Throwback Thursday ~ Coconut oil liquid soap

I bet most of you don't remember Lulu Blossom made coconut oil liquid soap.For today's Throwback Thursday we are offering a DIY recipe that you can make at home.

To start off you will need:

• 4oz coconut oil 
• 10.7oz Potassium Hydroxide for lye/water solution
• 32.2oz distilled water
• 4tbs 5% Borax solution per 8oz of soap paste (neutralizes)
• 4-5oz distilled water per 8oz soap paste for dillution
• Stainless steel pot or crock pot
• Rubber gloves
• Protective eye wear
• Ball jar or glass container 
• Utensils (spoons, spatulas) only to be used for mixing lye. Lye is poisonous and should be mixed outside or in an area with plenty ventilation. Never cook with utensils or pots that have come in contact with lye. 

Directions:

1. Measure and melt coconut oil.
2. Mix lye and water for solution.
3. Mix oil and lye together.
4. Bring to trace (which is when it starts to thicken.)
5. Cook the paste either in crock pot or stove top- usually about 4 hours.
6. Add 4tbs of 5% borax to 4-5oz distilled water and mix per 8oz of paste.
7. Once the solution is mixed and neutralized, pour into glass container and cap lids until the solution starts to become viscous and cloudy. It will go from clear to the color in the picture above. Once this has happened feel free to add any fragrance or essential oil for a scent. However, we find that unscented is pleasant as well. 

***When mixing water lye solution, make sure to wear protective eye wear like goggles or glasses and mix lye slowly as it becomes very hot quickly.***

10 Coconut Oil Uses

The coconut, also referred to as the Tree of Life is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibers. It is cheap and can be found at your local grocery store. 

1. Running late and suffering from summer beachy flyways? Dab a bit of coconut oil to tame frizzy hair. 

2. Remove eye makeup by applying coconut oil on cotton with a dab of water, and remove those panda eyes.

3. Ever have tummy troubles? Well, coconut oil improves digestion. A spoonful a day can help improve thyroid function and boost your immune system.

4. Having summer hair mishaps?  There's a way you can prevent from further damage. According to this article, coconut oil reduces the protein loss for damaged/undamaged hair when used as a pre-wash and post-wash grooming product.

5. If you made plans to slim down this summer you can use coconut oil as a a replacement for butter and oil, when cooking or baking to achieve your beach body. 

6. Reduce your dogs halitosis(bad breath), by pouring coconut oil into their food. 

7. Feel self-conscious about razor burns or clogged pores? It's summer and you shouldn't have to feel insecure about showing off your body. Use coconut oil as an aftershave to avoid this while also achieving healthier, attractive skin. 

8. Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that causes acne-like bumps. You can help fade it by using coconut oil. 

9. Use as hair conditioner by rubbing coconut oil in hair and leave for 30 mins. 

10. Recent studies have shown that fluoride in toothpaste and water are detrimental to your health. With that being said, there is a lot of buzz about the new phenomenon known as oil pulling. Coconut oil pulling is used to cleanse the mouth, remove plaque, and whiten teeth. Use coconut oil pulling to improve oral health.