Encountered a fail batch? Well, you are not alone! Here are 15 common problems encountered by soap makers and how you can avoid them. Lumps in soap batter Does not matter if you are a beginner or experienced soap maker - your soaps can go wrong sometimes but here are some tips to help minimize the risk. Preparation is key when coming for our DIY Workshop. - Always prepare your recipe and try to stick to it. (I know some soap makers tend to change last minute and things can get chaotic after that. Yikes! Yup, it happens.) - Ensure that you have enough ingredients - you can always purchase ingredients from us so that you don't have to carry too much stuff to the studio. Our ingredients are charged per gram - so you only buy what you use! - Buy ingredients from a reliable seller to get a good and consistent result. (We always undergo a quality check of our ingredients before releasing it to our soap makers.) - Set-up your work-table so that you have all the items you need within reach (So that you will not miss any ingredients such as essential oils for your scents - happens many many times with our DIY participants.) Now that you are well-prepped, here are some of the common problems for you to know and try to avoid: 1. My soap has orange or brown spots and smells weird. Orange or brown spots Reason: These are called DOS (Dreaded Orange Spots) which indicates the oils in the soap are going rancid. Always check your expiry and use fresh oils from reliable vendors and use distilled water instead of tap water (to avoid any contaminant). 2. There is a white layer (soda ash) forming at the top of my soap. White Layer Reason: Due to exposure to air or uneven temperature. Cover your soap to minimize the amount of air that the raw soap is exposed to or lightly spritz the top with some rubbing alcohol before covering to cure. If soda ash is formed, don't worry, you can remove the soda ash by carefully using a garment steamer to steam the ash from the soap. 3. There is a ring on the outer layer of my soap. Ring on outer layer Reason: The soap has a partial gel. This means it started getting hot and going through gel phase but cooled down too quickly before it could reach the edges. Once you cut your soaps, allow your bars to cure further. This is a temporary look and it should even out eventually. 4. My soap is crumbly and hard. Hard Soap Bar Reason: Salt bars and hard oils such as coconut can set up pretty quickly and if you cut them too late, it can become crumbly. Incorrect amount of lye and too much sodium lactate may also cause your soap to crumble. 5. My soap feels soft or slimy Soft Soap Reason: You may need an extra curing time if you are using a high amount of soft oils in your recipe (eg: 100% olive oil needs a longer time to cure). Always ensure that your bar is fully cured before using - otherwise, your soap will turn mushy and melt pretty fast. The longer you cure, your bar will be harder and long-lasting. Use a well-draining soap dish to hold your soap and avoid direct sunlight when using it. 6. Water droplets are pooling at the top of my soap. Water droplets Reason: The natural glycerin in soap making can attract moisture due to humidity. Some fragrance oil may separate from the soap batter and form beads or pools of fragrant oil on the surface of the soap. Also, check ingredients used are from reliable sources. If water droplets are formed, wipe it off and allow it to cure further. 7. My soap batter turns lumpy or has rice-like pieces in it. Lumpy batter Reasons: This is primarily a problem with fragrance oils. Some just don’t do well when combined with raw soap and will bind with bits of hard fats in the recipe causing those lumps. Also, ensure that your utensils are cleaned thoroughly and free from any batter from previous soap sessions. 8. My soap is too hard. Hard and dry soap Reason: You have a high percentage of hard oils such as coconut and the use of salt in your recipe can make the soap harden pretty fast. Keep a lookout and check your soap especially during the first 6 hours. If they are starting to harden, cut your soaps quickly before it gets too hard to cut. 9. My soap trace very fast. Thick trace Reason: Using a high percentage of hard oil and adding in essential oils earlier can sometimes cause your soap batter to trace faster. Ensure that the temperature of the oil and lye solution is level accordingly before mixing and do short pulses from the stick blender. Add essential oils last as it can potentially accelerate tracing. 10. My soap has uneven colour streaks or spots in it. Colour streak Reason: This is usually caused by colorants that are not completely mixed into the soap batter. Blend your colourants well with oil to avoid lumps before adding it in your soap batter. 11. Crack on top of the soap. Crack top Reason: The soap is getting too hot or overheating. This can happen if you add in additives that can heat up such as beer, milk, sugar/honey. Some spice essential or fragrance oil can cause overheating too. If you have insulated or covered your mold, remove the layers and allow it to cure in a cooler room. Too much clay or oxides can also cause a chalky texture that cracks on the top. 12. Soap batter thickens up quickly when making design soaps. Thick batter Reason: Timing is key when doing designs. This could be caused by high temperature and/or over-mixing. Mix your oil and lye solution at a lower temperature if you have a high percentage of hard oils and do short pulses when using the stick blender for mixing. 13. My lye solution turned a really weird and unexpected colour. Lye solution Reason: If you are using other liquid aside from water eg: milk or herbal teas, this may happen. The temperature of the lye solution will go up when lye is mixed with liquid. To prevent the lye from burning your liquid, put an ice tray under your liquid before mixing the lye. Alternatively, freeze your liquid unto cubes before making the lye solution. See video: Lavender Coconut Milk Soap. 14. Soap has grooves or drag lines. Reason: This usually happens when you are cutting your soap bars with decorations. Ensure that you position the top soap decorations well so that it will not get stuck on your wire-cut and get dragged down when cutting. 15. Soap has weird lines or veins. Lines in soap Reason: These are called glycerin rivers, which are formed when the natural glycerin in soap overheats and forms clear veins of marbling throughout the soap. Sometimes the veins may have a translucent white look to them. Glycerin rivers are more visible with pigments, especially Titanium Dioxide. They aren’t harmful and don't affect the quality of soap. Sometimes it even lends an interesting appearance to soap. Work at lower temperatures and reduce the amount of water in your recipe. We hope the above will help you prevent (or minimise) any mishaps during your soap making experiments. If you encounter any soap with problems but are not listed above, just approach our instructors on duty to advise you further. Coming for DIY Workshop? See our Soap Recipes for Inspiration via our Sugar & Spice Singapore YouTube channel.

