Bath bombs are considered a cosmetic and there are rules and regulations imposed by the FDA for coloring bath bombs.  This has been a challenging time for people who make soap who have recently added bath bombs to their catalog.  Soaps are a rinse off product, whereas bath bombs are used in bathwater and are in contact with mucous membranes (genitals) for extended periods of time. Glitter has been mostly ignored in the community as a color additive.  Suppliers who offer these glitters often have untrue statements or misinformation on their website about their approved applicati ..read more

The trick to making salt soap is to use a multi-cavity silicone mold to pour your soap into because it will harden to what feels like a block of concrete and will be useless if not cut at the perfect temperature and timing is tricky and hot soap burns... ow...  There was a time when I'd make a sea salt soap in a loaf pan and I'd put it in the oven and when it was "done" cooking, I'd have to remove it from the mold and cut it with a large butcher knife.  This entailed holding the loaf to secure it while cutting with the other finger.  I think I burned my fingerprints right ..read more

Sometimes as an artist it is hard to be inspired when work and life consumes.  Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and these inspire me completely!  I found some Halloween soaps that make me swoon and want to smell candy corn, eat sticky apples and run through (fake) cobwebs! Here are a bunch of beautiful soaps I found on Etsy this morning.  Some are creepy, funny and all in the spirit of the Day Of The Dead: ZOMBIE FINGERS  -  THE PURPLE HIPPY SHOP RAT TAIL SOAP  -  SUN BASIL GARDEN SOAP CREEPY CRAWLERS SOAP SHOTS  ..read more

I've been missing browsing for hours looking for beautiful soaps to admire.  Today marks a week of rain and clouds, not to mention the oppressive humidity here in south Florida, so the browsing has upped my spirits. Thank you to all the incredible soap/bath & body making artists that brought me solace.  Here are a few that stood out for me especially.  ;) Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium, gypsy soap  The Charming Frog, loofah soap The Pig and the Peacock, island breeze The Lathered Lamb, azure blue soap Nature Nurture S ..read more

I have been corresponding with the Director of Color Certification & Technology Division at the FDA regarding exactly what is legal to use in Bath Bombs specifically. We (at Mad Micas) carry Batch Certified Lakes and we carry neon pigments. There seems to be some confusion regarding whether the use of neons in bath bombs is within the FDA regulations.  These are my findings: Bath bombs, bath salts and nail polish are regulated as cosmetics so they should only contain FDA approved color additives.  You must check the uses and restrictions for each approved color addit ..read more

There is a lot of misinformation out here in the soap world and it has become clear to me that many people will take the advice in a DIY video and just make soap without looking into getting some safety information.  There are a lot of things that are dangerous about cold process soapmaking if certain safety precautions aren't taken. Making a basic soap is actually easy to do and anyone can do it as long as basic steps are taken and a general knowledge of chemicals being used are clearly understood.  This is not a tutorial on what soap is or what superfatting is or the chemical scie ..read more

There isn't a way to reinvent myself without blips, wrinkles or road bumps.  Of course it will take time and energy and a lot of hard work to unravel myself...to put myself together mindfully...thoughtfully.  There isn't an easy 5 step program that can tell me what to do to be successful or happy. Time and a lot of insightful self discovery can mean one thing;  that growth is inevitable if I keep my eyes open. I've learned a lot over the past 9 years writing this blog. I know I haven't been present here much for a few years.  Life. That's really it.  Life happened and ..read more

Bee Iyata of Sorcery Soap has touched me yet again with her eerie insight.  I first noticed Bee’s work over a year ago… images of her colorful and expressive enchanting creatures. Perhaps it was my deep love for my childhood book, The Velveteen Rabbit and the magical and emotional presence I felt when reading it.  Bee Iyata unknowingly touched my inner child and sparked wonder and excitement every time I saw her images. Bee’s Soap Dough book “The Enchanted Book of Peculiar Ideas and Soap Potions” contains recipes and tool suggestions so you can create 3D images to adhere or ins ..read more

I think I have a little fascination with black bath bombs.  Why would one want to bathe in black or dark water of any kind.... then I started thinking that activated charcoal water with other skin loving ingredients could feel GREAT!  And why not?  Who's taking notes or giving one hoot about having to clean lightly after a bath.  I, for one, would love to try them.  I think the photo below of someone actually IN a bath after the bomb fizzed away is alluring and I now want a hot bath filled with black water.  Bring it on! I chose a few "makers" and their bombs fr ..read more

The Cuppa Jo Soap Challenge had three beautiful entries and three beautiful winners! The Challenge was described in the previous post, but here is an excerpt: Since I've moved into my new place, I often wake up before sunset, take my fresh coffee and walk, in my pajamas and slippers, to the Intercoastal Waterway/Lake Worth Lagoon, which is only one block from my new place.  I love the salty breeze that wafts into my face and through my short hair..... while I listen to the small waves slapping against the concrete ledge I sit on.   Within minutes, the black sky turns twilight blue a ..read more