Vanilla Lavender + Oats Bastille Soap

While most people know about Castille Soap, not many are aware of Bastille soap I'll a explain here.

Castille Soap is a soap made using 100% olive oil and got its name from the Castille region of Spain. It is one of the most skin conditioning soaps available. The draw back is that it does not have a bubbly lather and it's cleansing properties are much lower than soaps made with other types of oils.

Bastille soap is almost like Castille but it has additional oils added to it. To be true Bastille soap however, it needs to have at least 75% of its oils being that of olive oil......I've studied the history of different types of soaps and it's said to have derived its name from having been "bastardized" from Castille soap.

I use an online soap/ lye calculator (soapcalc.net) and have experimented with a variety of oils that could be used in conjunction with olive to create both a skin nourishing soap but also one that is creamy, bubbly and most importantly, one that would be more cleansing that a soap made with 100% olive oil.

I ended up settling on an olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter and castor oil recipe and I added some rose hip seed oil. Rose hip seed oil is a non pore clogging oil that is very high in essential fatty acids to support, regulate and protect skin from outside irritants.

This is a very mild nourishing and cleansing bar that has no colorants added. I added finely ground oatmeal to also exfoliate in a gentle way. I hope you love it as much as I do.

** Do to the nature of vanilla essential oil, this soap discolors to a shade of tan.

Ingredients: Buttermilk, Olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, castor oil, rose hip seed oil, ground oatmeal, lavender buds, lavender and vanilla essential oils.

3.5 ounces

Benefits of buttermilk for skin care...

1- High in lactic acid which makes for a gentle exfoliant.

2- Lactic acid can help brightens skin

3- Lactic acid helps to cleanse and nourish skin. The moisturizing ability of buttermilk is so strong that it can help alleviate sunburns and protect the skin.

4- the presence of milk proteins and lactic acid are great for those who have acne prone skin.

5- Many vitamins are only bioavailable with fats attached which makes the nutrient in the product useless without sufficient fats. Fats are what protect and nourish our skin and buttermilk is higher in lactic acid that any other milk.