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Summer Citrus Soap Recipe with a Natural Essential Oil Blend

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May 10, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This homemade summer citrus soap recipe contains a citrus inspired natural essential oil blend of peppermint, orange and lemongrass. Formulated to be both cleansing and conditioning, this natural soap works great at tackling sweat and grime without over drying skin.

Because I have hard water and dry skin throughout the winter months, I’ve been formulating a lot of high conditioning/low cleansing soap recipes. However with the arrival of spring and the heat of summer on the way, I thought I’d create a new soap recipe with extra cleansing power. After all, real women sweat – even if we don’t like people to know about it.

Recently I’ve been dating a guy originally from the deep South. His name is Greg. He found his way to Roanoke by way of Florida on to Georgia then South Carolina. Now he’s here. He’s a carpenter now by trade. So he tends to get dirty. As such, he was super psyched about me making a homemade soap that tackles tough grit, grime and sweat. Me? well I’m psyched he actually uses homemade soap and not some surfactant infused body wash. (If you’re a soapmaker then you understand my dilemma entirely.)

Greg calls this homemade soap recipe the Florida Gators soap. To be quite frank, I don’t follow sports. And I have absolutely no idea what sport the Gators play. What I do know is that orange is their color. And seeing as how Florida is the sunshine state, Greg thought it fitting to scent this homemade soap with a blend of orange and citrus.

Where my sports education is lacking however, I was properly schooled on Jacksonville, where Greg attended college. The culture of which was all readily explained via a Katt Williams comedy show at the Florida Theater.

Shop for Handmade Artisan Soaps on Etsy.

But I digress. I made a sweet summer citrus soap recipe with natural essential oils – which is the point of this entire post. Greg helped me make it and rather enjoyed the process. (Hooray! It’s always nice to have a new partner in crime, isn’t it? Also my dog loves Greg and to me, that kind of says everything.)

So, as they like to say, without further ado, here is my summer citrus soap recipe for your soapmaking pleasure. I hope you enjoy it!

Summer Citrus Soap Recipe with Natural Essential Oils

Ingredients:

.8 oz. castor oil (5%)
4.8 oz. refined coconut oil (30%)
2.4 oz. jojoba oil (15%)
2.4 oz. mango butter (15%)
5.6 oz. pomace olive oil (35%)

4 fl. oz. distilled (or filtered) water
2 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide

1/8 teaspoon red iron oxide powder
1/8 teaspoon yellow oxide powder
.15 oz. peppermint essential oil
.15 oz. 5-fold orange essential oil
.25 oz. blood orange essential oil
.35 oz. lemongrass essential oil
Dash of petitgrain essential oil

Soap Notes:

As my summer citrus soap recipe doesn’t yield a particularly hard bar, I used a steep water discount. The water weight for this recipe is 25% of the oil weight. Additionally the super fat is 6%. While the essential oil weight is 5% of the oil weight in this recipe (based on recommended usage for these essential oils in cold process soap.)

You can use this information, if desired, to resize my summer citrus soap recipe using a lye calculator. Or to make changes to the super fat or water percentage. Learn more about using a lye calculator to adjust a homemade soap recipe or to craft your own custom homemade soap recipes with the information found in this tutorial.

Getting Started:

Begin by gathering the materials you’ll need for this soapmaking project. You will need a digital scale, a digital thermometer, an immersion blender and this 6-cavity silicone mold. Additionally, you’ll also need aluminum free, heat safe containers and utensils for mixing your soap.

You should also take necessary safety precautions when working with lye. If you are unfamiliar with making cold process soap, I recommend this soapmaking tutorial to get you started. I also offer several beginner soap recipes to try before attempting this soap including this beginner soap recipe and my palm free olive & babassu soap recipe.

Instructions:

Begin by preparing the lye solution for my summer citrus soap recipe. To do this, measure out the distilled water into a heat safe container. In a separate container, weigh out the lye called for in the recipe. Then pour the lye into the water – I recommend a well ventilated area – and mix until the lye has completely dissolved. Now set the lye-water solution aside in a safe location to cool.

While the lye solution cools, weigh out the soapmaking oils and the mango butter. Combine in a stainless steel pot. Then gently heat the oils and mango butter on the stove over low heat just until the mango butter has melted.

Remove the soapmaking oils from heat and allow to cool.

