by Lokemun Magar

Created on: July 19, 2007

Soap gems are, as the name goes, soap in the form of crude unpolished gem shapes, or sophisticated gold-stained or multi-colored shapes with irregular flat surfaces. They may come fragranced or unscented, in a single hue or various colors. Soap gems that are produced by professional soap makers may be difficult to distinguish from the real rock hard gem they resemble a real gem in look and texture!

Glycerin which is manufactured in the soap-making process helps the soap maintain the glossy look. Besides that, it is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water in the air, and as a humectant, it will help your skin hold the moisture that makes it baby-smooth. For a shinier soap, add more glycerin to your melted soap.

For the various colors, use soap dyes. If you cannot afford mica to make the gold streaks, use gold and yellow-brown eye shadow that you do not want. They work equally well and once cleansed' by the soap making process, will not stain your skin when used.

Try this for kids' projects and even your own homemade soap for gifts.

First, purchase your ingredients from a renown store which can be online or in the neighborhood. Melt and pour method means less mess and faster soap products and is easy to manage for a kid below twelve years old.

Get a good soap base, essential or fragrance oils, labels and frills to do up your gem. You might even consider having a good necklace or any other jewelry bit to imbed in your gem soap. Have color dyes ormica and rubbing alcohol on hand too. Stearic acid will help harden your soap.

Prepare the hardware and tools you will need, such as an old pot or deep based pan to melt the soap base, stirrers such as metal spoons or baker's whisk and gem mold. Have a kitchen weighing scale - if you want a more professional job done and do not want to waste anything. What I would do is to have on standby smaller molds and soap stamps to use up the extra melted soap base.

Follow th basic steps below:
1. Cut up the soap base. Weigh the soap base if you want to.
2. Melt the soap base in the microwave or double boil over a slow flame. If you have kids with you, get them (and yourself too) to wear goggles as you may never know when the melted soap may start to splutter.
3. Add the essential or fragrance or oil.
4. Add color to the melted soap using the dye, mica or crushed eye shadow.
5. Stir the Melted Soap. Add stearic acid if you want a harder soap than the soap base you are using.
6. Add glycerin for a smoother and glossier texture.
7. Pour the Soap into the mold. Use the leftovers for your kids to experiment and use the soap stamps - they would love it!
8. Put in your jewelry bits or label.
9. Remove the soap from the molds once it has hardened sufficiently. Let it dry.
10. Wrap the soap up and label, if you haven't done it yet.

A gem soap is just a gem soap if left at this stage. If it is meant as a gift, insert meaningful writings on the labels or the decorative frills such as "You are the gem in my life". Have fun!

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