spice, Tango Mango, and Patchouli Lime.
• Perfect gift at a great value

5. Marlowe No. 102 Men's Body Scrub

I like the look of this men's bar soap by Marlowe—simple, to-the-point, and very masculine. It's an exfoliating bar, which means it's intended more as a face wash than as a shower bar, but it would work for either. If you're a man who could use a good face scrub to get the day's grit out of your pores, then Marlowe's no.102 has got you. If you're a fan of green tea extract, then even better–it's going to be somewhat less astringent than some of the other oil-based bars in this article, which for some of us is perfectly fine.

Details:

• Exfoliating body soap for men deep-cleans skin scrubbing away dryness for smooth, clean skin.
• Crafted with a unique natural formulation of passionflower fruit, green tea, and willow bark
• Extracts designed to nourish, smooth, and revitalize skin.
• Paraben and phthalate-free
• Glycerin-based
• Cruelty-free (not tested on animals)
• Made in the USA
• For every Marlowe. item purchased, soap is distributed to people at risk for hygiene-related illnesses in partnership with Clean the World.

6. The Yellow Bird Dead Sea Mud Soap Bar

Like Viking's charcoal bar soap (above), Yellow Bird's Dead Sea men's bar soap is part of a new wave of counter-intuitive products that include elements generally associated with getting dirty rather than clean. Even the name of this product —"The Yellow Bird Dead Sea Mud Soap Bar"—sounds something like a prank. But these are serious, high-end men's care products that give us something we may have not even known we needed: masculine, high-quality soaps and shower products that don't smell like a department store perfume counter.

Details:

• Skin cleansing power of dead sea mud
• "Detoxifying" charcoal
• Exfoliating pumice bar
• Made with organic ingredients—great for acne, psoriasis, and eczema.
• No perfumes or synthetic fragrances
• Antimicrobial essential oils
• Handmade in the USA
• No sulfates, parabens, or synthetic dyes.

7. 360 Feel Men's Handmade Natural Soap Bar

So I know this is Amazon's house brand, and I know that house brands usually mean "knock off," but I have included 360's men's soap here because it's such a good value and may be a good entry-point for those of us who can't see spending $10 on a bar of soap they may not even like.

If you're thinking about investing in high-end men's bar soap as a gift for someone, then steer clear of this bar. It won't light up many smiles once they realize it's the Amazon brand. One the other hand, if you just want to see what's new and possible in the world of hyper-modern men's bath products, then go for it. Any product that includes pine-tar soap can't be all bad.

Details:

• Masculine fragrances: Bay Rum, Pine Tar, Patchouli, Citrus Soaps
• Organic ingredients
• Handmade in USA
• Amazon Best Sellers
• Essential-oil-based traditional lye soap. No Sodium Laureth Sulfate, palm oil, Phthalate, or paraben
• Vegan - Gluten-Free - Cruelty-Free
• Good for acne treatment
• Cold Processed, low-temperature formulation

Find Your Bar...

More Great Articles

• Designer Fragrance Samplers for Men
  You can get sample-size designer cologne for men for a fraction of the cost.

Walter Shillington writes about products he knows firsthand. His articles focus on healthcare, electronics, watches, and household items.

Is the Olanen Sonic Toothbrush Worth the Purchase?

I have never quite mastered the technique of cleaning with a manual brush. I tend to mash the bristles against my teeth, searching desperately for those hidden surfaces that often evade my brush. In an effort to avoid another set of expensive fillings, I purchased a Philips Sonicare 4100 electric toothbrush.

Sonicare products are not cheap—the 4100 starts at $50.00—but they work amazingly well. Plaque is scrubbed away between scheduled cleanings and my last checkup resulted in a clean bill of health. But the price does matter. While I consider fifty dollars acceptable, the total cost could become unaffordable for someone intending to outfit his family with these fancy toothbrushes.

I checked out the less expensive competition, looking for a sonic toothbrush equipped with a charging dock and extra brush heads. The Olanen DDYS2, which was on sale for ten dollars, appeared to be the best candidate. I navigated to the Amazon site and ordered one.

Description

Size

In size, the Olanen DDYS2 is similar to the Sonicare 4100. It is, with the brush head included, 9.5 inches tall and one inch in diameter. This electric toothbrush weights in at 4.16 ounces.

The Kit

The complete kit consists of the main unit, three brush heads, a wireless charging stand, USB charging cable, and a user’s guide.

Appearance

My toothbrush was colored white with a silver strip backdropping the control panel. This panel includes a pushbutton which rotates through clean, whitening, sensitive teeth and power off modes. A set of LEDs are used to signify the various modes and to indicate charging status.

Features

• The Olanen DDYS2 vibrates at a rate between 24,000 and 35,000 brush strokes per minute.
• A 2-minute automatic brushing cycle, with a slight pause every 30 seconds, is used to avoid over-brushing. Olanen recommends that the brush head be replaced every three months.
• This unit can operate effectively for 15 days between charges. The toothbrush is rated IPX7 and can be fully submerged while washing.

Specifications

• Brand: Olanen
• Model: DDYS2
• Country of origin: China
• Weight: 118 grams (4.19 ounces)
• Height: 25 centimeters (9.5 inches)
• Diameter: 27 millimeters (1.06 inches)
• Age Group: Adult
• Type: Sonic Toothbrush
• Modes: Clean, whitening, and sensitive teeth
• Operating Duration: 2 minutes with brief pause every 30 seconds
• Charger: Wireless
• Input voltage: DC5V
• Battery: lithium
• Vibration frequency: 24,000 - 35,000 strokes per minute

The Manufacturer

Olanen is trademarked by Shenzhen Qianhai Wanguo import and export trade Co., Ltd. Olanen exports sonic toothbrushes and silicone cooking utensils.

Primary Testing of the Product

Although I am a qualified electronics technician, my background is insufficient to review a dental related product properly. I asked my dentist; Dr. Kevin Walsh, to examine this toothbrush. Dr. Walsh is highly regarded in his field and has practiced dentistry for over 29 years.

Dr. Walsh tested the Olanen DDYS2 toothbrush for ten days and then produced a report in the same format he uses when evaluating dental products for Clinicians Report. I have taken his main points and listed them in bullet form:

The Pros of This Product

• Price
• Cleans teeth well.
• Cleans most surfaces quickly.
• The brush head is reasonably soft (medium and hard bristles should be avoided).
• Brush head shape allows access to most areas of the tooth.
• The handle is ergonomic.
• Unit is still operating on original battery charge after 10-day test period.
• The control button is located well for easy access.

The Cons of This Product

• The Olanen DDYS2 fails to clean as effectively as a properly used modern manual brush. While Sonicare electric toothbrushes, for example, are capable of completely cleaning your teeth, the DDYS2 manages to scrub only 90% of the teeth’s surfaces. It misses small areas where the tooth curves forward and back at the gumline at the lower corner of the tooth.
• More pressure required to initially insert brush head than ideal.
• I noticed little difference between the clean and sensitive modes. In my opinion, the whitening mode is purely a sales tactic. I don’t see how a sonic vibrating head of any sort can possibly bleach teeth.

Overall Rating: B

Currently, Sonicare is my go-to sonic toothbrush. It is superior. Because of its price point, however, Olanen’s DDYS2 is worth considering.

Secondary Testing of the Product

I tested the Olanen DDYS2, comparing this toothbrush against my Sonicare 4100. Both units are similar is size and shape.

When in operation, I could distinguish no difference in the vibrations produced by these devices. The Sonicare product, however, was louder and higher pitched. While this was slightly annoying, it also suggests that the Olanen—with a rated oscillation rate almost identical to the Sonicare—does not vibrate quite as fast. On the positive side, the less expensive toothbrush did appear to foam toothpaste more effectively than the Sonicare 4100.

The most significant difference between these two electric toothbrushes is the quality and features of the brush heads. This should not be surprising; the cost of a replacement Philips brush head for the Sonicare 4100 is roughly equal to the price of the complete Olanen DDYS2 kit.

The Olanen brush head cleans well but is not equipped with the features that, in the case of the Sonicare 4100, warn when excessive pressure is applied and notify the user whenever a brush head is due for replacement.

As I removed the original brush head from my new toothbrush, the brush head’s insert (it is what grips the main unit’s shaft) remained in place. I was quickly able to lever it off with the edge of a butter knife, but this suggests a lapse in quality control. The other two brush heads could be inserted and removed correctly.

The Sonicare 4100 is equipped with a single button that turns the unit on and initiates a two-minute cleaning cycle. If I want to stop brushing at an earlier point, I depress the button again.

The button on the Olanen toothbrush cycles the toothbrush through three different modes. I’d initially assumed I would be required to press the button three times if I wanted to turn the unit off before its two-minute cycle ended. That would have been a pain. Happily, once the brush has been operating in one mode for ten seconds, a single push of the button will power the unit down.

Overall Assessment

As Dr. Walsh noted, the Sonicare electric toothbrush is superior to the offering from Olanen. The Olanen DDYS2, however, is quite capable. If you are looking for a decent sonic toothbrush at an affordable price, this product is worthy of consideration.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Walter Shillington

Comments

Muhammad Abdullah on August 27, 2019:

I will be sure to keep this all in mind.

Walter Shillington writes about products he knows firsthand. His articles focus on healthcare, electronics, watches, and household items.

According to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, only 30% of Americans floss daily. That does not surprise me; the few times I’ve crammed one of those thin pieces of fishing line between my teeth, I’d been rewarded with nothing but pain and blood. Since I believe any form of self-inflicted torture to be silly, my attempts to floss were soon abandoned.

But proper dental care is essential. When performed correctly, flossing removes the food particles that stick to teeth, preventing the creation of the bacteria that promote inflammation and gum disease. Left unchecked, colonies of bacteria (plaque) will harden into tartar, wearing away the gums and bone. This eventually results in tooth loss.

Lately, the health of my teeth has become an issue. A new and fancy sonic toothbrush helped but failed to solve the problem entirely. I decided to try a water flosser. Surely, pulsating water would not hurt near as much as a thin piece of Teflon line?

After checking out several devices, I chose iTeknic’s Oral Irrigator. It appeared to be solidly constructed and was priced at less than half of what I’d paid for my Sonicare toothbrush.

Description

The iTeknic Oral Irrigator is constructed from ABS plastic and weighs 26.6 ounces. It is 5.4 inches wide, four inches thick, and slightly less than eight inches tall. This flosser is equipped with a four-foot AC power cord.

Rubber suction cups hold the main unit firmly in place. A front-mounted rotary switch turns the flosser on and adjusts water pressure. On the left side, a flexible one-meter hose is connected. It leads to a handheld irrigation tool.

The irrigation tool is fitted with a button that allows quick insertion of the various tips. Water flow can be controlled using a sliding on/off switch.

A 600-milliliter water tank sits directly above the main unit. The tank’s cover consists of a clamshell-type storage box containing a variety of spare tips.

Seven water jet tips are included with this system.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Iteknic
• Common name: Oral Irrigator
• Model: 1K-PCA004
• Country of Origin: China
• Weight: 754 grams (26.6 ounces)
• Width: 14 centimeters (5.4 inches)
• Thickness: 10 centimeters (4 inches)
• Height: 20 centimeters (7.75 inches)
• Voltage: 100–240 volts
• Power: 18 watts
• Tank capacity: 600 milliliters (20.3 ounces)
• Stated Water Pressure: 30–125 PSI
• Pulse Rate: 1250–1700 pulses per minute
• Manual Pressure Control: 10 levels
• Flossing Time: Three minutes
• Jet Tips Included: 3 Classic Jet Tips, 1 Tongue Cleaner, 1 Dental Plaque Tip, 1 Orthodontic Tip and 1 Periodontal Tip
• Water Resistance: IPX4 (Protected from splashing water)

The Manufacturer

iTeknic is trademarked by Shenzhen NearbyExpress Technology Development Company Limited, which is a division of the Sunvalley Group.

Sunvalley was founded in 2007 and is the brand owner of RAVPower, VAVA, TaoTronics, Anjou, Sable, and HooToo. This company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China, and has subsidiaries located in San Francisco, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hamburg.

Flossing Methods

Those who floss generally use either a thin string or a device much like iTeknic’s Oral Irrigator.

String floss is cheap and can be used practically everywhere. In this process, dental floss is inserted between each tooth, gently scraping up and down its surfaces. This removes plaque and food particles from the teeth and out from under the gums. If performed correctly, string flossing is very effective.

Water flossers are not particularly expensive but, because they require electricity and water, are less convenient than string floss. These devices generate pulsating streams of water that massage the gums and push food debris away from teeth. Water flossers tend to be less abusive to the gums than traditional string floss. Also, pulsating water streams can reach areas—especially for those with braces—that dental floss cannot.

Test Procedure

I filled the tank with lukewarm water, plugged in the Oral Irrigator, and inserted a classic jet tip into the irrigation tool. Then I shoved the jet into my mouth and turned the device on.

At this point, I rotated the variable switch to the number two position. The pump rumbled quietly for a moment and then stopped. After I turned on the irrigation tool, a weak stream of water bathed my teeth.

As I continued to rotate the variable switch clockwise, both the water pressure and frequency of pulses rose. At position six, the water stream was comfortable and strong enough to wash away most of the debris stuck between my teeth.

At position eight, the pressure against my gums was no longer quite so comfortable. The pulsating stream of water, however, did a great job of clearing my teeth of debris.

By the time I’d reached position ten on the dial, the pump was on continuously, and both pulse rate and pressure were very high. I found this setting uncomfortable and decide to return to the eight position. For me, this represented the best compromise between efficiency and comfort.

Points to Consider

I initially thought the four-foot power cord to be a bit short. During my tests, however, the length proved to be adequate.

Build quality is excellent, and I expect that both the machine and its accessories will provide yeoman service for several years.

The classic jet tips and tongue cleaner were very effective. I did not use the three specialized tips.

The rotary dial ensures every user can select the most suitable pulse rate/pressure.

To ensure cleanliness, I recommend running a little vinegar through this system once every month.

Overall Impression

This device is well built and effectively clears away the debris between my teeth and under my gums. Unlike previous attempts to perform this action with string floss, the experience was pain and blood-free. The iTeknic Oral Irrigator is highly recommended.

I am conducting a poll to determine my reader's opinion on the subject of flossing. Results from these polls help me select future devices to review.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Walter Shillington

Walter Shillington writes about products he knows firsthand. His articles focus on healthcare, electronics, watches, and household items.

Lately, I’ve been bedeviled by far too many cavities. I discussed the problem with my dentist, and we tracked it down to my habit of drinking sugar-saturated coffee continuously from sun-up to bedtime. Since a liquid sugar environment promotes tooth decay, he suggested I either down the coffee quickly or forgo sugar. Neither plan worked for me.

I decided to compromise by brushing my teeth twice a day, rather than once, and finding a method to clean them more effectively.

I’ve heard a lot about those newfangled u-shaped sonic toothbrushes. These devices work quickly and are designed to clean both the user’s teeth and gums properly.

After checking out a few websites, searching for an inexpensive toothbrush that appeared capable, I ordered V-White’s 360° Electric Toothbrush.

Description

Because of its modest price tag, I expected this toothbrush to arrive wrapped in bubble wrap and stuffed inside an envelope. To my surprise, I received a sturdy, professionally designed cardboard box. It contained the toothbrush, wireless charging unit, USB cable, and a user’s guide.

The V-White toothbrush weighs in at 106 grams (3.75 ounces). It is 66 millimeters wide and 31 millimeters thick. When the brush head is mounted, this device reaches 105 millimeters (4.1 inches) in height.

My test unit was coated with a black, rubber-like material intended to provide a secure grip. Two contacts at the bottom assist in charging the unit’s battery.

A fitting at the top is used to secure the brush head. Light emitted from the device passes through a transparent plastic window, bathing the brush head in bluish light.

A button, located on the side of the main unit, turns on the toothbrush and allows the user to select the desired mode. These settings include powerful teeth brushing, comfortable teeth brushing, gum massage, and whitening.

The U type toothbrush head is composed of antibacterial food-grade silicone. Its recommended lifespan is three months, and replacement units are reasonably priced.

The V-White toothbrush ships with an efficient wireless charger. This unit is able to recharge the toothbrush within a 30 minute period.

I tested the battery by selecting the strongest brushing mode and restarting the unit each time it completed operations. After 26 runs, the battery required recharging.

Specifications

• Brand: V-White
• Weight: 106 grams (3.75 ounces)
• Size: 66 mm wide, 31 mm thick, and 105 mm (4.1 in) high
• Age Group: Adult
• Type: 360°Ultrasonic Automatic Whitening Toothbrush
• Modes: Strong brushing, comfortable brushing, gum massage, and whitening
• Operating Duration: 45 seconds (15 minutes in whitening mode)
• Charger: Wireless
• Input voltage: DC5V
• Rated voltage: DC3.7V
• Battery: 1500mAh lithium
• Vibration power: 6W
• Rated frequency conversion: 5000-15000Hz

The Manufacturer

Established in 1990, Shenzhen Sure-Power Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd. is a private enterprise located in Datianyang Industrial Zone, Hongxing Xifang, Songgang District, Baoan District, Guangdong Province. This company has 10,000 square meters of workshop space and more than 1,000 personnel, engaged in the development and production of switching power supplies, electronic transformers, chargers, control circuit boards, electric toothbrushes, dental appliances, oral cleaners, and other products.

Shenzhen Sure-Power is either associated with or owns Hong Kong I-Love Group, which was founded in 2013 and introduced cold tooth whitening into the Chinese market.

Primary Test

Although I am a qualified electronics technician, my expertise regarding this type of equipment is limited. With that in mind, I asked my dentist, Dr. Kevin Walsh, to examine this toothbrush. Dr. Walsh is highly regarded in his field and has practiced dentistry for over 28 years.

Dr. Walsh tested the V-White toothbrush for several days and then produced a report in the same format he uses when evaluating dental products for Clinicians Report. I have taken his main points and listed them in bullet form:

Good Characteristics:

• Novel product. It fills the do it easier/faster niche.
• Well-made and uses antibacterial materials.
• Nicely sized with good ergonomics.

Bad Characteristics:

• This toothbrush does not clean well. While it can scrub the bulges of the teeth on the inner and cheek surfaces, it misses important areas such as high up along the gum-line and the in-between surfaces. Bristles are not located in a position that allows the chewing surfaces to be cleaned.
• Mouths come in many sizes, and the brush head used in this device will either be too large or too small for most people. Also, because not all teeth form a nicely curved arch, crowded teeth will be missed.
• The ultrasonic strength is weak, even when using the strongest setting. Typically, ultrasonic brushes are very effective, and the vibration is much easier to feel.
• The light is “snake oil.” Studies have conclusively shown that light does not enhance the ability to whiten teeth. One such study is linked here.
• The brush head is difficult to clean, and it is an effort to distribute toothpaste evenly.

Secondary Test

In order to provide a clear indication of how well the V-White toothbrush cleaned my teeth, I obtained a packet of dental disclosing tablets. These pellets contain a bright dye that will stain plaque but not affect enamel.

I first brushed with the V-White toothbrush, selecting the strongest setting. The next step was to chew a dental disclosing tablet and swish it around in my mouth for 30 seconds. I then spat out the residue and rinsed with water.

The front of the teeth remained dye-free, although there were pinkish outlines around a couple of front-facing fillings. At the rounded sections where teeth met, a great deal of dye remained. I also noticed streaks of pink on all biting surfaces.

I ran the V-White toothbrush twice again, but most of the dye remained in place.

In the final step, I brushed, using my original sonic toothbrush, for approximately two minutes. This removed the residual dye.

Overall Impression

This toothbrush is well built, comfortable, and easy to use. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be capable of cleaning teeth to an acceptable level. The V-White 360° Electric Toothbrush is not recommended.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: When charging my V-White 360 electronic toothbrush I can't seem to be able to get the charging light to stay on, it keeps pulsating and I think that it is draining the battery when that happens?

Answer: The V-White toothbrush's blue light flickers as it charges. The faster it flickers, the closer it is to being fully charged. Once the blue light remains on steadily, it is ready for use.

Question: I prefer tooth powder. Can I use powder with the V-white electric toothbrush?

Answer: The powder might have difficulty spreading enough to cover the entire mouthpiece. If you try tooth powder and it works, please insert a comment in this article.

Question: Can you use regular toothpaste with a V-White brush?

Answer: Yes, you can use regular toothpaste.

Question: Where do you put the toothpaste on the V-White 360 Electric Toothbrush?

Answer: I put a dab of toothpaste on both sides of the mouthpiece and used my fingers to spread it around.

Question: My V-white 360 toothbrush just stopped working. Can you leave it charging too long?

Answer: It is not good practice to leave it charging all of the time but that is not necessarily the problem.

Question: How can I get the V-white electric toothbrush to charge?

Answer: Plug the charger into a power source and place the toothbrush atop the charger. The toothbrush's light should flash repeatedly. As the battery charges, the rate the light flashes should reduce in frequency.

Question: I can't find anything about the V-White toothbrush's return policy. Advice?

Answer: Best to contact the dealer you purchased it from. Return policies vary.

© 2019 Walter Shillington

Comments

Gerry Mungham on August 11, 2020:

the gizmo is a complete ripeoff. Don't buy. Even if it worked you can't return it. No comparison to an electric toothbrush and mouthwash combined.

Walter Shillington (author) from Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada on July 21, 2020:

Hi Rita. This is a terrible toothbrush. Please note, however, that many good products, manufactured by reliable manufacturers, originate from China.

Rita on July 21, 2020:

The product stopped working after a week of use. I tried to charge it, the pulsating light goes on but it does not charge. Lost money on a total garbage. Never buy anything made in China again.

Tara on April 19, 2020:

Anyone know where to find a replacement charger? We've looked everywhere

Ed on April 17, 2020:

Great review, thanks!

Eli on January 14, 2020:

Thanks for this simple yet comprehensive look. Was almost taken in by this product and couldn't find a decent review. Appreciated

a casta on December 27, 2019:

the product stopped working within a few months, of course after the 30 day warranty; won't charge; I used it for morning tooth brushing, would not trust it for evening before bed brushing; company did not reply to my initial email asking for advice on problem solving how faulty it is, would not recommend this product

Judy Larson on October 11, 2019:

My brush has not worked since the day I got it. Will not charge. I am disappointed. Like the idea but would like for it to work!

james on September 03, 2019:

i came to the same conclusions as you did.. luckily i got a deal on

jeanjy on September 03, 2019:

My V-White 360 just don't work after a week of use.

I put it on the base for charging but nothing happens. No lights at all and no way to make it work.

I feel having been misleaded.

No way to get support...

Theresa Edwards on August 31, 2019:

As soon as I tried it it broke. I was never able to use it, very frustrating being ripped off.

julie gores on August 30, 2019:

I HAVE TWO AND THEY STOP WORKING I NEED ANOTHER ONE MY DENTIST WAS SO PLEASED

Kathy Langley on August 30, 2019:

What a piece of garbage mouth piece slips off plastic piece around charger broke off doesn't charge properly it is a rip off don't waste your money!!

Rick on August 26, 2019:

Horrible product plastic guard broke on 2 usage doesn't whiten wont charge properly don't waste your money on this garbage product

Diana Bremner on August 22, 2019:

My toothbrush died won’t switch on and charger isn’t charging it before it died it rattled like a braking down engine how can I fix this

David Carrington on August 13, 2019:

Horrible product, doesn't clean well at all and having problems with charging it. i wouldn't advise purchasing this product at all. Total waste of money

Venice Richardson on August 09, 2019:

Totally dissatisfied. Purchased three, one worked for about a week.

Tried to get refund, NO LUCK.

No return address to send them to, so in the garbage they go.

L Morin on July 24, 2019:

Dissatisfied with product as well...anyone have any luck getting a refund???

P king on July 20, 2019:

After just three uses this product failed and never worked again. Good luck trying to contact customer service as everything is In Chinese with no attempt to help with the problem at hand. All I want is some information to bring this a satisfactory conclusion. HELP!!!!

L hoskins on June 07, 2019:

This product had a faulty recharger and because it is made in China, there is not instructions how to return or get a refund. It took over a month for the delivery and I was very disappointed with this product and even more as I read the reviews. I do not recommend this product.

Lonnie Anderson on June 05, 2019:

I have tried this v-light toothbrush for about 6 days. Could not get my teeth clean. Always plaque on my teeth. I want to return it and get my money back. Great idea but did not work for me.

Geri McClymont is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle which includes using organic products in her home.

A Multipurpose Cleaner

I had heard of Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap off and on for years but never paid much attention to it until recently.

Once I became aware of the toxic chemicals found in most soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents and household cleaning products, I started exploring products with organic ingredients.

I remembered Dr. Bronner's Soap, took a closer look, and especially liked that it was described as a multipurpose cleaner. In fact, this soap claims to wash everything from your skin to your floors.

Although I was somewhat skeptical, I decided to give it a go. After all, as a minimalist, this product could take minimalism to a whole new level for me!

This review is based on my personal experiences using Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 liquid Hemp Peppermint Pure Castile Soap to wash my skin, hair, clothing, and dishes.

Who Was Dr. Bronner?

Dr. Bronner was born Emanuel Heilbronner in Germany in 1908 to Jewish-German parents who were later killed during the Holocaust. His family began making soap in 1858 and began making and selling their first liquid castile soap in the late 1800s under the "Madaform" brand.

In 1929, Emil emigrated to the U.S. and shortly thereafter, he dropped "Heil" from his last name. A decade later, he adopted the title "Dr."—hence the name "Dr. Bronner." In 1948, he founded Dr. Bronner's and the production of liquid Peppermint castile soap began.

What Does 18-in-1 Mean?

18-in-1 refers to using one soap for 18 different purposes. The specific uses of this product were rather hard to locate on the bottle because the label is completely saturated in fine print.

Here's what I found on the bottle:

• washing hands, face, body and hair
• washing dishes, laundry, and mopping floor
• bathing dog
• removing residue from fruits and vegetables
• keeping bugs off plants
• shaving face, underarms, and legs
• degreasing
• all purpose cleaner
• washing shower and tub

This video better explains the 18 specific uses of this product:

Ingredients in Dr. Bronner's Liquid Hemp Peppermint Pure Castile Soap (in the order listed on the bottle)

The Ingredients

In case you were wondering, castile soap is an olive-oil-based soap made in a way similar to that originating in the Castile region of Spain.