In the meantime, measure out the colorants for my summer citrus soap recipe. Then weigh out the essential oils and combine in a small glass beaker.

Once the oils have reached 90°-95°F you are ready to make soap.

Check the temperature of both the soapmaking oils and the lye solution before you begin. Both of these ingredients should be within ten degrees of one another.

Now add the red iron and yellow oxide colorants to the soapmaking oils. Mix briefly with an immersion blender to incorporate the colorant throughout the oils.

Next, pour the lye solution into the soapmaking oils and mix with the immersion blender until you reach a light trace. You’ll know you’ve reached trace when you drag the blender through the soap batter and it leaves a visible trail behind. It’s a little like pudding.

Add the essential oils to the soap batter, then continue mixing until thoroughly combined.

Once you bring the soap to a medium trace, pour the soap into each of the cavities of your mold. Then gently cover the soap with plastic wrap or parchment paper.

Set the soap aside for 24-48 hours. After this time you can unmold your summer citrus soap bars.

Allow your soap to cure for four to six weeks in a cool, dry location. After that, your homemade soaps are ready to use.

Get Creative with My Summer Citrus Soap Recipe

Once your cold process summer citrus soaps have cured, you can get creative! I was able to use one bar of my summer citrus soap to make three round orange slice soaps.

To create your own round soaps that resemble orange slices, cut one bar of the summer citrus soap in half lengthwise. Then cut each half into triangles. Set aside.

Now cut a block of clear melt and pour soap base into chunks. (The amount you use will depend on how many soaps you plan to make as well as the size of your mold’s cavities.) Combine in a Pyrex measuring cup or another heat safe container. Melt in the microwave in 20-30 second increments, stirring after each heating.

Once the clear soap base has completely melted, add a yellow liquid soap colorant to the base until you reach the desired color. (Or you could also use a liquid blue soap colorant. Go Gators!)

If desired, add a fragrance or essential oil of your choice. (I used blood orange essential oil for this step at 2% of the soap weight.) Then stir the soap to incorporate the fragrance evenly throughout the soap.

Now pour a small amount of the melt and pour soap into three cavities of a round silicone mold. Then spray the soap with isopropyl alcohol to remove any air bubbles.

Next, place the triangle soap embeds you made from the summer citrus soap into the soap you just poured. Arrange the embeds as desired.

Once the melt and pour soap base is firm – you don’t want your embeds to shift – spray the soap again with isopropyl alcohol. Then pour the remaining melt and pour soap base into the same three cavities of the mold. Fill the cavities to the top of the mold, then spray again with isopropyl alcohol to remove any air bubbles.

Once the soap has fully hardened, remove the soap slices from the mold. Then, if desired, you can bevel the edges of the soap using a potato peeler. Now simply wrap your soaps tightly in food service film to store until use.

More Homemade Soap Recipes

If you like my summer citrus soap recipe with natural essential oils, then you may also want to try my homemade blood orange soap recipe. Made using blood orange essential oil and orange powder, this summer inspired soap is painted with mica for a fun, fresh appearance.

Some of my other favorite homemade soap recipes include the following:

Or simply explore all my cold process soap recipes here. Alternately, you can find my melt and pour soap recipes here.

You can also find more homemade soap recipes by way of my DIY Bath & Body Pinterest board and my Simply Soapmaking Pinterest board. Or, if you’d rather purchase handmade soaps, you can discover a collection of my favorite handmade artisan soaps on Etsy here.

Don’t forget to stay in touch!

For more homemade bath, body, beauty and soap recipes, be sure to find and follow Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms including G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram as well as subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: blood orange, citrus, cold process recipe, cold process soapmaking, crafts, diy, gift idea, palm free soap, soap recipe, soapmaking, summer

Homemade Apple Donut Soaps for Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care

February 28, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Donuts continue to be on trend. And while your waistline may not agree with this particular trend, you can enjoy my homemade apple donut soaps without worry.

Naturally sugar free, these DIY donut soaps are made with natural apple powder to gently exfoliate and rejuvenate skin. All without any calories for your waist to worry about.

In addition, this homemade soap recipe also contains moisture rich kokum butter and shea oil making these homemade apple donut soaps a must have staple for your morning skin care routine.

Why Use Apple Powder?

Apples are naturally rich in alpha-hydroxy acids. Specifically, apples contain malic acid. Used in skin care products to reduce the visible signs of aging, malic acid exfoliates skin to remove dead skin cells, promotes skin hydration and helps keep skin clear and acne free.

