I started out wanting to make a gentle, naturally exfoliating soap bar – but then got totally carried away and made 4. Soap is so easy to customize when you use a pre-made base (like glycerin or shea butter) from the craft store. It’s like a kitchen science experiment, adding in different textures and colors. There are endless variations but here are 4 simple recipes to try.
4 Exfoliating Herbal Homemade Soap Bars
Supplies Needed
- 1/2 – 1 cup of clear glycerin soap base
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons oil (olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, etc)
- Dry ingredients (chia seeds, cornmeal, oatmeal or coffee)
- Soap mold container (I use glass storage containers)
Instructions
First, cut the glycerin into cubes and melt in the microwave. I usually do this with a Pyrex measuring cup. Let the soap cool slightly then add the oil, water and dry ingredients. Stir or whisk everything together. Keep mixing for 1-3 minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken. Then pour into your mold and let it cool and harden.
Chia Seed + Aloe
Aloe is natural skin soother and healer, and chia seeds are my new favorite exfoliators. For this version, substitute aloe vera juice for the oil and water and add 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds.
Cornmeal + Calendula
This is a great version for sensitive skin because cornmeal gently exfoliates and calendula is a natural healing herb. I used 3 tablespoons of calendula-infused oil (see how to here) and added about 1/4 cup cornmeal. The cornmeal tends to settle so make sure to whisk well.
Oatmeal + Cinnamon
Ground cinnamon adds such a gorgeous color! Add 1/4 cup of oatmeal and 1 tablespoon cinnamon to the soap base when you add the oil and water.
Coffee
I love the smell of this one! And coffee does a nice job of scrubbing away yucky odors on the hands. But it’s another one that tends to settle (or maybe I added too much). I used 1/4 cup of ground, unbrewed coffee so you might want to reduce that down to about 2 tablespoons.
What homemade soap creations have you come up with?
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How long do these soaps last?
wow, the cake looks delicious and very attractive, thank you for sharing
Wow, love this 4 ways of different soap. I am trying to turn solid soap into liquid soap as my diy project. Thanks for posting.
Good and interesting. I would like to make liquid soap. Which are the steps to do it? Thanks.
Life Living Nook has instructions on how to make liquid soap.
Jamie Woods ☺️
Muy amena e interesante la información. ¿ Que pasos debo considerar si quisiera hacer jabón líquido? Gracias.
Cna i use melt and pour goat milk base for this?
Nice will definitely try one of this
which other seed can be used apart from chia seed, and what is yoruba name for chia seed
Poppyseeds!
Awesome knowledge.
Thank you
Just wondering about adding water to the soap base never heard of that?
When you say water, can it be tap water or it has to be distilled?
After 4 years of speaking all my text messages you would think that I would know to check them before I sent them. LOL. Please excuse all the misspelled words in my last post. :-)
I have just started making soap and I Google could I use chia seeds in myself and I didn’t read down far enough to see that I could use chia seeds so I am going to make that tomorrow. I’ll let all of you know how it comes out. I’m trying to figure out what’s scent to use as chia seeds don’t have any scent to them.
This is really cool- I have sensitive skin and have never even thought of corn meal, that’s incredibly brilliant. Not looking to make soap but thinking about orange cornmeal exfoliating bars!
I want to make the coffee one with my kids for my husband for father’s day. So I think I kind of get how to do it (and I have everything I need), but I was wondering how you get that 2 toned look? Do I do soap base and coffee grounds first, let that cool, then add more soap base with the oil, water and more grounds on top of that? Like essentially melding two bars into one? Cause thats a really cool effect. It looks like a cappuccino almost.
It’s easy! The coffee grounds will naturally settle at the bottom, that’s what creates the two toned look. Have fun!
your coffee one looks amazing! does the coffee stay preserved in the soap base? x
This soap look perfect for my skin. Thank you ! I’m going to share your post on my french blog ! ;-)
Can a black skin use any of this cos am black and i love the soapfs
To avoid slippery soap; slip it inside a small mesh jewelery bag. Tie the string tight. Helps keep the soap lasting longer, too.
Hi there! I’m trying to do this with all ingredients I have at home. Any chance I can shave up a bar of Dove soap to make this with?
Love, love, love your soaps! This is one of the best blogs around!
Can I use the same recipe with Suspended Olive Oil soap base?
Yes, I think any soap base will work!
Hi!
Your soaps look yumm! Just a quick question.. Does stuff like cornmeal or oatmeal spoil while the soap is being used? Or is the fact that it is in the soap enough to keep it from spoiling?
As long as the ingredients are dry when they’re incorporated (any moisture will cause mold eventually), they won’t cause the soap to spoil. Cornmeal & oatmeal last for ages on the shelf so they’re fine in a soap!
I love using calendula in homemade soap…it’s so pretty the way it retains it’s gorgeous color! Milk, honey and calendula is a favorite. I want to take a stab at making sea salt soap, but haven’t tried yet. I hear salt is a good exfoliatiator and it just sounds like a good summer soap!
The coffee one would be excellent for a morning wake up, and it would also work wonders on cellulite!
The only problem with scrubby soaps is you have to hold the bar and move it around your skin to get a proper exfoliation, and they slip out of my hands.
I have been marinating on the idea of making my own soap bars and after seeing yours I am so making them. I’m eager to try the chia exfoliating bar and make a mint and cucumber one.
Thanks so much for sharing :)
Rocks