Most of the ingredients in this soap appear to be truly organic.

The second ingredient listed on the bottle, potassium hydroxide, raised a red flag for me when I discovered that Wikipedia describes it as "dangerously corrosive" and states that "potassium hydroxide and its solutions are severe irritants to skin and other tissue."

However, the label on the bottle of Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap reads, "None (of the potassium hydroxide) remains after saponifying oils into soap and glycerin." This appears to indicate that the saponifying process, which is basically the process of making soap, cancels out any corrosive effects of the potassium hydroxide.

How to Dilute Dr. Bronner's Liquid Hemp Peppermint Pure Castile Soap (based on directions on the bottle)

Benefits of Peppermint Oil

My Experiences and Results

I Used Dr. Bronner's Soap To:

• wash my skin and hair
• do my laundry
• wash my dishes

As of today, I have used this product for a period of two months.

Skin

I kept a small squirt bottle of the undiluted soap by my bathroom sink and used one squirt each time I washed my hands. I also used a squirt bottle in the shower and squirted the undiluted soap directly onto my washcloth.

The invigorating peppermint aroma alone made this soap very pleasant to use. My hands and body felt clean after washing with this product. It did not irritate my skin or cause any adverse effects on it.

I found that the cap on my squirt bottle clogged easily, so I ended up pouring the undiluted soap into a pump bottle, which worked much better for both washing my hands and showering.

Hair

I confess I was quite reluctant to use this product for my hair, but I gave it a shot.

I can't say it worked for me as a shampoo. I used the recommended soap-to-water ratio, lathered as well as I could, and found that my hair ended up looking and feeling somewhat greasy.

I tried using more soap, and although I did get more of a lather this way, it did not seem to help in terms of the greasy appearance and sensation.

I did not use Dr. Bronners's Citrus Organic Hair Rinse, as recommended on the bottle of this product.

I think I will stick to my own shampoo for my hair, and possibly use this product as a shampoo for future camping trips only.

Laundry

I used 1/4 cup of soap for each medium size load I washed, and slightly less for smaller loads. I added vinegar to my wash as recommended (something I used to do anyway).

My clothes, towels, and sheets smelled fresh and clean, and the peppermint scent was so soothing as I removed my laundry from the washer and from the dryer. This made doing my laundry slightly more enjoyable.

Dishes

Rather than prepare a solution with a 1:10 ratio of soap-to-water as recommended, I decided to simply use a squirt bottle with the undiluted soap and use one squirt at a time on my kitchen washcloth as I washed my dishes by hand.

I replaced the squirt bottle with a pump bottle shortly thereafter.

I found that this soap lathered and washed my dishes easily, leaving them looking and smelling fresh and clean. I loved the refreshing peppermint aroma, which also made washing my dishes more relaxing and pleasant.

Is It Cost-Effective?

I purchased a 40 oz. bottle on Amazon for $18.99 two months ago and currently have a little less than a quarter of the bottle left.

I wash about two medium sized loads of laundry per week, and I shower and wash dishes daily.

I find this product to be highly cost-effective, especially based on the ingredients and the results I have experienced.

Conclusion

Overall, Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Peppermint Pure Castile Soap was a winner for me.

I Intend to Continue to Use This Soap To:

• wash my hands and body
• do my laundry
• wash my dishes

What I like Most About This Product:

• It has all organic ingredients.
• I love the invigorating peppermint scent.
• I can control the soap-to-water ratio.
• I can use the same soap for my laundry, dishes and skin.

Dr. Bronner's Factory Tour: Liquid Soap Production

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Can I use Dr. Bronner's hemp castile soap to clean glass or windows?

Answer: I have personally never used it to clean glass or windows, but according to the video I posted, you can. I would follow the recommended soap-to-water ratio for an all-purpose cleaner which is 1/4 cup soap to 1 quart water, in a spray bottle.

© 2019 Geri McClymont

Comments

Wesley williamson on March 28, 2020:

Help save the planet.save money

c on October 24, 2019:

All soap must contain a highly corrosive and high pH ingredient, either caustic soda or caustic potash, because it is required for the chemical reaction to turn a fat/oil into a chemical that can dissolve both oil and water. There was no reason to be concerned about this ingredient.

Howard likes making the shaving ritual more efficient and enjoyable.

If money wasn't a consideration, we could just use a new blade every time we shaved. But if you're reading this, I'm going to assume you want to get the most for your money.

At the same time, you don't want to feel like you're shaving with a piece of broken glass. In this article, we'll look at a few things that will help us come to a conclusion. They are:

• What the manufacturers recommend.
• What our experience tells us.
• What my longevity test on a blade revealed.

How Many Times Can You Use a Disposable Razor?

Razor manufacturers are fairly tight-lipped on this subject. Visiting the websites of the major razor brands didn't result in any definite answer to this question. They seem to want to keep us guessing.

It's not hard to figure out why—they'd rather you threw out your blade too soon. That's more money for them.

Gillette got specific for the first time in a 2012 commercial where they stated that a ProGlide cartridge could be used for up to five weeks. That's the only time I know of when a manufacturer gave a concrete answer to this question.

You can view the ad below.

Before that, I only remember vague statements about getting a week of shaves out of a blade, but I don't know where that information came from. I suspect it's just one of those things that's been said so many times that it seems true.

But we know from experience that many blades seem perfectly fine after a week.

The Longevity Test

If you have some shaving experience, you know that nothing cuts like a brand new blade. But there's probably also a feeling that you're throwing out perfectly good blades, which means throwing out perfectly good money.

The trick is to find that balance between shaving with a sharp, effective blade and avoiding unnecessary waste.

I've thrown out cartridges after a few uses and I've used them until they were tugging something fierce. I wasn't crazy about either situation.

So, I put a blade I really like to the test: the Gillette Fusion5 ProShield.

I kept the shaving routine consistent and simple throughout. Here's how I shaved:

1. I gave my stubble a hot water soaking, usually in the shower but at least at the sink.
2. I used a standard shaving cream from an aerosol can.
3. I made one pass with the grain, followed by a touch up on any missed spots.
4. I rinsed off the blade and dried it with a soft towel.

The Results of the Test

I was planning on breaking down the increments where I noticed deterioration in the blade quality. That proved to be more difficult than I thought it would be. The changes were very gradual, so I'll get to the result.

I used the Gillette Fusion5 ProShield a total of 45 times, almost six and a half weeks.

It was hard to tell when it stopped feeling new. I only noticed the slightest deterioration after week three. After week four, there was another small drop-off. In the sixth week, I could tell it was almost done.

It's worth noting that it was still usable when I stopped. If you want to save as much money as possible on a cartridge razor, you could stretch one of these even longer than I did. The tugging wasn't terrible at the end. It was still better than some really cheap models on their first use.

Do Razor Blades Expire?

If you're buying large quantities and stretching them out, you might wonder if they could go bad. This doesn't seem to be a problem. The packages I've seen don't have expiry dates on them. As long as they're stored in a dry place, there's no reason they would deteriorate on the shelf.

So, How Long Do Razor Blades Last?

In the end, that's up to you. It depends on two main things:

• How smooth you want the shave to be.
• How little you want to spend on blades.

Obviously, the first few shaves with a new blade are the best. If you don't mind spending the money, replacing them frequently will give you the most comfortable shave.

If saving money is your main concern, you can go as long as you want. Even when the blade has seriously deteriorated, it will still work, albeit with a little extra time and discomfort.

One thing that I don't advise is buying a cheap blade for extended use. Cheap ones are only good for a few shaves, if that. I've used some that weren't even good once.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Many hobbies and tasks involve an array of cutting tools. Loretta has found these to be very useful for home and personal use. Have a look.

Thinning Shears and How to Use Them

Thinning shears are great for reducing bulk in your hair without losing length. They can be used on both men and women with any hairstyle. They can be used on beards as well. There are several features to be aware of when choosing your thinning shears.

What to Be Aware of When Choosing Thinning Shears

• Choose a size that is comfortable for your hand. Common sizes are 5-inch to 8-inch.
• Most are made from stainless steel, but there are different grades, so make sure you check the packaging and do some research.
• Another feature is the weight, heft, and ergonomic handles. You'll want your fingers to fit comfortably. Many styles have a finger rest to help balance while you cut.
• The most important consideration is the ratio of thinning—how far apart the "teeth" are. A common ratio is 25–30%, but if you want something specific, be sure to look for it.

How I Use Thinning Shears

I use thinning shears on my bangs as well as the pointed scissors described below. To use these: pick up a chunk of hair and snip these underneath that chunk. Push it out of the way and pick up another chunk and again snip underneath that chunk. If you like a more layered look, snip right through the middle of your chunk.

If your hair is thick enough that you are using thinning shears, then it's also thick enough to hide any mistakes until your next salon visit.

Thinning Blades and How to Use Them

An alternative to thinning shears is a thinning blade, which I also use. I have this jilbére model from Conair.

Mine is somewhat like a double-sided comb, about 8-inches long. Half is the handle and half is the double-sided blade. One side of the blade has even, narrowly spaced teeth. The other side has slightly wider blades and also wider spacing between the blades. Look carefully at the first thumbnail and you will see the black plastic between every other blade to widen the space.

There are several choices out there so take your time and see what features serve you best. Some have a spring for easy cutting, while some are just a single blade. Some come with a storage case while others fold in half to store. Whatever seems like a good idea is the right one for you.

I will use these around my husband's ears and to de-bulk his beard. I use them on my own hair in two ways.

How I Use Thinning Blades

1. Slide the wider teeth on the underside of a chunk of hair to remove bulk (this is called an "undercut").
2. Slide the narrow teeth down the outside of a chunk to give more visible layers

These can be dangerous for a child to get a hold of, like a really big razor blade, so be cautious if need be.

Hair Scissors and Pointed Point

These scissors come in a few sizes ranging from 3-inches to 8-inches. (These are shown in the second thumbnail above). They may also be called "barber scissors" or "hairdressing shears." You will want to look for a sturdy but also lightweight pair. They are easily found in beauty supply shops or online. They are usually stainless steel but be aware of the grade. Some steel items snap easily.

The blades are really sharp and really thin to get into tight places, especially around the ears. The finger holes should fit you comfortably. There is often a "tail" or little extension to rest an additional finger on for balance.

My hair grows really fast, it's heavy, and it grows in a "forward" pattern. This means my heavy hair will be all in my face after just a couple of weeks after an all-over salon haircut. I use these to slice through my bangs at an angle, so that hair products have a chance of working to keep me from looking like an Affenpinscher.

Hair Scissors With a Rounded Point

These scissors also come in a few sizes from 3-inches to 8-inches. (Note, I am not speaking of the child-size school safety scissors). They serve much the same purpose as the pointed shears described earlier. (These are also shown in the second thumbnail above).

They have a feature of rounded tips which can make you more comfortable in certain situations. Tasks include cutting a child's' bangs, cutting a mustache. I like to use them to cut the adorable but annoying fur around our Bichon's eyes. I might poke him, but at least I won't draw blood!

Also, if you have a young person in the family that wants to cut their own hair, but may pose a little danger, these shears might be appropriate.

Eyebrow Scissors

These can be an elegant addition to a dressing table, merely a utility item, or somewhere in-between. As with other grooming scissors, these are available with rounded points for safety around the eye area.

The blades are short and metal. The rest of the body may be metal or colorful plastic. The body can be straight, curved, or in a distinctive shape. Mine are in the shape of a stork—apparently, I was feeling festive that day.

Some have a little comb on one of the blades. This lets you use one hand for trimming instead of using both hands (one to steady your brows with a little comb and the other to handle the scissors) which end up blocking your view to the mirror. Genius.

Some come with a case, some come with a mirror, some don't. Choose whatever makes the most sense for your needs.

Nail Scissors, Nippers, and Clippers

We probably all have these covered, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention this category.

I will say that I often use the smaller fingernail clippers (as opposed to the larger toenail clippers) on my littler toes. Does that make me a rebel?

If you didn't know, there are little bitty baby size nail clippers. I use these for travel. Granted, regular size aren't all that huge. However, I keep a very small plastic case with me on a plane for certain essentials, and the smaller, the better. This case also has little bitty lipsticks from the beauty store, little bitty wispy toothbrushes, and other little things, so every half-inch counts.

How about those nippers? I've heard you are not really supposed to cut your cuticles, but who listens? I use these more when doing a pedicure than a manicure. If you are not familiar, they look like little pliers. They have very small yet chunky blades, rounded handles, and have a metal spring for returning open after they've been squeezed to cut.

Like other products, they come in different colors and vary from regular to surgical steel. They are available online, from beauty stores, and mass retailers. Now that you know about them go out there and win one for the nipper!

What Are You Cut Out to Do?

I hope this article will introduce some new products or give you some new ideas about how to use common household cutting tools.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 The Sampsons

Comments

The Sampsons (author) from The Ozarks, Missouri on April 26, 2020:

To complete the first photo, here is a link to the other article. HUB made me make two articles and not allow a link, so I'm going to try this. I may have to go to HUB jail for a little while.

https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/Scissors-and-Snipper...

The Sampsons (author) from The Ozarks, Missouri on January 27, 2019:

Tim -

Thank you again for reading and commenting. I also had not heard of the rounded points until a few years ago, and I thought others could benefit. I'm very happy you found it useful and informative!

I hope your week goes well for you, also.

Loretta

Tim Truzy from U.S.A. on January 27, 2019:

Hi, Loreta,

I learned a lot from this article.

It was very useful. I liked the fact you mentioned the "rounded" ends for these tools. I'll look for those when I go shopping next time. Safety is important as you point out.

Thanks for an interesting, informative, and educational article.

May your Sunday be peaceful and your week rewarding,

sincerely,

Tim

The Sampsons (author) from The Ozarks, Missouri on January 27, 2019:

Yeah, who knew?! Thank you for reading and commenting.

Loretta

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on January 27, 2019:

Thank you sharing all this information. Didn't realize there was so much to learn about scissors. Eyebrow scissors? There are some challenges too.

Walter Shillington writes about products he knows firsthand. His articles focus on healthcare, electronics, watches, and household items.

I have a routine that I follow each morning. I feed the cat, clean out her litter box, grab a cup of coffee, and then head outside for a breath of fresh air.

Once my coffee cup is drained, I step inside and throw a few treats into the cat bowl. Velvet is always hungry. Then I head to the bathroom to complete my morning ablutions. This includes cleaning my teeth, a messy and time-consuming task that I truly detest.

Description

The other day, I read an interesting article describing a new type of toothbrush that was about to hit the market. It appeared as if someone had stolen Dr. Who’s sonic screwdriver and secured a rubber mouthpiece onto the end. The user simply inserts the mouthpiece and turns the unit on. Twenty seconds later, his teeth are squeaky clean.

I checked around. A couple of these devices were already available on Amazon, and several more were going through the final stages of crowdfunding.

The toothbrush manufactured by Babahu looked good. Their design was well thought out, and the company’s team included three Montreal based doctors specializing in the field of dentistry. Perhaps because I am a fellow countryman, I have great respect for the Canadian medical profession.

I ordered a pair of them—one for myself and one for my nephew.

Specifications

• Brand: Babahu
• Model: BBH-X1
• Intended user: Children aged 6–12 (versions are available for all age groups)
• Modes: Cleaning and gum care
• Battery: 5V Lithium Ion rechargeable
• Charging time: One to two hours
• Vibration frequency: 21800 - 31800 per minute
• Brush head: U-shaped. Composed of edible silica gel
• Brush time: 20 seconds
• Features: Audio prompts utilizing child’s voice

The Manufacturer

Babahu is a start-up company located in Shenzhen, China. This firm has reached the final stage of crowdfunding and is collaborating with product manufacturer, FLEX Ltd. Their child’s version of this toothbrush is now available, and they are presently manufacturing the model intended for adults.

Flex Ltd (previously known as Flextronics) is an American multinational technological manufacturer. The company is based in Singapore, and San Jose, California hosts their administrative facilities. Flex has manufacturing operations in over 40 countries with approximately 200,000 employees.

Body

My test unit was designed for children aged between six and twelve. The toothbrush’s body is colored brown and includes a cartoon bear’s face. A large button activates the device. It will announce, in a child’s voice, Babahu welcome and then commence operations. Other recorded announcements include Please bite gently and See you next time. A pink child’s body and a white one, designed for adults, are also available.

Babahu specifications note that the toothbrush’s body can handle a one-meter drop and is capable of withstanding submersion in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. It is composed of plastic and contains a Maglev Sonic Motor which is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

To switch between clean and gum care modes, press the start button and hold until the appropriate LED lights. There is also an indicator that will turn red when battery power is low.

Recharging Base and Battery

The coolest recharging unit I’ve ever owned was the rapid charger I purchased for my Blackberry tablet. The connector is magnetic and if held it anywhere near the tablet’s input, would snap into place. The Blackberry, due to lack of modern software, is gathering dust, but I fondly remember its charging unit.

Babahu goes one step further, adopting a wireless induction type recharging system. You simply place the toothbrush’s body onto its stand, and within two hours, its battery is fully recharged. The charger is powered by a USB cable.

I activated the toothbrush’s cleaning mode 64 times in succession, simulating a month of usage if the owner brushed his teeth twice a day. At that point, the battery power reserve was low but not quite at the point required to activate the warning light.

Brush Head

The heart of a toothbrush of this type is its mouthpiece, which is referred to as a brush head. It must be sturdy, hygienic, and able to properly fit the intended user’s mouth. When activated, it is crucial that the vibrating bristles clean thoroughly without damage to teeth or gums.

The Babahu brush head is composed of an edible medical grade silica gel containing bacteriostat; a substance that prevents bacteria from multiplying. Bristles made from silicone liquid gel are molded into the mouthpiece’s unibody.

The key to prevention and control of gum disease is to brush around and under the gumline where bacteria and plaque tend to accumulate. In the Bass method of brushing, the toothbrush bristles reach under the gums and scrub away the plaque. This method instructs the user to tilt their brush to a 45-degree angle and move the bristles slightly beneath the gumline. Then, with firm but gentle pressure, sweep the brush back and forth. Babahu designed their brush head to conform to this method.

Babahu developed three differently sized mouthpieces. The one I received is intended for children between the age of six and twelve. To ensure teeth are properly cleaned without risk of damage, it is the brush head, rather than the body, that controls the vibration rate of these devices. In this case, the toothbrush will begin operation vibrating at 31800 beats per minute. Over the 20-second cleaning routine, its rate drops to 21800.

As with any toothbrush, wear and tear on the bristles will reduce their effectiveness. A single brush head will cost $15 and should be replaced every three to six months.

Mode Selection

The Babahu X1’s normally operates in cleaning mode. If the start button is pushed and held momentarily, it will switch to gum care. Massaging your oral soft tissue increases blood flow to the area, helping that tissue to repair itself. As a result, your gums will become less susceptible to the effects of gingivitis and periodontitis.

It is important to note that, whether used for cleaning, gum care, or a combination of both, it is recommended that toothbrush usage be limited to twice per day.

Operating Procedure

1. Squeeze toothpaste (preferably foam) onto both sides of u-shaped brush head.
2. Ensure the start button is facing up. Push button.
3. Gently bite the u-groove of the brush head. Cleaning operations will run for 20 seconds.

Foam toothpaste contains a chemical called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. The foaming action is useful for distributing the toothpaste’s cleansing ingredients throughout your mouth. I ran a quick check and found that some Colgate products fit this description and are reasonably priced.

I normally clean a toothbrush by running hot water over it. For those who are more cautious, a Babahu brush head can be easily removed from its body and boiled in hot water.

Test Results

I asked my seven-year-old nephew to test this toothbrush. He’s good-humored and even though there are far more important things to do during the Christmas holidays, he agreed to help me out.

The mouthpiece fit properly although, since it is intended for children aged 6–12, it was larger than he expected. My nephew found the vibrations to be weird but not unpleasant and the verbal advice, offered in a Chinese accented childish voice, proved entertaining. He also appreciated being able to complete the job in only 20 seconds. Overall, my nephew enjoyed the experience and plans to continue using the toothbrush.

Because she could not monitor the device in operation, my nephew’s mother was unable to comment on how well the toothbrush scrubbed away the plaque beneath his gum line. She was, however, impressed by how effectively it cleaned the surface area of his teeth.

Overall Impression

As you would expect with any newly developed device being brought to the market, fit, finish, and overall quality control are excellent. I also appreciated Babahu’s adherence to Bass standards in the design of the mouthpiece.

The brush heads determine the vibration rate of the toothbrush. This is important because, even if a child’s mouthpiece was inadvertently connected to a body intended for adult use, it would still vibrate at the frequency recommended for the child.

I feel the Babahu X1 is an excellent product. This toothbrush is highly recommended.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Where can people order babahu X1?

Answer: The version intended for children aged 2 - 6 can be purchased at Amazon.com. Other models and accessories are available at Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/babahu-x1-1st-a.../

© 2019 Walter Shillington

I have an interest in handmade bath and body products, so I am continually experimenting with new soap-making recipes and techniques.

What Is Soleseife Soap?

A while back, a “new” kind of German brine soap was all the rage on soap making forums, so of course, I had to try it out, too. It was called soleseife (zo•luh zigh•fuh). People spelled it all different ways and many were mistakenly treating this soap like a regular salt bar, even though the outcome is very different.

Soleseife is different from a salt bar because the salt is dissolved in the water instead of stirred into the soap batter; so you get the benefits of bathing with salt water without the exfoliating dimension of using undissolved salt. I personally think salt is too scratchy for soap, and prefer to use sugar scrubs instead, but I was intrigued by the idea of a different kind of spa bar.

I developed my own soleseife soap recipe after dissecting two others that I found online:

• Soleseife or Brine/Salt Water Soap Recipe by David Fisher
• Naturseife – Soleseife “Lavendel” by Stefanie (Steffi)

Both of these seemed just like any other soap recipe, except for the sea salt dissolved into the lye water and that the coconut oil was on the higher end, at 25-30% (my usual recipe is only 15-20%).

Saltwater and sea salt soaps tend to have less lather, so that is why these recipes have more coconut oil. I couldn’t find any resource that told me how to know how much salt to use, so I just did some math to figure it out. If you divide the ounces of salt by the ounces of water, both of the above recipes used what came to 25% of their water amount for salt concentration. So that is what I went with.

I used cavity molds for my soleseife soaps because this type of soap hardens rather quickly and I didn't want to miss the window for the proper balance of firmness/softness for cutting a soap loaf.

Tip:

Don’t try to use the hot process method to make this soap recipe. The salt in the water causes it to dry out and harden up very quickly, so you will have a tough time molding it.

Soleseife Soap Recipe

Yield: 36 oz

Oils

• 9 oz Olive Oil (25%)
• 9 oz Coconut Oil (25%)
• 5.4 oz Avocado oil (15%)
• 4.7 oz Shea butter (13%)
• 5.4 oz Canola Oil (15%)
• 2.5 oz Castor Oil (7%)
• 2 Tbls Goat Milk Powder (not required)

Lye Solution

• 13 oz Water (36%) Unless your city has great tap water, use distilled.
• 4.804 oz Lye (8% superfat)
• 3.25 oz pink Himalayan sea salt (25% of water amount)

Note: Make sure to fully dissolve the salt in the water before adding the lye to the mix.

Fragrance

• 2.25 oz Essential or Fragrance oil

I scented mine with a mix of peppermint, lavender, tea tree, and Himalayan cedarwood essential oils. As you can see, it turned out very white. The soaps developed a thick layer of soda ash as they cured. I don't know if it was from the recipe or the fragrance, but it's something to be aware of.

It was really fun to try a soap recipe from another country—I wish they were easier to find! While I’ve only made this recipe twice, I have started using brine water in my Dead Sea mud facial bar recipe. I use a lot less salt, just over 3% for this purpose, but my skin absolutely loves it.

Questions & Answers

Question: Just wondering why you say in the recipe "Make sure to fully dissolve the salt in the water before adding the lye to the mix." What happens in this soap recipe if the salt is added after lye?

Answer: Because after you add the lye, the salt will no longer dissolve.

© 2018 Katie Adams

Comments

RTalloni on December 22, 2018:

Thanks much for this info on German brine soap. I've been trying to decide whether to try my hand at soap making and am glad to add this to my list of possibilities.

Mel loves creating and making her own herbals, cleaning products, air fresheners, bath, beauty, and body products.

Why Make Your Own Deodorant?

There are many reasons why you may want to make your own home and beauty products.

• Perhaps you do not like commercially produced beauty products and wish to find a safer alternative. It may be that you've never made your own beauty care products at home before and you're looking to get started with a product recipe that's easy for first-timers. If this is the case, great! This recipe will work perfectly for you!
• Maybe you like the idea of being more kind to the environment and producing less waste.
• Lastly, you may simply feel a certain level of satisfaction from making your own products. This hobby can be very rewarding in its own right, and this easy, at-home recipe is sure to suit you quite well. Besides, when you make your own products, you know each and every ingredient that is going into the products that you make. What could be better?

These are all fantastic and great reasons for making your own products, without a doubt. There is nothing quite like the gratification of making something from scratch with your own two hands with simple ingredients that you're likely to already have on-hand. With this in mind, let's get started!

Supplies List

• 4 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
• 4 Tbsp. Arrowroot Starch
• 1 Tbsp. Baking Soda
• 1 Tbsp. Cornstarch
• 10 drops in total of any essential oils of your choice. (I used 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil, 5 drops of Lavender Oil, and 2 drops of Sweet Orange Oil.) Note that this step is completely optional.
• Small clean container with lid (Approx. 4-6 ounce in size)
• Bowl for mixing ingredients
• Spoon or whisk

Instructions

1. Add the arrowroot starch, cornstarch, and baking soda into your mixing bowl. Blend well with whisk or spoon until thoroughly combined.
2. Whisk or stir coconut oil into your dry ingredients. Blend well and until smooth. Coconut oil may need to be melted prior to being mixed into the dry ingredients. This is totally normal and will not change the effectiveness of finished product. A quick pop into the microwave or into a small saucepan on low heat until melted will do the trick.
3. Add in any/all essential oils. Blend well. This step is optional. If you wish not to use essential oils, or if you want your homemade deodorant to be unscented, omit this step.
4. Pour mixture into clean container and secure lid. Congratulations, it's that easy! Your homemade deodorant is ready to use!

