DIY Beauty – Exfoliating Homemade Soaps

Natural exfoliants can be found in many things Mother Nature provides, from seeds to nut shells to sea salts. When making exfoliating soap, consider what the soap will be used for to determine what exfoliant would be best. For feet, use hard exfoliants such as sea salts or seeds. Use gentle exfoliants like oatmeal or wheatgerm for facial soaps.

Milk and Honey Exfoliating Soap

Ingredients:

1 c. oatmeal (do not use quick-cooking oatmeal)

2 lbs. shea butter melt-and-pour suspension soap

2 tbsp. buttermilk powder

2 tbsp. hot water

1 tbsp. honey

200 drops vanilla essential oil

Instructions:

1. Lightly coat square molds with sunflower oil. A sectioned brownie pan is the perfect mold.
2. Use a large knife to chop the oatmeal so the flakes are about half the original size.
3. Evenly sprinkle 1 tsp. oatmeal into each mold.
4. Cut the soap into cubes, then melt the soap in a double boiler (or use a large pan, filled half full with water and set a smaller pan inside the larger pan).
5. While the soap is melting, mix the buttermilk powder and the hot water in a small bowl. Using a cheesecloth, strain the buttermilk mixture into another bowl. This should remove any lumps.
6. Once the soap is melted, add the buttermilk mixture and honey. Stir gently to completely incorporate. Stir in ¾ c. oatmeal until it is evenly distributed. Add the vanilla essential oil.
7. Slowly pour the soap into the molds. Spray the surface of the soaps with rubbing alcohol. This eliminates any bubbles from forming.
8. Allow the soap to cool and fully harden before removing from the molds. This takes approximately one or two hours.

*This recipe yields approximately eight bars. The recipe can be divided to make smaller batches.

Berry Smoothie Exfoliating Soap

Ingredients:

2 lbs. shea butter melt-and-pour suspension soap, divided in half

1 pinch black mica powder

1 tsp. blue mica powder

1 ½ tsp. purple mica powder

2 tbsp. blueberry seeds

25 drops vanilla essential oil

250 drops black raspberry essential oil, divided in half

Instructions:

1. Lightly grease a 9x6x2-inch pan with sunflower oil.
2. Cut the soap into cubes, then melt 1 lb. of the soap in a double boiler (or use a large pan, filled half full with water and set a smaller pan inside the larger pan).
3. Once the soap is melted, remove from heat. Add the mica powders, stirring gently to thoroughly blend the ingredients. Stir in the blueberry seeds.
4. Pour the mixture into a large glass measuring cup. Stir in the vanilla essential oil and half of the black raspberry essential oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
5. In a microwave, melt the remaining soap cubes in a large glass measuring cup. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap before placing in the microwave.
6. Once the soap is melted, add the remaining half of the black raspberry essential oil. Stir gently to incorporate.
7. Pour the soaps side by side into the mold, then spray the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol to eliminate any bubbles. Swirl the two colors together, then spray the surface again with rubbing alcohol.
8. Allow the soap to cool and harden, approximately one or two hours. Remove the soap from the mold, then cut into bars.

*This recipe yields approximately six oversized bars. The recipe can be divided to make a smaller batch.

Cornmeal and Wheatgerm Exfoliating Soap

Ingredients:

½ lb. shea butter melt-and-pour suspension soap

1 tbsp. goat’s milk powder

1 tbsp. hot water

2 tbsp. yellow cornmeal, divided in half

1 tbsp. wheatgerm

100 drops sandalwood essential oil

50 drops lavender essential oil

12 drops bergamot essential oil

½ lb. olive oil melt-and-pour suspension soap

1 tsp. honey

Instructions:

