| Ah, beer. Who hasn't heard of this bubbly brew or | | | | among other nutrients. A robust brown color, oatmeal |
| watched the Superbowl specifically to be entertained | | | | stout combines the skin soothing benefits of oats |
| by the brewery industry's commercials. While | | | | with hops' anti-inflammatory, skin-softening attributes |
| appealing to a broad spectrum of people, beer is a | | | | for a gentle, skin-loving wash. |
| versatile beverage with a broad range of uses. It | | | | I remember as a teen it was all the rage to wash |
| makes a tasty marinade, a moist and light bread and, | | | | your hair in beer. Personally, I didn't much care for |
| fantastic soap! Yes, soap. Once the alcohol and its | | | | the idea since I disliked the smell of Coors, the only |
| drying effects are removed, beer makes a near | | | | beer I was familiar with at the time. When I began |
| perfect skin care addition to soap. Since beer is | | | | exploring beer soap, however, I decided a beer |
| primarily hops, many of this herb's properties and | | | | shampoo bar was definitely in order. Once an |
| benefits become a skin cleansing asset when added | | | | appropriate ale was selected, it was time to |
| to soap. The diverse array of beers from micro | | | | formulate the soap recipe. For its moisturizing and |
| breweries and distinct contributions from craft | | | | small, tight bubble attributes, an abundance of castor |
| breweries add a new dimension to soap crafting | | | | oil figures prominently along with jojoba & |
| options with beer. Belgian lambic ales bring the | | | | wheat germ oils for their hair & skin care |
| richness and nutritional value of fruit to the beer | | | | attributes. Since hair is made of protein, silk fibers are |
| market and when used in soap, these ales transfer | | | | a nutrient additive and lend a helping hand to lather. |
| these attributes to skin care. Oats, barley and wheat | | | | Finally the bar is enriched with kukui nut oil, rich in |
| are mineral-rich grains that contribute an array of | | | | essential fatty acids and noted for its hair care |
| health promoting benefits to everything they touch, | | | | benefits. The resulting beer-based shampoo is a great |
| including soap. By adding lambic ales and whole grain | | | | scalp conditioning, dense-lathering bar soap that |
| beers to soaps, we bypass an otherwise risky | | | | works equally well whenever a thick lather is desired, |
| bacterial potential and avoid the need for | | | | such as with shaving. Skin also benefits from this |
| preservatives. Because of the fermentation process | | | | soap with its silky lather and skin-loving ingredients. |
| used in making beer coupled with the preservative | | | | None of these skin care applications are possible |
| and antibacterial benefits of hops, beer grants our | | | | without first removing the alcohol content form the |
| skin the opportunity to directly benefit from these | | | | beer. Not only does alcohol inhibit the chemical |
| botanical ingredients when it would otherwise be | | | | reaction necessary to the soap making process, it |
| problematic to the soap making process or require | | | | also dries the skin. This necessary extra step makes |
| preservatives. If an ingredient requires a synthetic | | | | beer soap more labor intensive. While most soap |
| preservative to maintain purity, the reason for using | | | | makers simply substitute beer for the water portion |
| "natural soap" is defeated. | | | | of a soap formula and add lye to the beer, I found |
| In addition to adding flavor to beer, hops make a | | | | this method to be risky for the very reasons I |
| relaxing tea. Traditional uses for hops include | | | | wanted beer as an ingredient -- the nutrients, |
| anti-stress or sedative blends along with sleeping | | | | fragrance and color. After a bit of research, I |
| formulas. Beer soap brings some of hops' relaxing | | | | developed my own modified technique for making |
| effects to the bathing experience making beer soap | | | | beer soap. Since the soap from my test batch made |
| a great cleansing choice after a strenuous workout, | | | | with a framboise lambic ale carried a noticeable fruit |
| whether in the gym or the yard. Hops have a slightly | | | | note and retained tones distinct to its beer base, the |
| sweet fragrance and soaps made with beer initially | | | | technique was deemed successful. This technique is |
| display a sweet under note because of this. Over | | | | now employed in all my beer soap making. |
| time, this fragrance tends to diminish and aroma | | | | While nearly any beer can be mixed into soap, I |
| notes contributed by other ingredients tend to be | | | | prefer working with beers that have either |
| more dominant. For example, with their fruit additions, | | | | ingredients beneficial to skin care or strong, unique |
| lambic ales add a beautiful, rich fruit scent to soaps | | | | fragrances I don't otherwise have access to in a |
| made with these luscious beers. Fruit beers broaden | | | | natural form -- I never use synthetic fragrance oils in |
| the soap coloring palette as well so that a framboise | | | | my soap. Rich colors and strong scented beers |
| or raspberry lambic ale grants a garnet tone to soap. | | | | assure these treasured elements have a high |
| Raspberries are packed with vitamins and minerals | | | | probability of withstanding the soap making process. |
| and contain ellagic acid, a compound found to have | | | | Beer soap is a wonderful cleansing and moisturizing |
| anti-carcinogenic activity on skin cancer cells as well | | | | experience...and a beer lover's dream come true. |
| as other cancers. Black currant or cassis lambic ale | | | | What an inconspicuous, unique way to add health |
| lends a rich note to bar soap acting as both a distinct | | | | supporting characteristics to your skin care regimen -- |
| coloring agent and fragrance additive. As a healthy | | | | or celebrate a special occasion with someone's |
| skin addition, black currants are packed with | | | | favorite beer in a bar soap. Cheers! |
| anti-oxidants along with Vitamin E and Vitamin C | | | | |
