Getting Started

Online Resources

Check out free recipes online for a wide variety of products you can make at home. If you want to focus on cold process soap, check out The Sage. They have numerous recipes, as well as a lye calculator, which is a ncecssary resource for making this type of soap.

Read Some Good Books

I maintain a large library of books covering Soapmaking, Skin Care, Herbs, and Aromatherapy. These are a great source of information for the beginner and beyond. Here are some that I highly recommend for anyone starting out.

Join Some Online Groups

One of the best ways to exchange information and get quick answers to your questions is to participate in one of the many available online groups releated to handmade body care products. Both Yahoo Groups Yahoo Groups and MSN Groups MSN Groups have several to choose from. You have to apply to join some, while others are public. Once you are on the MSN or Yahoo groups site, search for groups with keywords such as 'skin care', 'soap', etc. to find them. You'll find lots of friendly people in these groups that are eager to chat and share information.

Join A Professional Group

Professional Groups are a great way to connect with others, obtain referrals, learn from the 'Pros', and more. The two most popular groups are The Handmade Beauty Network and The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild . Both require annual dues to join, so these are best for those who wish to take their hobby to the next step - starting a business.