Additionally, some studies suggest that using a skin care product containing both malic acid and vitamin C can help with hyperpigmentation that also comes with aging. (Source.)

I also used French green clay in the recipe for my homemade apple donut soaps in addition to the apple powder. French green clay not only gives this homemade soap its natural color, but it’s also rich in nutrients. It’s believed that this natural clay can also tone and detox skin. Clay also adds an extra creaminess to the lather.

Because aging skin tends to be dry, I carefully formulated this soap recipe so that it won’t strip your skin of all its natural oils. As it’s a low cleansing and high conditioning soap, your skin won’t feel tight or dry after use.

However you can add an extra layer of moisture to your skin after you shower if desired. If you have exceedingly dry skin I recommend applying my soothing moisture whip after bathing. (You can find my favorite moisturizer recipe here.)

If my homemade apple donut soaps sound like something your skin can benefit from, keep reading to learn how to make them yourself!

Homemade Apple Donut Soaps

Ingredients:

.8 oz. castor oil (5%)
3.2 oz. refined coconut oil (20%)
1.6 oz. kokum butter (10%)
6.4 oz. pomace olive oil (40%)
1.6 oz. safflower oil (10%)
2.4 oz. shea nut oil (15%)

4.8 fl. oz. distilled water
2.15 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide

2 Tablespoons apple powder
1 Tablespoon French green clay
1 teaspoon alpine green mica, optional
1 oz. donut or apple fragrance oil (optional) or .5 oz. essential oil of choice

Getting Started:

You’ll need to take safety precautions when making my homemade apple donut soaps. This includes wearing proper eye protection, long sleeve clothing and gloves.

Additionally, you should double check any containers you are using to be sure they are heat safe. And none of your containers or your utensils used for soapmaking should be aluminum. Stick to stainless steel, Type 5 polypropylene plastic and tempered glass to avoid a potential disaster. Also be sure to check your soapmaking equipment regularly for signs of wear and etching and replace as needed.

My recipe for homemade apple donut soaps is made using the cold process soapmaking method. If you’ve never made cold process soap, please check out my tutorial on how to make cold process soap. If this recipe then seems a little daunting to you, then I strongly encourage you to start with a beginner’s cold process soap recipe.

Instructions:

Begin by preparing the lye solution for your homemade apple soap donuts. To do this, measure out the distilled water in fluid ounces into a heat safe, non-aluminum container. Then, in a separate container, use a digital scale to weigh out the lye. Pour the lye into the container of water then mix until all of the lye has dissolved. Set aside.

Next, weigh out the carrier oils and kokum butter. Combine in a separate heat safe container or stainless steel pot. Heat either in the microwave (for non-metal containers) at 50% power or over medium-low to medium heat on the stove top. Once melted remove the soapmaking oils from heat and set aside to cool.

While you are waiting for the lye-water and the soapmaking oils for your homemade apple donut soaps to cool, weigh out the (optional) fragrance or essential oil and set aside. You should also use a measuring spoon to measure out the apple powder, French green clay and (optional) green mica powder.

When both the lye-water and the soapmaking oils have cooled to around 90°-95°F, you’re ready to make soap.

Start by adding the apple powder, clay and mica to the soapmaking oils. Mix briefly with an immersion blender until the powders are evenly distributed throughout the oils.

Then carefully pour the lye-water into the soapmaking oils. Mix with with your immersion blender until the soap reaches a light trace. Then add the fragrance oil. Continue mixing until the fragrance oil is fully incorporated into the soap batter.

Once the soap has again reached a light to medium trace, pour the soap into a donut silicone mold.

Cover the mold with plastic cling wrap or parchment paper if desired, then set aside in a safe location where it won’t be disturbed. Your homemade apple donut soaps should be ready to unmold 24-48 hours later.

Once removed from the mold, allow your soaps to cure for four weeks. After your homemade donut apples soaps have cured, you can add the melt and pour soap “icing.”

Adding Icing to Your Homemade Apple Donut Soaps

Now that your homemade apple donut soaps have cured and the excess moisture has evaporated you can add the decorative icing! For the icing I used a combination of both clear and white melt and pour soap bases. However, you can use one or the other as it suits you.

