MegaSoap is made from scratch with skin-loving plant and vegetable oils and butters, lye (a solution of sodium hydroxide and water), and ingredients that you can pronounce. This is not your grandma's lye soap and will not burn you! There is no lye left in the final product. It is a necessary ingredient in the soapmaking process and is fully consumed in the reaction that forms soap, a process calle
d Saponification. For more on the reaction, check out http://www.realhandmadesoap.com/folders/FAQ/what_is_saponification.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponification. I make both all-natural soaps that contain botanical colorants and high-quality essential oils, as well as my regular soaps that contain skin-safe fragrance oils and cosmetic colorants (the same stuff that's in makeup). All vegan and in case you were wondering, yes, gluten-free. My soap is very mild and great for all skin types. Good handmade soap shouldn't dry you out or make you itch. It should clean and leave your skin alone, allowing it to be in its own best condition. MegaSoap bars are big and chunky, each weighing a minimum of 5.5 oz. I recommend cutting them in half for smaller hands or for use at the sink. A little about me: My soap making journey began 4 years ago. I decided actually on a whim to see what it would take to make soap from scratch. I wish it was a more exciting story! I've always loved buying and using handmade soap. I woke up one morning a couple of years ago after using a bar that was a gift from a friend, and thought if others could do it, maybe I could, too? After several months of researching online, taking notes, and trying to formulate what I thought was a good beginner's recipe, I ordered supplies and gave it a try. Three attempts later (whew) I had made real soap in my kitchen! I've been hooked ever since. Soapmaking combines chemistry and art and produces a useful commodity that everyone needs and loves. It cleans you, makes you smell good, and makes you feel good. Once you try my soap you'll never go back to the commercial stuff.