Just one month after a heated discussion with my eldest son about the “moral high ground” between humanity and nature, last Sunday my second son discussed with me over the dinner about a new documentary on Netflix recommended by his brother - Our Planet. We were talking about how fast our mother nature can recover her balance and abundance of life when she is left undisturbed by human exploitation – a discovery highlighted in almost every episode of the series. What made me ponder after the conversation with my second son, was indeed how fast my two sons have grown up on the outside and changed on the inside… They are 20 and 18 years old this year. The seas around Pulau Misool, Indonesia, were fully protected since 2007, and the recovery has been miraculous. Today there are 25 times more sharks than a decade ago. As a mother of two sons, I have seen them being influenced heavily by friends, media, Internet, etc. over the years. I did not notice or think about, however, the influence of my motherhood nature on them. They have never explicitly expressed if they support my plan to set up and run Sugar & Spice to encourage more people to opt for handmade products and DIY life style, which are good for the nature and health altogether. I had been assuming that they might not understand as it is not a big and lucrative business, but more like a small little drive to promote some public awareness. Now I guess my sons understand that, although they are still very obsessive over gaming and super lazy to study - most likely influenced by their sloppy mom as well. LOL Turtles that used to be hunted around Pulau Misool now return to the local reefs. Influence of a mother on her child may not be apparent, but it is always there. Such invisible presence has unimaginably huge impact on the life of a child. A mother's good influences will eventually create a caring and kind husband, father, or wife, mother in the future. Bad influences of her will do just the opposite. That's the power of motherhood. Our Planet filmed the world’s largest new born - an 1-month old baby blue whale, 8 metres long and 6 tons heavy, swims intimately beside her mother. In the modern world where more and more mothers are facing tough challenges between family and career, the very subtle and gentle motherhood nature of all mothers keeps driving them to nurture and guide their young ones unconditionally, naturally and organically. This is just like our mother nature. She nourishes and embraces all of the lives on earth, without any discrimination. That's why we call her Mother Nature. Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! You are the most important person on earth in shaping a harmonious and peaceful world! Did Mother's Day slip your mind (again)? 14 Last Minute DIY Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day Our Planet is a series of documentary from Netflix created in collaboration with Silverback Productions and WWF. The series features jaw-dropping nature stories, grounded in the best science, and highlighting the most pressing challenges facing mother nature today.

Written by Li Ting Just a few years back, bar soaps were seen as ‘old-fashioned’ vs. the use of bottled shower gels that’s more convenient and often luxuriously fragrant. However, in the last 2 years, more have embraced bar soaps, especially handcrafted cold process bars as an easy zero waste swap (think no more single use bottles to reuse, recycle or trash), a more sustainable way for their showers and even cleaning of the house. Sugar & Spice was set up in 2016 as one of the first soap making workshops in Singapore, amidst a backdrop where soap making was viewed as a craft, but not so much as a sustainable choice. So, it’s really heartening as we welcome more soap makers into our studio to see a common trait of mindfulness in the community – mindfulness towards health, wellness, not just for the body but our mind and our environment. Our vision for Sugar & Spice is for it to be a warm and welcoming space for new friends to pick up soap making as a hobby, for our students to have a few hours of mental break from the stresses of the ‘outside world’ and continue to hone their skills, and for local soap brand owners to craft their soap bars for their small businesses. Co-working is a term we see more often these days, yet this was the same concept we were set up to do 5 years ago. The studio stocks all necessary equipment and ingredients for soap making, meaning any soap maker can literally walk in empty handed and craft a loaf of soap six days a week. There’s no need for soap makers to buy their own equipment if they don’t wish to, and there’s no need for them to purchase and hold ingredients on their own. Full set of equipment are available for soap makers to use so they do not need to buy their own set The joy of many soap makers is to try out different oil formulations, additives and design, however many of the more ‘exotic’ ingredients can be difficult or expensive to source as an individual, and much of these precious ingredients can go to waste if they are not used up by their best before dates. Hence the studio looks to make available not just the basic ingredients, but more special ones since it makes more sense for us to buy in bulk to be shared amongst many soap makers. Soap makers simply use what they need and only pay for the quantity they use #soapingredientbulkstoreondemand A common space for soap makers A cozy common space for soap makers with hassle-free and self-serve purchased on demand concept. 1. We buy in bulk for you! No more lugging of heavy bottles of oils for your DIY! Soap makers can practically walk empty handed into the studio and craft their own soaps since all base ingredients for soaps like carrier oils, butters, distilled water, essential oils and additives such as herbs, spices, clays, botanicals can be self-served and purchased on demand. 2. We prepare it for you! Cold Botanical infusion takes 6 weeks or more. In the studio, we infuse Calendula and Chamomile so soap makers can just use what they need without each having to infuse their own oils. 3. Get Creative! Soap design tools such as soap scrapers are free for soap makers to try out the technique. 4. Ready stamps! A variety of soap stamps are available for soap makers to add a personal touch to their soaps after cutting. 5. Photo Booth For soap makers to take nice pictures of their beautiful soap creations, we set up a lightbox in the studio that all students have access to. The studio itself is also decorated with a warm homely feel where every corner is Instagram worthy so soap makers do not have to travel far to snap beautiful pictures of their soaps. Over the years, our focus on sustainability hasn’t changed. In addition to expanding our equipment and ingredients to allow soap makers to try new soap making recipes and techniques, we continually find ways to reduce waste and advocate sustainability practices during our daily operations. Our Ongoing Sustainable Efforts For soap making, we use distilled water instead of tap water since it is pH neutral and doesn’t contain minerals. In the past, we used to end up with cartons of empty 1.5L distilled water bottles. We have since switched to distilled water in reusable gallons that we hand pump for use. Tougher on the instructors but it’s a win for the planet! 