To achieve the look of my iced homemade apple donut soaps, you will need both a clear and white melt and pour soap base, sparkle pink mica and a mauvey gem or purple mica powder. You will also need a container of rainbow nonpareils candy sprinkles.

Cut a large chunk of both the clear and melt and pour soap bases into smaller cubes. Then place the clear melt and pour soap base into a 2-cup glass measuring cup and the white melt and pour soap base into a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Heat each base separately in the microwave in 20-30 second increments until melted. Then remove from heat.

Stir the sparkle pink mica to suit into the clear melt and pour soap base. Then stir the purple mica to suit into the white melt and pour soap base (for a pastel accent.) Allow to cool. When the soap starts to form a skin on the top, restir.

Now turn each of the homemade apple donut soaps upside down and dip the tops into the pink melt and pour soap base one at a time. If the color of the icing isn’t dark enough, you can add a bit more mica and/or dip the soaps into the melted soap a second time until desired look is achieved.

Once all of the soaps have pink icing, you can add a drizzle of purple icing and candies to your soaps. Simply remix the purple melt and pour soap and drizzle over the top of each of your homemade apple donut soaps.

After drizzling purple soap onto each of your donut soaps, sprinkle the rainbow nonpareils candy sprinkles into the freshly poured soap before it cools completely.

Once the melt and pour soap has cooled completely your homemade apple donut soaps are complete! Simply wrap each of your homemade soaps tightly in foodservice film for personal use or gifting.

If you enjoyed my soapmaking tutorial for crafting your own homemade apple donut soaps, then you may also like my other skin care recipes for making my homemade green apple soaps with apricot kernel oil, my homemade donut soaps with watermelon powder and my solid salt scrub donuts.

Or check out this collection of 22 homemade soap recipes you can make and gift via Pinterest! (Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest here.)

Buy Homemade Donut Soaps & Bath Bombs

Not 100% certain about making my homemade apple donut soaps? No worries. There are a lot of wonderful artisan soapmakers you can purchase both homemade donut soaps and bath bombs from on Etsy. Following is a collection of my favorite donut bath and body products.

Apple Donut Bath Bombs from Wick and Lather (pictured above)
Chocolate Sprinkle Donut Soap from LoveLee Soaps
Chocolate Mini Donut Soap Soap from AJ Sweet Soap
Chocolate Cherry Donut Bath Bomb from The Little Soap Store
Donut Lovers Soap Gift Set from Sassy Muggins
Lavender Mint Bath Bomb Donut from Blue Violet Soaps

Mermaid Bath Donut from Happy Hippie Soul (pictured above)
Unicorn Donut Bath Bomb from L’apothicaire Plush Co.
Donut Bath Bomb with Soap Frosting from Orange Door Gifts & More
Donuts & Coffee Mineral Mud Soap Bar from Urban Whip
Strawberry Vanilla Donut Bakery Soap from Heritage House Co.
Sweet Treats Donut Bath Bomb from Wildwood Bath Co.

More Bath & Beauty Recipes You May Enjoy

Homemade Bath Melts Recipe via Lia Griffith (pictured above)
Homemade Rosemary Lotion Recipe via Lia Griffith
Non-Greasy Matcha Green Tea Body Butter Recipe via Everything Pretty
Basic Bastille Soap Recipe with Essential Oils via Everything Pretty
Natural Strawberry Banana Soap Recipe via The Nourished Life
Foaming Ginger & Turmeric Face Polish Recipe via Soap Deli News

Discover more from Soap Deli News!

To be informed of future soapmaking recipes and projects, be sure to follow Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms! You can find me on Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram as well as subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Also, don’t forget. If you make homemade soaps or bath & body products I’d love to see them! Simply add the hashtag #soapdelishowoff to your instagram posts!

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, crafts, diy, donut, gift idea, melt and pour soapmaking, palm free soap, soap tutorial, soapmaking

Natural Shaving Soap Recipe with Lanolin for a Smooth, Skin Hydrating Eco-friendly Shave

February 25, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Learn how to make a skin hydrating natural shaving soap for a smooth, eco-friendly shave — even if you have sensitive skin! A wonderful addition to your natural skin care routine, this homemade shaving soap recipe is made with skin conditioning shea butter and lanolin, a humectant, to help lock in moisture and aid in glide. Keep reading to learn how to craft your own lanolin shaving soap recipe, plus discover more ways to get a green friendly shave!