How to Use Your Homemade Deodorant and Other Helpful Information

To use: Swirl fingertips (using approximately a dime to nickel size amount under each arm) into the deodorant and massage the product into the underarm area covering entire area thoroughly. Apply 1-2 times daily or as needed.

Please Note: Once your homemade deodorant is ready for use, it may take 30 minutes to an hour or so for the deodorant to solidify. The temperature of your environment will determine how fast or slow this process will be or may take. If after an hour or so goes by and the deodorant mixture is still thin, feel free to place the covered container of deodorant in the refrigerator until the mixture "sets" or thickens. You can do this at any time for the entire life of the deodorant if the product becomes runny or too thin and can be repeated as many times as needed. Refrigeration will not affect the performance of the product. Also, if the deodorant happens to be runny and thin, no worries, this will have no negative effect on the performance of the product whatsoever. It is absolutely still effective and use-able.

Ideally, the deodorant should have a creamy yet slightly stiff consistency and should melt soon after contact with the skin. This makes for easier application to and for blending well into the skin.

This homemade deodorant will have a shelf life of around a month, give or take. This is just a general guideline. Washing your hands before applying and keeping the container clean and free of debris will also prolong the self-life. Also, keeping and storing the homemade deodorant in the refrigerator between uses will extend the shelf life as well.

Coconut oil works well as a natural moisturizer and is said to have antibacterial properties so using it as a main component for homemade deodorant is sensible and logical.

Arrowroot starch and corn starch acts as thickening agents for the deodorant mixture. Without them, the mixture would be thin and perhaps a bit messier to apply. Also, the starches help to absorb wetness aiding in keeping you drier.

Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors making it a wonderful component to your deodorant.

Essential oils are a great and natural way to add fragrance to your homemade products, but they are by no means necessary to this recipe. If you prefer your homemade deodorant to be unscented or if you have sensitivities to scented oils or scents whatsoever, by all means, skip the addition of the essential oils. Omitting the essential oils in this recipe will not affect the performance of the deodorant itself. The key components are the coconut oil, arrowroot powder, cornstarch, and baking soda. Essential oils are a nice addition but are not mandatory.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, baking soda may be irritating to some. If you experience irritation, try making this recipe using a reduced amount of baking soda. Also, avoid applying just after shaving as this may help reduce the likelihood of irritation. Sometimes it takes the skin some time to adjust to sudden changes especially if you've never used homemade products on the skin previously but please, use sensible discretion and discontinue use if irritation ensues or continues whatsoever. Everyone is different, and products work differently on everyone.

Feel free to adjust this recipe to your specific likes and needs as it is quite versatile.

There are endless possibilities with this recipe; the sky is the limit! You can really get creative here so use your imagination and experiment until your heart's content!

What's Your Opinion?

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Melissa Meadow

Comments

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on August 25, 2019:

Thank you, Linda. If you do try it, I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by!

Linda Bryen from United Kingdom on August 13, 2019:

Great recipe, I might give it a try. Thank you, Mel.

Katy and her husband have been off and on users of Dollar Shave Club for years. Katy gives honest reviews of products to save you money.

Men have many options for disposable razors. Why can't women use a subscription service for their shaving needs too? Maybe you're already getting your man one, and you want to keep it simple and use the same product.

Let's go through the review and then discuss how their razors would work for women.

Dollar Shave Club Review

It's one of the best razor clubs out there, and it is what got me into razor subscription boxes. And although my husband and I tried others, like Harry's, we've gone back to them.

I reviewed the DSC subscription box on a scale of one to five, based on value, reliability, customer service/honesty, and quality so you can make the right decision for you.

Let's look at the details below.

Reliability: 5

I've never had a late box. I've also never been charged the wrong amount or had a box show up with something missing.

They have a long track record. I don't ever worry that they're going to screw up something.

Customer Service and Honesty: 5

Customer service and honesty are super important for a subscription service. You don't want to sign up for something that will charge you without you knowing or commits you to more than you realize.

Thankfully, DSC is stellar when it comes to their openness. It's easy to make changes to your subscription, and they're very clear about what you're paying for.

Quality: 4

While their products are solid, they've never wowed me with their quality.

Their Executive handle is sturdy and the five-blade razor certainly gets the job done. But it's really only a step above a typical disposable razor. For my husband's face, they last about two weeks when he shaves every other day. A quality razor will last a lot longer than that. You really do need constant refills to get a good shave.

Value: 4

I've always liked their products, but value got a less than perfect score from me. Why?

Two main reasons:

1. A disposable razor isn't the most cost-effective hair removal method
2. The body/shave products are a bit overpriced

When we've canceled our subscription, it's because we've found a cheaper way to remove hair. You never need to replace a straight razor. DSC does get some frugal points in only swapping out the razor head and reusing the handle.

And let's not forget: part of the value of these products is the free shipping. The convenience of not having to go to the store and never running out of razors is pretty sweet. It's up to you whether that's worth the cost every month.

Bonus Rating—Quirkiness/Attitude: 5

Dollar Shave does stand apart with the quirkiness of their brand. I added this as a "bonus" rating because it's not a significant factor for me.

For me, it's simple: I give you money, you deliver refills for my razor. End of story.

But for someone who appreciates the "voice" of a brand, DSC knocks that out of the park. Their box is always masculine, modern looking, and filled with cute sayings. I'm certainly entertained as I rip open this month's box.

Does a Razor Subscription Box Work For Women?

Okay, you're signing up, but you're not sure whether the woman of the household should try it too.

Razors for Men vs Razors for Women

A razor is a razor, right?

Wrong!

There are differences between men and women's disposable razors you'll want to think about. Men's razors have a more aggressive angle to shave the thick hair on their scalps. Women with sensitive skin should be wary of men's razors. But if you're comfortable with an aggressive shave, then men's razors can be fine for legs.

A man's razor has a straighter handle while a woman's is typically curved. The curve lets you see the head of the razor as you shave.

For me, I enjoy the close shave of a man's razor and adjusted to the straighter handle.

Beware Cross-Contamination

If both of you are using a subscription, be sure to get your own handle, and keep them separate.

Our razors drift around the bathroom so much that we got them mixed. Not good for sanitary reasons or, "Hey, why is my brand new razor already dull, honey?" reasons.

The solution?

A big dollop of red nail polish on the end of my handle. Once dry, no amount of shower or sink is going to take that off.

© 2018 Katy Medium

Matilda loves sharing her discoveries in beauty and skincare along with her many tried and tested DIYs that are guaranteed to work for all.

I have personally always preferred wax over any other methods of hair removal. Not only does it remove the hair efficiently, but it also exfoliates the skin, leaving you smooth and glowing after you’ve waxed. Furthermore, it isn’t harmful like the chemicals used in hair removal creams that most people use, and it doesn't irritate sensitive skin. It only requires three ingredients that you can easily find in your kitchen!

What You Need

• 1/2 cup Cane Sugar
• 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp Water
• Corn Starch, as required

Method

1. After you have your three ingredients all ready and measured, all you need to do is mix the water into the lemon mixture. This will give you about a 1/4 cup of liquid. Put this liquid in a pot (preferably a small one) because it’s more manageable for a beginner. Most of the recipes that I came across used vinegar or honey but that is completely unnecessary and not easy to perfect. With that being said, let’s get to the important part of making this sugar wax so pay close attention!
2. Combine all of your measured ingredients into the pot. Instead of putting it on high heat, go for medium-high heat because you do not want to burn the mixture and turn it into hard candy, even if some of us would like that.
3. You have to start stirring the mixture as soon as the pot gets on that stove by either using a whisk or a wooden spoon. That’s completely up to you to decide, but either way, keep stirring! By doing this, you ensure that the paste does not burn and combines to form a clear liquid.
4. Keep an eye on the mixture to determine if it’s ready to use. If you see a lot of foaming, feel free to turn the heat down. This does take a while so be patient ladies! As soon as you start to see the mixture turn from a light yellow color to a slight golden color (something that looks like golden syrup) take it off the stove but keep stirring to cool it down and you will notice quite a bit of foaming, but that goes down as you keep moving it.
5. To determine if the texture of the paste is perfect for the wax, all you need to do is take a spoon and check if the syrup is still thin and runny and let it cool all the while stirring it to make the process quicker.
6. When the mixture cools down, take it out of the pot with your hands by first soaking them in water, so the wax does not stick to your hands and knead the wax. Keep a bowl of water next to you as you knead it just in case if the wax starts to get too sticky in your hands. Continue to knead the dough into a ball.
7. Try it on! Take some cornstarch and rub it onto the area you want to remove the hair from and apply a small amount of wax against the direction of the hair growth and then pull it in the direction of the hair growth this is an important rule to remember when using sugar wax!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Victoria is a stay-at-home mom, author, and blogger. She loves sharing her experience making natural bath and body products.

I couldn't resist trying out this recipe. I don't think it's possible to have a bigger fan of the fall season on the face of the Earth than me. I decorate with leaves and pinecones all year round, my favorite scents are cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and I love anything fall related, any time of the year.

We were getting low on soap in the house, especially as I use it for making all of my various soap products, and I couldn't make just regular soap at the end of August. This is going to be the soap that flavors every shower and every soap experience for the next handful of months. I've never tried using herbs and seasonings in my soaps before. However, with a little research into the proper way to incorporate them, by the way, there really isn't one, I was ready!

I knew that I wanted to use pumpkin spice for this batch, and I would have preferred to color the whole bar of soap a little darker, but I am very happy with how it turned out. I even thought to use coconut sugar over the top of the bar at the last second. Not only do they smell delicious, and I can't wait to use the very first bar this morning, but I had to stop my toddler from eating one several times last night. That tells you how amazing they smell. He thought they were cookies.

If you're ready to get this fall season started off on the right foot, why not make some soap and bathe yourself in it for the next few months. Have I told you how amazing this soap smells?! I plan on making a few more scents, because why not? Chocolate, pumpkin, cinnamon, apple pie, and coconut are definitely in my future. Let me show you how I did it!

Cook Time

Ingredients

• 33 ounces coconut oil
• 12.54 ounces water
• 4.83 ounces lye
• 4 teaspoons pumpkin spice
• Pinch coconut sugar

Instructions

1. Start by measuring out all of your ingredients. You are going to need a food scale measuring ounces, an immersion blender, and a crockpot for this recipe. You'll also want to put the water in a big bowl.
2. Pour your coconut oil into your crockpot, cover it, and turn the heat to low to let your coconut oil melt. If you can't wait, melt it in the microwave or on the stove first.
3. Once your coconut oil is going, take your lye and water outside. A couple of cautions here: Lye is caustic and can burn your skin. Be careful not to touch it with your bare hands. And when you mix it, there will be fumes that you do not want to breathe in or get in your eyes. It's best to wear kitchen gloves and goggles when mixing this stuff up. Finally, you'll be leaving it outside for 10 minutes to cool, so you'll want a safe place to leave it where kids and pets cannot get it. I did ours on the front porch.
4. Carefully pour the lye into the water, standing as far back as possible and averting your face. Stir a few times to mix it in and then leave it to cool for 10 minutes.
5. This is when I when in and mixed up the coconut oil in my crockpot to get it to melt faster, and pulled out my desired spices. I have a homemade pumpkin spice mix that you can find with all of my other recipes.
6. After 10 minutes go out and get your lye mixture. Now you're going to carefully pour the lye mixture into the melted coconut oil in the crockpot, being careful not to splash. All of the dishes you used that touched the lye need to go together in the sink to be cleaned with vinegar later.
7. Using your immersion blender, carefully blend up your mixture for about 5 minutes until it turns into a pudding-like consistency. This is called the trace phase.
8. This is the time to mix in your spices if you want them throughout your bar of soap. I sprinkled about 2-3 teaspoons of pumpkin spice right over my soap and then mixed it in with the immersion blender.
9. Now put the top on your crockpot and let it cook for about an hour. During this time the soap will boil over the outside and fold back in like waves. If the waves get too high that they threaten to boil over, just stir it really quick and they'll go back down.
10. While your soap is cooking, line a loaf pan with parchment paper ready for your soap.
11. The end product you're looking for is a semi-transparent, waxy look without any creaminess left. When it gets there, it's time to spoon it into your prepared loaf pan.
12. Once you've got it all spooned in, dust the top of your soap, if you'd like, with even more spices. I also added a pinch of coconut sugar over the top. Smooth it in gently with you spoon or spatula and then let it cool for about 4 hours.
13. You want to cut it as soon as it cools when it is still semi-soft and easy to cut. If you leave it overnight, you'll have a heck of a time cutting into it. And the parchment paper makes it easy to pull out of your loaf pan.
14. I would then leave it to dry overnight, although you can use the first bar right away if you'd like. Store them spread out on a towel for the next few weeks or so in order to fully dry out. The longer they sit, the more moisturizing they will become. They should last you indefinitely if stored in a cool dry place.

Making soap really isn't that hard. I know it sounds intimidating, especially with all of the warnings about lye. However, once you've done it at least once, you'll be a pro at it. I don't have to tell you the benefits of using your own homemade soap versus using the store-bought stuff. I'm sure you already know or can figure it out.

Even the commercial organic products with minimal ingredients still have some risky fillers in them. They have to be able to package them in a factory, ship them long distances, and ensure that they arrive in pristine condition, only to sit on the shelf, or in a warehouse, for long periods of time before you take it home. But you can avoid all of that unnecessary tax on your body, and save money by simply making your own at home.

And just like you see in this recipe, you can customize your bars of soap exactly to your liking. I'm currently learning how to integrate fresh and dried herbs into my soap, and even use natural dyes (like fruits and veggies) to make them different colors and fragrances. You can make them seasonal, or simply your favorite colors and aromas, all without having to worry about what is available on the store shelves, how expensive they may be, or even what they have hiding in the ingredient list.

I can't possibly recommend making your own bath products more. I obviously consider the safety of my kids and other family members when making them, and boy does it take a load off of our monthly budget, but I also really enjoy making them and knowing that I'm providing a quality product to those that I love. What more can you ask for in your bath products? Health, safety, saving money, and mental and emotional well-being.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Victoria Van Ness

Comments

Victoria Van Ness (author) from Fountain, CO on September 05, 2018:

So I just searched Google Shauna and this is what I found...

"Dove. It is true that the words "lye" or "sodium hydroxide" do not appear on the Dove ingredient label. But, the first ingredients listed were sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate, and sodium palm kernelate. ... Yes, Dove is made with lye!"

"Neutrogena contains Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin (kosher, of vegetable origin), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent), Sorbitol (moisturizer), Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soy bean protein (conditioner)" -Sodium Hydroxide is a fancy way of saying lye, and Glycerin in lye with tallow mixed in.

Many people that make their own soaps avoid handling lye by purchasing premixed soap melts from the internet. But all of these simply already have the lye mixed in. That's probably what your friend uses, but maybe not. There's nothing dangerous about lye as long as it all converts over during the saponification process. Lye is what makes soap. You simply cannot make even castile soap without lye.

Amazon list potassium hydroxide and glycerin as ingredients in castile soap. But they make it a point to say that after the saponification process, there is no longer any potassium hydroxide, because the lye has converted to soap and is no longer dangerous.

I hope this helps. There's absolutely nothing to worry about with lye, and I make sure to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and insure that all of the lye has converted before using it. :)

Victoria Van Ness (author) from Fountain, CO on September 05, 2018:

So I just searched Google Shauna and this is what I found...

"Dove. It is true that the words "lye" or "sodium hydroxide" do not appear on the Dove ingredient label. But, the first ingredients listed were sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate, and sodium palm kernelate. ... Yes, Dove is made with lye!"

"Neutrogena contains Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin (kosher, of vegetable origin), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent), Sorbitol (moisturizer), Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soy bean protein (conditioner)" -Sodium Hydroxide is a fancy way of saying lye, and Glycerin in lye with tallow mixed in.

Many people that make their own soaps avoid handling lye by purchasing premixed soap melts from the internet. But all of these simply already have the lye mixed in. That's probably what your friend uses, but maybe not. There's nothing dangerous about lye as long as it all converts over during the saponification process. Lye is what makes soap. You simply cannot make even castile soap without lye.

Amazon list potassium hydroxide and glycerin as ingredients in castile soap. But they make it a point to say that after the saponification process, there is no longer any potassium hydroxide, because the lye has converted to soap and is no longer dangerous.

I hope this helps. There's absolutely nothing to worry about with lye, and I make sure to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and insure that all of the lye has converted before using it. :)

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on September 05, 2018:

Victoria, I use Dove bar soap. It does not contain lye, nor does Neutrogena. Additionally, I have a co-worker who makes natural, organic, vegan beauty products (my parents and I use her body butters), including soap. She does not put lye in her soaps. She adds a small amount of castile to her blends or glycerin.

Not all soap is made from lye. Certainly not any I'd put on my skin!

Victoria Van Ness (author) from Fountain, CO on September 04, 2018:

lol Lye is what soap is made from. Lye comes with its fair share of warnings and with good reason, but that doesn’t mean that the finished soap product is in any way dangerous.

Soap by definition is an alkali mixed with fats. When combined, a process called saponification happens, creating soap. This not only allows the liquid and oils to mix, but also creates the action by which soap has its cleansing properties.

In other words, without Lye, you just have a bucket of chunky, fatty oils floating in water. I hope this helps.

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on August 31, 2018:

Victoria, it's my understanding that lye is a caustic substance. Why would you want to put that on your skin?

I enjoy giving tips on how to make soap that can help individuals with acne.

Rising concern in regard to the potential effects of manufactured consumer goods has, over the past few years, lead to an increase of homemade and organically sourced merchandise. People want to know what goes into what they put in or on their bodies, and for good reason—everyone's got different needs, so figuring out which products work best for you is easier when you know what you're working with.

If you can go to the store, pick up your favorite brand of soap, and have it cleanse but not dry out your skin, then that's great! For those with acne due to oily skin, that might not work. Whether you want to buy premade soap made with oil-based breakouts in mind, or make your own soap formulated specifically for your skin, you need to know the essentials of what makes soap effective.

Soap is made from two basic components: lye and oil. There are different types of each which imbue unique properties upon the soap.

Simple and Natural Soap

Soap has been around since the eve of civilization when modern forms of manufacture didn't exist. So what did pre-modern people use in their soaps? The rendered fat would've been relatively common, but what about sodium hydroxide—otherwise known as lye?

Why, lye is just processed ash! There's sodium hydroxide, which is made from the remains of hardwoods, and potassium hydroxide, which comes from softer woods. Depending on which is used, the soap could be either solid or liquid. With a bit of finagling and dedication, you could conceivably refine wood ash in your own backyard.

Buff and Moisturize

Washing yourself with oils—which are essentially fat—seems counterproductive to keep your skin oil free, right? Well, if you know anything about lye, you know that, by itself, it's extremely caustic. That's why it's always important to use proper safety equipment when making your own soap—lye that hasn't yet mixed properly with the oils can burn!

That's where the oils come in. They react with the lye in a process called saponification and act as a buffer between your skin and the lye. This allows the soap to cleanse the surface of your skin without being too harsh.

This is why what oils are used in the soap are so important—they all have different properties. There are two types of oils: hard oils, and soft oils. Hard oils tend to be solid at room temperature, while soft oils are liquid.

Which Is Good for Acne-Prone Skin?

Most soap recipes have a couple of different types of oils to offset or enhance the others; most hard oils—like coconut oil—are good at cleansing but often don't provide much moisture. On the other hand, soft oils—like olive oil, rosehip oil, and meadowfoam oil—typically don't cleanse on their own, and are incredibly moisturizing. As would a soap made of hard oils likely be too harsh on any but the most hardy of epidermises, one made wholly of soft oils would leave you feeling greasier getting out of the wash than when you first entered.

If your acne is caused by skin that produces too much oil (as opposed to, say, overproducing oil in response to harsh cleansers), then you want a soap with a coconut oil base. Coconut oil is, in my personal experience, the most cleansing oil readily available by soap makers worldwide.

Making Your Own Homemade Soap

If you're interested in making your own soap, here's one of my personal favorite recipes formulated for oily skin. It's made to be very cleansing while also being moisturizing, and makes a hard, long-lasting bar.

Ingredients

• 136 grams Lye (sodium hydroxide)
• 344 grams Water
• 317 grams Coconut Oil
• 226 grams Olive Oil
• 90 grams Aloe Butter
• 272 grams Lard
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil
• 1 gram activated charcoal powder

Instructions

1. Measure out your lye into one container and your water into another. Make sure neither of these containers are degradable materials like plastic or silicone; I'd recommend stainless steel, as this next part can get really hot and glass might shatter.
2. If you're not already in a ventilated area (ie, next to an open window or a fan), relocate. Make sure you're wearing proper safety equipment, gloves and goggles are a requirement, but I'd personally recommend making sure you're wearing a long sleeve shirt, full-length pants, and no open-toe shoes.
3. Slowly add the lye to the water—not the water to the lye—while stirring. While mixing, don't lean directly over the bowl. You don't have to pour the lye consistently; it's fine to pour some, stir, and then repeat. The mixture will turn cloudy; mix it until it's clear. Set it aside.
4. Combine your oils into one cooking unit big enough to hold the complete yield and heat it up until they're melted.
5. Now you can take your lye solution (the mixed lye and water) and slowly mix it into the melted oils.
6. From here, you can choose to make hot process or cold process soap. The difference between these two is how long you have to wait to use the soap. The hot process can be used immediately but doesn't look nearly as nice, whereas cold process can't be used for at least two weeks, but preferably up to a month.
7. If you want to use it right away, keep stirring until the mixture is the consistency of a really thick pudding. If you want a pretty soap and don't mind waiting, stir until the soap is just thick enough that you can drizzle a bit over the top without it settling back into the mixture right away. Add the charcoal powder and tea tree oil when you've got the right consistency and make sure it's mixed in uniformly.
8. Now you can take your soap and pour it into whatever mold you have prepared; you can use any kind of molds for your mixture except for tin. If you chose the immediate route, you can use your soap as soon as it hardens, which should be in a few hours. The other kind requires at least 24-48 hours to harden completely before you can take it out of the mold, and then it has to sit out and cure for an additional 2-4 weeks.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Elizabeth Harp

Comments

Melanie on August 18, 2020:

Coconut oil is highly comedogenic and will clog pores for most people. How can the title of this be that it’s for acne prone skin?!

Christ on April 10, 2019:

You can use shea butter or cocoa butter any superfat will work

Joyce Rucha on April 03, 2019:

Hey,

Awesome recipe that I look forward to try. However here I can't get the aloe butter what would you recommend as a substitute.

Alyssa is a wife, mom, and coffee enthusiast who loves sharing her favorite lifestyle tips with the world.

There's something magical about stepping in the shower, looking around, and realizing you have amazing products to help you look your best. It certainly makes an ordinary time into something luxurious. You can create your own spa-like adventure at home with just a few simple tricks:

1. Invest in a Luxury Shower Head
2. Stock up on Your Favorite Products
3. Make Your Own Body Scrub
4. Choose Practical and Pretty Storage
5. Remember the Essentials
6. Save Money on Hair Removal Products

Why stop at making it a one-time event, when you can have an amazing experience every time you step into the bathroom? This guide will help you create your own bathroom oasis on a budget.

1. Invest in a Luxury Shower Head

The best way to transform your bathroom is by changing out your shower head. It's a simple fix that makes a drastic difference. When you step in the shower and find the perfect setting, it will transport you and will feel as though you're in a tropical oasis. Having options also helps when you have aching muscles. A more pressurized pulsating water stream will feel amazing on your back.

You don't have to spend a ton of money for a nice one. A decent shower head with three to five settings will cost between $20 and $25. You can find options at the hardware store, Target, Meijer, or Wal-Mart.

Maintaining Your Shower Head

To keep your shower head like new, pour a little white vinegar in a freezer bag. Put the bag over your shower head and secure with a rubber band. Let it soak for 30 minutes to overnight. After you remove the bag, turn your shower on warm, and let it run for a few minutes. Doing this once a month helps prevent mineral build up and helps preserve your shower head.

2. Stock up on Your Favorite Products

Part of the spa experience is being surrounded with your favorite products. Personal taste and skin sensitivities play a big part in what you choose. Check deals and specials in your store's weekly ad to see any sales or special promotions. Likewise, take a few moments to browse through the Sunday advertisements for coupons. Stock up on your favorites when they are on sale and stash them in the cupboard. Fill your shower with your favorite body washes, shampoos, and conditioners.

Try Fun New Products, Too

It's worth taking a few minutes to browse the hygiene aisles at your store to check for new products you might like to try.

• Suave makes a variety of affordable options that are just as good as many name brands. My husband and son love the Suave Men body washes, and the 22 oz bottle lasts them two months.
• Old Spice has an amazing line of tropical-inspired body wash that now comes in a convenient pump.
• For ladies with sensitive skin, St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter is a wonderful option.

3. Make Your Own Body Scrub

Body scrubs are luxurious and come with a hefty price tag. Making your own is easy and can save you a lot of money. My favorite is an anti-cellulite scrub. I've been making my own for years. You can customize this anyway you like, including leaving out the coffee grounds. The sugar and salt exfoliate and the olive oil leaves your skin feeling soft.

You Will Need:

• A large container (preferably with a lid. An old coffee container works perfect.)
• 2 cups used ground coffee
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup salt
• 1/3 cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients together.
2. Apply all over your body before showering.
3. Rinse well.

Enjoy your soft, glowy skin! It's even more enjoyable knowing that you saved a bunch of money by making it yourself.

4. Choose Practical and Pretty Storage

Practical and aesthetically pleasing storage is important no matter the size of your bathroom, but it becomes even more important if you have a small space. A standard shower typically has a few shelves and a bar to work with, but that is hardly enough for everything you might need.

The dollar store and Big Lots are two great places to check out for unique and fun bathroom storage ideas. You can find some pretty shelving options for inside the shower as well as for the rest of your bathroom. Wal-Mart also has some great options. If you have a bigger budget, try Target or Bath and Body Works. You might also want to shop around online for good deals.

No-Nail Hanging Items for Showers

3M Command has expanded their line of no-nail hangers to include bathroom products. I love their plastic shelf. It adheres to the shower wall using their specialty stickies and the shelf is removable for easy cleaning. It can hold four to five bigger bottles, and it has a hole that is perfect for hanging your razor.