6. Refillable Distilled water Refillable Distilled water to avoid single use bottles. Washing up is a big part of soap making, which is no mean feat since soap making involves lots of oil. As part of the soap making curriculum, we teach the right ways to wash up to reduce time, effort and water in the process. One of the most important tips in washing oily equipment (this applies to your dishes at home too) is to wipe out all the batter before cleaning. In our effort to reduce the use of single use paper towels, we’ve swapped to using dish cloths to wipe the batter and using our kitchen dish bars to wash the cloth afterwards. We didn’t count but we’ve since saved rolls and rolls of paper towels and probably a few trees. 7. Reusable towels Instead of using paper towel, we now request for soap makers to use dish cloth to wipe out soap batter to reduce time, effort, water and paper towel during the wash up process. As safety and hygiene measures, soap makers need to wear gloves during the soap making process. In our latest sustainability measure, we’ve swapped out of single-use gloves and instead provided every member with their first pair of personal reusable gloves they can use for crafting and washing up afterwards. 8. Reusable gloves In our latest sustainability drive, we swapped out of single use gloves to reusable gloves. In the process of crafting both cold process and melt and pour soaps, we often need to use small, flexible cups and containers. This resulted in lots of disposable paper cups being used and trashed after each session. Solution? Swap over to silicon cupcake molds and silicon measuring cups. 9. Reusable cups Instead of using paper cups for design which are thrown out after every melt & pour session, we swapped to reusable silicone cupcake molds. Not quite a single use waste but we collect all our dehumidifier water and use them to soak our molds to reduce the time and new water for washing up. 10. Soaking used soap molds with water from dehumidifier to reduce time and water for washing up. In soap crafting we require many ‘props’ or tools that can come from our homes or kitchens. From satay sticks and clothes hangers to make soap swirl designs, cardboards to prop up soap molds or as a base for single cavity molds, and milk cartons to keep liquid soap paste and transport soap bars, we put creativity to the test to use what we already have instead of buying something new. For us, sustainability is ingrained in our mindset and while we can’t have zero waste, we will constantly tap on our creativity and the cooperation of the soap making community to be as sustainable as we can while we enjoy the craft. Small steps for a better tomorrow! Join our soap making community For experienced soap makers, learn more about our DIY Workshop to continue your soap making journey with us! For beginners, check out our Basic CP soap making class to get started! Sugar & Spice studio 81 Ubi Avenue 4 #10-18/19 UB One Singapore 408830 (Tai Seng MRT)

In cold process soap, butters can contribute to the firmness of the bar. Here are 3 exotic butter recipes specially curated for your next soap project. 1. Bacuri Virgin Butter Bacuri Butter is very popular in the north of Brazil and comes from the seeds of a local fruit with a rich pulp, deep colour and smell. It is rich in methionine, an essential amino acid, the bodys primary source of sulphur. The body uses sulphur to promote healthy hair & skin and it can be used to reduce the appearance of blemishes and scarring. It has anti-aging properties since it helps stabilise collagen and elastin production and also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Try this recipe: EV Olive (40%): 140g Coconut (30%): 105g Castor (10%): 35g Bacuri Butter (15%): 53g Grapeseed (5%): 18g Lye: 53g Water: 111ml Peppermint essential oil: 10ml Note: May stain clothing when making soap. Fast trace. 2. Cupuacu Virgin Butter Cupuacu Virgin Butter Cupuacu Butter is an excellent substitute for cocoa butter, the difference being the white pulp of the Cupuacu is uniquely fragrant and it contains theacrine instead of the xanthines, found in cocao. High in essential fatty acids, it is a very creamy and emollient butter that will offer exceptional moisturizing properties when added to soap or other skin care formulations. Because of its hardness it will also help to produce and nice hard bar of soap. Try this recipe: EV Olive (35%): 123g Coconut (30%): 105g Castor (10%): 35g Cupuacu Butter (15%): 53g Camellia Tea Oil (10%): 35g Lye: 53g Water: 113ml Geranium essential oil: 10ml Rose Clay: 1 tbsp 3. Illipe Butter Illipe Butter is very similar in nature to cocoa butter but has a higher melting point which makes it suitable for making hard bars of soap. It has a mild characteristic odour and is creamy white in colour. Illipe Butter helps protects against UV-A and UV-B rays and as such can be found in products promoting sun protection and sunburn relief, while its skin softening and long-lasting moisturising properties make Illipe Butter a good choice to help repair chronically dry, cracked skin. Try this recipe: EV Olive (35%): 123g Coconut (35%): 123g Castor (10%): 35g Illipe (15%): 53g Jojoba (5%): 18g Lye: 53g Water:110ml Lime essential oil: 10ml Calendula powder: 1 tbsp Note: Fast trace. Other butters that you can add to your soap recipes includes Mango Butter, Shea Butter & Cocoa Butter. Mango Butter Mango butter won’t produce a very hard bar of soap and don’t expect too much lathering qualities. However, this exotic butter provides good moisturizing and conditioning properties to the final bar of soap. Shea Butter Shea Butter is extracted from the shea nut and has a yellow, buttery colour with a rich, creamy aroma. Shea Butter is hailed for its healing, protecting and moisturising properties. Rich in cinnamon acid, it also protects the skin from UV rays and therefore can be included in skin care products for after sun care. The first choice in natural skin care and fine body care products, this butter forms a breathable, water-resistant film and is the leading natural product for moisturising. Cocoa Butter This butter is rock hard at room temperature and will melt at body temperature. It smells just like hot cocoa! It creates a hard bar of soap and is very moisturizing. The lather will have very low but stable bubbles. Get your butters from Sugar & Spice! All butters including exotic butters are now available at attractive prices & discounted rates for Members. Not a member yet? Check out our cost-saving packages! Psst....we do have some exotic butter sample soaps for Giveaway. Do check them out at our studio. While stocks last!