Many modern day shaving creams don’t deliver a close shave like traditional shaving soaps. Even worse, their aerosol based packaging is bad for the environment. Making the switch to a homemade shaving soap is a more environmentally friendly choice. My natural shaving soap recipe is not only a great green alternative, but it’s also budget conscience so you save money in the long run over purchasing a commercial product.

Shaving soaps have been around since the 1800’s and, of course, were exclusively used by men. However, as conventions changed and women began shaving as well, we were eventually introduced to shaving creams.

Why Use a Natural Shaving Soap with Lanolin?

While traditional shaving soaps are still used by a smaller part of the population, they are making a comeback. And with good reason. Not only do shaving soaps allow for increased hydration and a closer shave, they are also more environmentally friendly than shaving cream. So if you’re ready to start making greener changes to your lifestyle, homemade shaving soaps are an easy adjustment and a great way to make a small, but cumulative difference.

In addition to reducing packaging and aerosols, my natural shaving soap recipe is eco-friendly in another way. Because this natural shaving soap recipe is palm free, it doesn’t contribute to the deforestation of the rainforests. In addition to the environmental effects this has on the earth, it also threatens the habitats of endangered animals like orangutans and Sumatran tigers.

Learn more about the use of palm oil in soapmaking.

Ingredients that I do include in my homemade shaving soap recipe are lanolin and neem oil. I use lanolin for its moisturizing properties. Not only does lanolin prevent skin from drying out with repeated shavings, it also lends to a rich, creamy lather that helps prevent knicks and razor burn.

Learn more about the benefits of lanolin in skin care.

Neem oil on the other hand helps to promote skin health and speed up healing times should irritation or knicks occur.

Learn about the skin care benefits of neem oil.

Ready to give my natural shaving soap a try to see the difference it can make for your skin? Find my cold process soap recipe and instructions below!

Natural Lanolin Shaving Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

.8 oz. castor oil (5%)
4.8 oz. refined coconut oil (30%)
.8 oz. lanolin (5%)
6.4 oz. pomace olive oil (40%)
1.6 oz. shea butter (10%)
1.6 oz. neem oil (10%)

4.8 fl. oz. distilled water
2.15 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide

1 oz. patchouli essential oil
.5 oz. lavender essential oil

Instructions:

You’ll need to take safety precautions when making my natural shaving soap recipe. This includes wearing proper eye protection and gloves as well as long sleeves. Additionally, you should use only heat safe containers. None of your containers or your utensils used for soapmaking should be aluminum as when aluminum comes into contact with lye it produces a toxic gas.

My natural shaving soap recipe is made using the cold process soapmaking method. If you’ve never made cold process soap, be sure to check out my tutorial on how to make cold process soap. If this recipe then seems a little daunting to you, then I encourage you to start with a beginner’s cold process soap recipe.

Begin by preparing your lye solution. To do this, measure out the distilled water in fluid ounces into a heat safe, non-aluminum container. Then, in a separate container, use a digital scale to weigh out the lye. Pour the lye into the container of water then mix until all of the lye has dissolved. Set aside.

Next, weigh out the carrier oils, lanolin and shea butter and combine in a separate heat safe container or stainless steel pot. Heat either in the microwave (for non-metal containers) at 50% power or over medium-low to medium heat on the stove top. Alternately you may also use a crockpot. Once melted remove the soapmaking oils from heat and set aside to cool.

While you are waiting for the lye-water and the soapmaking oils for this natural shaving soap recipe to cool, weigh out the (optional) essential oils and set aside.

When both the aloe-lye mixture and the soapmaking oils have cooled to around 90°-95°F, you’re ready to make soap!

Pour the lye-water into the soapmaking oils then mix with an immersion blender until the soap reaches a light trace. Add the essential oils, then continue mixing until the essential oils are fully incorporated into the soap batter.

Then, once the soap has again reached a light to medium trace, pour the soap into a round silicone soap mold of your choice. Cover the mold with plastic cling wrap or parchment paper if desired, then set aside in a safe location where it won’t be disturbed.

Your natural shaving soap should be ready to unmold 24-48 hours later. Once removed from the mold, allow your shaving soaps to cure for 4-6 weeks prior to use.

More Natural Soap Recipes

If you like my natural shaving soap recipe, then be sure to try some of my other natural soap recipes.