5. Remember the Essentials

Decorations are left up to space, budget, and personal taste. I like to keep the bathroom more of a functional space that still feels luxurious. Some essentials for an amazing bathroom include:

• Plush, over-sized bath towels
• Plush bath mat to place outside of the shower
• A drain protector, especially if you have long hair
• A fun toothbrush holder
• Atomic clock
• Great lighting—this can be achieved by switching out your bulbs.
• A full length mirror
• Quality toilet paper—1 ply doesn't cut it.
• A decorative garbage bin—I purchased a bamboo one from the dollar store ten years ago. Instead of buying little trash bags, reuse plastic grocery bags from the store if you have them.
• Loofahs and a long-handled body brush
• A plant, if there is sufficient space and lighting

6. Save Money on Hair Removal Products

Men and women spend a lot of time, money, and energy removing unwanted hair.

Shaving

Shaving is a popular choice, but it can also be costly. If you use a disposable razor, you could be spending up to $50 or more on replacement razor blades alone. As a woman, I've found that nothing works better than a man's razor. It's a cleaner, more precise cut and lasts longer than the brands made specifically for women. My husband and I have been members of Dollar Shave Club since 2015, and it has saved us a lot of money.

We purchased the executive razor, which has five blades. Every month, you get a set of four new razor heads for less than $10. We save even more money by pushing out our shipments. We don't need new razor heads every month and can make our razors last for a month or longer. This saves us even more money.

We also love Dr. Carver's Shave Butter. My husband uses it to shave his face and loves how it feels on his skin. I like to use it to shave my legs and it leaves my skin feeling so soft. Since we joined, Dollar Shave Club has added more products to choose from and the value is amazing. I highly recommend looking into this as an option.

Waxing

If you like waxing, Nair is a great option for women. I do my own eyebrows at home. I have a Nair kit for eyebrows, a nice pair of scissors, and a good set of tweezers. I recommend getting the tube of wax that you heat in water with the cotton strips. You can reuse these until the wax is gone. If you are comfortable with doing it yourself, this is a great option to save money.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Alyssa

Comments

Deborah Minter from U.S, California on June 24, 2018:

Good tips! Thanks.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on June 23, 2018:

My shower is where I wake up in the morning. Beauty is not part of the equation for this old man. :)

Tori is a 28-year-old, three-time animal mom and DIYer living in Northern Atlanta with her boyfriend.

Save Money and Wax Your Own Eyebrows

To put it simply, I love to save money. There are a lot of beauty services that I used to have done by other people that I love, but sometimes you gotta go into money-saving mode. How do you keep up your beauty routine without breaking the bank? You find the right product that works for you, and you learn how to do it at home. I've started doing this with nails, hair color, and eyebrow waxing, and I can't even begin to tell you how much money I've saved in the process. Plus, each time I do these services myself, I get better and better at them.

In this tutorial, I'll walk you through what I use to shape and wax my eyebrows, and how you can do it at home with the same easily accessible and affordable products. That way, you can get killer eyebrows on your own, and save a little cash in the process!

You Will Need...

To preface, I have used the Sally Hansen wax every time I have done my eyebrows at home. I have found that the wax works great, but if you have sensitive skin there may be some redness present afterward, so it's imperative that you moisturize after you are done. Apply aloe if needed as well.

In addition, the box comes with waxing strips and thick popsicle sticks to help with your waxing. For your eyebrows, the popsicle sticks that come in the kit are a little bit too large. I find that I make way too many mistakes and often pull too much hair out when I use the large sticks. For this reason, I recommend using smaller, skinnier sticks that will allow you to be more precise.

Step 1: Warm the Wax and Prep Your Station

Before you even start doing anything, you should first warm up your wax according to the package directions.

• Don't put in the microwave for more than three minutes. The wax will be way too hot and will take a long time to cool, and you don't want it taking your skin with it when you apply it.
• The wax shouldn't be completely runny liquid, but it should turn from a solid into a thicker type liquid.

While the wax is warming up, go ahead and cut the waxing strips to sections that are just about 1/2 inch by 2 inches.

• The waxing strips in the kit come large because you can use the wax for more than just your eyebrows, but you don't need to use a big strip for your eyebrows because they are smaller!

Step 2: Map Your Brows and Find Your Arches

Don't just start to wax your eyebrows willy-nilly. Possibly one of the most important steps to doing your eyebrows at home is mapping them out so that you get the shape you want.

• For any brow mapping, I like to use a white or light-colored liquid liner because my eyebrows are dark and furry caterpillars. The lighter color helps me see where I need to stay away from when waxing. I have found when I use darker eyeliners, I end up with bushier brows because I can't see anything.

As far as the mapping goes, there are two main ways to accomplish this.

Use an Eyebrow Stencil

• Anastasia Beverly Hills sells a really neat set of eyebrow stencils if you don't trust yourself to choose your arch yourself. I've used them before and they work pretty great!
• All you have to do is hold the stencil to your brow, and trace with eyeliner, powder or brow pomade.

Manually Map Your Eyebrows

1. Take an eyeliner or brow pencil and hold it straight up and down next to one of your nostrils, with the tip un-capped and facing up. You're going to make 3 dots/lines.
2. The first dot/line is going to be at the beginning of your brow, before you move the pencil.
3. To place your second dot, keep the pencil aligned with your nose and turn it on a 45-degree angle. Where the tip points, is where your arch should be.
4. The third dot will determine where the tail of your brow should end. Turn the pencil again between a quarter and a half an inch, keeping the base aligned with your nostril. Where the tip points, is where the tail should end.
5. Next, connect the dots on both the top and bottom of your brow, as close to the hairline on both sides as possible. You will end up with the outline of an eyebrow. Make sure the lines that you draw are straight.
6. If you want to you can fill in the center of the shape you just drew. This method is good to watch a few times before you try it, so I've included a video below that can show you these steps visually, from the Youtube Channel Look Good, Feel Better featuring Benefit Cosmetics' Jared Bailey.

Step 3: Set Eyebrow Hairs and Wax

Before you start waxing, it is a good idea to set your eyebrow hairs in place with some brow gel or hair gel and a spoolie. If you're like me and your eyebrow hairs are really long, they need to be in place. If they aren't, you may accidentally catch the end of one with wax while you're applying it which may result in bald patches.

1. Set the hairs so that they are inside the lines you drew on with eyeliner.
2. After everything appears to be in place, then you can start the waxing process.
3. The wax should be still warm, but also cool enough that it won't burn your skin.
4. Choose which brow you're going to start with and which area. I recommend starting above your brow closest to your nose.
5. Take just a little bit of wax on the end of a small popsicle stick and place along the line of your arch, outside of the colored outline you drew earlier.
6. Press a waxing strip gently into the wax, being careful to press away from your eyebrow. If you press towards your eyebrow, the wax may spread too close to your eyebrow and pull hairs that you don't want pulled.
7. Once the wax has set into the strip, quickly rip the wax strip off in the opposite direction of the hair growth pattern. Since hairs grow pointing towards the outside of your face, you will want to pull the strip off towards the inside of your face. If you are waxing hair in between your eyebrows above the bridge of your nose, you will want to pull down towards your mouth.
8. Do not go over an area more than once with a wax strip. If you do, you will either come away with an angry red rash that takes a few days to go away, or you may pull skin off. The skin on your face is very delicate, so you don't want to overwork it. If the wax strip misses a hair or two, you can pull those out later with tweezers.
9. Repeat the waxing process on all sides of your brows until you have hit each edge of your outline, then proceed to the next step!

Step 4: Tweeze Any Strays and Wash Your Face

1. Before washing off your outline and brow gel, take a pair of tweezers and clean up any individual hairs that may have been missed by the wax. Be careful not to tweeze inside your outline.
2. After you have cleaned up the strays, use a gentle face wash and rinse the outline and brow gel off your face.
3. After you rinse, apply the azulene oil that comes in the kit. Azulene is derived from chamomile, which is a soothing tea leaf. The oil helps with inflammation and to calm down any redness.
4. If you don't like the azulene oil (I tend to find that it is a little too shiny), you can use aloe or some other soothing lotion or oil that will help calm the redness after waxing.
5. Once the oil has absorbed in, apply your regular facial moisturizer.
6. Once you have washed your face, move on to the final step!

Step 5: Trim the Hairs

You may not need to do this if you have naturally shorter brow hairs, but as I mentioned before, my brows resemble caterpillars. My hairs are very long, so I have to finish with a trim in order to make sure they all stay within my new brow shape!

1. Take a spoolie and brush the hairs straight up. if you have trouble getting them to stay straight up, you can use a little bit of brow gel to help.
2. Once the brow hairs are straight up, trim along the top line of your brow towards the inside of your face with brow scissors.
3. Brush the hairs back into place and repeat on the other brow.

Now you have officially waxed and shaped your own eyebrows at home! If you're getting ready to go somewhere, apply concealer and fill your brows with your favorite pomade, powder, or pencil, as I have done here. I hope you found this tutorial helpful and I look forward to bringing you more at-home tutorials in the future!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Jorge is a hairy guy with years of experience carrying a jungle of fur on his mug.

Good Reasons to Grow a Beard

Any reason to grow a beard is a good reason.

You know, I always found it funny that people even need reasons to grow a beard. If you think about it, hair just naturally grows out of your face for no reason at all (if you have the genetics for it, of course), so the question isn’t really why you should grow a beard—it’s why you would shave it off in the first place!

If you do nothing, hair grows. A beard is the default position. You have to do something to remove it, after all. And who wants to do something when you can just be lazy and do nothing?

This brings us to our first reason why growing a beard is a great idea:

1. Beards Are Convenient

If you have a beard, this means you haven’t been shaving, which is one less thing that you have to do in the morning when you wake up. Think of all the time you save by not scraping a sharp piece of metal over your skin every single day of your life.

Now, some people might say, “Actually, no! Having a beard is a pain because then you have to take care of it with beard oil and lotions and potions and—”

That’s where I would interrupt and point out an obviously false premise: that you have to “take care” of your beard. That’s ridiculous. That’s like saying you have to “take care” of the weeds that grow in your yard. They take care of themselves!

Similarly, your beard just grows. Maybe people say that you have to “take care” of it because otherwise it will be messy. Of course it’s messy! That’s what a beard is supposed to be like; it’s a forest of hair on your face. Trying to make it pretty defeats the whole purpose of a beard, which is to frighten people when you walk by them on the street.

2. Beards Make You Look Hairy and Wild, Like an Ape

I was going to say “like Tarzan,” but Tarzan didn’t have a beard because instead he had all the time in the world to shave his face. Either that, or he just couldn’t grow a beard.

If you want to add an extra flavor of the untamed wilderness to your look, then nothing gives you that ape-like flair than growing a beard. Thump your chest while you’re at it.

3. Beards Hide Blemishes on Your Face

You know what else is a waste of time? Putting on acne cream or worrying about any flaws on your face. Why not just grow a beard instead and never think about it? Beards are the best cure for vanity.

It doesn’t even have to be a specific blemish that you’re trying to hide. Let’s say that your whole face is a blemish and you consider yourself to be hard on the eyes—a beard will cover at least half of that travesty and give you a new lease on life. This is actually why Abraham Lincoln grew a beard, after a girl wrote him a letter to tell him that he should cover up his unattractive mug with whiskers.

4. Beards Strike Fear Into the Weak-Hearted

Are you antisocial and want people to cross the street to avoid you in public? Nothing says “I have fleas and know how to use them” like a scraggly, unkempt beard. People will be in awe of your power and will quickly move to get out of the way.

Either that, or they’ll assume that you stink or something.

5. Beards Make You Look Intellectual

This one seems counter-intuitive because you wouldn’t think the same thing that makes you seem like a skull-crushing badass would also make you look bookish, but it certainly can. If you think about it, it makes sense. Intellectuals are so deep in thought all the time, they don’t have the time to shave, and so it’s only natural that they’ll develop scraggly beards. Lots of great philosophers wore beards.

6. You Can Store Things in Your Beard

If your beard is sufficiently long, you can even start storing things inside of that small grove you have on your face. Actually, many times, your beard will catch stuff for your, like portions of your food that fall from your mouth while you’re eating. This way, you can save part of your lunch and have it later.

You might even be able to store less substantial things, like a tattoo. Who says that you can’t get a job if you have facial tattoos? No problem, just grow a beard over it and no one will be able to see it. If you get a tattoo of a beard, even better.

7. Beards Can Distract People From Your Head If You’re Balding

Hair is hair, right? Draw people’s eyes away from your thinning hairline and down to the thick, growing, healthy locks on your chin. If you’re able to grow enough hair on your face, you might even be able to snip some of it off and make your own toupee. It might be a little coarse, but it’s better than a shiny melon, right?

8. Beards Keep Your Face Warm in the Winter and Covered During the Summer

One of the most practical functions of a beard is of course to protect your face from the harsh environment during the colder seasons. Why stop at protecting yourself from the cold, though? A beard can also keep your face from roasting in the sun during the warmer months, too. If you’re going to the beach, that’s a handful less sunscreen that you have to use.

9. Beards Catch Flying Insects That Would Otherwise Land on Your Face

Hate getting bit in the face by mosquitoes? Give them less surface area to land on by growing a beard. They’ll get trapped in all those fibers and be unable to find their way out. At the end of the day, wiggle your beard and count all of the bugs that fall out.

10. You Save Tons of Money on Razors

Even with new innovations in the market, I still say that disposable razors are kind of a rip off. Even electric razors can be an extra expense that you have to deal with. Stay out of the rat race by avoiding razors altogether and going natural. After all, if nature intended for you to have a clean-shaven face, it would have gifted you this privilege already, wouldn’t it? Who are we to fight nature with our flimsy safety razors?

Be Natural, Be Hairy

While you’re at it, there’s no reason to groom any of your body hair at all. Just as with your beard, obviously it’s all there for a reason. You can argue with millions of years of evolution if you want, or you can go with the flow of life and throw out those silly notions of presentability. Body hair is good; it lets you retain that natural musk and overwhelm potential mates with your pheromones.

Don’t listen to people who say it’s unattractive. Obviously, they are just deluding themselves. Our ancestors were hairy all over and they seemed to have done just fine, so pay your respects to the apes that came before us and stay as furry as you can!

© 2018 Jorge Vamos

Verity is a Physics with Teaching Bsc (Hons) graduate. In her spare time, she likes to cook, read and play video games.

Background and Important Information

This toothpaste claims to regenerate tooth enamel after 3 days of continuous use.

I do not have sensitive teeth, so I cannot attest as to whether this toothpaste reduces tooth sensitivity. I do, however, get self-conscious about transparent areas on my front teeth and yellowing around my gums. I quite often suffer from bleeding gums when I brush my teeth.

I ordered this travel-sized tube as a free sample, so I did not pay anything for this toothpaste. However, I was not sent this sample in return for a review, nor am I being paid or sponsored for this review. This review is my honest opinion.

How I Used This Toothpaste

I used this toothpaste as directed on the bottle and as shown in the picture below.

• I brushed with this toothpaste twice a day, upon waking up and before going to bed, for 2 minutes each time. The amount of toothpaste I used each time is shown in the picture below.
• I brushed using a manual toothbrush, not an electric one.
• This tube was able to provide me with 8 full days of continuous use.

Results

The first 3 days of using this product, I was sceptical as I noted no changes. However, after day 4, I started noticing huge results:

• My transparent areas on my front two teeth became less transparent.
• The yellowing around my gums disappeared entirely.
• My teeth felt much more smooth.
• I noticed less plaque buildup around crowded teeth.
• My gums stopped bleeding when I brushed them.

I was very surprised to see results so suddenly. I was also surprised at how noticeable these results were, and they made me much more proud of my smile and much less self-conscious of my teeth.

Important Points to Note

The experience of brushing with this toothpaste is unusual, but not unpleasant. As shown in the picture above, this toothpaste shimmers in the light and seems to almost be glittery, but this effect does not last once the toothpaste lathers in the mouth.

Lathering

This toothpaste is very thick. Most kinds of toothpaste apply more like a cream and lather straight away. Regenerate Enamel Science Advanced Toothpaste applies like a very thick paste and takes about 5–6 seconds of hard brushing to begin to lather up.

This toothpaste also warms up as it lathers. It does not get hot or unpleasant; however, the change in temperature is noticeable with the tongue and gums. After 30 seconds of brushing, the toothpaste cools back down to the temperature of the mouth.

Taste

The minty taste is not overbearing but leaves a clean feeling (a bit like a palate cleanser) that lasts a long time.

Conclusion: An Effective Toothpaste

In conclusion, though I cannot comment on whether Regenerate Enamel Science Advanced Toothpaste makes teeth less sensitive, I can attest to the fact that after 3 days it left my teeth whiter and brighter, reduced bleeding gums and plaque buildup, and gave me a more confident smile.

I would definitely recommend this toothpaste!

My Rating

What Do You Think?

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: How can you get a sample of regenerate enamel science advanced toothpaste?

Answer: I am an email subscriber to a list of websites that search the web for freebies, samples and competitions. I got this specific sample from one of those places, sadly I cannot remember which one. I cannot even remember them all off the top of my head, and some of them are UK only.

If you do a google search, I am sure that you will be able to find websites that offer the same information for your area. I would recommend setting up an email address specifically for this, as you can end up receiving a lot of emails in one day. But it is worth it!

© 2018 VerityPrice

Comments

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on April 07, 2018:

I use Biotin products for dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimune disease. However, this toothpaste sounds like it is very good. I think writing about your personal experience is great, as I never heard of this before. Good article.

Cynthia is a social butterfly and gifting enthusiast. She loves testing new gift ideas and sharing her opinions.

Great Home Bath Bombs had me at ‘100% natural and organic ingredients—larger, better and cheaper bath bombs'. This gift set of 8 4.5 oz bombs was budget-friendly (on sale for under $15!), and I was excited to purchase them and give them a try. Bath bombs either amaze or fizz out with disappointment. There really is not much of a middle ground when it comes to these; they are either great or not so great. All bombs are not equally impressive—some disappoint on fragrance while others wow in scent and fail to fizzle.

Bath bombs have started to become a staple of my ‘me time’ after a friend gifted me some during the holidays last year. I instantly was hooked on such a simple way to pamper myself and enjoy bath time while reaping the benefits to my senses for relaxation and skin moisturizing. The few moments I take for myself during a busy week to unwind and relax are in the bath for 20 uninterrupted minutes. Well, as a mom, they are not always uninterrupted, but I still enjoy bath bombs to pamper myself. Let’s face it: They're fun, too!

The Purpose of Bath Bombs

Despite being a fun little bath additive, they also serve a purpose beyond the fizzy excitement of changing the color of your bath water. Many bath bombs serve to provide not just entertainment but double as skin care and aromatherapy items as well. Great Home Bath Bombs boasted a low-cost Lush alternative—not just an explosively fizzy skin moisturizing experience but also a romatic relaxation as the fizz would fill the air with fragrance.

So, did Great Home Bath Bombs live up to the hype, or did they fizz out?

Unboxing Bath Bombs

My first impressions came while I was unboxing my Great Home Bath Bombs. With high-end bath bombs I have used before, I could smell the fragrant aroma before unboxing. With this set, that was not the case. There weren't any aromatics wafting from the box as I opened it. Once I opened the box, I did see each one was individually heat-sealed in plastic. So, I had hopes that they just had superior plastic on them holding in some amazing aromas.

'Deluxe' Packaging?

One of the things that sold me on purchasing was that these claimed to be 'deluxe gift boxed.' I have to admit, I did not see anything special or deluxe about the packaging. Pretty standard cardboard box with a cardboard insert to separate all the bombs from bouncing. Nothing deluxe, nothing going the extra mile to sell me on this being a 'gift set' rather it is just a box of 8 bath bombs.

The set included 8 large bath bombs—some with dried flowers, some multi-colored to deliver a rainbow effect as they fizzled in the water. I still held out some hope even after the initial disappointments that these would be both moisturizing and aromatic. The ingredients include cocoa butter and Shea butter, so at least where they failed to dazzle in packaging they should delight in moisturizing ability.

Lightly Lavender

I went with the lavender for the first bath bomb to try from the Great Home set. It had been a long week and despite being exhausted, I was not sleeping well. I knew from experience that lavender is calming and often used to aid in a restful sleep.

Some Flakiness

There was a good amount flaking when I removed the wrapping off the bomb. This could be from shipping and being tossed around until they reached me, or perhaps something in the recipe for the bombs. Around two tablespoons of powder covered my bathroom floor as I opened the bath bomb to prepare for my bath. Never the less a slightly perturbed me knowing after this relaxing bath I would be sweeping and re-mopping my freshly cleaned bathroom floor, I decided to get on with my bath.

The initial fizz factor of this bath bomb was impressive, so much so that it almost made me forget to acknowledge the fact that there was little to no fragrance at all. I had been watching the wonderful fizz and dance of the bath bomb as it was spinning in front of me when I finally noticed and thought ‘What gives no smell’? As it continued to spin and fizz I noticed what appeared to be dried lavender flowers coming out with the fizz, a surprise and finally they added a very light lavender scent.

Length of Fizz

After my disappointment over the fragrance or rather lack thereof I decided to watch the clock and see how long these bath bombs fizzed. From start to finish these bath bombs dazzle with an exceptional fizz for around 30 minutes. A few of the multi-color bombs lasted much longer closer to 35-40 minutes, especially those with green in them. Not sure why the green made a difference, but for some reason those fizzed bigger, created more bubbles and lasted longer.

So, they do make up for a lackluster aroma with a nice color show and bubbles, not enough to completely redeem the lack of fragrance I found across all 8 bath bombs in the set but enough to discount the lack of smell to some degree.

Pretty Colored Water and Soft Skin

No matter how old I get there is something so fun about having colored bath water. Seems silly but little trivial things like bath bombs and colored water seem to help aid in relaxation as we take our attention to them versus the stress of the day we had.

No Stains in the Tub

Great Home Bath bombs did really impress me on the color. Mainly because a lot of bath bombs will stain the tub and leave a colored ring when you drain the water. These bath bombs do not. Great Home has the color factor down to fun and no scrubbing needed. I have had plenty of bath bombs stain the tub and take tons of elbow grease to rid the tub of a colored ring. Thoroughly impressed both my husband and I that there was no scum, or lingering color stains to these bombs.

Softening and Moisturizing

My skin felt extremely soft after exiting the bath. There is a definite high quality to the Shea and cocoa butters used in these bath bombs. Despite the lack of aromatic effects, I was very pleased with the softening and moisturizing effects on my skin after I soaked in these bath bombs. Across all colors and the various fragrances of these the skin moisturizing effect was completely on point, and never lackluster.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

The Citrus fragrances I found in the multi-colored bombs (there were 3 in this set) seemed to have the most potent aromas though they were all still mild scents. The entire gift set did really disappoint in the overall fragrance category.

Overall, I would give these Great Home Bath Bombs 3.5 stars based on a 5-star rating as follows:

• 1 star for the fizz and duration of the fizzing bubbles
• 1 star for the moisturizing effects
• 1 star for the fun colored water
• 1/2 star for packaging and presentation

The packaging was a let down based on the impression giving by Great Home in the product listing that claims these are in a deluxe gift box. Sad let down if you would be sending these as a gift to someone since they arrive in basic packaging with no 'wow' factor. Also the claims of being a low-cost Lush dupe? I think not; these really are not comparable or a lower cost substitute for Lush bombs. They just are not at the same level, in my opinion.

Improvements could be made in the packaging and fragrance categories for this set. Even with dried lavender flowers and rose petals inside the bath bombs, the fragrance leaves much to be desired. A little extra something on the packaging would go a long way considering this set runs over $20 when not on sale.

Not Worth a Second Try for Me, But Good for Fizz and Color

Bottom line—I really would not recommend these if you want a fragrance or any aromatics in your bath bombs. If you're just looking for fizzing and a great color show, then you may find it worth dropping the cash on a set. I likely won't purchase these again myself; there are tons of other bath bombs out there, and for the price I just don't feel these are worth a second try.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Cynthia Hoover

Comments

Cynthia Hoover (author) from Newton, West Virginia on April 04, 2018:

Rachel L Alba thank you for the kind words! You chose a great bath bomb for her, Lush so far remains my favorite brand of bath bombs. I can totally relate with your daughter we have a lot in common! I work from home full time as well as continue the homemaker duties as well as tend to farm chores. At the end of the day I really look forward to relaxing in the tub with a bath bomb.

Rachel L Alba from Every Day Cooking and Baking on April 04, 2018:

Hi Cynthia, It's funny that you should write an article about bath bombs because I just sent one to my granddaughter for Easter from the Lush Co., she loves them. In her twenties and being a home maker and the mother of a toddler, she is busy all day and loves to relax with her bath balms in the evening. The one I sent her was shaped like a bunny. I see them all over and know they have become very popular. Thanks for this enjoyable hub.

Blessings to you.

Lora has sampled, modified, and collected numerous DIY recipes involving activated charcoal. She shares her successes and failures.

Activated charcoal beauty treatments have been around for centuries. The natural product is known for its ability to draw out and absorb toxins. Plus, it can be mixed with many other natural ingredients to make cosmetics, lotions, and washes. I have been sampling, modifying, and collecting these DIY charcoal recipes. I will share with you my success stories and my failures, and I'll discuss the treatments I will never do.

A Tip on Stains

Be warned; charcoal can stain, and this is why I haven’t tried some of the concoctions below. Read on to find out why. But for now, if the black powder gets onto something, shake off (outside) as much of the powder as you can. Online forums recommend vacuuming out the particles; I have never bothered to drag out my vacuum and do that, but that might be a good option for you. After getting off the particles, put watered-down dish soap on the stain. Wash it by itself. If sent through the washer with other clothes, it might dirty them.

Which Charcoal Powder I Use

Before we get started, I use this Food Grade activated charcoal powder because I put it on my face, head, and in my mouth, and it comes in a bulk container. I think it is easier than breaking open the capsules, and it’s easy to measure out a few teaspoons or however much you need.

All right, let’s get to these DIY beauty treatments. I’ll begin with the most common one and the easiest one, the teeth whitener.

1. Teeth Whitener

Use a separate toothbrush, wet it, and dip it into the charcoal. Brush with it once a week, then rinse.

I keep a small jar in the bathroom and refill. It makes a mess in the sink, so be prepared to clean it after brushing.