1. Lightly grease square molds with sunflower oil. A separate brownie pan would work well for this recipe.
2. Cut the shea butter soap into cubes, then melt 1 in a double boiler (or use a large pan, filled half full with water and set a smaller pan inside the larger pan).
3. While the soap is melting, mix the goat’s milk powder and the hot water in a small bowl. Use a cheesecloth to strain the mixture into another small bowl. This will remove any lumps that may have formed.
4. Once the soap is melted, remove from heat. Add the goat’s milk mixture, 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal, and the wheatgerm. Stir gently to thoroughly blend the ingredients. Pour the mixture into a large glass measuring cup. Cover the cup with plastic wrap.
5. Cut the olive oil soap into cubes, place in a large glass measuring cup and melt in a microwave.
6. Once the soap is melted, add the honey and stir gently. Stir in the remaining yellow cornmeal and gently blend the ingredients.
7. Begin with the olive oil soap, layer the two soaps in the mold. Pour the olive oil soap, then spray with rubbing alcohol. Allow a thin layer of skin to form on the top of the soap, then pour a layer of the shea butter soap and spray with rubbing alcohol. Repeat this process in each mold until all the soaps have been poured.
8. Allow the soap to cool and harden completely before removing from the molds, approximately one or two hours.

*This recipe yields four to six bars of soap. The recipe can be divided to make a smaller batch.

Lemon Poppy Seed Exfoliating Soap

Ingredients:

½ lb. shea butter melt-and-pour suspension soap

1 tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp. dried lemon peel

2 tsp. poppy seeds

25 drops vanilla essential oil

100 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

1. Lightly grease a muffin pan with sunflower oil.
2. Cut the soap into cubes, then melt in a double boiler (or use a large pan, filled half full with water and set a smaller pan inside the larger pan).
3. Once the soap is melted, remove from heat. Gently stir in the turmeric powder. Add the lemon peel and poppy seed then blend thoroughly.
4. Pour the mixture into a large glass measuring cup. One by one, add the vanilla and lemon essential oils.
5. Pour the soap into the muffin pan then spray with rubbing alcohol to eliminate any bubbles.
6. Allow the soap to cool and harden before removing from the molds, approximately one or two hours.

*This recipe yields three bars of soap. This recipe can be divided to make a smaller batch.

Ocean Breezes Exfoliating Soap

Ingredients:

1 lb. olive oil melt-and-pour suspension soap

½ tsp. jojoba oil

¼ tsp. vitamin E oil

2 gel capsules kelp powder

⅛ tsp. green mica powder

¼ tsp. blue mica powder

2 tbsp. plus ¼ c. Dead Sea salt

100 drops cedarwood essential oil

50 drops tea tree essential oil

12 drops lemongrass essential oil

Instructions:

1. Lightly grease four molds (any shape) with sunflower oil.
2. Cut the soap into cubes, then melt in a double boiler (or use a large pan, filled half full with water and set a smaller pan inside the larger pan).
3. Once the soap is melted, remove from heat. Add the jojoba and vitamin E oils, stirring gently. Open the gel capsules, then add the kelp powder. Stir in the mica powders, then add ¼ cup Dead Sea salt. Stir gently to incorporate the ingredients.
4. Pour the mixture into a large glass measuring cup. Stir in the cedarwood, tea tree, and lemongrass essential oils.
5. Pour a thin layer of soap into the molds, then sprinkle a layer of Dead Sea salt onto the layer of soap. Spray with rubbing alcohol to eliminate any bubbles.
6. Stir the soap mixture then finish filling the molds with the remaining soap. Scoop any remaining salt in the measuring cup then divide among the molds.
7. Allow the soap to cool and harden before removing from the molds, approximately one or two hours.

*This recipe yields four bars of soap. It can be divided to make a smaller batch.

Spicy Floral Exfoliating Soap

 

Ingredients:

½ lb. shea butter melt-and-pour suspension soap

1 tsp. coral mica powder

½ tsp. ground cloves

2 tsp. strawberry seeds

100 drops clove essential oil

100 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Instructions:

1. Lightly grease two rectangle molds with sunflower oil.
2. Cut the soap into cubes, then melt 1 lb. of the soap in a double boiler (or use a large pan, filled half full with water and set a smaller pan inside the larger pan).
3. Once the soap is melted, remove from heat. Add the mica powder, ground cloves, and beauty beneficial strawberry Stir the mixture gently to fully incorporate.
4. Transfer the soap mixture to a large glass measuring cup. Add the clove and ylang ylang essential oils. Stir gently.
5. Pour the soap mixture into the molds. Spray with rubbing alcohol to eliminate bubbles.

*This recipe yields two bars.

About the author:

Isabelle Clover is a health food champ and a stay-at-home-mom. Isabelle spends much of her time raising her son and teaching him about healthy eating and caring for the environment.