More Shaving Soap Recipes

Palm Free Cold Process Soap Recipes

You may also enjoy some of my other natural – and palm free! – cold process soap recipes that focus on promoting skin health. Here are some of my favorites.

Natural Shaving Cream Recipe with Aloe Vera

Alternately, you may also want try my DIY shaving cream with skin soothing aloe vera. This easy recipe for homemade shaving cream is also made with other natural ingredients like vegetable glycerin, grapeseed oil and shea butter to hydrate skin and lock in moisture. It’s perfect for sensitive skin too. You can learn how to make this moisturizing homemade shaving cream recipe here.

Discover more from Soap Deli News!

To be informed of future soapmaking recipes and projects, be sure to follow Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms! You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram as well as subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Also, don’t forget. If you make homemade soaps or bath & body products I’d love to see them! Simply add the hashtag #soapdelishowoff to your instagram posts!

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Soapmaking Tagged With: cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, crafts, diy, eco-friendly, green, lanolin, moisturizing, neem oil, palm free soap, shaving soap, skin care, soap tutorial, soapmaking

Aloe Vera Soap Recipe with Neem Oil

February 15, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

If you commonly turn to aloe vera to soothe and moisturize your skin, then add this soap recipe to your weekend to do list now! Formulated using natural ingredients, my cold process aloe vera soap recipe uses aloe vera gel in place of water for its natural skin care benefits.

If you read my recipe for making aloe vera bath melts, then you’ll recall that in Ayurvedic medicine aloe vera is used to tackle skin issues like eczema and psoriasis. Additionally, in part due to its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera also helps to promote healing, moisturize and soothe dry skin and can even aid in the prevention of acne.

Like aloe, neem oil, is also prized for its anti-inflammatory properties. When used in natural skin care products, neem oil addresses skin conditions such as eczema, acne, ringworm, cold sores, psoriasis, warts, infected burn wounds and slow-healing skin ulcers. It has also been shown to help control various skin infections.

While the natural nutty garlic like scent of neem oil is not typically one someone might enjoy, the amount of neem oil used in my aloe vera soap recipe is easily masked with the inclusion of either an essential oil or a fragrance oil in the recipe.

Aloe Vera Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

.8 oz. castor oil (5%)
4 oz. refined coconut oil (25%)
1.6 oz. neem oil (10%)
4.8 oz. pomace olive oil (30%)
3.2 oz. safflower oil (20%)
1.6 oz. (fractionated) shea nut oil (10%)

5.25 oz. aloe vera gel
2.2 oz. sodium hydroxide/lye

.5 oz. essential oil (or 1 oz. fragrance oil) of choice
1 teaspoon apple moss green mica, optional

Soap Notes:

Safety first! Before you begin make sure to take all necessary safety precautions when working with lye. This includes wearing eye protection and gloves. Additionally, you should use only heat safe containers. None of your containers or your utensils should be aluminum.

My aloe vera soap recipe is made using the cold process soapmaking method. If you’ve never made cold process soap, you can learn how it’s made via my cold process soapmaking tutorial. If you’ve never made cold process soap or worked with lye, I don’t recommend my aloe vera soap recipe as your first recipe. Instead, start with a beginner’s soap recipe like this one.

I specifically used this apple moss green mica powder from Brambleberry in my aloe vera soap recipe. However, you can use any cold process soap stable mica powder of your choice based on the color you’d like you soap to be. For the scent, I used a rose quartz fragrance oil also from Brambleberry, which does cause some acceleration in cold process soap.

I superfatted the oils in my aloe vera soap recipe at 6%. The additional fat from the aloe vera gel is not included in that total. This recipe yields six hard, skin conditioning aloe vera soap bars when using this rectangle silicone mold.

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the aloe vera gel into a heat safe container. (I recommend starting with chilled aloe vera gel.) Then, in a separate container, weigh out the lye. Pour the lye into the aloe vera gel and mix well. Keep mixing until all of the lye has dissolved, then set aside to cool.

Next, weigh out the soapmaking oils and combine in a stainless steel pot or heat safe container. Heat on the stove top or at reduced power in a microwave or crock pot until melted. Remove from heat, then set aside to cool. When both the aloe-lye mixture and the soapmaking oils have cooled to around 90°-95°F, you’re ready to make soap!