2. Facial Mask

The secret to this is the honey. It makes it easy to smooth on. I have only made this a few times.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon activated charcoal
• 1 teaspoon bentonite clay (follow manufacturer's guidelines)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon water

Instructions

1. Combine in a glass bowl. Glass bowls are easy to clean afterward.
2. If the mixture is too thick, add a few more drops of water. Then apply to face and neck.
3. Let dry; it takes about 15 minutes. The honey keeps the mask moist. It is still working even if it is not bone dry when you remove it.
4. Wash off. It’s easiest to wash off in the shower; then it just whisks down the drain versus having to clean up the sink.

3. Spot Pimple Treatment

This one is super easy and works fast!

1. In a glass bowl, mix ½ teaspoon powder with a few drops of water. It should be paste consistency.
2. Apply to a pimple.
3. Leave on as long as you can, at least half an hour. If you leave it on overnight, be sure to put a towel over your pillow, so it does not stain.
4. Wash as normal.

4. Gel Eyeliner and Eyebrow Filler

In a small container (something from the dollar store would be fine), add 2 teaspoons melted coconut oil to 1 teaspoons charcoal. You will paint it on with a makeup brush, so if it’s not sticking or too thin, add a touch more powder.

The only thing I did not like about my creation was it was a little too much for my eyebrows. But this makes great smokey eyes!

5. Powdered Eyeshadow

Mix equal parts (50/50) arrowroot and charcoal. You can vary the shade by adding more or less charcoal. You can adjust the shade by adding more charcoal to make it darker or more arrowroot to make it lighter. It is very customizable.

A second option that doesn't allow for as much customization is just using the charcoal powder straight. It's a great alternative for sensitive eyes.

6. Body Wash

This has a small dose of the charcoal, so it will not stain the tub. Combine the following ingredients:

• 1 Cup castile soap. Castile soap is a natural unscented soap. If you don’t have it, try substituting a mild baby soap.
• 1 Tablespoon coconut oil. It is a great moisturizer but it can make the shower floor slippery, so be sure to use a shower mat.
• 2 Tablespoons activated charcoal.

The coconut oil makes it thick, so store it in a jar that you can scoop out a handful of. It will need to be mixed or shaken before every use.

7. Scalp Cleanser

I have dark hair, so I cannot say what happens if you put this on light-colored hair. It did make my scalp feel tighter. The claim is that it cleans clogged hair shafts so that new hair can grow.

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon charcoal
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups water

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Wet your hair and scalp.
3. Rub mixture into scalp.
4. Wrap hair in an old towel, and leave on for a half hour or so, then wash hair as usual.

8. Bar Soap

I was given a beautiful homemade charcoal soap bar. I did not make it, but it was terrific. Here is her recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoon charcoal powder
• ½ pound soap base
• 15–20 drops essential oil

Instructions

1. Melt the soap base down as per manufactures recommendations.
2. Add powder and oils and pour into molds.
3. Cool and enjoy.

If you want a lighter colored soap, use one teaspoon charcoal. There are many great essential oil scents: lavender, lemon, peppermint, or tea tree oil.

9. Coffee Scrub

Most people have tons of coffee grounds. That is why I tried this. It’s easy, cheap, and feels nice on the skin.

There is no real measuring involved: Just put some used coffee grounds in a bowl, add a teaspoon or so of charcoal, and put in enough honey to make it a paste. Rub on your face, elbows, and body, and wash it off in the shower.

10. Lip Scrub

This is similar to the coffee scrub, except you substitute sugar for the coffee grounds. Because it’s for your lips, you’ll only want a tablespoon of sugar.

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• A dollop of honey
• 1/8 teaspoon charcoal

Mix paste and rub on lips. Rinse off. It softens chapped lips, and it’s sweet.

11. Activated Charcoal Leg and Stomach Body Wrap

This wrap is supposed to release cellulite, which stands to reason since charcoal is known for its drawing power. It is easy to make, but I can’t say that it worked any miracle. Maybe I didn’t use enough paste or use it long enough. It might take repeated using, also.

Ingredients

You will need the following:

• flaxseed meal
• charcoal powder
• old rags or towels (I used old cotton t-shirts. Afterward, wash the cloths and save them to reuse the next time.)
• plastic wrap

Instructions

1. Combine 2 cups each charcoal and flaxseed meal. Depending on the area, you may make a larger or smaller batch. Double it or cut it in half. Make sure to use flaxseed meal. If you have flaxseed at home, you can grind up your own, or it can be bought at most grocery or nutrition stores.
2. Add water until it's smooth but not runny. It takes several cups. If the mixture gets too thin, just add a little more powder.
3. Spoon on a thin layer of paste to the cloth and wrap around your thighs or stomach.
4. Wrap with plastic wrap. You will get warm from the plastic wrap.
5. Leave it on for an hour.
6. Remove and wash off skin.

Concoctions I Have Never Tried and The Reasons Why

Black Hair Dye: I have seen many of these recipes, but I have not been brave enough to try one. I have brown hair, and I am not sure I want black hair!

Mascara: I have never tried.

Skin Lighteners: I have never tried. I am not confident the black charcoal would lighten anything other than my teeth.

Lotion: I have never wanted to try the lotions because I do not want charcoal all over my body and clothes. I prefer spot treatments.

Bath Bombs: Never tried because I was afraid they would stain the tub forever.

Cystic Acne Treatment: I am thankful I do not have it, so I have never made any treatments for it.

Deodorant: Because I think it will stain my shirts.

Peel-able Charcoal Mask: I have not bought the gelatin powder. Here are the ingredients you will need from the recipes I have been following. It does not sound too complicated. I might make in the future and add to this post. Stay tuned!

• 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin powder. Knox is a brand sold in most grocery stores.
• 1 teaspoon charcoal
• ½ teaspoon bentonite clay
• 2 tablespoon water

Question

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

I enjoy sharing DIY recipes for beauty and hygiene products, including toothpaste, bath scrubs and bath bars.

The idea behind this bar is not so much to cleanse your body (although the Himalayan salt does offer this); it is more to moisturise your skin whilst producing the wonderfully relaxing aroma of lavender as you use it. I used dried lavender in this recipe because it just looks extra pretty and helps to create a really strong scent when combined with the steam from your bath.

As you will see below, the simplicity of making this bar is just unreal considering the benefits it gives to your body and your mind. Have you got the hot water running and your candles lit? Then I guess you better start following the instructions below quickly!

Ingredients:

(Makes 2 x bars in large moulds.)

• 120 g Organic Raw Shea Butter
• 60 g Pink Himalayan Salt
• 5 g Dried Lavender
• 1 x Tsp Vitamin E Oil

Instructions:

1. Melt the shea butter in a bowl above a boiling pan of water.
2. Transfer the melted shea butter to a pouring jug.
3. Add the vitamin E oil to the pouring jug.
4. Add the Himalayan salt to the jug.
5. Remove the Himalayan salt from the jug using a spoon & divide equally between your moulds.
6. Add the dried lavender to the mould, trying your best to get equal amounts between your moulds.
7. Pour the remaining melted shea butter from your pouring jug into your moulds, once again trying your best to ensure it is evenly spread. At this stage, your Himalayan salt will remain at the bottom whilst your lavender begins to rise, this is perfectly normal.
8. Place your moulds in the fridge or a cool dry place for 2 to 3 hours until they are set.
9. Remove the Himalayan and lavender bath bars from your moulds and enjoy.

I wish I had the above essential oils on hand! That would have made my next soak in the tub even more tranquil. Who knows, I may have even lit a few candles. After all, if you are going to do it, you may as well do it right.

Every ingredient in this bath bar serves its purpose by offering many wonderful benefits for your skin as you can see below:

Ingredients and Their Benefits

• Shea Butter is rich in oleic acid and stearic acid, which are known to reduce inflammation whilst helping to protect the skin from free radicals. It is also packed full of vitamin A and vitamin E, which are great antioxidants and help to nourish your skin, reducing the signs of aging as well as stretch marks.
• Vitamin E Oil is full of antioxidants that help moisturise your skin and to retain the moisture.
• Lavender is known for its soothing properties, helping you to relax both physically and mentally.
• Himalayan Salt has strong antimicrobial properties, which help to cleanse the skin naturally whilst removing dead skin cells through exfoliation at the same time.

I told you this recipe was simple! These looks fantastic in a nice airtight container as you can see above, or they can make fantastic little gifts for your friends and family. After all, why not share the wealth!

These Himalayan and lavender bath bars should keep if it sits unused in an airtight container for approximately six months. You must store them in a cool, dry place to ensure that they stay as bars and not little puddles in your bathroom!

If you have made these bars or even made them with the additional essential oils, please let me know in the comments box below. If you have different bath bar recipes, give me a shout! I love trying new nasty-free, natural toiletries.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

John Brotherton (author) from United Kingdom on February 16, 2018:

Hi Jennifer, I know it is such a versatile salt! Please definitely let me know how you get on making and using this, I would love to see what you think of it. Salt lamps? that is new to me, I am intrigued, what are they exactly? without stating the obvious! I think a good old google search is in order.

jennifer on February 16, 2018:

Well I have been using Himalayan salt in cooking for quite a long time now but I didn't know about using it in soap. I am definitely gonna try this and will tell you the results. Recently I have also bought Himalayan salt lamps as well and I am in love with this amazing thing. These lamps are as good as the edible salt. I got them from ittefaqco.

I enjoy sharing DIY recipes for beauty and hygiene products, including toothpaste, bath scrubs and bath bars.

The reason I say that this body scrub is created predominantly for males is simply because of the almighty bergamot essential oil. Sandalwood and cedarwood aside, to me, this is the next most masculine fragrance in the essential oil world!

Now, don't get me wrong—there are plenty of wonderful body scrub ideas out there, as you will have probably noticed from this site; however, I personally got fed up with smelling like a flower blossom every time I needed to exfoliate in the shower! I felt like one of those Snapchat filters with the bunny eyes and daisy crown every morning!

I can sense that you are now screaming, "Hurry up and get to the recipe. I have one foot in the shower waiting to be rejuvenated!"

Well, here you have it:

Ingredients

• 4 x tbsp Sugar
• 1 x tsp Himalayan Salt
• 2 x tbsp Raw Organic Coconut Oil
• 2 x tsp Raw Organic Honey
• 1 x tsp Vitamin E Oil
• 10 x drops Bergamot Essential Oil

Instructions

1. In a small bowl combine the sugar and Himalayan salt.
2. Add the coconut oil and honey.
3. Mix the ingredients together until there is no loose sugar or Himalayan salt.
4. Add the vitamin E oil and bergamot essential oil, and mix again.
5. Transfer mixture to an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.

Why These Particular Ingredients?

Good question to ask! Well, individually, as you can see below, all of these ingredients have wonderful health benefits, which surely means combining them will do wonders for your skin right through to your soul.

The Benefits

• Sugar—This helps to lightly exfoliate the skin, whilst helping hydrate the skin as it is a natural humectant.
• Coconut Oil—Well, where do you start with this one? There are far too many benefits to mention! For this scrub, the coconut oil offers strong anti-microbial properties whilst at the same time moisturising your skin.
• Raw Honey—This ingredient is one of nature's anti-microbial wonders. It helps to not only cleanse your skin, but it also helps you to lock in the moisturising properties of the other ingredients, keeping your skin supple and fresh.
• Himalayan Salt—This type of salt offers a more natural approach to exfoliating your skin compared to white sugar. It also helps to detoxify and cleanse your skin due to its anti-microbial properties.
• Vitamin E Oil—This wonder oil is packed full of antioxidants waiting to soak into and moisturise your skin.
• Bergamot Essential Oil—This oil helps to relieve tension in your muscles and has also been known to assist in lifting your mood.

That is it in a nutshell. It is super easy to make, and best of all, it contains no nasty ingredients, only beneficial ones! It is simple to use as well; just mix a small amount in your hands and apply to your body in a circular motion. I know there is a way to do this so that you are improving blood flow; however, I've still yet to master the art of this.

Please be sure to let me know if you have tried this body scrub and what you thought of it in the comments box below. At current, I must admit it is my favourite. Maybe it will be yours, too?

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Brenda on January 15, 2018:

Will be trying this for myself

I'm a fan of DIY. I have tested this bath bomb recipe many times, as well as fun variations of it.

This version of how to make bath bombs doesn't use cornstarch, as it can cause infections and other possible health problems. My recipe includes instructions on how to use food colouring on the mold. I hope it inspires you to try different finishing styles and looks.

Items Needed

• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cups (1/2 and 1 Cup)
• Measuring Spoon (1 Teaspoon)
• Whisk/Spoon
• Form/Mold

Ingredients Needed

Instructions

1. Measure out 1/2 cup of Epsom salt, 1/2 cup of citric acid, and 1 cup of sodium bicarbonate.

2. Mix the dry ingredients.

3. Add 2 teaspoons of essential oil or scent.

4. Add 3 teaspoons of olive oil and water. Don't worry if it starts to fizz when adding the water. This means that there is enough citric acid and that the mixture is going well.

5. Add a few drops of food colouring with the water if you want the colour to be more even.

6. Mix well.

7. Add a few drops of food colouring. When adding the food colouring separately, it will create a speckled design.

8. Check to make sure the mixture feels like damp sand. If not, then add another teaspoon of water.

9. Put a tiny bit of olive oil in your form or mold. The form or mold can be a silicon form, an ice cube tray, or a special bath bomb mold.

10. Put some food colouring on your form and swirl it around with your finger. This will create a unique finish.

11. Pack the mixture into a mold or form.

12. Compress the mold or form.

13. Leave it to dry out for a few days or for 5 hours in the fridge.

14. Carefully remove the bath bomb.

15. Enjoy!

If you had some trouble following the instructions, then try this quick video that goes through the steps!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: I am new to making bath bombs and I am trying to get some experience before my granddaughters arrive for the weekend. We had attempted a different recipe, but that had so much oil the bombs after being wrapped in plastic, became bath blobs. We still loved them. I went to Hobby Lobby & bought the plastic bath bomb forms and made last night. Out of 5 bombs, 3 came apart after they came out of the freezer and thawed a bit. Is this a lack of moisture or what else I might do?

Answer: It is due to a lack of moisture. However, I caution you when adding more water. If they get too wet, they expand in the form and are very hard to come out. The finished bath bombs are also denser and have more air bubbles. I suggest adding probably a teaspoon of water for the bath bombs.

I hope this helps and that your granddaughters enjoy the bath bombs.

© 2017 Monique K-G

Comments

Anonymous on December 06, 2017:

Love it - great product.

Monique K-G (author) from Switzerland on December 06, 2017:

This is a really fun pin and a great recipe for bath bombs that I tested multiple times, and learnt to make different and unique variations of. I hope you enjoy it!

Rebecca loves sharing what she knows about alternative medicine, health, frugal living, fun, animals, and how to live a better life!

What Is True Soap?

True soap is very basic. It consists of oils, lye, and water. Glycerin is created during the process of making handmade soap, also called saponification. That's all that is needed to cleanse the body properly without disrupting the PH levels of the skin.

Store-bought or artificial soap has a plethora of chemicals and detergents. Glycerin is removed for its monetary value and sold to other companies to be placed in more expensive skincare products. Other chemicals are then added to replace glycerin being removed. What you end up buying is a bar of chemicals that irritate and disrupt the skin's natural balance. It's not soap at all! And all of those chemicals get passed on to your liver to process in an attempt to eliminate them from your body.

5 Benefits of Using Natural Soap

1. You Know What You Are Putting on Your Skin
2. It Can Be Cruelty-Free
3. It Contains Glycerin
4. You Support Local Businesses
5. It Has More Variety

1. You Know What You Are Putting on Your Skin!

More and more people are opting for cleaner, eco-friendly skin care options. We want to know and control what we are putting on our bodies. Skin is our largest organ, and everything that touches it gets filtered through our liver. Almost all or most of homemade soap ingredients can be read in one breath, and you'll know exactly how the product is sourced, how it is made, and what you are absorbing.

• Homemade soap consists of base oils, butters, lye, and additives that are usually from a natural source. Almost any natural additive can be added to homemade soap to treat various skin conditions and complaints while reducing unnecessary chemical intake, resulting in beautiful skin. Natural soap actually relieves irritated skin, many times improving psoriasis and eczema.
• Mass-produced soap is full of chemical cocktails and harsh detergents that usually leave the skin irritated, overly cleansed, and dry. Some chemicals are shown to cause cancer, such as triclosan.

Homemade soap is just a better choice when it comes to cleansing your skin.

More on Triclosan

• FDA Bans Triclosan And 18 Other Chemicals From Soaps : Shots - Health News : NPR
  Manufacturers didn't provide data showing the chemicals are safe and effective, the FDA says. It says there's no evidence that they do a better job at preventing illness than plain soap and water.

2. It Can Be Cruelty-Free

Since homemade soap is often crafted in small kitchens or small shops, ingredients are most often sourced and disposed of responsibly and not tested on animals. Even if you have to ask how it is made, you'll get a good honest answer.

Why would you want to support a company that mistreats and tortures innocent animals? Especially when those tests are inconclusive. Do you really need to know that soap squirted into a rabbit's eye hurts? Of course that would hurt. Tests like that teach us nothing other than to hurt another living creature. If you want to buy handmade soap that is also vegan-friendly, look for soaps that don't contain tallow.

Nothing beats natural soap that’s 100% handcrafted, made with love and care in small batches, chemical-free, cruelty-free, and vegan!

3. It Contains Glycerin

Glycerin is a compound that naturally occurs during the saponification process of making homemade soap. It is retained in the finished product. Glycerin, like honey, is a natural humectant. It helps retain moisture in the skin. There is lots of glycerin in handmade soap, which makes it naturally hydrating. Glycerin is responsible for keeping your skin plump and moist for long periods of time.

Mass-produced chemical-based soap removes glycerin during the production process and sells that off to other manufacturers to be put into skin lotions.

4. You Support Local Businesses

Thousands of people love to make soap, myself included. As with any craft or trade, we take great pride in our products and creations. We put a lot of research and work into the final recipe. When you buy soap from a local maker, you are supporting a local business—in many cases, a woman-owned local business! And it's easy to find a local maker online, at a craft fair, or at a farmer's market.

5. It Has More Variety

You will never get bored with homemade soap options. Ever. It's not possible. There are no limitations to the recipes that can be created, and most soap makers will be willing to make custom blends if asked. No matter your skin type or preferences, someone out there is making a soap with your name written all over it.

Almost anything can be added to create the perfect bar of soap for your skin:

• Clays, which help detox and remove excess oil
• Fruit juices
• Kinds of milk
• Various kinds of butter
• Herbs
• Natural micas for color
• Exfoliants, such as oats, coffee, and seeds
• Essential oils for natural fragrance
• Artificial fragrances. (Even when artificial fragrances are added, your handmade bar of soap is 5x less toxic then store brands.)

There literally is no end to what can be created, and that will be much more gentle and nourishing for your skin and health.

The Process Matters

Handmade soap can be made 3 ways:

1. Melt and Pour: This is not the type of soap you want to buy. Melt & Pour soaps are obtainable by buying prepackaged materials at craft stores or suppliers heavily laden with chemicals. Then put into molds. They are still better than store bought soaps, but not the best option.
2. Hot Process: This way of making soap utilizes heat after the saponification process has taken place.
3. Cold Process: Cold process is the slowest most time-consuming way to make soap but this is the most favored way to craft excellent bars of soap. Back when everyone had to make their own soap, this was the traditional way to make it.

My Story

I started a small home-based business in 2017 making soap. I always wanted to learn and had made many changes in my lifestyle, diet, and skincare regimen before making soap. I was fortunate enough to find an experienced brilliant soap maker that taught me how to make it.

After that, all my views on skincare changed again. I became much more aware of what I put on my skin for any reason. Animal cruelty products have been eliminated from my home. I craft my soap with almost 95% natural ingredients and add additives that can nourish the body, mind, and spirit.

This is the type of hobby that can change your life and the lives of people you care about. If you ask anyone that is involved in this craft, they will tell you how much they love it!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on October 31, 2017:

Homemade soap is a healthy one.

Rebecca (author) from USA on October 30, 2017:

That's interesting & kinda gross!! lol I've only used plant based milks.

Thanks for your comments.

peachy from Home Sweet Home on October 30, 2017:

do you know that my best friend used her excess breast milk to make soap, she is very clever indeed

Rachel is a soap-making, wine-brewing homesteader and gardener in Minnesota.

Soap vs. Detergent

Most stores that sell products designed for cleaning clothes sell laundry detergent, but laundry detergent is not soap. So what's the difference?

Detergent is similar to soap in that it is a surfactant, which is a very formal way of describing a compound that can clean grease and oil. Soap and detergent aren't exactly the same and react differently with water.

Common laundry detergents are also likely to include other chemical cleaning agents such as bleach, other compounds that enhance the cleaning action of the detergent, and other ingredients that help to remove the detergent from the clothing. Laundry detergents may also contain dyes and fragrances that some people believe to be the cause of skin irritation.

Personally, I appreciate a greater measure of simplicity than store-bought laundry detergents can offer. I like homemade, and I like all-natural. I also have sensitive skin, so I try to avoid potential problems wherever I can.

Whether you prefer laundry detergent or not, you might have noticed that it isn't exactly cheap. You'll easily spend five to eight dollars on a bottle of detergent that claims to wash 32 loads of laundry. These products probably have five to eight or more ingredients in them as well.

You can take one of your empty laundry detergent bottles and fill it with homemade laundry soap for a fraction of the cost of the same bottle. In fact, you can probably do the same amount of laundry for less than one dollar. Instead of dealing with a bunch of ingredients you're unfamiliar with, you can use just four things (or just two) that are all natural to make homemade laundry soap.

The Ingredients

This is a recipe that I adapted from several recipes for dry laundry soap, and then I tinkered with the ratios and figured out how to add water until it worked for me. There are, at most, four ingredients (that I know of) for making homemade laundry soap. In truth, only the first two ingredients are absolutely necessary.

1. Soap, about eight ounces (I prefer homemade lard bars)
2. Water, enough to fill your largest pot and then more to almost fill a five-gallon bucket
3. Borax (sodium borate, not boric acid!), 1/2 cup
4. Washing soda (sodium carbonate), 1/2 cup

You can also add a couple ounces of essential oil if you want scented laundry soap! If you don't want to make 4.5 - 5 gallons of laundry soap your first time around, feel free to halve or quarter this recipe; just keep the ratios the same. And before we go any further, let's get to know these ingredients a little bit better.

Soap is, well, soap. I would hazard a guess that most people reading this article have a pretty good idea about what soap is. It's used to clean things, because it's a surfactant, which just means that with a little friction it can lift particles of stuff off of skin and fabric. Basically, it's a salt formed when sodium hydroxide (lye) mixes with water and fat/oil.

If you want a really unique and totally natural laundry soap, you can make your own soap. I like to "superfat" my laundry soap bars at 0%, but that's just me—and if you have no idea what I meant by that, then either go check out the article I linked or move right along with this recipe we're working on, no worries!

If you're not using homemade bar soap, buy whatever bar soap you think is best. I hear that there are still several good commercially produced laundry bars to be found in most box stores, in the laundry detergent aisle. Just make sure that what you're buying is actually soap, and not just detergent in the shape of a bar of soap, which would defeat the purpose of this entire process. Lye, caustic soda, or sodium hydroxide must be listed on the bar soap ingredients in some form, or the product is not actually soap. Beware of the "Idea of Soap" parading itself around as the real thing!

What Are Sodium Borate and Sodium Carbonate?

When I decided I wanted to make my own laundry soap, I looked for recipes on the internet (like most other people probably would!). When I found 20 Mule Team Borax, a popular brand name of sodium borate, listed as one of the ingredients in just about every recipe I could find, I started to get a little nervous.

What Is Borax? Is That a Natural or Synthesized Product? And Why Do I Need It to Clean My Clothes?

Borax is just a natural mineral that has many different uses. A simple Google search will tell you all kinds of cool things about sodium borate. It acts as a water softener and a mild cleaning agent - for both of those reasons, it's a great additive to laundry soap. It is also anti-fungal, so if you have issues with your washing machine getting funky, it could be helpful there as well.

What Is Washing Soda?

Washing soda is sodium carbonate, also called soda ash or soda crystals, and is a highly alkaline compound, which means that it's great for removing stains. It's a water soluble salt, just another fancy way to say another crystallized sodium compound that can dissolve in water. Which is, again, why it's great for washing clothes. It also acts as a water softener and is especially good at lifting oil, grease, and wine from fabrics.

Washing soda, like Borax, occurs as a natural mineral and can be mined.

Instructions: How to Make Natural, Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

1. In your largest nonreactive metal pot, boil water. While you wait for the water to boil, grate all your soap with a cheese grater. The finer the soap pieces, the better.
2. When the water comes to a boil, add all the grated soap at once and stir to dissolve.
3. After all the soap pieces are dissolved in the boiling water, you can pour the mixture into a five-gallon bucket. At this point, quickly add the Borax and Washing Soda, if you are using them. Stir briskly to dissolve all the crystals.
4. Now take hot water from your faucet and carefully add to the soap mixture in the bucket. Add water until you have between four and five gallons of liquid laundry soap. Stir very well.
5. Once all ingredients look well incorporated, cover the bucket with plastic cling wrap or another tight-sealing cover, and let it stand for about twelve hours.
6. After the soap has stood for about twelve hours, remove the cover and stir. Some separation is to be expected, as we have not used any ingredients that would act as emollients or conditioners. Stir the thicker portions of the soap mixture back into the thinner portions, and then you can bottle or jar all of your soap as you see fit!

Storing and Using Your Homemade, All-Natural Liquid Laundry Soap

For storage, I like to use old laundry detergent bottles. These make stirring (shaking) and measuring soap when I do laundry a breeze. I also use large one-gallon glass jars that I came across somewhere in my travels, and pint sized glass mason jars as well. It's entirely up to you! I would recommend that what you store your soap in be able to close tightly with a lid to prevent bugs from getting in (weird, I know), and water evaporation.

All homemade soaps will be subject to a shelf life unless you used some sort of extra preservative. As a general rule, most folks say homemade soap is stable for one year, but I, needing always to be contrary, say two.

