I make soap the old-fashioned way. I cook it the way my mom and all my grandmothers before her did. Only I use a crockpot instead of an open fire pit. And I make my products as natural and organic as I can. Mom didn't have to watch out for that on our farm because there were so few additives back then. Now there are so many chemicals used and you don't always know what they are for. By making my own, I control the contents.
One additive I always put in all my soaps is aloe vera, the healing plant of the desert. You can use aloe vera to keep your skin clean and hydrated. This may be because the plant thrives in dry, unstable climates. To survive the harsh conditions, the plant's leaves store water. These water-dense leaves, combined with special plant compounds called complex carbohydrates, making it an effective skin moisturizer with many other properties.
My personal resume includes over 21 years as a business owner in cosmetology that included hair, skin, nails, I also have a degree in science that is very handy making soap.