How to Make Cactus Soap

Specific types of cacti, such as the prickly pear, can be used to make soothing soaps that nourish the skin. Soap made from cacti also treat acne. Many health food stores sell cactus items, such as extracts, leaves or cactus juice. You also can find cactus juice online. Follow these steps to make your own cactus soap.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One pound of glycerin
• Metal cooking pot
• 1/3 cup cactus juice
• Cactus leave and pulp
• Soap color and scent
• Soap molds

1. Take a pound of glycerin soap base and break it into small pieces. Half-fill a metal pot with water.

2. Put the small soap base pieces into the pot. Wait for the glycerin to melt.

3. Pour in the cactus or prickly pear juice. Stir the mixture slowly to minimize bubbles.

4. Add your chosen soap color and fragrance to the mixture. Add these ingredients slowly, allowing the mixture to take on the color and scent before adding more. Watch the color and scent to ensure that you don't put in too much and ruin the batch.

5. Stir in some cactus leaves, and mix slowly. Add in some cactus pulp, if available. Watch the color again, and make sure it is the color you want. If the cactus pulp has diluted the color, add more.

6. Set out your soap molds, and pour the mixture into the molds. Fill the molds completely. Allow the molds to cool and harden.

7. Take out the hardened soap, and look at the edges for rough spots. Smooth out these spots by heating a spoon and running it lightly across the edge.

[prickly-pear]

on 12/14/2008 Excellent! Very interesting.