I use the same amount of homemade liquid laundry soap to do a large load of laundry as I used to use of store-bought detergent. I could probably get away with using less, but I have extremely hard water so I like to make sure I am getting the water softening benefits each time I wash clothes! Do some experimenting and see what works best for you!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2017 Rachel Koski Nielsen

Comments

Sharon Vile from Odessa, MO on October 24, 2017:

Homemade laundry soap is great stuff! I've been using it for years, but made with 100% coconut oil soap, zero superfat. I always add a fragrance, even though it doesn't survive the dryer. My daughter asked me if it was possible to purchase the Tide fragrance--and lo and behold it is!

I have tried all sorts of hair removal tools and found the best one, and I'm happy to share my review.

I was visiting a friend when I accidentally looked in her magnifying mirror. Oh my god, why didn't anyone tell me?

The Hairy Details, From One Woman to Another

I don't know where it all came from, but suddenly I had hair, and it was everywhere. If you told me that little elves had come and played a prank while I was sleeping, I might have believed you. I needed an all-purpose trimmer for all the fuzz that had collected, something that works on . . .

• eyebrows (for the extra-fine hairs a tweezer can't deal with),
• upper lip (*ahem*),
• are those sideburns?,
• could you call that a beard?!,
• toe-knuckle hair (!!!),
• touch-ups on underarms, bikini area, and legs (especially that hard-to-reach area behind the ankles),
• and any other rogue hairs that might sprout up in random places.

So I tested various solutions. I tried the highest-rated woman-scaping tools on Google and Amazon, but they were disappointing. I borrowed some, bought a few, and returned the ones I didn't like. I refined a list of features I wanted in a trimmer.

Important Features for a Trimmer

• It doesn't have to be designed for women. In my experience, items marketed to women are less sturdy, more expensive, and too pink.
• A long-lasting and easily rechargeable battery is important.
• I have both fine and coarse hair, and the trimmer should handle both easily.
• I need precision for when I'm tidying up my eyebrows.
• Strength is important for touching up those thick winter hairs on my legs.
• It should not irritate sensitive skin.
• It should cost less than $40 and shouldn't require expensive additional purchases.

#1: Philips Norelco OneBlade

This is my #1 favorite, and I stole it from my boyfriend. Philips Norelco Oneblade is an electric trimmer and shaver in one. Here are its best features:

• Rechargeable, and it holds its charge for a good length of time: 45 minutes of trimming after an 8-hour charge.
• Wet or Dry. You can shave dry or wet. Even the handle is water-resistant, so it's easy to rinse after use. I use a razor and only use the trimmer for touch-ups, but I guess I could shave with it, too.
• Adaptable. Trims, shaves, and edges hair of any length or texture.
• Gentle. Use it on your most sensitive parts: against the grain or with it, it works gently both ways.
• Navigable. The blade is small enough to get into every nook and cranny.
• Long-lasting. They say you have to replace the blade every 4 months, but I've been using mine every two weeks or so for a year now and it still works fine.
• Ergonomic. The handle is elegant, ergonomic, and not too bulky or heavy.
• Guaranteed. You can return it after 45 days if you don't like it. It has a 2-year warranty.
• Inexpensive. It costs about $34.99.

Things You Should Know Before Buying the Philips Norelco OneBlade

• It's not pink. It only comes in this neon green color. I like it, but you might not.
• I can't tell which trimmer is mine and which is my boyfriend's. I think he's used mine before, and vice-versa. I figure if we're swapping spit, it doesn't really matter, but you might feel differently.
• I don't want a really close shave, so this trimmer works great for me. If you have issues with stubble, you might try using it wet and pressing down harder.
• Although the blades do last a lot longer than the manufacturer claims, you will eventually have to shell out some more money. A two-pack of replacement blades costs about $24.
• The instructions warn not to use it on your pubic area, but I do and it works fine. I suppose if I were doing some serious woman-scaping, I'd choose a razor or some other tool.
• It came with trimming combs, which I don't use.

Trimmers I Tried But Didn't Like

• The Philips SatinShave Advanced BRL140 Women’s Electric Shaver and the Panasonic ES2207P Ladies 3-Blade Razor with Pop-Up Trimmer were both too big and bulky, and their spinning blades were difficult to work with.
• The Wahl Pure Confidence Women's Personal Trimmer & Grooming Kit's blade grabbed and pulled my hair, and there were just way too many accessories.
• Philips HP6376/10 Bikini Perfect was too expensive, and the battery was too weak.
• The Cleancut PS335 T-Shape Personal Shaver worked fine but it was not rechargeable.

Overall, I found that the trimmers marketed to women were just poorly designed. The manufacturers seemed to think I wanted cuteness and curvy lines rather than a clean, close, powerful, dependable tool.

Cost Comparison for Popular Hair Removal Methods

The Pink Tax: Why Women's Products Often Cost More by Susan Johnston Taylor in U.S. News & World Report, Feb. 17, 2016.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2017 Jo Tucker

Comments

Vida on April 18, 2020:

This is such a fantastic article, thank you! I have the same inclination around products designed 'for women' and have been looking for a review from a woman on these shaver/trimmer. Thank you!

Sharon has been making and selling soaps and personal care products for about five years.

Beldi soaps have enjoyed renewed interest and popularity in recent years. These are soft "paste" or "gel" type soaps that owe their softness to the use of potassium hydroxide (KOH) rather than sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the soapmaking process. KOH and NaOH are two different types of lye. In soapmaking, lye—a strong base—reacts with the weak fatty acids that make up fats and oils to become soap.

Many of the ancient and traditional soaps were soft soaps made with KOH because the most common source of lye in the past was from wood ashes or the ashes of other plant materials. The type of lye found in these ashes is KOH. Our American grandmothers made soap using lye made from wood ashes, usually combined with tallow or lard, and these soaps were often hardened by adding salt.

Beldi type soaps are KOH soaps believed to have originated in the Levant many centuries ago. Beldi is also sometimes called Moroccan black soap, or "Savon Noir." Like our American grandmothers' old-fashioned lye soap, this soap was made with potassium hydroxide (KOH) derived from wood ashes and is a soft paste, rather than a hard bar-type soap.

Traditional Beldi soaps were made with olive oil--the material most readily available for soap making in the Middle East. Crushed olives are often incorporated into traditional Beldi soaps. These soaps were—and still are—traditionally used in Turkish baths, or hammams, though they are now a specialty of Morroco. They are applied to damp skin, left on the skin for ten minutes or so in the steam room, and then scrubbed off with a kessa hammam, a coarse glove used for exfoliation.

Modern soap makers have embraced these soft "paste" soaps and begun making their own adaptations of them, making use of the nearly endless variety of fats and oils available to today's soap maker.

It may be a misnomer to call these modern soft soaps "Beldi." You certainly wouldn't call your grandmother's soft lye soap Beldi—even though it was a soft KOH soap unless salt was added.

But whatever you call it, the modern innovations surrounding Beldi-type soaps are exciting! So many of the fats and oils available to the modern soapmaker provide special skin benefits, nourishing and healing the skin with vitamins and other nutrients. If it is, in fact, Beldi that we are making, we're making it better!

Are Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Soaps Better for the Skin Than Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) Soaps?

Some soapmakers prefer KOH soaps—especially for facial soaps—because they seem to better for the skin.

When I began using my own version of Beldi as a facial soap, I noticed that it reduced acne and blackheads and gave my skin a finer texture, due to reducing the size of pores. Many soapmakers report similar results.

Naturally, a person can't help but wonder is there is a reason for this.

Potassium hydroxide produces a soap whose chemistry is different than sodium hydroxide soaps. The soap that results is composed of potassium salts of fatty acids. (Soap is a kind of "salt" from the standpoint of chemistry--the result of the chemical reaction between an acid and a base. Fats and oils are weak acids--composed of what are called "fatty acids.") The more common bar soaps are sodium salts of fatty acids.

Another compound that is produced by the chemical reaction between either type of lye, whether NaOH or KOH, is glycerin. The glycerin produced by KOH is chemically identical to the glycerin produced by NaOH.

Why should KOH soaps seem to perform better than NaOH soaps?

The main difference between KOH soaps and NaOH soaps is that KOH soaps have greater solubility. But even this relatively minor change in a soap changes how fats feel on the skin and how they interact. KOH soaps may have less of an ability to form micelles, resulting in a less harsh soap. Or it may be that the milder and gentler nature of KOH soaps is entirely due to their greater solubility in water. KOH soaps are less irritating to the skin than NaOH soaps.

These soap qualities are a definite plus for those with sensitive and delicate skin!

Besides, have you ever seen a photo from the 1800s of a woman with acne?

My "Beldi" Body Soap Recipe

After two or three experiments with making Beldi soap, it finally dawned on me that Beldi needs no specialized recipe. It is just a soap using KOH lye, instead of NaOH lye. Why not make Beldi using my favorite bar soap recipe?

Most soapmakers take quite a bit of pride in their personal (and often secret) recipe. It is often the result of years of research and experimentation. Some of us are more puffed up about this than others. I myself am very puffed up about my soap recipe.

I decided it should make a helluva Beldi, and I feel it did! You could try it yourself and see what you think.

The Recipe

This recipe has been fancied up with what turned out to be a nice combination of superfats. Choose others, if you prefer, using a total of 6.5 ounces of superfats.

The recipe was further fancied up by the addition of DL-Panthenol (pro-Vitamin B-5), which is super good for skin but, when using the soap, needs to be left on the skin for 5 or 10 minutes to absorb. It's also fancied up with Honeyquat--a powerful moisturizer than resists being washed off. These ingredients are optional.

Sugar is often added to soaps to enhance lather. When I was making this recipe for the first time, I was out of sugar, so I used agave nectar instead. My impression is that it is a much more effective lather-enhancer than sugar. DO NOT MIX AGAVE WITH THE LYE WATER! I did this and got a minor explosion. Add the agave to the cool-down phase.

I've divided this recipe into Oil Phase, Water Phase, Superfats to Be Added after Cook, and Cool-Down Phase, for simplicity.

OIL PHASE

• 3.5 ounces Sunflower Oil
• 2.5 ounces Avocado Oil
• 1.5 ounces Canola Oil
• 3.5 ounces Coconut Oil
• 4.5 ounces Beef Tallow
• 1.5 ounces Castor Oil
• 1 ounce Cocoa Butter
• 1 ounce Mango Butter
• 1 ounce Shea Butter
• 0.4 ounces Flaxseed Oil

WATER PHASE
If you don't have agave nectar or don't want to use it, sugar can be added here. Dissolve sugar in ACV and then add KOH.

6 ounces Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) You can substitute water for ACV.
4.6 ounces KOH

SUPERFATS TO BE ADDED AFTER COOK

• 2 ounces Grapeseed Oil
• 2 ounces Hempseed Oil
• 2 ounces Avocado Oil
• 0.5 Pomegranate Oil

COOL DOWN PHASE

• 1.7 ounces DL-Panthenol (about 3.7%) optional
• 1.7 ounces Honeyquat (about 3.7%) optional--and I'll be omitting this in the future, since it smells bad in this product
• 4 Tablespoons Agave Nectar
• 2 ounces Cedarwood Essential Oil (or your choice of fragrance)
• 1 ounce Patchouli Essential Oil (or your choice of fragrance)

Soap weight is 33 ounces, plus 6.5 ounces superfats, 3 ounces essential oils, and 3.4 ounces panthenol and honeyquat, for a total of total will be 45.9 ounces.

This recipe gives a richly emollient soap.

If water is used for the lye liquid, the soap will have a 16% superfat. If ACV is substituted for water, the superfat, according to my calculations, is 20%:

6 ounces ACV contains 5% acetic acid. 6 X .05 = 0.3.

This (I think) should effectively reduce the KOH amount to 5 - 0.3 = 4.7, which would increase the total superfat to 20%.

When this recipe is input into SoapCalc, it gives a Conditioning number of 63 and a Cleansing number of 10--super good numbers. Linoleic acid is 23%, and linolenic acid is 5%. These numbers are probably enhanced by so large a portion of oils being used as superfats.

Curing Beldi Soaps

As with bar soaps, KOH soaps benefit immensely from being left to cure, or "rot," for at least a month. As with bar soaps, Beldi may feel harsh if it is used before it is cured. Beldi soap will continue to improve in mildness and skin feel for many months.

How to Use Beldi Bath Soap

Since I myself do not have a home steam room or a membership in a gym with a sauna, I make do. I warm up the bathroom to about 85 F. Then I get wet in the shower and then get out of the shower with a long-handled bath puff and a container of hot water. I apply Beldi all over and scrub all over with the bath puff. Then I let the soap sit on my skin while I shave my legs and pumice my feet—which probably takes at least ten minutes. Since there is room for a comfortable chair in my bathroom, I do this sitting down. Then I scrub all over with the bath puff a second time and jump back in the shower to rinse off.

All this could of course be done in the tub—or in the shower, which would be made easier if you have a shower chair.

This soap can, of course, be used as you would any other soap—that is, without leaving it on the skin for 5–10 minutes. You would lose some of the benefits of the panthenol by washing off immediately, but the panthenol, though a valuable addition, is optional.

Either way, I think you'll find this a wonderful soap. No other soap leaves skin feeling so soft, moisturized, and refreshed!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: I made a Beldi soap recently and all batches I made were perfectly gelled, only for them to turn out so hard after a day in their containers. Can you help with what you think might have gone wrong please?

Answer: The Beldi recipes I have provided have very large amounts of superfat, and in some cases other liquid ingredients. Without the large amount of superfats, my recipes would also become quite hard.

I actually made a batch of facial soap a few days ago, and since I was very tired I decided to take a nap while the soap was cooking in the crock pot on low. When I woke up, the soap was quite hard. I broke it up into smaller chunks and added the superfats and EOs and stick-blended till all the lumps were smoothed out. (This took some doing.) I then added the ingredients that go into the cool-down phase: In this case, Honeyquat, Panthenol, and agave nectar. After quite a bit of diligent stick-blending over a period of several hours, I got a nice smooth Beldi soap of just the right consistency.

Have a look at the two Beldi soaps I have posted to my blog and calculate the percentage of superfats needed to get this consistency, and add that amount of superfats to your Beldi, and it should be fine--with a lot of stick-blending. Maybe also add an ounce or so of agave nectar.

One of the advantages of Beldi IMHO is that you can add some pretty impressive amounts of superfat to it.

© 2017 Sharon Vile

Comments

Sharon Vile (author) from Odessa, MO on April 16, 2018:

Shirley, I'm thinking I will try a Beldi with mostly olive oil next. I'm curious to see how it will turn out!

Sharon Vile (author) from Odessa, MO on April 16, 2018:

Beldi is hot-process soap, so you can add the lye-water (without cooling) to the melted oils. I make Beldi in a crock pot, so once the oils and lye are in the pot, I cook the soap till it reaches vaseline stage. So it doesn't matter if you start out with oils and lye water on the warm side; you're just going to heat them some more.

Shirley on April 16, 2018:

What are your temperatures for the oils and the ACV/KOH, please? I just returned from Morocco with Black Olive Soap and mitts and would like to make my own Beld.i

Sharon Vile on January 28, 2018:

Gaby, thank you for catching that! I have edited to fix this error. (I don't know how this happened!)

Gaby on January 28, 2018:

Hello, I'm wondering if there is a typo concerning the amount of oils, they don't add up to 33 ounces

Sharon Vile (author) from Odessa, MO on October 16, 2017:

I love these soaps!

Rebecca Graf from Wisconsin on October 12, 2017:

I have never heard of them. Thank you for informing me. I'll check this out more.

Sharon Vile (author) from Odessa, MO on September 28, 2017:

I hope you like it! You can use your favorite soap recipe, if you'd rather, with your preferred superfats. (You'd have to be a pretty hard-core soaper to have all the ingredients on hand!) I love the feel of this recipe, though, and I think the superfats in this version are especially nice. I love a high superfat in all soaps, but in Beldi you get the mildness and gentleness of a KOH soap as well as all the extra emollients the superfat oils provide.

Marlene Bertrand from USA on September 28, 2017:

I just started looking into making soap and this Beldi-Type Soap article caught my attention. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

Sharon Vile (author) from Odessa, MO on September 24, 2017:

Yes, this is HP. You can make a Beldi-type soap just by using KOH instead of NaOH. Now, purists will tell you it's not Beldi unless it's made with olive oil and crushed olives. My real opinion is that it is that this recipe (and many other such adaptations) are probably better than traditional Beldi. We modern soapmakers have endless possibilities in the way of oils and butters--not to mention botanicals--that could be included.

Bing on September 24, 2017:

Hi Sharon,

So this HP not CP? Also, can I use my go to recipe but just change the lye type?

Thanks

Bing

Sharon is a largely self-taught herbalist who has been growing and studying herbs and making herbal preparations for several decades.

I have two daughters with dry and sensitive skin, and from the time I first began making soaps and body care products, my focus was on formulating products that would help relieve dry, itchy skin and eczema, and help keep delicate skin look youthful and dewy.

One of my daughters runs the family farmette and is outdoors in all kinds of weather: rain or shine, heat or cold. She grows a garden, milks goats, feeds the critters, keeps bees, and works on fencing and building sheds, chicken tractors, and automatic hog feeders.

When she told me she was worried that she'd start looking like a "weathered old farm woman," I decided to develop a facial soap that would preserve her delicate complexion. To be honest, she looks a lot less like a "weathered old farm woman" than she does like proof of the words to the old folk song, "It's dabblin' in the dew makes the milk-maid fair." But I wanted to make my contribution to keeping it that way--plus maybe try to come up with something that would improve the appearance of my aging face.

What Is a Facial Soap and How Is It Different from a Body Soap?

When a person sets out to develop a formula for facial soap, the first step is to decide on the special properties it should have, as distinct from a body soap.

• Facial soaps usually have a high superfat percentage, so that the soap does not strip oils from the complexion, but replenishes them. Most soap makers feel that a facial soap should be at least 8% superfat--and that is a minimum.
• Many soap makers feel that care should be taken to use oils with a low comedogenicity--that is, oils that are believed to be less likely to clog pores and thus promote acne. There is some controversy as to whether comedogenicity is a "real thing." I am on the fence about comedogenicity. If this is a concern for you, you might want to choose a recipe that uses little or no coconut oil, which has a moderately high comedogenicity rating. (For example, you could make a traditional Beldi using 100% olive oil.) Eliminating coconut oil from a recipe is problematic, in that soaps made without coconut oil will generally lather poorly. Another ingredient commonly used in soap making that has a moderately high comedogenicty rating is cocoa butter--a butter that I consider essential in bar soaps, because it gives them "substance" and a pleasing texture. Salt is thought to be highly comedogenic. While I'm not sure I believe this, I would suggest adding sugar, rather than salt, if you'd like to include an exfoliant in scrubs and facial soaps like the one below. My recipe below is a soft, gooey soap, and you can easily mix a little sugar with it for exfoliation.
• Oils used as superfats should offer special skin benefits. It's nice if some of the more expensive "luxury" oils can be used, but it's not really necessary. Some oils contain natural antioxidants, skin-nourishing vitamins like A, E, or C, skin-healing fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid, and many other components. Some oils, such as grapeseed, are slightly astringent, making it good for acne-prone skin. Researching and choosing superfatting oils is the most interesting aspect of developing a facial soap.
• The fragrances used in facial soap should be essential oils that benefit skin. Fragrance oils should be avoided in both facial soaps and shampoos. I know from experience that fragrance oils are "double-plus-ungood" in shampoos. I've only used them a couple of times, when I first started making shampoos, and they resulted in "scalp crud." This leads me to believe that some--and perhaps all--fragrance oils are damaging to the more delicate areas of the skin, and this would include the face. Several essential oils, on the other hand, have special healing properties and/or are thought to rejuvenate skin, or benefit skin in other ways.
• Some additives are popular in facial soaps for acne. Activated charcoal is often used in soaps for acne, as is tea tree oil. Other types of additives have other benefits. Honey is sometimes added to soap, and if added to the cool-down phase, it will retain its benefits--and will also help improve lather. While some botanicals or botanical extracts offer specific skin benefits, my opinion is that the active principles are probably destroyed by contact with lye. Very finely ground dry botanical extracts of your choice could be incorporated into the recipe below, and should not result in spoilage--but if you add dry botanicals you might also want to add a preservative. Botanical extracts made with glycerin extraction could also be added in the cool-down phase, and should not result in spoilage of the product. You should probably not add water based extracts or herbal teas to this product, since you would be creating a partially diluted liquid soap (or maybe a fully diluted liquid soap, if you added enough water). Botanicals in water will create preservation problems. There are many commercially available additives that are nice additions to luxury soaps, such as Honeyquat, panthenol, or even sodium PCA. (You don't want to add sodium lactate, or you'll wind up with a bar soap.) Additive possibilities are nearly endless.
• Should a facial soap be made with oils that are very low in unsaponifiables? I am inclined to think this may be the best approach. Unsaponifiable residues of the oils in soaps might clog pores. So maybe it's is best to select oils that are low in unsaponifiables, when formulating a facial soap.
• In my opinion, a facial soap should be high in linoleic and linolenic acids--the fatty acids that are very beneficial to skin.

KOH Soaps versus NaOH Soaps

Besides my interest in making a really luxurious soap for my daughter's delicate skin, another reason I wanted to develop a facial soap was because I thought I was already onto something.

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) soaps are the typical bar soaps that are now available almost everywhere (as distinct from "detergent bars" or syndet bars that have been more commonly sold in stores for the past fifty-plus years). NaOH soaps are the real bar soaps made by artisan soap makers, which have a lovely "feel" on the skin and are much less harsh than commercial "detergent bars." Many soap makers produce bars with a high amount of "superfat"--fats and oils that are not consumed during saponification, and which remain incorporated in the bar of soap, to moisturize skin as well as clean it. My own recipe for NaOH bar soaps has about a 20% superfat, which is very high. Remember, I formulated my soaps for dry and delicate skin. This recipe still does a wonderful job of cleansing skin, and many soap makers would consider a soap with such a high percentage of superfat to be a good facial soap.

But one year before Christmas I decided to make a batch of the very ancient--but newly stylish--Beldi soaps for Christmas presents. Beldi type soaps are believed to have originated in the Levant, many centuries ago. It is also sometimes called Moroccan black soap, or "Savon Noir." Like our American grandmothers' old-fashioned lye soap, thos soap was made with potassium hydroxide (KOH) derived from wood ashes, and is a soft soap that is a paste (or in some instances a goo), rather than a hard bar-type soap. Our American grandmothers usually hardened their lye soaps to make them into bars by adding salt, and the American version was most often made with lard or tallow that was readily available for soap making.

Traditional Beldi soaps, on the other hand, were made with olive oil--the material most readily available for soap making in the Middle East. Crushed olives are often incorporated into traditional Beldi soaps. These soaps were--and still are--traditionally used in Turkish baths, or hammams, though they are now a specialty of Morroco, rather than Turkey. They are applied to damp skin, left on the skin for ten minutes or so in the steam room, and then scrubbed of with a kessel, a coarse glove used for exfoliation.

Modern soap makers have embraced these soft "paste" or "goo" soaps and begun making their own adaptations of them, making use of the nearly endless variety of fats and oils available to today's soap maker. Deveoping interesting new formulas is what modern soap makers love to do. They also often like to give their creations as gifts--which was my plan, with this first batch. So everybody got some, plus I had quite a bit left over for myself.

My first venture into making Beldi was a fairly simple recipe, superfatted with a few luxury oils and scented with a nice fragrance oil (Brambleberry's Tahitian Vanilla, to be exact). It quickly became my preferred bath soap, giving skin an unusually nice "feel."

Eventually I began using it as a facial soap--and immediately noticed a marked improvement in my skin.

Even at my advanced age, I sill get blackheads and even occasional zits. These almost completely disappeared.

Is Beldi Soap Made with Potassium Hydroxide Better for Skin than Sodium Hydroxide Bar Soaps?

Many soap makers feel that soft soaps made with potassium hydroxide are more beneficial to skin than bar soaps made with sodium hydroxide, based on their experience in using such soaps. I did quite a bit of online research to try to find out if there is any known chemistry-related reason why this should be true, but came up empty.

I've noticed a huge difference in my skin from using Beldi soap, but thought this might be because even my first version was heavily superfatted with "luxury" oils. While my bar soap recipe is also heavily superfatted, the actual superfats that remain in the soap are some unknown combination of the oils included in the recipe, since I make cold-process soap--which means you can't choose your superfats. With hot-process soaps, superfats are added after saponification is complete, which means that the superfats will consist of the oils you have specifically chosen. These may be anything from sunflower oil, to hempseed oil, to some of the more exotic oils like borage oil, perilla seed oil, argan oil, or dozens of others.

Since Beldi is a hot-process soap, I revelled in the prospect of being able to choose the superfats I would incorporate into this soap, and I chose some pretty nice ones, even for the first batch. It thought this might be the only reason why using Beldi as a facial soap improved my skin so much.

Potassium hydroxide produces a soap whose chemistry is different than sodium hydroxide soaps. The the soap that results is composed of potassium salts of fatty acids. (Soap is a kind of "salt" from the standpoint of chemistry--the result of the chemical reaction between an acid and a base. Fats and oils are weak acids--composed of what are called "fatty acids.") The more common bar soaps result in sodium salts of fatty acids.

Another compound that is produced by the chemical reaction between either type of lye, whether NaOH or KOH, is glycerin. But the glycerin produced by KOH is chemically identical to the glycerin produced by NaOH.

According to one chemist I spoke with about this, the main difference between KOH soaps and NaOH soaps is that KOH soaps have greater solubility. But even this seemingly insignificant change in solubility changes how fats feel on the skin and how they interact. KOH soaps may have less of an ability to form micelles, resulting in a less harsh soap.

Also, NaOH soaps form a much stronger crystalline structure than KOH soaps--which is why NaOH soaps form a hard bar, and KOH soaps remain relatively fluid. NaOH bars soaps are usually composed of a combination of "more soluble" soap molecules and "less soluble" soap molecules. The "more soluble" soap molecules in bar soaps are at first largely bound within the soap's crystalline structure. That is, these "more soluble" soap molecules are mostly not present during use; they are tied up in the soap's crystalline structure. After a long cure--much longer than the recommended 4-6 week curing period for bars soaps--these "more soluble" soap molecules migrate out of the soap's crystalline structure. (This happens because water evaporation eventually results in "salting out" of the "more soluble" molecules.) So, with NaOH bar soaps, it takes quite a long time for them to cure sufficiently for the "more soluble" soap molecules to migrate out of the predominant crystalline structure (and into the "liquid phase" of the soap) to become available when the soap is used. It takes quite a long cure time for bar soaps to reach this point--probably 3 months to a year. Once this migration has taken place, the soap lathers better, lasts longer, and is milder to the skin.

