
Activated Charcoal Facial Soap Recipe for Acne Prone Skin
This natural activated charcoal facial soap recipe for acne prone skin is crafted with clay, essential oils and activated charcoal to detox skin, calm inflammation and aid in acne prevention. Keep reading to learn more about the natural ingredients used to craft this DIY facial soap. Plus how to make your own charcoal facial soap recipe to use as part of your daily skin care routine for acne prevention.
Formulating a charcoal facial soap recipe.
If you’re like me, you have regular breakouts due to those monthly and unwelcome, hormone changes. However, as someone with both combination and maturing skin, I wanted to create a homemade facial soap recipe that would not only help to curb the “adult” acne, but also wouldn’t strip my entire face of completely of oil. This is especially important during winter when I tend to have overly dry cheeks despite an oily t-zone. Therefore I created a natural activated charcoal facial soap recipe that provides the perfect combination of skin loving ingredients with acne fighting prevention.
About the ingredients in my charcoal facial soap recipe.
Activated charcoal.
The activated charcoal in my activated charcoal facial soap recipe works to gently draw out impurities in the skin, removing dirt, grime and environmental toxins.
Essential oils.
I also included two essential oils prized for their anti-acne skin care benefits. They are lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil. In addition to its antibacterial properties, lavender essential oil also has anti-inflammatory benefits when used in skin care. Therefore, lavender essential oil not only fights the bacteria that can cause acne, it also helps to soothe and calm skin. In addition, tea tree essential oil, also lends to acne prevention due to its antibacterial properties.
Spirulina powder.
My charcoal facial soap recipe also includes spirulina powder. Also known as blue/green algae, this powder is naturally rich in vitamins and minerals that help to nourish skin.
Moroccan Rhassoul clay.
Similarly to activated charcoal, clay also helps to draw out oil and toxins. Therefore I chose to use red Moroccan rhassoul clay in my charcoal facial soap recipe. This mineral rich clay has a higher magnesium and silica content than other natural clays, making it especially useful for facial treatments and skin care.
Natural botanicals.
Rosehips powder also makes a lovely addition to my charcoal facial soap recipe. This ingredient is prized for its natural antioxidant and anti-aging skin care properties. While chamomile powder is added to soothe skin inflammation.
Carrier oils & butters.
Coconut oil is used in this facial soap for its cleansing power. However, I’ve also included a combination of carrier oils and butters for their skin conditioning properties. These natural soap making ingredients shea butter and jojoba oil, grape seed oil, olive squalane and evening primrose oil. This combination of ingredients help to create a rich, luxurious charcoal facial soap recipe.
In addition, as many soap makers choose to no longer use palm oil for soap making, I formulate my charcoal facial soap recipe to be palm oil free.
Activated Charcoal Facial Soap Recipe
Ingredients:
14.4 oz. pomace olive oil
7.2 oz. refined coconut oil
7.2 oz. rice bran oil
3.6 oz. grape seed oil
1.9 oz. jojoba oil
1.4 oz. evening primrose oil
1.2 oz. shea butter
.3 oz. olive squalane oil
1 Tablespoon carnauba wax (about 9 grams)
12 fluid oz. distilled water
4.6 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide
At trace:
1 Tablespoon activated charcoal powder
1 Tablespoon spirulina powder
1 Tablespoon red Moroccan Rhassoul clay
1 Tablespoon rosehips powder
1 Tablespoon chamomile flower powder
1 oz. lavender essential oil
.15 oz. tea tree oil
Instructions:
My activated charcoal facial soap recipe fits one of my wooden loaf soap molds. (You can learn how to make your own here.) The final soap making recipe yields approximately 10-12 4.3-5 oz. bars depending on how they are cut.
You’ll need to follow my basic cold process soapmaking instructions in order to make my charcoal facial soap recipe. In addition, you should also take all necessary safety precautions, including eye protection, adequate ventilation and gloves.
Begin by measuring out 12 fluid ounces of distilled water. Pour the water into a non-aluminum, heat safe pitcher or large glass pyrex measuring cup that’s free of crazing or scratches.
Next use a digital kitchen scale to weigh out the lye. Slowly pour the lye into the water. Then stir into the distilled water until all of the lye has dissolved. Set aside to cool.
Next, weigh out the soapmaking oils, shea butter and wax. Combine in a large non-aluminum pot. Place the pot on the stove and melt at medium heat. Once until all ingredients have melted, remove from heat. Set the soap making fats aside to cool.
While the lye-water and soapmaking oils cool, you need to line your mold. (This step applies only if you are using a wooden soap mold. There is no need to line a silicone loaf soap mold.)
Then measure out the activated charcoal, spirulina powder, clay, rosehips powder and chamomile powder. Combine in a small container and set aside.
In a separate container, weigh out the essential oils and set aside.
When your ingredients reach between 110 to 115 degrees F you are ready to make soap. You’ll want to mix this soap at a slightly higher temperature due to the addition of the wax.
You can add your dry ingredients to the charcoal facial soap batter at trace. However, if you are concerned about a fast trace in which thoroughly incorporating all of the dry ingredients may prove challenging, stir the dry ingredients into the soap making fats prior to adding the lye. Then use an immersion/stick blender to mix the dry ingredients in the oils.
Now slowly pour the lye-water into the soapmaking oils and stir with an immersion/stick blender until you reach a light trace. At that point, stir in the essential oils. You would also need to add the dry ingredients at this point if they weren’t added previously. Mix again with the stick blender until you reach a medium to heavy trace. Then pour the soap batter into your prepared soap mold.
