 |
| watermelon soap by Stella Crown |
Summer is here at last and while I was eating a yummy watermelon, I said to myself that it’s about time to make a watermelon soap, which I see very often on the internet the last few years. So, I made it with the melt & pour method and instead of watermelon seeds, I used poppy seeds which are one the best exfoliants. I must mention that I am very happy because I tried for the first time the swirling method and I can tell that the effort was succeeded and the soapy watermelon peel looks more playful.
Special guests: the watermelon seed oil, a delicate oil with over 60% fatty acids, it acts against aging and it’s full of anti-oxidants, it stimulates elasticity and contributes drastically to the reconstruction of the damaged tissues. It opens the pores, it is absorbed directly and it’s suitable for all skin types, while coconut, except of the basic ingredient in pina colada, it is also a necessary substance in soaps and cosmetics, suitable for all skin types. Coconut oil nourishes and moisturizes in depth and is useful for soap bases without SLS, because it softens and makes them more frothy, while maintains the skin moisture in normal levels so that we do not feel the skin "pulls" us after bathing.
*the soap is consisted of 4 layers
recipe for ~ 1.2 kg | 42.3 oz
1st layer:
700 g | 24.7 oz crystal soap base SLS free
10 g | 0.35 oz watermelon seed oil
10 g | 0.35 oz coconut oil
10 g | 0.35 oz crystal white sugar
16 g | 0.35 oz watermelon flavouring (for cosmetics & soaps)
poppy seeds
red food colouring
2nd layer:
200 g | 7.1 oz white soap base SLS free
3 g | 0.11 oz watermelon seed oil
3 g | 0.11 oz coconut oil
3 g | 0.11 oz crystal white sugar
5 g | 0.18 oz watermelon flavouring (for cosmetics & soaps)
3rd layer:
150 g | 5.3 oz white soap base SLS free
2 g | 0.07 oz watermelon seed oil
2 g | 0.07 oz coconut oil
2 g | 0.07 oz crystal white sugar
3 g | 0.11 oz watermelon flavouring (for cosmetics & soaps)
green food colouring
4th layer:
same with the 3rd layer, the only thing that we will change is the intensity of the green colour
tools:
saucepan
silicon mold
cutting surface
knife
beaker 1000 mL
beaker 500 mL
beaker 250 mL
beaker 250 mL
electronic thermometer
digital scale
measuring spoons
whisker
fork
cling film (plastic wrap)
spray bottle with alcohol or alcoholic lotion
chop stick
- Before start making the soap, sterilise tools, containers and work surface while wear gloves.
- Weigh the soap bases, cut into cubes and leave them aside.
- In the 1000 ml beaker, pour the soap base and the sugar which are mentioned in the paragraph for the 1st layer. Place it in a bain marie; I use a saucepan as a double boiler, this method is called bain marie. So, fill a heat- proof saucepan 1/3 full of water and place it to low temperature. Place the beaker into the saucepan and let the soap to melt.
- Once you see that the soap is melted, remove it from the heat and mix with the whisker to make sure that the base is well melted.
- At 60 degrees Celsius, add the oils and the colour, drop to drop until you find in red the intensity you want. Stir again and when the soap reaches at 55 degrees Celsius, add the flavouring. Just before the soap starts to harden, add the poppy seeds and mix thoroughly. Be careful at this point, not to thicken the soap enough because you won’ t be able to pour it in the mold.
- Spray with alcohol in the soap to remove any bubbles and spray also into the silicon mold. Pour the soap in the mold. Spray again. Place the soap in the refrigerator.
- When the soap is hardened, remove it from the refrigerator and grave it the soap surface with a fork. This is to make sure that the layers will stick together.
- We repeat the same process for the 2nd layer. Spray with alcohol into the beaker of the 2nd layer in order to remove the bubbles and sprinkle on the soap waiting in the mold. When the 2nd soap base reaches at 55 degrees Celsius, pour it gently, into the cold and spray again with alcohol.
- Place the soap in the refrigerator. When it cools down, grave it again with a fork and prepare the third layer.
- For the 3rd layer follow the same procedure as the first one, again. Give a light green to this soap base. Spray with alcohol on the melted soap and into the cold. Pour the 3rd layer and leave the cold aside because now we will follow the swirling method.
- Repeat the same procedure for the 4th layer, as the 1st one. Give a much darker shade to the green colour of this layer.
- After the 3rd layer has cooled (not completely), grave it with a chop stick as you prefer. You will notice that the soap is thickened on the surface; under the surface is still liquid, so don’ t be afraid if it overflows. Spray with alcohol into the mold, pour the last layer (when the temperature is at 55 degrees Celsius). Spray it with alcohol again and wait for it to cool down.
- Once the soap cools down, take it out of the mold and wrap it in cling film (plastic wrap) in order to maintain its scent and moisture.
- Sugar is soap bases SLS free, helps the soap to be more frothy.
- Enjoy!
Stella Crown©