If you are using mica powder to color your soap, measure out the mica powder and mix into the cooled oils using an immersion blender. Then weigh the essential or fragrance oil and stir into the oils as well. (As the fragrance oil I used accelerates trace, I chose to add the fragrance oil prior to adding the aloe-lye mixture. However, you can add your chosen fragrance or essential oil at light trace if desired.)

Now pour the aloe-lye into the soapmaking oils and mix with an immersion blender until you reach trace.

Once your soap has traced, pour the soap batter into the cavities of your silicone mold. Cover the mold with plastic cling wrap if desired, then set aside in a safe location where it won’t be disturbed.

Your aloe vera soap bars should be ready to unmold the next day. If not, give them another day before unmolding.

Once you’ve unmolded your soap bars, set them aside in a dry location for a minimum of four weeks to cure. Then wrap and label as desired for personal use of gifting.

More Natural Skin Care Recipes

If you love my aloe vera soap recipe then you may also enjoy these other natural skin care and homemade soap recipes.

Or discover more recipes for natural skin care products and homemade soaps by following my boards on Pinterest.

Want to Sell Your Homemade Products?

If you’d like to sell any of the homemade products you make from my natural skin care and soap recipes, you’ll need to follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) when making your products. You’ll find that the book, Good Manufacturing Practices for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters by Marie Gale, is a valuable resource if you’re just getting started making your own homemade soaps, skin care products and cosmetics.

In addition to GMP, you’ll also need to follow FDA guidelines for labeling your products. If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations regarding labeling cosmetics, the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English by Marie Gale, spells out everything you need to know to legally label your handcrafted products.

Naturally Clean Your Home Not Just Your Skin

Hunting for more affordable, convenient and natural ways to clean your home? Check out Grove Collaborative! I recently became a Grove Collaborative member and have been super impressed with not just their natural products selections and prices, but their A+ service and shipping times as well. And I love how the products they sell help to make it easier for families to make the switch to healthy, non-toxic home and personal care products.

Don’t Miss A Single Post!

Be sure to follow me across all of your favorite social media platforms! You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram as well as subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Also, don’t forget. If you make homemade soaps or bath & body products I’d love to see them! Simply add the hashtag #soapdelishowoff to your instagram posts!

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: aloe vera, bath and body, cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, crafts, diy, eczema, natural, natural soap, neem oil, palm free soap, skin care, soap tutorial, soapmaking, sunburn

Natural Calendula Soap Recipe for Healthy Looking Skin After 40

February 6, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This natural calendula soap recipe is handcrafted with skin nourishing ingredients that promote skin health. Calendula hydrosol, calendula powder and chia seed oil are key ingredients for healthy looking skin. Natural shredded loofah is also included for its gentle exfoliation that leads to brighter, smoother skin.

I had the unfortunate realization today, while reading an article on another blog, that I am a mid-lifer. I mean, mid-lifers are my parents right? Unfortunately, that is not the case. My parents, who are in fact baby boomers, are well into retirement. Which I guess means I am ~~old~~ awesome.

I remember being in high school thinking that my parents were terribly old. That middle age was something you shrunk away from rather than revered. And I had this insane misguided notion that I would die by 28, tragically perhaps, like a rockstar stolen from life in her prime. And I would never. Ever. Grow old.

These days I’m thrilled that I’ve made it to 42. And that all my body parts appear to still be intact. However, my body and mind are having quite the disagreement over how old I REALLY am. And if you’re over 40, then you know exactly what I mean.

While I’m still put together physically speaking, mechanically not everything is running quite as smoothly as it once did. And of course nothing looks quite the same either. My skin especially requires constant upkeep that wasn’t required during my youth.

Not only is my skin drier throughout the year (not just in the winter,) but there are of course those devilish fine lines, wrinkles and the occasional age spots. And skin tags. Maybe. (I exfoliate those suckers off with a hefty dose of scrubs and Retinol.)

So in addition to moisturizing my skin on a regular basis, I also use a low cleansing homemade soap. So instead of stripped my skin like commercial bar soap, it nourishes and replenishes it instead. But being a soapmaker, I hate to use the same soap over and over again. So I mix it up with new recipes one after another. (I’m convinced each bar is somehow in silent competition with the other while I sleep. However I love something unique about each one. They are my children after all.)

My natural calendula soap is the latest to be added to this series of soap recipes. Formulated to be both low cleansing and gentle, my natural calendula soap recipe also has high skin conditioning properties so it’s perfect for maturing and/or dry skin. (Now my only problem is to remember where I left it. And how the heck did my car keys end up in the refrigerator?!)