Learn how to make washing hands and bathing time fun for kids! Parents, does this picture looks familiar to you? If you are a parent, you will surely have a bunch of these at home! Well, I have 2 kids - a 4 and a 6 years old and I have lotssssss of these tiny toys! (tho, I must say, we have been pretty good with trying to minimize buying these days) We were spring cleaning our kids' room and as we were categorizing the toys (ala Marie Kondo style) and we were wondering what we can do with the whole lot. Hmmm... On a side note, my kids have been religiously washing their hands these days but sometimes not with soap when we are not looking (parents, raise your hands if your kids are doing this too…haha). So I was thinking of a way to make the washing of hands fun and also trying to get my 4 years old daughter to start independent showing on her own. Then suddenly, Mummy here came up with a brilliant idea (Ehemmm). Why not combine the idea of up-cycling and make washing of hands/bathing time fun! In this Soap with Toys activity: - We get to up-cycle the toys (Thank goodness!) - We get to make washing hands fun (Finally they know how to wash their hands properly! Hooray!) - We get to entertain them and make them busy for at least 1 hour! (Oh yes please!) The DIY Melt & Pour Kit Available in 200g, 500g and 1kg DIY Home Kit. Don't know how to start? Don't worry! This DIY soap kit comes complete with what you will need to get started. It includes the soap base (clear and opaque), colourants, 100% essential oils, 6 cavity mold, and rubbing alcohol. Instruction guides are available to make sure your first experience will be simple and fun and we get to make at least 10pcs of soaps with a 1kg kit. All you need is some home items such as: - Double boiler or microwave (to melt the soaps) - Home mugs - Stirrer or spoon Buy this DIY Kit: Sugar & Spice studio Watch this quick video on how to make soap with toys! If you want to see some of our other soap making designs that I do with my kids, check this other video out too! ------------------------------------ About the Contributor: Nora, mother of 2 and soap instructor at Sugar & Spice studio. This pic sums up my not so dull life as a mom. Loving every minute. ------------------------------------

Watch our How-To-Videos and get ready for the festive season! Move away from traditional soap designs and get creative for this upcoming festive season! Love your traditional festive drinks? Get into the Christmas spirit and be a mixologist in our studio to make a good craft of Cocktail inspired soap designs! Here are 2 recipes & designs to get you started: Christmas Spiced Sangria by Instructor Nora Recipe for 500g soap: Plant-based oils: Shea Butter: 18g Coconut: 105g *Rice Bran: 53g Sweet Almond: 53g Apricot Kernel: 70g Canola: 35g Castor: 18g *Infuse Rice Bran oil with Star Anise, Cinnamon and Cardamon for 2 weeks. Lye solution: Lye: 51g Water: 112ml Colours: Red Oxide: 3g Yellow Oxide: 3g Essential oil blends: Sweet Orange: 4ml Ylang Ylang: 3ml Cinnamon Bark: 8ml Ingredient *cost to make this soap at Sugar & Spice studio: Members: $32.50 only! *excluding spices Watch a full step-by-step video: How To Make Christmas Spiced Sangria. Peppermint White Russian by Instructor Nora Recipe for 500g soap: Plant-based oils: EV Coconut: 105g Camelia: 70g Sweet Almond: 35g Shea Butter: 70g Rice Bran: 35g Avocado: 35g Lye solution: Lye: 53g Water: 106ml Colours: Titanium Dioxide: 3g Red oxide: 3g Green Oxide: 3g Brown Oxide: 3g Essential Oil Blends: Peppermint: 10ml Eucalyptus: 5ml Ingredient *cost to make this soap at Sugar & Spice studio: Members: $39.50 for 500g. *excludes soap clays Watch a full step-by-step video: How To Make Peppermint White Russian Shop for Soap Clays on our e-store. Make your soap 3D with soap clays! Made using the cold process soap making technique, soap clays are soft, play dough-like texture which are fun and malleable. Plant-based oils are being used with the adding of mica powders for a vibrant & colourful soap clay colours. Have fun with soap clays and use it to model a soap design or add them as a soap topper to your soaps. Download our Soap Clay Tutorials to get started. November Special: Join our friendly Soap Design Challenge this November! Theme: Christmas Cocktail inspired design soaps. Stand a chance to WIN $200 worth of Sugar credits (redeemable for in-house ingredients) Period: Now till 30 Nov 2021 How to enter: Step 1: Register for the challenge & design soap at your own time. Step 2: Snap a photo of your soap together with the Cocktail inspired design. Step 3: Submit photo & write-up by 30 Nov 2021. Registration fee: $88 only! Includes: 1 x $50 soap maker credits 3 x Soap Clay 1 x 3D Soap Clay Tutorial (Christmas Edition) 1 x FREE list of Christmas EO blends Terms & Conditions: Use Sugar credits to design your soap recipe. Submit photo and write up by 30 Nov 2021, 1159hours. To join the friendly Soap Design Challenge, prior Basic CP experience is required. Non Sugar & Spice students are welcome to join. 1 winner will be announced on 6 December 2021. Not a Member? Join our soap making community and make soap in a cozy and relaxing environment! We are located at 81 Ubi Avenue 4 #10-19 UB One Singapore 408830 (Near Tai Seng MRT) Check out our Soap Making Packages!

