Homemade Almond Vanilla Clay Face Soap Bar

I grew up washing my face with Neutrogena soap. Every day, without fail. So part of me still loves a good bar of soap to wash away the day's dirt and makeup. Nowadays my skin needs something more gentle, and this goat's milk face soap bar with soft bentonite clay, almond oil, and vanilla soothes as well as cleanses.

With Mother's Day around the corner, it's a good time to pick up a block of melt and pour soap from the craft store and play around with making a big batch of soaps for gifts. I used the goat's milk glycerin soap because I love the creamy texture.

And the soap bases are perfect for getting creative with making your own skincare formulation. Here's what we used for our facial soap:

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Recipe Variations

Ingredients

Goat's milk glycerin soap: You can find 2-pound blocks of melt-and-pour soap at most craft stores. Goat's milk is naturally high in vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in butterfat, which makes it the perfect moisturizer. Vitamin E, which is beneficial to the skin, is found in abundance in this soap.

Bentonite clay: Clay makes an excellent addition for its ability to draw out impurities and dry up excess oil.

Almond oil: One of my favorite skin oils, almond oil is easily absorbed into the skin. You can substitute whatever oil you prefer if you have allergies.

Soap mold: I'm always on the hunt for easy ways to recycle, and I almost always use milk containers for my molds (like with this pink soap). A creamer container was the perfect 'loaf' shape!

Instructions

Step 1: Cut the soap mold

Cut at least three sides of the creamer container. You want the sides and bottom of the container to stay intact so you can pour in the soap. 

You can even put some fun stuff in the bottom of the container, like herbs or dried flowers, if you want something pretty at the top of your soap.

I should have put some ground almonds for exfoliation or maybe a sprinkle of cinnamon for color. I hate it when I have ideas after the fact!

Step 2: Melt the soap

Cut soap into small chunks and place them in a heat-proof bowl. Melt in the microwave in 20-second intervals.

Stir between each round to break up large chunks.

Step 3: Make paste with clay

While the soap is melting, put the clay in a separate small bowl. Add enough water to make a smooth paste.

Step 4: Add remaining ingredients to the soap

When the soap is completely melted and has stopped steaming, add the water, almond oil, essential oil, and clay paste. Whisk the soap until fluffy to combine the ingredients.

Step 5: Pour soap into the mold

Pour into your soap mold.

Also, quick note, I learned after the fact that I should have spritzed the top of my soap loaf with alcohol to get rid of the bubbles. Do that and you'll get a smoother finish.

Step 6: Let soap harden

Let the soap harden for 1-2 hours. When it's completely solidified just tear away the sides of the container.

Step 7: Cut into slices

Cut the soap loaf into whatever sizes and shapes you want and package them up for gifts.

Substitutions

Choose your clay: Different types of clay offer different benefits. For example, kaolin clay is gentle and good for sensitive skin, while bentonite clay is highly absorbent and great for oily skin.

Melt and pour soap: If you plan to use this as a face soap, I would stick with a moisturizing soap base like shea butter, olive oil, or honey.

Oils: You can also switch out a different carrier oil and essential oil for your skin type.

Recipe Variations

You can customize your clay face soap to match your skin needs:

1. For Sensitive Skin: Rose & Kaolin Clay

• Kaolin clay: Kaolin clay is very gentle and helps to cleanse the skin without drying it out, making it perfect for sensitive skin
• Rose essential oil: Rose essential oil adds a soothing fragrance and skin-calming properties.

2. For Oily Skin: Tea Tree & Bentonite Clay

• Bentonite clay: Bentonite clay is highly absorbent, making it great for drawing out oil, dirt, and impurities from the skin.
• Tea tree essential oil: Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that help to fight acne.

3. For Dry Skin: Lavender & Pink Clay

• Pink clay: Pink clay is mild and helps to hydrate the skin by locking in moisture.
• Lavender essential oil: Lavender oil not only smells relaxing but also helps to soothe dry, itchy skin.

4. For Normal Skin: Green Tea & Green Clay

• Green clay: Green clay balances skin by absorbing excess oil and providing gentle exfoliation.
• Green tea extract or matcha powder: Green tea is rich in antioxidants which protect the skin from environmental stressors.

5. For Combination Skin: Citrus & Rhassoul Clay

• Rhassoul clay: Rhassoul clay reduces dryness and flakiness while improving skin clarity and elasticity.
• Sweet orange essential oil: Great for brightening the skin and providing a refreshing scent.

Photos by Ana-Maria Stanciu

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