Calendula Skin Care Benefits

Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is a popular herb that grows annually throughout most of the world. It is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its antimicrobial and antiviral effects which help to promote healing.

When used in skin care applications, calendula can not only soothes sore, inflamed and itchy skin, but it also speeds healing time for minor wounds. Additionally, calendula infused oil works wonders for dry, chapped skin.

Not only does it moisture and soothe dry skin, but it’s also helpful when used on many problematic skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. (You can learn more about calendula here.)

Natural Calendula Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

4 oz. refined coconut oil (25%)
6.4 oz. pomace olive oil (40%)
2.4 oz. safflower oil (15%)
1.6 oz. shea nut oil (10%)
1.6 oz. chia seed oil (10%)

4.8 fl. oz. calendula hydrosol
2.2 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide

2 Tablespoons calendula flower powder
2 Tablespoons shredded loofah
.5 oz. essential oil (or 1 oz. fragrance oil)

Instructions:

Before you begin, you’ll need to make sure you take all necessary safety precautions when working with lye. This includes wearing eye protection and gloves as well as ensuring none of your containers or utensils are made from aluminum.

You will follow my cold process soapmaking tutorial in order to make this soap. (If you’ve never made homemade soap, I recommend starting with a beginner’s soap recipe which you can find here.)

My natural calendula soap recipe has a 30.5% water discount and 6% superfat. It will yield six homemade soap bars when using this rectangle silicone mold.

Begin my measuring out the calendula hydrosol in fluid ounces into a heat safe container. Then using a digital scale (I recommend this Bakers Math Scale) weigh out the lye. Slowly pour the lye into the hydrosol and stir until it has completely dissolved. Set aside to cool.

Once the lye-hydrosol and soapmaking oils reach about 90°-95°F, you’re ready to make soap!

Measure out the calendula flower powder and shredded loofah, then mix them into the soapmaking oils using an immersion or stick blender.

Then slowly pour the lye-hydrosol into the soapmaking oils and mix with your stick blender until you reach a light trace.

Weigh out the essential oil (or fragrance oil) of your choice and add to the soap batter. Then continue mixing to fully incorporate the scent. Once you reach a medium trace, pour the soap batter into your soap mold.

Cover the mold with plastic cling wrap if desired, then set aside in a safe location where it won’t be disturbed.

Your natural calendula soaps should be ready to unmold 24-48 hours later.

Once you’ve unmolded your homemade soaps, set them aside in a cool location for a minimum of four weeks to cure. Then wrap and label as desired for personal use of gifting.

More Natural Skin Care Recipes

Did you enjoy my natural calendula soap recipe? Then you’ll also love my natural calendula herbal balm recipe. This natural skin care recipe promotes healing with the power of calendula when used on minor cuts, bruises & insect stings. Find the recipe here.

Like my natural calendula soap recipe, my soothing moisture whip recipe is another great skin care product for nourishing and moisturizing dry or mature skin.

Crafted using natural ingredients, this ultra luxe moisturizer has a fluffy, cloud like texture that melts instantly into skin when applied. Skin soothing butters, aloe vera and witch hazel extract offer rich moisture that promotes skin health while a calming essential oil blend lends its aromatherapeutic properties. Get the recipe here.

Naturally Clean Your Home Not Just Your Skin

Looking for more affordable, convenient and natural ways to clean your home? Then you must check out Grove Collaborative! I recently became a member and have been super impressed with their service, natural products selections, prices and shipping times. Plus their products help to make it easier for families to make the switch to healthy, non-toxic home and personal care products.

Right now you can receive a free Mrs. Meyer’s Trio + Grove Walnut Scrubber Sponges when you sign up for the Grove Collaborative! They’re currently in gear for spring and are putting together some of the cleanest and greenest sets dedicated to making your home healthy and beautiful! I promise you will absolutely LOVE them! Learn more here.

Don’t Miss A Single Post!

Also, don’t forget. If you make homemade soaps or bath & body products I’d love to see them! Simply add the hashtag #soapdelishowoff to your instagram posts!

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Soapmaking Tagged With: anti-aging, calendula, cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, crafts, diy, moisturizing, natural soap, palm free soap, skin care, soap for dry skin, soap recipe, soap tutorial, soapmaking