Unearthing the Beauty of Kaolin Clay in Soap Making Today, let us delve together into the wonder of Kaolin Clay, also known as white cosmetic clay or China clay. Did you know that its name is derived from its place of discovery, the Kao-Ling mountain in Jiangxi, China? This fascinating clay has a rich history, having been used for centuries in China for various purposes, including the production of porcelain and traditional Chinese medicine. Today, Kaolin Clay has found a new home in the world of soap making. Let's explore the myriad benefits of incorporating this special clay into our formulations.
 The Magic of Kaolin Clay
 Kaolin Clay is more than just a pretty face; it's a versatile ingredient that can transform your soap-making experience. Here's why you should consider adding it to your soap recipes:
 Gentle Exfoliation: With its fine particles, Kaolin Clay works wonders in removing dead skin cells, leaving your skin noticeably smoother and brighter.
 Natural Cleansing Properties: Kaolin Clay gently removes impurities and excess oil from your skin without the risk of over-drying. It's a versatile choice suitable for both oily and sensitive skin types.
 Skin Soothing: Experience the calming effects of Kaolin Clay on irritated or inflamed skin, making it ideal for soaps designed for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Enhanced Lather: Elevate your soap's lathering properties with Kaolin Clay, creating a creamy, luxurious foam that transforms your daily washing routine into a spa-like experience.
 Oil Absorption: Bid farewell to unwanted shine as Kaolin Clay's oil-absorbing abilities help control excess oil on the skin, leaving you feeling fresh and less greasy after each use.
 Thickening Agent: Kaolin Clay can be your secret ingredient for achieving that perfect soap texture. As a natural thickening agent, it lends a smooth and creamy consistency to your soap, making it easy to work with and mold into various shapes. pH Balance: Maintaining the delicate pH balance of your skin is crucial. Kaolin Clay, with its neutral pH, ensures your skin stays in harmony, making it an excellent choice for individuals with sensitive skin.
 Natural Colorant: Kaolin Clay's pristine white hue imparts a clean and pure look to your soap formulations without affecting their scent. It's a natural choice for a classic, timeless appearance. Suggested usage rate : Between 1/2 - 2 tbsp. Adding approx 1tbsp of kaolin clay per kg of soap. Diverse Shades of Kaolin Clay
 Besides the classic white Kaolin Clay, there's a vibrant palette of options due to variations in mineral composition, colour, texture, and geographical origin. Here are some noteworthy variations:
 White Kaolin Clay: Renowned for its fine texture and pure white colour, it's a favourite for sensitive skin.
 Rose Kaolin Clay: Boasting a pinkish hue from iron oxide, it offers similar benefits to white Kaolin Clay with a subtle twist.
 Yellow Kaolin Clay: With its pale to deeper yellow shades from iron hydroxide, it adds a touch of sunshine to your formulations.
 Red Kaolin Clay: Sporting a distinctive red or brick-red colour due to higher iron oxide content, it's ideal for deep cleansing rituals.
 Pink Kaolin Clay: A harmonious blend of white and red Kaolin Clays, it delivers gentle exfoliation and purifying effects in a delicate pink package.
 Green Kaolin Clay: Rich in minerals like montmorillonite, this variant is perfect for detoxifying and purifying masks. Kaolin Clay is a true gem in the world of soap making and skincare. Its diverse range of benefits, from gentle exfoliation to natural coloration and skin-soothing properties, makes it a must-have ingredient for your DIY creations. Join us on this colourful journey into the world of natural colorants, and stay tuned for more exciting ingredients to explore!
 Note: Before using any new skincare ingredient, it's essential to conduct a patch test to ensure compatibility with your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Feel good about cleaning with this natural all purpose cleaner made with simple plant-based ingredients and refreshing essential oils! I'am a clean-freak! Yes, there you go, I've said it. Being a mom of 2 little ones makes it twice as hard to keep the house clean and neat. There are so many types of cleaning detergents that I previously used everyday and if I may add, most of them are filled with chemicals. Don't believe? Check the labels! My son had a terrible eczema outbreak when he was a toddler. As a mom, it hurts me to see my boy in pain each time it gets dry, especially on his hands and knees. We highly suspect it was from the floor cleaner that we used as he was learning to crawl at that time. Ever since then, I was determined to find an alternative for all the cleaning solutions that I frequently used and at the same time, finding a way to minimise the clutters of cleaning bottles under my sink storage. It was only a year ago that I got to know about Sugar & Spice soap making classes. They conduct various soap classes which are suitable for beginners like me. I was especially excited for the Cold-Process Liquid Soap Making Class where you get to learn to make Liquid Castile Soap from scratch! I have learnt a lot during the class and I have come to love the cleaning powers of vinegars, baking soda and Castile soap - as well as essential oils! They are all made up of natural ingredients and are ALL amazing at cleaning just about everything you own. Castile soap is a pure soap made from vegetable oils — usually olive oil and coconut oil — and lye (potassium hydroxide for liquid soap), and just a few other simple ingredients. It is the traditional way to make soap. There are no harsh detergents, and it’s also VERY moisturizing and nourishing with the oils it’s made of. Because of its natural ingredients, I now get my little ones to help me with the cleaning duties around the house. Ever since I know how to make my own Castile Soap, I simply use this as the base for all of my cleaning products. I love using sweet orange and lemon essential oil for cleaning the kitchen and dishes because they have a fantastic ability to cut through tough grease. However, in my bathroom I love using eucalyptus and tea tree oil to help prevent mildew. That’s right, I only need to have two different variations of this spray to keep my house clean. Once you make your own you will become just as obsessed with how easy and safe this cleaner is too! Natural All-Purpose Cleaner Ingredients: 2 cups distilled water 4 tablespoons liquid Castile soap 10 drops essential oil (sweet orange or lemon are both great for cutting through grease) 1 glass spray bottle Instructions Measure the distilled water into a glass measuring cup, and add in remaining ingredients. Carefully pour the mixture into the glass spray bottle, and shake well to mix. Recommended Classes based on the above article: Cold-Process Liquid Castile Soap Advanced Cold-Process Soap Making Class #MakeTheSwitch #LoveYourSkin #SafeForKids #SayNoToHarshChemicals #CleanHomeHappyMom #CastileSoap #PlantBased #EssentialOil #Eczema #SugarandSpiceSG #Workshopsg #SoapStudio #SoapRecipe Nora is the contributor of this article and she is continuing her passion in advocating and educating the benefits of using plant-based handmade soaps by joining Sugar & Spice as an Instructor.