Cover the mold, and if using a wooden loaf soap mold, insulate the charcoal facial soap. Set aside for 24 hours.
After the insulation period, unmold the activated charcoal facial soap and cut into bars. (Learn how to make a loaf soap cutter here.) Then set your facial soap bars in a cool, dry location to cure for 4-6 weeks prior to use.
Looking for cute labels for your homemade charcoal facial soaps? The cigar band labels pictured on these homemade soap bars are from Lilac & Lavender Blog. For your convenience, I’ve created a pdf file using these designs to create printable cigar band soap labels. Just print (in landscape format,) cut and wrap! (Download the printable lavender cigar band soap labels here.)
More facial soap recipes.
If you like my charcoal facial soap recipe, then be sure to also try this similar soap recipe. A more traditional acne soap recipe with lavender & tea tree soap also contains activated charcoal powder. However, there are fewer ingredients called for in that charcoal facial soap recipe.
You can also try one of these other homemade facial soap recipes:
- Activated Charcoal Two-in-One Facial Scrub & Cleanser Recipe
- Activated Charcoal Liquid Soap Facial Cleanser Recipe
- Natural Carrot Complexion Cold Process Soap Recipe
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23 Comments
Duni
August 30, 2013 at 12:50 am
I love lavender! This sounds like the perfect soap for my hubby 🙂
Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Melissa @ Hilltophausfrau
August 30, 2013 at 11:51 am
You are always so generous by sharing your recipes! This sounds like the perfect antidote to a long day…thanks for sharing!
Lily
September 16, 2013 at 9:51 am
Thanks so much,love all you shared with us.
I’m from Puerto Rico.God bless Your hands and talents.
Love soapmaking,Lily
Shrapnel
September 23, 2013 at 6:55 pm
I’m disappointed that you’re using squalane oil, as it’s primary source is from shark livers. Not only are sharks over-fished due to the ever-popular shark fin soup, but that makes this recipe not vegan… which is pretty unfortunate.
Rebecca D. Dillon
September 23, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Per the recipe, I specifically use olive squalane, which is not derived from sharks. It is actually vegetable squalane obtained from olives, not animals.
Shrapnel
September 23, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Nevermind, I apparently didn’t look it up properly.. “olive squalane” is vegan.
Kristen
October 21, 2013 at 12:32 am
Hi i’m just start to make soap again and i have to start getting a variety of oils just to cut back on how many i need i was wondering could i substitute the pomace olive oil for regular olive oil.
thankyou
aritapark
November 16, 2013 at 8:56 am
I’m going to try my first soap making with this recipe.
I have some good quality lavender flowers at home, can I add it on to this soap?
Rebecca D. Dillon
November 16, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Of course. But keep in mind they will make our soap scratchy so if you’re using it on your face I would not add a lot especially if you have sensitive skin.
vivian bailey
January 14, 2014 at 12:56 am
How can I make a very simple black soap Few ingredeints as possible? Trying to make soap as cheap as possible.
Kathy
January 21, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Have a customer that is really suffering with acne and wants a natural product. Would it be acceptable for me to make this and sell it to her. I could change out a few things to make it my own if that would make it more appropriate. I am just concerned at finding her the right soap for her needs. She has been to several doctors and the treatments have been expensive. I want to find something to help her if I can. Thanks.
Rebecca D. Dillon
January 22, 2014 at 3:23 pm
Of course. 🙂
Georgia
March 12, 2014 at 7:34 pm
I was wondering if the charcoal bleeds when using?
Rebecca D. Dillon
March 13, 2014 at 5:01 pm
What do you mean by bleed? The lather is almost fully white with just a tinge of gray in it. It doesn’t stain.
Anna
May 9, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Hi! I am wondering if the ph in your recipe is mild? ( I have experienced regular bars being to harsh on my face. ) thanks for sharing!
Rebecca D. Dillon
May 10, 2014 at 12:12 pm
Handmade soaps have a PH generally between 7-10 assuming they are made correctly and are not lye heavy. I superfatted this at 6%. After 6 weeks of curing I’d assume the PH would be somewhere around 8, although you’d need to test with PH strips to be sure. I do not do this.
Aiden James
May 23, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Could this soap be used as a body bar?
Rebecca D. Dillon
May 23, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Yes.
Agneta
June 4, 2014 at 8:13 am
Hi!
I made this soap but it didnt turn out so good. So I put the ingredients through a soap table, which said lye 375 g and water 130g. But your recipe it’s the opposite. Is there a mix up?
Rebecca D. Dillon
June 4, 2014 at 5:29 pm
The weight for lye is 4.6 oz./approx. 130 grams and for the water is 12 oz./approx. 340 grams. The amounts are correct. You are always going to have more water/liquid than lye. Without knowing how your batch turned out or the amounts you used – since you’re converting to grams – I’m not able to offer more insight.
Tyfani H.
September 7, 2014 at 1:27 pm
Is there a place to buy this soap already made?
Rebecca D. Dillon
September 7, 2014 at 2:34 pm
I’m no longer selling this bar, however I do hope to have my Lavender & Tea Tree Activated Charcoal Soap in my shop towards the end of fall.
sochith
October 23, 2014 at 11:51 pm
I want to make a soap for sensitive acne skin. Any recommendations?
Thank you. 🙂
Comments are closed.