KOH soaps have only a very weak crystalline structure, so that the "more soluble" soap molecules are immediately available during use. In other words, with KOH soaps you get the same effects you would by using a bar soap that has cured for a year or more, or long enough for the "more soluble" soap molecules to have largely completed their migration out of the soap's predominant crystalline structure and into the soap's "liquid phase."

Hence, with KOH soaps you get the "lathers better, milder to skin" effect from the get-go. Thus the well-known property of KOH soaps to be less irritating to the skin than NaOH soaps.

So there are some reasons to believe that the chemically different Beldi KOH type soaps are "better stuff" for skin. I do know that my skin responds better to Beldi soaps. Other soapmakers have mentioned the same results and some, like me, use only Beldi-type soaps for facial soaps.

My Beldi Recipe

I chose this recipe because it lathers well, even with a very high superfat--plus this is the recipe I use to make liquid soap shampoo, so I am very familiar with working with it. It is actually Liz Ardlady's shampoo bar recipe, which you can read about here: http://lizardladysoapinfo.blogspot.com/2014/06/so-you-want-to-make-bar-of-shampoo.html

Also, part of my thinking in selecting this recipe for a facial soap is that Liz formulated it to be very low in unsaponifiables--components of fatty acids that do not turn into soap, and are thus left on the skin. It seemed to me that unsaponifiable residues in soap might clog pores.

Liz's shampoo bar recipe is also very high in linoleic and linolenic acids, which are the "super good for skin" fatty acids.

As you can see, I went a little bit nuts with this recipe, including quite an array of rather fancy skin-loving essential oils. This is partly because I had already collected a bunch of luxury oils, over time, for use in lotions. You may not want to purchase eleven different expensive oils to make this--nor do you need to, to produce a very fine soap.

Any oils of your choice can be substituted for the superfats that are added after the cook. Just use 6.5 ounces of the oil or oils of your choice. For example, you could use 6.5 ounces of grapeseed oil, 6.5 ounces sunflower oil, or 6.5 ounces of hempseed oil. Or you could use a combination of more readily available oils of your choice, totaling 6.5 ounces. You will notice when you add the superfat oils that this is a LOT of oil! You will likely feel that the amount of oil is excessive. It isn't--just looks like it. This soap will still lather well, despite the very high superfat.

It's also perfectly okay to select fragrances of your choice. I chose specific essential oils for specific skin benefits. You may prefer others. I included litsea cubeba mainly to mask slightly unpleasant scent of the carrot seed oil, though litsea too has skin benefits.

Substituting apple cider vinegar (ACV) for the water to be mixed with lye is an idiosyncrasy of mine. ACV is said to improve lather and make a milder soap. It is perfectly okay to use water for this recipe, rather than ACV. This will lower the superfat slightly, but even when made with water, the superfat in this recipe is about 22%--very high. When made with ACV, the superfat is about 30%. (This is why it looks like such a huge amount when you add the superfats. It is a huge amount!) But even with this very high superfat, this soap gets skin squeaky clean.

I've divided the recipe into four stages: Oil Phase, Water Phase, After Cook, and Cool-Down, for the sake of simplicity.

Beldi Soap Recipe

OIL PHASE

• 8 ounces Canola
• 5.3 ounces Coconut Oil
• 1.1 ounces Castor Oil
• 0.8 ounces Mango Butter
• 0.8 ounces Sunflower Oil
• 4 ounces Glycerin

WATER PHASE

• 7.2 ounces ACV (apple cider vinegar)
• 3.9 ounces KOH

SUPERFATS TO BE ADDED AFTER COOK
You can substitute any oils of your choice for these. The oils you select should add up to a total of 6.5 ounces.

• 0.5 ounce Argan Oil
• 0.5 ounce Borage Oil
• 0.5 ounce Black Cumin Seed Oil
• 0.5 ounce Perilla Seed Oil
• 1 ounce Safflower Oil
• 0.5 ounce Tamanu Oil, after cook
• 0.5 ounce Flaxseed Oil, after cook
• 0.5 ounce Meadowfoam oil
• 0.5 ounce Hempseed oil
• 0.5 ounce Sea Buckthorn Oil
• 1 ounce Pomegrante Oil

TOTAL SUPERFATS = 6.5 OUNCES

COOL-DOWN PHASE

• 1.8 ounces Honeyqaut ( = 4.9%)
• 1.8 ounces DL-Panthenol ( = 4.9%)

2 Ounces of Fragrance:

• 1 ounce Bulgarian Lavender
• 0.5 ounce Geranium
• 0.5 ounce Carrot Seed
• 0.5 ounce Patchouli
• 0.5 ounce Litsea cubeba

METHOD

• Melt the oil phase oils in a crockpot on high.
• Mix ACV and KOH and stir till dissolved. Add to oils in the crockpot and stick blend to trace.
• Leave the crock pot on high and stick blend every ten minutes or so until soap reaches the vaseline stage. (Sometimes this happens fast, and sometimes it seems to take forever--even with the same recipe. So sometimes I just turn off the crock pot, cover it with plastic wrap, and let the soap sit overnight and reheat the next day.)
• Touch your tongue to the soap to see if it zaps. It it doesn't zap (just tastes like soap) use a dab to wash your hands, to check lather. If soap lathers well and doesn't zap, it's done.
• Turn off the crock pot.
• Add the superfats in the "after cook" list. Stir and stick blend to get these well blended into the soap.
• Let the soap cool to about 100°.
• Mix DL-Panthenol and Honeyquat till DL-Panthenol is dissolved. Add this mixture to soap and stick blend till well blended into the soap.
• Add fragrance and stick blend until well blended into the soap.
• Put soap in individual containers of your choice.

This soap will be a pretty intense yellow when you first make it, because of the sea buckthorn oil, which is so highly colored it's almost like adding food coloring. By the time the soap is cured, the color will have changed to a translucent amber.

Beldi soaps also "relax" during the cure--mostly during the first few days--becoming less dense and "tacky" and more gooey.

A Note on What To Do if You Feel this Soap Is Too Gooey or Runny for Your Taste

Most of the online pictures you see of Beldi soaps show soaps that are quite a bit more dense. The thickness of the finished soap is related to the oils used, the amount of liquid used in the lye water, and the amount of oils used for superfatting.

If you would like to make this or some other Beldi recipe thicker, simply add a little beeswax to the oil phase. (I have not actually tried this, so I don't know how much.)

What I have tried successfully is adding sodium lactate (after I complete making the soap and decided to thicken it). Adding 0.5 ounces sodium lactate to the water phase seems to make the thickness about right. Or you can add this in the cool-down phase and see if this gives the thickness you like, and adjust.

Curing Beldi Soaps

As with bar soaps, KOH soaps benefit immensely from being left to cure, or "rot," for at least a month. As with bar soaps, Beldi may feel harsh if it is used before it is cured. Beldi soap will continue to improve in mildness and skin feel for many months.

How To Use Beldi Facial Soap

Easy! Apply it to your skin (avoiding the eye area) and rinse off. Because this soap contains DL-Panthenol (pro-Vitamin B-5), it's best to leave it on your skin for five or ten minutes, if you can. Panthenol needs a little time to absorb into the skin--and you definitely want those benefits! Panthenol does wonders for skin. Your skin may also benefit from allowing time for all these luxury superfatting oils to penetrate skin.

People with very sensitive skin may find it irritating to leave this soap on the skin for too long, since the essential oils could be irritating if left on too long. Test to see if your skin seems sensitive to the essential oils, or--if you have very sensitive skin--use a somewhat lower percentage of these essential oils in making this soap.

Should You Use this Recipe as a Body Soap?

While there is no reason not to use this recipe as a body soap, I doubt if the rest of the body needs this degree of pampering, and I'm not sure it would even benefit much from it. This recipe is probably some serious overkill, for a body soap.

On the other hand, Beldi body soaps are wonderful--and are my preferred soap for bathing.

To convert this recipe to a body soap, simply make the soap as per the directions and substitute 6.5 ounces of more inexpensive superfatting oils of your choice. Choices would include olive oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, almond oil, hempseed oil, and many more--or combinations of these oils. I think 6.5 ounces is a good amount, and I'm inclined to think it would be best not to use more, since lather might be diminished. As best I can calculate this with my poor math skills, the above recipe has about a 29% superfat. It should be high enough.

How To Use Beldi as a Body Soap

Since I myself do not have a home steam room or a membership in a gym with a sauna, I make do. I get wet in the shower and then get out of the shower with a long-handled bath puff and a container of hot water. I apply Beldi all over and scrub all over with the bath puff. Then I let the soap sit on my skin while I shave my legs and pumice my feet--which probably takes at least ten minutes. Since there is room for a comfortable chair in my bathroom, I do this sitting down. Then I scrub all over with the bath puff a second time and jump back in the shower to rinse off.

All this could of course be done in the tub--or in the shower if you have a shower chair.

No other soap leaves skin feeling so soft, moisturized, and refreshed!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: What can I use instead of Honeyquat to make Beldi facial soap? This isn’t easy to find locally.

Answer: I would suggest that you leave out the Honeyquat. I have decided to omit it from my recipe, because of the unpleasant odor. Honeyquat is weird that way. In some products it has no odor at all, but it really stinks up some other products. Overheating it is said to make it stink, but in this recipe, it stinks even though I add it during the cool-down phase. It must be a pH issue.

If you omit the Honeyquat, you probably will not need to adjust the amounts of other additives, but it wouldn't hurt to check.

Question: Does this recipe need a preservative?

Answer: Beli-type soaps are essentially undiluted KOH soap pastes. They are softer than bar soaps made with NaOH, but their innate softness is the chief difference. Hence, in my opinion, Beldi-type soaps do not require a preservative, any more than bar soaps do.

The benchmark rule covering the need for preservatives is whether a product contains water.

Some soapmakers might contend that water would likely be introduced into Beldi-type soaps stored in jars, during use, and this might be a valid argument for using a preservative. On the other hand, bar soaps contain some residual water content as well and also get wet during use, but do not require a preservative. The high pH of both types of soaps protects them from bacterial contamination.

KOH soap pastes are the basis for making liquid soaps, which are made by diluting KOH soap pastes sufficiently to make liquids, and many soapmakers believe that liquid soaps should include a preservative since liquid soaps have very high water content. Personally, I feel that liquid soaps offered for sale should contain a preservative. (I use 5% Liquid Germall Plus.) I do not add a preservative to my Beldi-type soaps that are offered for sale since I feel a preservative is unnecessary--but that is just my opinion.

Beldi soaps that I have made are generally stored for about a year at room temperature before they are used up, and I have never seen or smelled any sign of spoilage or rancidity.

Since many Beldi-type soaps include unusually high levels of super fats, I would say that if you are going to have an issue, it would be rancidity. There are several ways to protect against this. One is to include super fats that protect against rancidity, such as meadowfoam oil. Another is to include Vitamin E blended with the super fats. A third method is to include rosemary oleoresin blended with the super fats.

The bottom line here is that I can't give you a definite answer, and you will have to be guided by your own judgment in this matter.

Comments

Sharon Vile (author) from Odessa, MO on February 24, 2018:

I've never added clay to Beldi-type soaps, though I have sometimes used them in bar soaps. I have experimented a little with adding extracts to liquid soaps and Beldi-type soaps.

Adding a bit of clay to this particular recipe might be a good way to thicken it a little and give a more opaque appearance--besides offering the benefits of clay. I would add it during the cool-down phase, so I could keep an eye on the way it changed color and consistency. If you added the clay to the oils before the cook, you could find you added too much.

I think there is some debate about when to add botanical extracts. I don't like the idea of adding them before saponification is complete because reaction with lye likely destroys any beneficial properties. But many people would disagree with me on that. (Bottom line: No one really knows.)

I prefer to add powdered extracts after saponification is complete--so either after the cook or during the cool-down phase. (A little heat probably won't hurt them.)

I prefer to use powdered extracts, rather than liquid extracts, first, because suppliers won't reveal the full ingredients in liquid extracts and, second, because powdered extracts are more economical.

If you add powdered extracts to Beldi-type soaps or liquid soaps, you should probably include a preservative. This is because any recipe that contains water (except for bar soaps) needs a preservative.

There is also some debate as to whether liquid soaps or Beldi-type soaps require a preservative at all, even without the addition of extracts.

I am inclined to think that you COULD add extracts to Beldi-type soaps without adding a preservative--even though I know there is some residual water remaining in the product after the cook. I know this because I have weighed the soap before and after the cook, and I've seen that not much of the water cooks out. But this is also true of bar soaps, even after they have cured--and people commonly add botanicals to bar soaps without using a preservative, with no problems.

Here is my opinion, and I would stress that this is just my opinion: I would add a preservative (Liquid Germall Plus is what I use, though some prefer Suttocide) to Beldi-type soaps that include powdered extracts, just to be on the safe side--unless you are making them only for personal use.

I can't really advise you on liquid extracts, as I have never used them. If you would prefer to use liquid extracts, you should contact your supplier to find out when to add them and whether to use a preservative.

Cruz on February 23, 2018:

Have you tried to add clay? Like French Green clay? If so What was the outcome? Also what are your thoughts about extracts? When can you add clay and extracts? Thank you for your recipe.

Sharon Vile (author) from Odessa, MO on September 19, 2017:

Apple cider vinegar. Oops! I guess I need to edit that!

Donna on September 19, 2017:

Hi

Your recipe sounds so nice and I want to give it a try. I just have a question as to what ACV is?

Thank-You

Sharon Vile (author) from Odessa, MO on September 18, 2017:

Thank you! I love this stuff, especially as a facial soap!

Alison Welborn on September 18, 2017:

WOW Sharon, this sounds absolutely wonderful and I'm going to give this a try as I've hear so much about Beldi soaps. Thank you so much for posting all the great information about it.

I enjoy sharing DIY recipes for beauty and hygiene products, including toothpaste, bath scrubs and bath bars.

I get what you're thinking. "Why in the world would there be a need for homemade toothpaste? Store-bought toothpaste is perfectly fine and so minty fresh that it tingles your teeth-y bits."

At one point, I had the exact same question and answer as you. However, after hitting up the old Google and doing a bit of research, I was alarmed to find that there were so many nasty chemicals in toothpaste that should not be there!

That was the turning point for me, and so I turned into a detective and tried to hunt down recipes and ingredients that I could use to make my own toothpaste. Well, that, my friends, was more difficult than having a two-minute brush with Colgate!

There was very little information in the way of recipes and, certainly, even less in the way of recipes that did not require a harsh abrasive. So I figured I would try my own and wing it. Armed with my little knowledge, I marched into the kitchen and began making and testing. By the end of it, I looked like a mad scientist who had decided to lather himself in coconut oil and cacao powder! However, the day had not been wasted as I had found the recipe that worked for me. Because I like to spread the natural joy of creation, I have the recipe below for you.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsps. of cacao nibs (fine ground)
• 4 tbsps. of raw coconut oil
• 1 tsp of Himalayan salt

Instructions

1. Finely grind the cacao nibs in a pestle and mortar. You want a texture that is slightly more coarse than cocoa powder.
2. Then, transfer this to the bowl and enjoy the whiff of pure cacao! (It's like sticking dairy milk up your nose but less painful!)
3. Add the coconut oil to the bowl along with the Himalayan salt. Give it a good mixing. It should end up looking like chocolate paste.
4. Lastly, transfer this to a sterilised container. Voila! You have your very own toothpaste.

Conclusion

I must admit that while this toothpaste personally tastes divine (I mean, come on. A toothpaste that tastes like chocolate is every child's dream!), the toothpaste does take some getting used to in both taste and texture.

As there are no nasties or foaming agents in this recipe, the toothpaste glides across your teeth rather than foam and leaves you with a clean-tasting mouth, not a minty one. If you feel like you need a minty taste to help you adjust, then simply add one or two drops of peppermint essential oil. This is something I do not do as I prefer to use my essential oils to fragrance and clean the house.

Well, there we go! You are now one step closer to a greener, more natural, lifestyle. Not much can be better than that.

Let me know if you have any other recipes of your own or if you have tried this in the comments below.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Brenda on August 23, 2017:

Tried this it is good

Brenda on August 22, 2017:

What a good idea will have a go at making this toothpaste

John Brotherton (author) from United Kingdom on August 20, 2017:

Thank you for your kind words!, be sure to let me know if you do try it, I would love to hear what you think about it.

Tim Truzy from U.S.A. on August 20, 2017:

John, this is marvelous! I plan to try this out next week. I'm glad someone is thinking about healthy alternatives to do an essential daily task.

Tracy Lambert on August 18, 2017:

Hi John

Good idea but not for me, I have to use sensitive toothpaste so there is your next challenge.

John Brotherton (author) from United Kingdom on August 17, 2017:

You would be surprised at what chemicals are lurking in toiletries!

Thank you for your kind words :) xx

Maureen Lennon on August 17, 2017:

Hi John, wow I never gave it a thought about toothpaste and the chemicals it contains !, enjoyed reading you blog, keep up the good work and keep posting, xx

Amber is a single mom on a fixed income, a couponer, a DIYer, and an accounting student who knows the value of her pennies.

Consumerism: The mindset that we need to spend, spend, spend. You "need" body wash for the shower, you need hand soap for the sink, and you need a different bottle or package for everything.

I feel like sales are a distraction, making us "feel" like we're saving money when, in reality, we are needlessly throwing it away.

Bars of Soap

I usually make my own soap. But lately, things have been a little . . . extreme . . . so I've been slacking a little bit and buying bars of soap.

My go-to pack of soap is always either Ivory or Dove because I can usually find a coupon for them, and I'm pretty cheap like that.

I found a coupon to save $.75 off a pack of Ivory bar soap at Save.ca, my favorite coupon site.

Of course, I clipped it, and I purchased my soap at Walmart for $3.96

Then I take my pack of soap, and I make a jar of liquid hand washing soap for the bathroom. I make a bottle of body wash for the shower. And I made some dry laundry soap.

Liquid Castile Soap

Castile soap is named that because it uses olive oil, and is named after a region in Spain where olive oil is life.

It leaves my skin feeling so soft. I have used it in home made shampoo, shower jellies, and hand soap.

I'm actually doing research to learn how to make it myself. Of course. Because it is quite expensive. More on that later.

Liquid Dish Soap

I still always buy my liquid dish soap. I usually use Dawn because that's what I find coupons for. But, a little goes a long way.

Not only for washing dishes, I make my floor cleaner out of it. Can't live without it. I live in probably one of the first apartment buildings ever built in my town, pretty sure the linoleum has been there since the dawn of time.

When I first moved in, it was pretty icky looking. As time went on, my floor cleaner took away that ickiness, and now they're actually getting pretty shiny.

Vinegar

Oh, vinegar, how I love thee.

I use it for everything from laundry softener to floor cleaner to heart burn remedy. And it tastes good on french fries.

I could probably write an article on 1,000 uses for vinegar, but I'll save you from that. Just know that in a frugal girl's world, vinegar is boss.

Baking Soda, Washing Soda

I'll combine these two, because really, they're almost the same thing.

• Baking Soda: NaHCO3 (1 sodium, 1 hydrogen, 1 carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules)
• Washing Soda: Na2CO3 (2 sodium, 1 carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules).

So, washing soda is just baking soda on steroids. And it is oh so handy.

Baking soda can be used for everything. Just like the vinegar. I sometimes consider buying it in bulk.

And for more heavy-duty cleaning (laundry, bathrooms), I like the washing soda.

Borax

So borax is making headlines in slime. I know right now the safety of it is up in the air. I've never looked into this; we've never made slime.

But I love borax as a replacement for bleach. The cleaning reaction of it in water creates peroxide but without burning holes through my clothes. Also, it doesn't stink like bleach. Instead, it leaves my bathroom smelling fresh. I like fresh.

I use it in my laundry soap, floor cleaner, bathroom, and as an ant eradicator.

Murphy's Oil Soap

I love this simply for the smell.

I inherited a coffee table that's about as old as I am, and I'm scared to sand and refinish it, but I like to keep the top looking shiny and clean.

Murphy's to the rescue! Also, when I had hardwood floors, I used a tiny bit of Murphy's mixed with vinegar and water. And it was a lovely cleaner.

My Final Thoughts

I just can't get behind the "antibacterial" movement. Unless I'm dealing with open wounds or raw meat on the counter, I prefer to stay away from antibacterial.

Aren't some germs kind of good for us? I ate dirt as a child. I'm mostly ok.

Anyway, I have yet to sit down and figure out exactly how much I save per year by using just a few ingredients for everything in my home, though I might start paying more attention.

I do, however, feel like I'm sticking it to the man when I get to spend my money on more important things, like My Dear Little.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Amber is a single mom on a fixed income, a couponer, a DIYer, and an accounting student who knows the value of her pennies.

I've noticed a huge new trend in shower items: shower jellies!

Of course, being of such frugal nature, I just can't wrap my head around spending $18.00 on a 3.5 oz shower jelly. That's insane.

But, I want my six-year-old to be excited about taking a bath, and, well, I like to feel like I'm spoiling myself in the shower as well.

And thanks to Pinterest, there is literally a do-it-myself version of everything available! So I was super excited to try making my own.

The Research:

So I did my due diligence, researched a few different methods and recipes, and came up with one of my own.

I don't own any pigments, and I have stained my bathtub (and my child, but she thought blue skin was pretty awesome) using food coloring.

So, I thought, why not tea?

I've had some Guava Cadabara tea hanging out in my cupboard for...oh...a year or two anyway, I just can't warm up to the flavor.

Why not use it in my jellies? It smells good, I just don't enjoy drinking it.

The Players:

• 2 packages gelatin, unflavored and clear
• 3/4 C boiling water
• 1/2 C castile soap
• 1 tsp salt
• Molds for your mixture
• Tea leaves

The How To:

1. If you are going to use a silicon mold, I would strongly suggest placing in on a cutting board so you can easily move it to the fridge. We used muffin tins. They worked wonderfully.
2. Next we put our tea into our Pyrex mixing bowl, and poured our water over top.
3. Next we added our gelatin. Whisk it until dissolved.
4. Now it's time for the castile soap and salt. Give it a good stir!
5. If you have air bubbles, spritz with some rubbing alcohol. We did not have any rubbing alcohol, but mommy had some vodka! Sadly, it didn't work. You'll need the rubbing alcohol.
6. Toss them in the fridge until they solidify. This took about three hours for us. BAM! Shower jellies for pennies.

What Didn't Work

Our gelatin was about two years expired. I'm not sure if that's why we had weird chunks. My Dear Little wants to try again tomorrow, but this time with strawberry rhubarb tea. Why not?

I used two teaspoons of leaves for this recipe and put them in the tea ball and didn't take it out until we were ready to pour it into the molds. We did have some color and a wee bit of scent, but not enough to make much of an impression. My Dear Little kept saying it was "kind of a funny color."

When I emptied my tea ball, I found a "special" kind of soap inside the ball, all the leaves and fruits congealed to each other.

We decided next time we're still going to use the expired gelatin, because I'm too cheap to throw that out. But maybe next time we'll use an immersion blender and she can blend while I sprinkle the powder in.

Also, we think maybe we'll nix the tea ball and throw the leaves and fruits into the mixture. I am concerned about the chunks in the tub though. I have however, seen those things that you put in the drain to strain out hair and chunks for bath tubs at the dollar store. Perhaps I'll invest in one of those.

Alternatively, we could throw the leaves into a food processor and grind them up real good.

Thoughts on that?

The End Result

They do have a nice, rich lather and they leave my skin feeling pretty nice, and that's what I like in a soap.

Do not leave them anywhere too warm though, they melt down into a goopy puddle.

My Dear Little took one into the bath. It dissolved in no time. She was pretty disappointed. But I guess when you consider the ingredients, you can't really expect anything else.

And they were fun to make. We will be making them again.

The Cost Breakdown

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2017 Amber Joy

Jeremy explores many topics as he juggles his passion for writing with his career as a chemical analyst and campus manager.

Arrid Extra Extra Dry

If you're like me, you stumbled through your younger years randomly buying various deodorants, slapping 'em on, and hoping each worked better than the last, yet you were often covering your sweat-stains with jackets or other barriers.

Fear not, for no longer shall your clothes be stained with sweat—today we'll examine the several benefits of the powerful Arrid Extra Extra Dry spray deodorant. But first, let's quickly ensure you can make an informed decision about this product by having an understanding of the three basic kinds of deodorant.

Types of Deodorant

• Stick - The most traditional type, stick deodorants protect adequately against wetness but sometimes leave behind an unwanted white-yellow residue.
• Gel - Pictured above, an alternative to stick that leaves less residue and goes on in a semi-liquid state. My least favorite of the three, as it typically provides the lowest protection.
• Spray - What we're about to cover with Arrid Extra Extra Dry. Spray deodorants can be slightly irritating to the nose at first, and must be stored carefully as they're flammable, but offer an effective residue-free shield against sweat.

Pros of Arrid

Value

At the local Wal-Mart, the cans should cost about the same as other deodorant but come with a whopping 6 ounces (170 grams). Basically, you're getting more product for each dollar you spend.

Effectiveness

If you go for the Extra Extra Dry, you're getting a 24.6 percentage of aluminum chloride, the active ingredient that actually reduces underarm wetness. Compared to most deodorant's 15-20%, it's easy to see that Arrid should diminish or eliminate wetness completely. And it does. While I've yet to find an all-powerful deodorant that banishes sweat without fail, Arrid consistently provides more protection for longer periods than traditional varieties.

Variety

While I've preferred spray deodorants ever since finding them, Arrid offers Extra Extra Dry in a stick variety for those so inclined. It also has several different options for aromas, including an unscented version.

Deodorant & Antiperspirant

Here's a simple truth that a surprising number of people don't know: Deodorants don't reduce wetness. They only mask the odor with an aroma. Conversely, antiperspirants don't cover bad smells, but do reduce wetness.