The Team at Sugar & Spice Studio is introducing a new Soap Makers series this August. In this episode, we feature Soap Makers from different background in Singapore to learn what drives their passion in soap making. Meet The Makers: Marianah, who will be sharing her soap making journey and handmade soap recipe. Meet The Makers: Marianah "I've always had a fascination with handmade soaps for as long as I can remember. Before there were workshops, I could only buy them online or whenever I travel. But now I can finally create my own soaps using my own recipes." - Marianah Marianah has been fascinated with handmade soaps since she was teenager. She has been reading about soap making but she faces a common issue with all soap makers that wishes to start out their soap making journey - Where to buy Lye in Singapore? So, where can you get lye in Singapore for soap making? Lye is one of the key ingredient in soap making and soap makers in Singapore can only get lye by renting a soap making workshop approved by NEA with a license/permit. These workshops must meet the strict safety requirements imposed by the authority. As lye is only allowed to be used in these premises, it has become illegal and irresponsible (to ourselves and the environment) to use lye and make cold process soap at home. We are a group of soap makers who faced the same problem of getting lye to make our DIY cold process soap in the beginning. Eventually we decided to setup a workshop by applying to NEA for the permit and started out our very first soap maker's workshop in early 2017. Now our workshop allows soap makers around Singapore to gather here and make their own cold process soaps with lye safely without any worry of compromising the environment and our own safety. Prior cold-process knowledge & safety handling of lye is required before you could book for a DIY workshop at our studio so if you are new to soap making, you could start with a 2-hr Basic Cold Process Soap Making Class or Cold Process Liquid Soap Making Class. Join our Community of Soap Makers! If you have always wanted to give soap making a shot, come say hello to us! Seasoned soap makers are also welcomed! We just love to gather soap makers together and form a little community! Our studio is conveniently located at 81 Ubi Avenue 4 #10-19 UB.ONE Singapore 408830 (We are just 5 mins walk from Tai Seng MRT). See Class Schedule here. Try Marianah's Soap Recipe! Rose and Charcoal Soap: Olive Oil: 370 g Coconut Oil: 280 g Shea Butter: 110 g Cocoa Butter: 56 g Castor Oil: 25 g Sodium Hydroxide: 120 g Distilled Water: 268 g Lavender Essential Oil: 25 g Rose Geranium Essential Oil: 10g Charcoal Powder: 2 tsps diluted in 3 tsps of olive oil Rose Clay Powder: 2 tsps diluted in 3 tsps of distilled water Watch a full step-by-step video on How To Make Rose & Charcoal Soap. August Happenings! Natural Skincare Workshop (Moisturizer & Serum) 25th August 2019 Learn how to make your own natural moisturizer & serum! Enjoy Natural Goodness With Handmade Soaps. Buy 5 @ $54 only! Pamper yourself with our set of cold process handmade soaps. #sugarnspicesg #soapmakersseries #meetthemakers #coldprocesssoap #singaporemaker #natural #handmade #sg #singapore #diy #roseandcharcoalsoap #soaprecipe #passion #lye #saponification #handmadesoap

Understand the therapeutic benefits of essential oils and how to use them at the comfort of your home. I have never been a huge fan of conventional medicine. I try to stay away from medications as much as I can and place a stronger focus on remedies of alternative medicine. In the past years, I have fallen in love with essential oils for their amazing healing properties. Essential oils are made by extracting the natural oils from various parts of plants. Typically, steam distillation is used to produce the oils. Steam will run through the plant breaking down the cells that carry the oil. The oil and steam are then carried to a cooling chamber where they are condensed and separated. Now let's take a look at the top five essential oils I always have on hand at home: 1. Lavender. Lavender oil has this fresh floral scent with a dash of sweetness and herby aroma. On top of its amazing scent, it is also the most versatile essential oils. Therapeutically, lavender oil has a calming effect which does wonders for those suffering from anxiety. Medicinally, it can be used as an antiseptic and pain reliever to soothe minor burns. Properties: Calming, Balancing Emotional or Mental: Calm, Composure, Use for emotional overload, Tension & Panic Physical: Headaches, Insomnia, Acne, Bruises, Burns, Asthma, Flu, Colic How to Use: Diffuse, Bath, Massage, Topical 2. Peppermint. Peppermint oil has a very stimulating yet soothing aroma. This stuff is amazing. Not only it is effective in arousing your mental sharpness but it can be used to relieve congestion, headaches, digestive problems and nausea. Properties: Fresh, Stimulating, Regulating Emotional or Mental: Clear thinking, Concentration, Use for mental fatigue Physical: Indigestion, Sinus, Congestion, Headaches, Gall bladder, Nausea How to Use: Diffuse, Topical Cautions: Could be sensitizing 3. Eucalyptus. This oil has a very fresh and clean aroma that is sure to open your airways up. I love to drop a little of this in my diffuser and it’s a great natural way to clear my nasal passages up. Properties: Refreshing, Stimulating Emotional or Mental: Dispels melancholy, Promotes optimism Physical: Asthma, Bronchitis, Coughs How to Use: Diffuse, Massage Cautions: Do not use with infants 4. Lemon. With its uplifting and fresh scent, lemon oil can help get rid of bad vibes and increase concentration and mental awareness. Feeling less inspired to get your flow on? Diffuse few drops in your bath and be ready to feel renewed. Properties: Refreshing, Purifying Emotional or Mental: Trust, Clarity, Concentration, Use for confusion, Indecision or Fatigue Physical: Antiseptic, Blood, Purifier, Rheumatism, Gout, Liver, Cleanser How to Use: Diffuse, Bath, Massage Caution: Photo-sensitizing, do not use on skin and exposure to sun 5. Tea Tree. A widely popular form of alternative medicine, tea tree oil is awesome! Not only is tea tree oil’s astringent properties great for alleviating oily secretions of the skin – think oily face & scalp issues – but its terpinen content soothes minor wounds without irritation. I love to add a few drops to my shampoo; it leaves my scalp squeaky clean. Properties: Antibiotic, Calming Emotional or Mental: Strength, Morale, Use for tension or Stress Physical: