Best additive to mimic sand?

[toxikon]

Howdy fine folks!

I am planning out a soap design to give out as wedding favours for my upcoming wedding!

I'm thinking a gradient blue with "sand" at the bottom, like a beach.

What additive would be best to add to the yellow "sand" layer to make it look speckled? Pumice? Something else?

 

[Saponificarian]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Blessings on your marriage.

 

[toxikon]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Blessings on your marriage.

Thank you so much! It's in May, coming up fast. We're getting married in Mexico. We are beyond thrilled and excited for this! I thought a "beach soap" would definitely be suitable, hehe.

 

[lsg]

You could use yellow oxide to color the bottom layer of soap.

 

[toxikon]

You could use yellow oxide to color the bottom layer of soap.

I guess I'm looking more for suggestions on achieving the speckled look. I have some fab yellow micas from Nurture that should cover the yellow part!

 

[Saponificarian]

Of course you are excited, it’s exciting!

Aww! A spring wedding Nice . Let bug off now and let knowledgeable folks answer your question.

 

[dixiedragon]

I think I saw some really good ones that used finely ground oatmeal. Cornmeal would be good too.

 

[artemis]

What additive would be best to add to the yellow "sand" layer to make it look speckled? Pumice? Something else?

I like turmeric. The color ends up a sandy yellow with speckles.

 

[shunt2011]

I would use finely ground oatmeal or fine pumice.

 

[toxikon]

I took a peek at the scrub additives on WSP, and finely ground walnut shell powder seems like a nice option: http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/products/walnut-shell-powder.aspx

Anyone tried that before?

 

[jewels621]

I just watched a video where she used ground up calendula petals in a tan base for the sand. I hadn’t thought of that before. I have colloidal oatmeal and vanilla bean specs that I’ve been meaning to use for sand. I feel a beach soaping session coming on for me! Congrats on your impending wedding! Can’t wait to see pics!

 

[dibbles]

Congratulations on your wedding. My anniversary is in May - it's my favorite month and the weather is usually perfect (assuming you won't spend all your anniversaries in Mexico).

I was going to suggest walnut shell powder, but I see you already found that idea. I haven't used it. I have heard it can be scratchy so a little test batch might be a good idea for gauging amounts. Cinnamon maybe...I've used that before and it is scratchy. But it does make speckles.

What about jojoba beads? I don't know if they come in brown, but I think I've see them in black.

 

[Obsidian]

I was gifted a soap with very fine walnut powder. It wasn't scratchy but it's dark, probably too much for sand.

I would go with corn meal or tan jojoba beads if you can find them

 

[earlene]

I took a peek at the scrub additives on WSP, and finely ground walnut shell powder seems like a nice option: http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/products/walnut-shell-powder.aspx

Anyone tried that before?

I have only used black walnut and it's too dark; also a bit on the scratchy side. Have not used a lighter walnut and not sure how dark it would be. But even light colored walnut shells produce a very dark stain when the squirrels chew the hull off, so I am not sure I'd risk it untested for color.

 

[toxikon]

Thanks all for the recommendations! Looks like I have a few additives to try out. Maybe I'll see what I can find local and do some little test batches.

 

[scard]

At Alaina B's Soap blog she used finely ground chamomile flowers, they look great but not really yellow.
http://alaiynab.blogspot.com/2015/05/brush-embroidery-decorated-cold-process.html#more

 

[toxikon]

At Alaina B's Soap blog she used finely ground chamomile flowers, they look great but not really yellow.
http://alaiynab.blogspot.com/2015/05/brush-embroidery-decorated-cold-process.html#more

Oh hey that does look great!

 

[SoapAddict415]

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! What about corn meal? I think it might look "sandy".
Lol, I should've read the other suggestions first. I see cornmeal had already been suggested. [emoji16]

 

[Saffron]

Congratulations! May in Mexico sounds magical!
I would say a mixture of oatmeal and very light roast coffee grounds would look good and is not very abrasive.

Here's something I found on pinterest - not sure what they used for sand but it looks nice.

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/42221315239756401/
Not my work.

 

[IrishLass]

Congratulations!

I would color the 'sand' part of the soap tan and add ground oatmeal (or baby oatmeal) to it.


IrishLass