If you want both effects (and hopefully that's a resounding yes), you either need to buy two products, or find one that acts as both. We're in luck here: Arrid serves each purpose.

Cons of Arrid

Smell

That's not to say that Extra Extra Dry smells bad, but were I shopping based purely on scent, this wouldn't be the brand I'd choose. The kind I see the most, Ultra Fresh, fails to please like the pleasing odors of Axe or Old Spice. It's a pretty mild scent, so one way or the other, you'll likely soon forget about it. Thankfully, other aromas, like Morning Fresh are available. While none of them ever match the pleasant smells of other deodorants, they at least offer alternatives. Still, these subtle scents may be favored by some; for everyone else, consider combining with stronger-smelling deodorant, cologne, or perfume.

Irritant

Another minuscule factor, but right after I spray Arrid on, my nose itches for a few seconds. Obviously you don't want to directly inhale spray deodorant, but even just applying it to your armpits causes some residue to reach your nostrils. Again, it's a mild effect that should vanish momentarily.

Is Arrid Worth Your Time?

Arrid falters in a few minor areas, but has it where it counts. For most consumers, the two most important qualities—value and effectiveness—are where Arrid shines. As the strongest non-prescription deodorant I've found, it blocks sweat better and lasts longer. Use in tangent with other products to obtain these benefits and smell noticeably great.

I encourage all readers to experiment with different types of deodorant and find what they prefer. Some people don't need the increased protection of Extra Extra Dry and may favor the comfort of a gel deodorant. But for any who struggle with sweat stains, I highly recommend at least trying Arrid XX. Just remember not all deodorants will automatically block sweat too; Axe spray, for example, only functions as a deodorant and not as an antiperspirant.

© 2017 Jeremy Gill

Cynthia is a gardening enthusiast. She has a green thumb and always plants a variety of items for harvesting during gardening season.

As someone who loves natural products with natural ingredients, I was excited when I found Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products. They are not a new company by any means, though I only personally recently discovered them. I decided to try out the new honeysuckle scent moisturizing body wash with essential oils. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products are free from a lot of chemicals that most people are trying to avoid these days. The company packages the products with at least 20% post-consumer plastics, reducing their impact on the environment. The product contents are biodegradable, and you are encouraged to recycle the packaging.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products are also 'Leaping Bunny Certified,' so you can rest assured that these products are cruelty-free and never tested on our furry friends. Now that I got a bit of the basics out of the way, let's move onto my personal experiences.

First Impressions

As with anything we always make first impressions based on overall looks, and any information listed on the packaging

At first glance, I noticed the label was very simple and not overly busy. It was easy to find and read all the information about the product. A nice crisp yellow label with green lettering. Nothing too flashy and very simple. I like it when products do not feel the need to add fluffer to their packaging. When I want to navigate labels for information, I do not want to spend 20 minutes just to find what I was looking for.

The bottle is 16 Fluid ounces, and at first glance, I thought that was a pretty standard size. The cap is very easy to open. Something I also look for in products because I do have issues with my hands. So being easy to open, especially in the shower, is a major plus for me. Then I decided to smell it, after all I had ordered online, so I was in the dark as to how it would actually smell.

Surprisingly the fragrance is not overwhelming at all as sometimes floral scents can be overpowering. It has a very sweet and fresh honeysuckle scent but just the right amount of fragrance. Light enough that it won't muddle any other products you may use after your shower. Yet a nice enough light fragrance that you can skip your perfume for the day if you choose.

After Use

I mentioned thinking that the product was a pretty standard size. My first impression was that perhaps the product was a bit expensive for the amount in the bottle. I originally thought that the product would likely not last as long as some other products. Surprisingly Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Honeysuckle body wash proved me totally wrong!

Even though this is a pretty standard 16-ounce bottle, I have been using it for weeks and barely put a dent in it at all, even with daily use. A little goes a long way with this body wash.

Let's talk about lather and suds for a minute. We all tend to associate the amount of lather with the amount of clean we get out of products. This body wash doesn't lather like your typical ones do. It still foams up, just not like a bubble bath explosion. There is an exceptionally clean feeling despite a lackluster lather.

I also noted that with the addition of the essential oils in this product that my skin is softer directly out of the shower. Even without using a moisturizing lotion after I get out of the shower. It is a very gentle body wash overall, and I experienced no irritation using it. Though I would suggest if you are new to essential oils to testing a small spot as with anything everyone reacts differently.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Body Wash Ingredients

Final Thoughts

If you notice in the table above, there a lot of natural ingredients to Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day body wash with none of the stuff that can be potentially drying. These ingredients can cause irritation and can be found in many products on the market. So if you ever wondered why no matter what your skin is always dry, check the ingredients of the products you are using.

Overall I am very pleased with my honeysuckle body wash. I get a nice crisp clean feeling while my skin is moisturized in the process. This is a great body wash for those who shower before bed since it contains Chamomile Extract it is naturally calming. A good choice for those needing something to help them relax before bed.

Mrs.Meyer's Clean Day Honeysuckle Body Wash runs under $8, and there are usually some discount options available on major retailer websites. I have been using it just shy of a month and only used about an inch's worth of product, even though I use it daily. In my opinion, since a little goes a long way, this is a great budget buy since it will last for a good while. I will likely not have to consider replacing it for about 3–4 months or so. If I were to guess, I would say based on what amount you (I) would use it work out to me spending just $2 a month on body wash!

A great body wash for someone who loves to feel clean and is looking for a product with more natural ingredients, a more environmentally and animal-friendly product. No complaints as I thoroughly enjoy the fragrance, the price is moderate to low when broken down by how much I am using with daily showers. I also enjoy that my skin is moisturized, and I can skip a daily lotion if I am in a hurry without worrying about my skin appearing less than soft and supple.

On a side note, my husband loves me using this. I think it is important to toss out observations from him from time to time. He has no problems pointing out products I use that he dislikes, so when he is impressed with something I feel like it is worth mentioning! He really loves the honeysuckle fragrance, and that means lots more cuddling on the couch. He loves it so much that watching chick flicks with me does not seem so much of a chore for him.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2017 Cynthia Hoover

Comments

Cynthia Hoover (author) from Newton, West Virginia on April 06, 2018:

Glenn Stok I think I will try other scents in the body wash sometime soon. I do hope the lavendar was a good choice for you and you enjoyed it as much as i did the honeysuckle!

Glenn Stok from Long Island, NY on November 10, 2017:

You convinced me to try this one. I used to use regular bar soap in the shower. But lately I’ve been trying different liquid body washes because the bar soap leaves a grime on the shower walls that is so hard to clean.

So far, many of the liquid body washes I've found contain preservatives such as sodium laurel sulfate—which is a carcinogen. I noticed that the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products do not contain those types of chemicals, so it’s definitely a safer product for long-term use.

I see they also have a lavender version, which is the one I’m going to try. I know you put a lot of emphasis on the honeysuckle, but I feel lavender is better for me. It’s just a personal choice. It’s nice that Mrs. Meyer's provides different scents to choose.

Rachel L Alba from Every Day Cooking and Baking on May 07, 2017:

It's always good to read a review before you buy something you never used before. Thank you for sharing your review, it will certainly help in my decision.

Blessings to you.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on May 07, 2017:

Cynthia, that sounds like a good product to buy and try for sure. Your review captured everything a product should be. I've heard of Mrs. Meyers over at Crowdtap, though I never got to be part of any sample missions. Thanks for sharing.

I love bath bombs and I enjoy telling people how they can make them in their home.

Making your own at-home spa products is a great way to save money and have control over the ingredients, so you don't have to worry about any allergic reactions.

Bath bombs are great pampering items that can be customized to almost any scent, shape, or add-in you can think of using. You can buy bath bombs, some as high as $7 or more each or make them for much less. These can even make great craft projects for a party or you can use them as gifts.

A Few Tips & Tricks

The bath bomb basic recipe is a great place to start and you can customize and experiment from there easily to create your own special combinations and favorites.

A few tips before you start:

• Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk to make sure it is well combined and there are no large clumps or lumps.
• A mason jar, or any other glass jar with lid, is best for mixing the wet ingredients.
• If you add the wet too fast and it starts to fizz, whisk down until the fizzing stops.
• Let these dry! It is best to let them dry overnight and do not try to dry them faster in the oven they will burst and make a huge mess (same for the microwave). Just be patient.

Almost any solid form can be used to mold these. A muffin tin, soap molds, plastic ornament balls, metal meatball maker, ice cream scoop, and even a tennis ball cut in half works. I suggest only solid forms as silicone tends to be more difficult to press the mix into firmly.

Basic Recipe

It's best if you measure these on a kitchen scale for accuracy and best results. You can also use the approximate measurements also provided if necessary.

• 8 oz baking soda (just under 1 cup)
• 4 oz Epsom salt (slightly rounded 1/2 cup scoop)
• 4 oz citric acid (1/2 cup)
• 4 oz cornstarch (3/4 cup)
• 1 tablespoon water
• 3 tablespoons oil (almond, avocado, grapeseed, hempseed, fractionated coconut or olive)
• 20-30 drops essential oils
• 3-5 drops food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together. Combine the wet ingredients in mason jar and shake well to combine completely. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry as you mix. When combined the mix should be able to retain some shape when pinched. If necessary you can add a little more oil to get it to this consistency.
2. If the mix is too wet or too dry you will not have a solid and fizzy bath bomb and as you experiment with different oils, mix-ins and additions the amount you need may need to be altered slightly to achieve this consistency.
3. I recommend using the basic recipe with some inexpensive oils for your first try so you can get the perfect texture without wasting expensive oils.

Now that you have the basics and you have been creating some new favorites for yourself, here are a few variations to keep you inspired!

1. Vanilla Lemon Bath Bomb

This will make 1 large ornament, 60mm bath bomb.

Ingredients:

• 0.33 cup baking soda
• 1/6 cup citric acid
• 1/6 cup cornstarch
• 1 tablespoons Epsom salts
• 1/4 teaspoon water
• 0.67 teaspoons coconut oil, melted
• 5 drops lemon essential oil
• 1/6 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoons dried lemon zest

Instructions:

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl, and whisk thoroughly to mix. Set aside.
2. Mix the wet ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the wet ingredients: coconut oil (melted), water, essential oil, and vanilla. Stir to mix.
3. Whisk the wet ingredients from step two into the dry ingredients bowl from step one. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
4. Working quickly, test the mixture to see if it will lightly stick together. If it does not hold, spritz very lightly with water and mix. If you add too much water the ingredients will fizz and you will have to start over!
5. Once the mixture lightly holds together, press it into the mold. Pack it tightly, but do not overfill the mold. If you are using round plastic ornament molds, press each half of the mold together until it closes.
6. Let dry for at least six to eight hours or overnight. Unmold and allow to air dry until dry to the touch.

2. Coconut Mango Tropical Bath Bomb

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• ½ cup citric acid
• ¼ cup dried coconut milk powder
• 1 tsp aloe vera 200× powder
• 1–4 tbsp. mango powder
• 15 drops lime essential oil
• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 1 tbsp oil (olive, grapeseed or your choice)
• Mister with witch hazel

Instructions:

1. Blend the ingredients in the first group in a large bowl and whisk together to combine or mix in food processor.
2. Blend the Epsom salts and oil together transfer to the bowl with the dry mixture, stir to combine.
3. Now it’s time to add just enough liquid to get the mixture to hold together in a mold. Not too much, though, or it will react in the bowl/mold, not in your bath. That’s why we’re using a mister (it’ll spread the moisture better) and witch hazel.
4. So, spread your mixture out in your bowl so you have as much surface area as possible and spritz. Then stir thoroughly. And repeat until you can grab a clump of the mixture and it will hold together after a firm squeeze.
5. Once the mixture will hold together, pack it into a mold of your choice. Let dry overnight.

3. Oatmeal Coconut Bath Bomb

Ingredients:

• Crushed oatmeal – 1/4 cup. You can also crush the oatmeal by hand and control how fine you want your crushed oatmeal.
• Baking soda – 1 cup.
• Citric acid – 1/2 cup.
• Sea salt – 1/2 cup.
• Coconut oil – 2 tablespoons

Instructions:

1. Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to blend well and remove any clumps.
2. Melt to coconut oil in the microwave. Should only take about 15 seconds. Stir to blend and then mix into the dry ingredients.
3. Mold the completed mixture and let dry overnight!

4. Matcha Green Tea Bath Bomb

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking sod
• ½ cup citric acid
• ¼ cup Epsom salts
• ¼ cup corn starch
• 2 tablespoons of matcha, (powdered green tea, baking grade is fine)
• 2 tbs almond oil (or oil of your choice)
• 2 tsp water
• ¼ tsp essential oil of choice

Instructions:

1. Mix the citric acid, Epsom salts, corn starch, and matcha powder together.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix very well.
3. Line a standard size muffin/cupcake tin with paper liners.
4. Scoop the bath bomb mixture into the liners, when near the tops, press down with the back of a spoon or your fingers. Then add remaining mixture and press down again. Try to pat the tops relatively smooth.
5. Put the bath bombs aside to dry for at least several hours.
6. Once dry they will be firm. Gently shake or blow off any crumbs.

5. Achy Muscle Soothing Bath Bomb

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/3 cup Epsom salts
• 2 Tablespoon cream of tartar
• 2 Tablespoon coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon peppermint oil
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped (optional)

Instructions:

1. Start by combining dry ingredients and chopped rosemary in a medium glass bowl. Whisk to blend. Whisk in coconut oil and peppermint oil.
2. Using a spray bottle, spritz water to moisten mixture as you stir. The mixture should be crumbly, but hold when squeezed.
3. Scoop mixture into bomb molds and press firmly. Allow to set and dry at least 4 hours in a cool, dry area.

6. Golden Touch of Midas Bath Bomb

This is a little more labor intensive but is really a great effect when you are done. This will leave the bather with a golden sparkle on the skin and might have some in the tub but it washes out easily. This will make six to eight bath bombs per recipe.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups baking soda
• 1½ cups citric acid
• 7 mL champagne fragrance oil
• 7 mL orange peel cybilla fragrance oil
• 1.5 oz. meadowfoam oil
• 1 oz. cocoa butter
• Coral Orange La Bomb Colorant
• King’s Gold Mica
• 99% isopropyl alcohol
• Optional: witch hazel

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, add the baking soda and citric acid. Use your hands to break up any clumps.
2. Pour the meadowfoam oil and cocoa butter in a heat safe container and place in the microwave using 30-second bursts until the cocoa butter is completely melted. Add the mixture of melted oils into the dry ingredients. You may want to allow the oils to cool slightly, as you need they could burn your hands during the next step if they are extremely hot.
3. Use your hands to work the oils throughout the dry ingredients. Continue to mix until the oils and dry ingredients are completely combined. This may take several minutes.
4. Add about 10-12 drops of the Coral Orange La Bomb into the mixture and begin working the colorant throughout the mixture. This can take a few minutes, just keep mixing! Add more colorant if you’d like the color to be a little more saturated.
5. Add the Champagne Fragrance Oil and Orange Peel Cybilla Fragrance Oil to the mixture and use your hands to thoroughly mix in the fragrances.
6. Check the moisture of your fizzies. When squeezed with your hand, the mixture should hold its shape. If not, add spritzes of witch hazel into each container, mixing between every couple sprays, until the texture is similar to wet sand. Try to work as quickly as possible!
7. Fill two halves of the bath bomb molds, gently pressing the bath bomb mixture in each to make sure they hold their shape. Mound a little extra mixture in the center of one half of the mold. Match the eyelets of each side up, and press together. To avoid any imperfections on your bath bomb, make sure to direct pressure to the edges of the mold rather than the center.
8. Allow the bath fizzies to harden in the mold for 24 hours. Then, carefully remove them from the package. Fill a bowl with a few tablespoons of King’s Gold Mica.
9. Spritz the outside of one bath bomb lightly with 99% isopropyl alcohol.
10. Gently roll the bath bomb into the King’s Gold Mica until completely covered. Use your fingers to carefully “brush” off any excess mica.
11. Repeat this process for each bath bomb, until all are covered. Carefully place the bath bombs back into the mold and package until ready to use. Before placing them back into the package, you may want to wash the mold for a clean look. Just make sure they are completely dry before placing the fizzy back into the mold!

7. Vaporub Shower Bomb

When you need to clear the sinuses or fight a cold, this is a pampering way to feel better fast by placing on the drain in the shower and inhale while showering.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of baking soda
• 1 cup of cornstarch
• 5 tablespoons of Vicks Vaporub or you can use baby Vicks for a less intense smell.
• 2-3 teaspoons water

Instructions:

1. Add the corn starch and Vicks in a bowl and mix to combine. (Note: This will be strong smelling so maybe wear gloves if your sensitive or open a window.)
2. Add the baking soda and mix well.
3. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the mixture holds together well.
4. Mold the mixture into your ice cube tray or other molding tray.
5. Freeze until solid, 2-3 hours. Store in a jar until needed.

Bath bombs are a great way to pamper yourself, create wonderful gifts or even help you get a better nights sleep with soothing oils for relaxation. This can be a fun and healthy way to help sooth babies and kids in their bath time for a better sleep or for clearing stuffy noses.

The combinations of colors, scents, moisturizers and mix-in are endless and can be shape into almost anything or any theme you desire for holidays, parties or events. Let you creativity run wild and have a pampered bath time!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Shushanik likes trying different DIY products and sharing the best of her findings with her readers.

Sometimes you want to treat yourself and spend a whole day in a spa salon. But why spend money if you can arrange a spa at home? Here are 5 amazing recipes for bath bombs that you can easily make right in your own kitchen.

1. Candy Cane Bath Bomb

Ingredients

• 0.5 cups olive oil, (or coconut, almond, grapeseed oil)
• 0.5 cups corn starch
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup citric acid
• peppermint essential oil
• molds, (muffin, cupcake molds or plastic egg holders)

How to Make

Mix all the dry ingredients. Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to a 0.5 cup of olive oil. Stir everything to a wet sand consistency. Use a spoon to fill the molds with the mixture, making sure that the mixture stays put in molds. This amount is enough for about 20 small molds. Leave the molds to dry for 24 hours.

After the bombs are ready, you can pack them in gift bags. But do not forget to leave a couple of pieces for yourself.

2. Lemon Bath Bomb

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 0.5 cup citric acid
• 0.5 cup corn starch
• 3 tablespoons sea salt
• ¾ teaspoon water
• 2 teaspoons almond oil
• lemon essential oil
• yellow food coloring
• decor (dried petals, flowers, etc.)
• plastic ball-shaped molds

How to Make

In a large bowl, mix baking soda, citric acid, corn starch, and sea salt. In a small bowl, mix almond oil, water, coloring, and lemon essential oil. Pour the liquid mixture into a dry one. Whisk everything until the ingredients are blended smoothly. Try to roll the mixture into a ball. If the mixture does not hold shape, sprinkle it lightly with water spray. Do not add too much water, otherwise the mixture will fizz and will not crystallize properly.

If the consistency is right, spoon the mixture into molds. Leave to dry for at least 2 hours. Then remove from the molds and leave to dry on a towel for a night.

3. Rose Milk Bath Bomb

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 0.5 cup citric acid
• 0.5 cup corn starch
• 0.25 cup milk powder
• 3 teaspoons sea salt
• dried rose petals
• 1 teaspoon water
• 3–4 teaspoons almond oil
• 15-20 drops rose oil
• plastic or silicone molds.

How to Make

In a large bowl, mix baking soda, citric acid, milk powder, and sea salt. Add rose petals previously cut into small pieces. In a small bowl, mix water, almond oil and rose essential oil. Mix together the dry and the wet ingredients. Try to squeeze a handful of mixture in your hand. If the mixture holds its shape, it can be placed in the molds. If the mixture crumbles once you open your fist, lightly spray it 1–2 times with water until you can form a shape. Do not overspray, or the mixture will begin to fizz and will not crystallize properly.

Use plastic or silicon molds to form the bath bombs. It is best to half fill the molds first, then press each one so that the mixture fills the form well. Then fill the remaining half. This recipe makes 2-3 medium bath bombs or 8 small bath bombs.

4. De-stress Bath Bomb

Ingredients

• 2 cups baking soda
• 2 teaspoons dried chamomile leaves or chamomile tea
• 1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers
• 0.5 cup water (more if necessary)
• essential oil (cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lemon, lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus)

How to Make

Using a spice mortar or a coffee grinder, grind lavender and chamomile leaves into fine crumbs. Mix with baking soda. Add enough water to make a paste, not a liquid mass. Distribute into small molds.

Heat the oven to 430 F (220 C) and bake the molds for 15–20 minutes. Take them out of the oven and leave to cool down. Once the bombs are completely cooled, leave them to dry. Pour essential oils over the bombs and leave until completely absorbed. Put them into small jars and store until use.

Alternatively, you can mix lavender, chamomile, and baking soda. Mix with 10–20 drops of each essential oil. Do not add water. Place into an airtight jar. Before use, put 1–2 teaspoons of the mixture under a hot water jet in the bath.

5. Green Tea Bath Bombs

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 0.5 cup corn starch
• 0.5 cupcitric acid
• 0.25 cups sea salt
• 2 tablespoons green tea (ground)
• 2 tablespoons almond oil
• 2 tablespoons water
• 0.25 tablespoon olive oilor any other oil

How to Make

Mix citric acid, cornstarch, and pre-ground green tea. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Put a thin paper towel in the muffin or cupcake molds. Distribute the mixture into the molds using your finger or a spoon, and add more mixture if necessary. Smooth the tops of the bombs. Leave the bombs to dry for several hours. Once dried, they will harden. Carefully shake or blow off the crumbs.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2017 Shushanik

I've used my fair share of different bath products over the years, learn from my experiences.

This article describes the advantages and disadvantages of 7 bath products and explains who would be interested in using them and how these products fair.

1. Essential Oils

Who Will Find It Interesting: Those who want a nice fragrance at a cheap price.

Advantages:

• Low price
• A huge number of different smells
• Ability to mix your own fragrance
• Aromatherapy at home

Disadvantages:

• Some may be allergic to certain oils.
• Skin redness is possible due to the high concentration of citrus oils.

Essential oils are one of the simplest and most inexpensive ingredients you can use to infuse your bath. Most oils cost less than 5 dollars per bottle. Because the oil is so concentrated, it doesn't take much to create a strong aroma, so one bottle will last you quite a while. On average, up to 10 drops of oil are used per bath.

Essential Oil Fragrance Combinations

2. Bath Oil Balls

Who Will Find It Interesting: Lovers of everything bright and unusual. Children will also like these.

Advantages:

• Easy to use

• Original

• Suitable for children's games

• Only requires a small dosage

Disadvantage:

• If the dosage is exceeded, the residual oil will be difficult to wash off.

Oil balls are a dissolving, gelatinous shell filled with oil for a bath. It is important not to add too many balls, 2–3 balls will be enough.

These fun little things are most popular in ball form, but you can find them shaped like hearts, stars, or cute animals that children will definitely like. The balls are soft and pleasant to touch and smell wonderful, but they will shoot oil if you squeeze them too hard.

3. Bath Bombs

Who Will Find It Interesting: Those who want to soften their skin or love fizzy and colorful things.

Advantages:

• Variety of colors
• A huge number of different flavors
• Interesting effects (you can add sparkles, create a foaming effect, or make unique designs)
• Can be made at home

Disadvantages:

• Expensive
• Not always available for sale

Bath bombs are effervescent and can be colored with sparkles or have different flavors. The main ingredients are soda, citric acid, dyes, and oils. The soda and citric acid create fizzing when introduced to water. This effect helps to soften the skin.

Bath bombs should be stored in their original packaging or in a dry place because moisture might trigger the reaction of soda and acid. This will cause the bombs to lose their effervescent effect.

4. Herbs

Who Will Find It Interesting: Fans of pure and natural ingredients and those who like to experiment.

Advantages:

• Low sale price
• You can collect or plant them yourself
• Good for your health
• Smells good

Disadvantages:

• Might block your bathtub drain
• Must be prepared before use
• May provoke an allergy

An herbal bath is a great way to spend a relaxing evening. Many herbs have healing and beneficial cosmetic effects. If you use dried herbs directly in the bathtub, they could prick you and also block the drain. You can avoid this problem by brewing the herbs in a saucepan for 15–20 minutes and then adding the concentrated decoction to the bath. However, if you don't want to brew the herbs beforehand, you should wrap them in gauze before dumping them in your bathwater.

Herbs Used for Bathing

5. Bath Salts

Who Will Find It Interesting: Those who love drawing a traditional bath and displaying beautiful bottles of salts on their shelves.

Advantages:

• Can be easily found
• Big selection of different fragrances
• Low price

Disadvantages:

• Must use a lot for product to work
• Some may be allergic to the essential oils in the salts

You will be surprised by the large number of colors and flavors that are available. Coniferous, orange, lavender, and mint are some of the more common bath salt fragrances, but you can also find some unique aromas such as seaweed, blackberries, and green tea.

You can also mix different salts together to create your own custom smell. For example, a combination of orange, cinnamon, and juniper will be very comforting in winter, while mint, green tea, and osmanthus will be refreshing for the summer months. You can pour the mixture into a beautiful vessel to display in your bathroom.

6. Bath Oil in Solid Form

Who Will Find It Interesting: Those who want to moisten the skin.

Advantages:

• Simple to use
• High concentration of oil
• Can be used as a massager
• A great variety of fragrances

Disadvantages:

• Expensive
• Not always available for sale

These solid bath oils are not very popular and are hard to find, but they are very interesting. One of the main advantages is that they are solid. This allows you to break off a little piece for each use.

Do not drop the oil directly into the water. Instead, massage it onto your body while you are sitting in the bath.

7. Bath Pearls

Who Will Find It Interesting: Those who love to try new things.

Advantages:

• Looks beautiful
• A large number of different colors and smells
• Beneficial for the skin
• A little goes a long way
• Cooling effect

Disadvantage: Possible allergic reaction

Bath pearls are not common. They are mainly used for cosmetic purposes because they are said to improve your skin's appearance. They are made of carbamide (a natural moisturizer) and also contain pearl extracts which some people claim can help regenerate skin cells. Some pearls also contain caffeine and plant extracts, which helps to restore the structure of the skin. These pearls can be used to massage your body, and are especially suitable for people with delicate skin.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2017 Dmitrii Vrabie