Acne, Athlete's foot, Chicken pox, Fungus, Burns How to Use: Diffuse, Topical Caution: Could be sensitizing Do make sure all essential oils that you purchase or use are 100% pure. As essential oils are very potent, you should always dilute them before applying them directly on your skin (except lavender). You can dilute essential oils with carrier oils or water depending on what you are going to use the essential oil for. If you have any health concern, please consult your physician first before trying out any essential oil as part of your home remedy. Recommended classes based on the above article: Understanding the Basics of Essential Oils and How to use them for Pain Relief Creating a Spa Experience at Home Reference: Essential Oil Use Chart #essentialoil #homeremedies #therapeuticbenefits #plantbased #homediy Nora is the contributor of this article and she is continuing her passion in advocating and educating the benefits of using plant-based remedies and handmade soaps by joining Sugar & Spice as an Instructor.

by Li Ting Gifting is a joy for some, and a dread for others. What is it for you? MEANINGFUL gifting takes both emotions up an extra notch for both groups, or perhaps the latter wouldn’t care. I’ve always taken gifting quite seriously, as I’m in the camp who believes in finding THAT gift my recipient will love and use. The last thing I want is for my recipient to fret over what to do with the gift, or worse, chuck it away. Choosing the right gift to show you care is an art. Photo by Nicole Wilcox on Unsplash I comb through my (somewhat limited and over the years, diminishing) memory bank or subtly engage in casual conversations to suss out his or her latest interests, so that I can zoom in to THE category to start my shopping endeavour. And like all true-blue shopaholic, I would then embark on a mission, darting from shop to shop to find THE gift. For some reason, my gifts are always bought in store, so I can be sure of its quality by sight, and there are no surprises in a late or delayed delivery. In recent years, gifting has taken on a slightly different turn for me, ever since I started to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, to preserve a liveable planet for my children in the future. The main consideration for my recipient to love and use the gift hasn’t changed, but now I have an additional higher order criterion to fulfill – that is to make sure my choice has less impact on the planet as far as I can help, use minimum wrapping or packaging that’s needed, and best of all, can send a sustainable message where appropriate. Handcrafted soaps come with minimum packaging. And that somewhat kicked off my journey in soap making, when I made my first big batch of soaps to gift teachers, to appreciate their hard work for the year. Teaching is not an easy profession, just try volunteering a day at a school and you will understand what we mean by the end of that day. So, having the opportunity to show a little gratitude once a year is something I don’t want to miss for sure. Why soaps, you may ask. The answer is simple. Cos everybody can use soap! Granted majority of the people are more accustomed to body wash out of a pump, the good old bar soap is something everybody can use. Most people associate bar soaps with the complimentary ones in a hotel or the $2 bars they buy in bulk from the supermarket. The awareness around handmade cold process soaps and their benefits are almost non-existent, unless they have a friend who is a crazy soap maker like me (who cannot stop churning out new soaps) or they are active in the low waste eco groups. For some reasons, we’ve seen high incidence of not just adults, but children with skin conditions like eczema. In almost every conversation with a parent who has a school-going child, we no doubt hear of more cases the moment this topic is brought up. An all-natural cold process soap is a good option for people with sensitive skin as it doesn’t contain any SLS which potentially dries the skin over time. Not only that, the natural oils in the soap work as emollients or humectants to help keep the skin moisturized naturally, thus hopefully minimising flare-ups of any conditions. My.naked.bar Turmeric Sunrise with Lemongrass and Sweet Orange. So, a good bar of soap can be a great gift for any age, gender, and what’s more they are even good for our planet as they are often available in minimum packaging vs. a bottle of body wash. If the bar soaps are kept dry between uses, each bar can potentially outlast a standard bottle of body wash, keeping more single-use plastic waste out of the landfill. And you ask, what’s better than gifting a good bar of soap? Our answer, hand make it yourself! Learn how to make a bar of soap from scratch with your own hands and consider formulating your customized recipe to address the exact skin needs of your family and loved ones! Nothing beats that, in our opinion, as a gift from the heart to show you truly care. Of course, handmade soap is one great option as a gift with love. Many other gifts can be meaningful too. If sustainability is a topic that speaks to you, include that at the back of your mind as you make any gift selection for any occasion. Besides a physical gift, considering gifting an experience, like an art jam, a staycation, an outdoor adrenaline-rushing one or therapeutic indoor sessions such as a soap or candle making workshops for a friend game to try something new. Better still, do it together as a bonding session. In the past, I used to be against gifting a gift voucher – a gift option that my hubby simply adores for its convenience, but I was not fond of as I felt was a no-effort kind of gift. However, with the additional criterion of caring for our planet, I’ve started to open up to this idea. For one, the voucher can be digital…and the recipient chooses what he or she likes, so it can’t go too wrong. Being able to share and gift is a blessing and we always believe the thought counts more than any monetary value. To us, a gift needs no occasion. Even if it’s not Valentine’s, Christmas, a birthday or an anniversary, try surprising that special someone to show that he or she is always in your heart. Li Ting is a free-lance instructor at Sugar & Spice and an avid soap maker behind my.naked.bar – a label she created in hope to encourage more people to consider swapping from a bottled body wash to a good bar of soap – her little attempt to extend the lifespan of our landfill at Semakau. Link to my.naked.bar - https://www.earthdefender.co/my-naked-bar

