Tomato Patchouli Soap - Great Cakes Soapworks Soap Challenge!

Recently I've taken a liking to making my own soap. I've researched cold process soap making for over a year and it wasn't until just the last few months that I've been really ready to make my own. When I heard about the Great Cakes Soapworks soap making challenge, I knew it would be something I should try so that I could learn even more about this skill, or rather, art form. I signed up for the email notification so that I would be able to register for the next one and I waited.

When I got the email announcing the theme would be "alternative liquid" I KNEW this was right for me. Just the day before getting that email, I had made my own salsa and had saved the juice in my freezer. I registered as soon as I settled on a recipe and ordered myself a soap mold! (Prior to this, I had only done two soaps and had just used recycled boxes lined with plastic bags.)

When I realized the soap mold wouldn't arrive in time to make and enter the video into the challenge, I quickly found a container I could recycle to use and went to town making my soap!

Here's the video of me doing that, please go watch it and leave feedback here or comment on the video - (and yes, I know the lighting is a little dark but still very easy to watch!)

Tomatoes Are Amazing!

Now as for why I chose tomato juice for my alternate liquid, that's because I had it. But that doesn't mean I didn't want to do a bit of searching into the cosmetic benefits of tomatoes. According to a research study done at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, consumption of tomatoes, specifically tomato paste, has significant benefits in protecting your skin from the sun's UV rays.(1)

The lycopene in tomatoes is also studied and some results have shown that it can provide relief of oxidative stress in people with diabetes. (2) Again, this study likely focuses on the consumption of tomatoes rather than the use of tomatoes cosmetically.

According to this hair boutique article, if one were to apply tomatoes to their face, it could help maintain the skin's moisture & balance pH levels. In fact, Burt's Bees has an entire skincare line dedicated to highlighting the benefits of tomatoes for the skin. (3) 

Please review the references I'll cite below for more information.  Thanks so much for reading and to Amy of Great Cakes Soapworks, thank you x1000 for the incredible learning opportunity. I look forward to making more soap, I juiced some oranges today, dried and ground the rind, and dried the remainder of the inside to infuse in oil. I'll be making an orange soap in the near future!

Edited slightly to help show the truer color.

This girl happily entertained herself with a spoon while momma edited her video!
Thanks for your patience my darling!

References:
1) Hope, Jenny. "Tomatoes 'help Keep Skin Young' and Protect against Sunburn." Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 07 June 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. 
2) Valero, M. A., A. Vidal, R. Burgos, F. L. Calvo, C. Martinez, L. M. Luengo, and C. Cuerda. "Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Nov. 2011. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
3) Shelton, Karen Marie. "Tomatoes In Your Face & In Your Hair: Beauty From The Garden." Tomatoes In Your Face & In Your Hair: Beauty From The Garden. HairBoutique.com, 26 Sept. 2009. Web. 13 Oct. 2015