Hawaiian Red Sea Salt & Red Palm Soap Recipe

This homemade red palm soap recipe is made using virgin red palm oil which is naturally high in Vitamin E and antioxidants and mineral rich Hawaiian Alaea Red Sea Salt.

Red palm oil – also known as palm fruit oil, virgin palm oil and palm butter – lends soaps a beautiful orange color. I was able to buy a 16 fl. oz. jar of red palm oil from my local Fresh Market – a 16 fl. oz. container gives you just enough to create this red palm soap recipe – however if you aren’t able to source it locally Mountain Rose Herbs carries sustainable virgin palm (fruit) oil.

Hawaiian Red Salt is a blend of natural sea salt from the Pacific that gets its natural red color when blended with red clay found in the region. It contains nineteen trace minerals and electrolytes including digestible dietary iron. I also found the Hawaiian Red Alaea Salt at Fresh Market but it is, as well, available from Mountain Rose Herbs.

I also used GMO free safflower and sunflower oils for this red palm soap recipe. Safflower oil is prized for its moisturizing properties and the high amount of linoleic acid while sunflower oil is high in oleic acids and vitamins A, E and D making it a great choice for dry, weathered, aged, and damaged skin.

Hawaiian Red Sea Salt & Red Palm Soap Recipe

© Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen

Ingredients:

12.6 oz. red palm oil (red palm butter/palm fruit oil)
3.6 oz. GMO free sunflower oil
3.6 oz. GMO free safflower oil
1.8 oz. castor oil
7.2 oz. refined (76° melt point) coconut oil
7.2 oz. pomace olive oil

11.8 oz. distilled water
4.86 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide

2.25 oz. fragrance oil, optional
2 Tablespoons Hawaiian Red Salt
2 Tablespoons kaolin (white cosmetic) clay, optional
2 Tablespoons titanium dioxide powder, optional
activated charcoal powder (for pencil line), optional

Soap Notes:

Water as % of oils = 33%
8% superfat
1 oz. fragrance oil per pound

The oils were used at the following percentages: Virgin red palm oil=35%, sunflower oil=10%, safflower oil=10%, castor oil=5%, coconut oil=20% and olive oil at 20%.

This cold process wine soap recipe yields 10-12 bars around 4 oz. each and fits inside my DIY wooden loaf soap mold.

Instructions:

You’ll need to follow your cold process soapmaking instructions to make this cold process red palm soap recipe. (If you’ve never made cold process soap before you can find a great, inexpensive beginner’s cold process soap recipe here.) Be sure to take proper safety precautions when working with lye including goggles and gloves.

Begin by measuring out the distilled water in fluid ounces. Pour into a heat safe pitcher. Using a digital scale you’ll now weigh out the lye. Slowly pour the lye into the water in a well ventilated area and stir until all of the lye has dissolved. Now set the lye-water aside to cool.

Now weight out the soapmaking oils using a digital scale and combine in a stainless steel pot. Heat over medium heat until melted then remove from heat and set a side to cool. (See more behind the scenes photos like this one by following me on Instagram!)

When both the lye-water and oils have cooled to 90°-95°F you’re ready to mix them together. Pour the lye-water into the liquified soapmaking oils and mix using a stick blender until you reach a light trace. Add fragrance oil if you’re using one and then mix again until well blended and soap is at a medium-heavy trace.

Pour half of the soap into your prepared mold. If you want a pencil line evenly spread a thin layer of activated charcoal on top of the soap you just poured.

With the remaining soap still in the pot add the Hawaiian red sea salt, kaolin clay and titanium dioxide. (The titanium dioxide will make the top half of the soap loaf a beautiful yellow.) Mix well to incorporate the ingredients then pour onto the top of the soap previously poured into the mold.

Level the soap with a butter knife by first running it across the width of the poured soap along the entire length of the mold. Then run it long ways down the length of the soap all the way across the width of the mold. Top with Hawaiian red sea salt if desired. Lightly cover the mold.

Allow the soap to rest for 24-48 hours before unmolding. Then unmold and cut into bars. Allow to cure 4-6 weeks before use.

For more homemade soap recipes as well as skin care and beauty DIY’s, be sure to follow my boards on Pinterest as well as visit my main website, Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen. You can also follow me on Blog Lovin’ and Tumblr as well as Facebook, Twitter, G+ and Instagram.