Featuring Real Stories from soap makers in Singapore: Soap Maker Jin will be sharing her soap making journey and soap recipe. In London, eco-friendly and affordable bar soaps were readily available off the shelf and online. Back in Singapore, I could not find such options easily. The desire to continue living more sustainably and ethically sparked the idea of making my own soaps. Based on what I read on the Internet, soapmaking seemed quite straight forward. I was attracted to the idea of making soaps as a start to making more environmentally friendly alternatives to readily available commercial products. As a part of living a conscious lifestyle and making better decisions for my health and the environment, I felt that the DIY process is a good way to go. One, I could learn more about the origin and effects of different ingredients in the soap and choose ingredients that are better for different skin types and conditions. Two, by understanding the process of making soap and the by-products, I can try to remove unnecessary additives that are harmful to the natural environment. By taking my body (skin) and the environment into consideration, I make decisions in the DIY process and this allows me to have more control over what I use daily. Furthermore, the thinking was that I could craft soaps that are suitable for myself, my family and friends – in Singapore, everyone knows at least two more people with eczema. As a person suffering from eczema myself, sometimes the commercially available options and medication are neither sustainable for the environment nor suitable for our skin conditions. In being able to design natural soaps with the user in mind, I could potentially tailor a soap that is better than commercially available options. For the first few DIY sessions, the Internet was a great resource for recipes, and I found some to try. However, I realised after that the Internet did not tell me everything that I wanted to know. While the instructions were straight forward, I did not know the reasons behind what I was witnessing as I was making and what to expect after each step in the recipe. What I thought was a straightforward process turns out to be activity of infinite possibilities with extremely varied results. How much water is too much? What does reducing the amount of lye (superfatting) do to each bar of soap and each recipe? What is the chemistry behind superfatting? Why are there cracks in my soap? As much as I would like to have more control in my life by making more eco-friendly choices and doing more DIY activities, I do not seem to have any control over how well my soaps turn out. I thought that soap making is a relaxing activity, but it was becoming an emotional activity. The more bars of soap I made, the more varied the bar soaps are, the more questions I had. This generated much doubt and anxiety. Not to mention, it was a little stressful. For example, having to get the oil mixture and lye solution to the appropriate temperature requires multi-tasking and good time control. I am not very good at multi-tasking. During these months, when I had doubts during a DIY session, Karene, Terri and Nora were always very willing to share and to help diagnose what might have gone wrong. With their guidance and reassurance, I navigated through much uncertainty and self-doubt. In addition to picking up a new skill, I found myself a community of soap makers. I have met many people at the studio who are trying different recipes and techniques for the first time. They sometimes do not know what to expect either. Being stressed or doubtful is quite common too! But, soap makers seem to always walk away with a sense of accomplishment. It is the effort that counts here. There is always another opportunity to improve. In three months, I found the answers to my initial questions after making more than 20 batches of bars soaps. They are currently sitting a cupboard at home, with aromas emanating along the corridor. How I cure my soaps at home My family have to put up with my many soap experiments and friends have been receiving lots of bar soaps from me. I now introduce myself as a soap maker when I meet new people. I think the bar soaps are more resilient than I am. Natural bar soaps mixture can withstand quite a few extra millilitres of oils, overmixing, burnt milk mixtures and more. Upon reflection, I recognise two important factors that contributed to my sustained interest in making soaps. First, it is the existing community of soap makers. The instructors at the DIY sessions facilitate a supportive environment where concerns and questions are addressed. I am always curious to know what the soap maker at the next table is making, and it is always something different and that is another idea I could try next time. Secondly, my fear of failing diminished over time. I realised that demon soaps will always appear and when it does happen, I can always make another batch! Thankfully, the stakes aren’t high and it is always a learning experience. It is crazy to wish for absolute certainty over a process such as soapmaking. Managing uncertainty as a part of managing expectations is and should always be part of the process. Join our Community of Soap Makers! If you have always wanted to give soap making a shot, come say hello to us! Seasoned soap makers are also welcomed! We just love to gather soap makers together and form a little community! Our studio is conveniently located at 81 Ubi Avenue 4 #10-19 UB.ONE Singapore 408830 (We are just 5 mins walk from Tai Seng MRT). See Class Schedule here. Try Jin's Soap Recipe! Lavender Coconut Milk Soap (1.75kg) Coconut Oil (35%) - 245g Apricot KernelOil (25%) - 175g Grapeseed Oil (25%) - 175g Castor Oil (10%) - 70g Jojoba Oil (5%) - 35g Lye - 99g Coconut Cream - 160g Water - 20g Lavender Essential Oil - 30ml Ground Lavender Flowers - 1/8 cup Watch a fun step-by-step video on How To Make Lavender Coconut Milk soap Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @Sugar & Spice Singapore Available Classes (Suitable for Beginners!) Basic CP soap making class Learn how to make natural bar soaps from scratch! (Suitable for Beginners!) CP Liquid soap making class Learn how to make natural liquid soap from scratch! (Suitable for children and adults!) Melt & Pour soap making class Learn how to make your own handmade soap in the easiest way! (Rent our workshop for soap making!) Cold Process Soap DIY Workshop FREE to use our available equipment and facility in studio! Prior CP knowledge is required.