Handmade Planet Friendly Soaps

Soap has been made by hand for centuries. In this video we talk to Alysia Melnychuk, who is dedicated to making excellent skin care products, while not sacrificing their quality or the environment.

Host: Ever wondered how they make soap? Well welcome to watchmojo.com, I am your host Nehai Lakoma and today I have the chance to speak with Alicia Melnychuck, who is an artisan entrepreneur that makes her own hand make soap. When did you start making soap and why? Alicia Melnychuck: Making soap started with the friend of mine, we have decided to make Christmas gifts for our family. We were both very much into the 'do yourself', we were blinking that's look a really good idea. Host: Why did you start your own soap company? Alicia Melnychuck: The first batches of soap I kind of over board probably 40 soaps for Christmas. I really fell in love with the whole process and I was soon after pregnant and so I was off the work for sometime when I decided to go back to work, I didn't really know what I want to do. So, I decide to try it my own and run another business. Host: And why to use only natural ingredients? Alicia Melnychuck: I am really picky about not using any thing since I ever started, I avoiding using products that would require synthetic ingredients to preserve them by law. Everything I am using, that have some vegetable based and minimal alteration to make it safe. Host: You see that majority of soap are vegan. What exactly does that mean? Alicia Melnychuck: Is mean, there is no animal ingredients whatsoever, the exception is goat's nut soap which has goat's nut which is not vegan. These ones have lot of the cleansing and some of the salt scrubs but that's the exception which is sort of between animal or not. Host: And how does it affect your skin? Alicia Melnychuck: It's not so much of question of how that it affects your skin, it's more of the questions is how it affects the environment because the animal industry, that the food industry is one of the most polluting in the world so, to use things that are more natural based, that are more ecologically produce. I am choosing not to exist within the around of the animal industry. Host: Speaking of animals, is there any testing on animals around here? Alicia Melnychuck: Absolutely no animal testing whatsoever, it's really tested on my friends and family. It's being like circulated, and like I said it's circulated and come back for feedback. Host: Are hand made soaps better then the commercial brands? Alicia Melnychuck: Hand made soaps are made with the process that includes glycerin. The glycerin is actually a byproduct of the process of transforming the oils. The difference is than the major manufacturing cycles they have removed the glycerin to keep it for the objects and items that can make for the higher profit margin like creams and lotions. And soap being actually where they are drying to your skin the glycerin it mild and softer. Host: So, can anybody make there own soap or it is a complicated process? Alicia Melnychuck: It's a lot of baking, knowing difference makes it a little bit more precise. Can I make us to a soap flake versus making brownies but anyone can make it and take part in the workshops to show people exactly how to do it, and sell the materials to make their own soaps.