For some time now, natural cosmetics have been competing with the aim that products such as natural homemade soaps can be made from home that do not damage the skin with the chemical components that they usually bring.
Likewise, it is sought that you can help protect the environment by not using petroleum products, but with the active ingredients of natural products your skin feels much better, without causing allergies or side effects due to preservatives, synthetic flavors and artificial additives.
Advantages of making homemade soaps
- Free of chemicals, preservatives, colorings, additives and any toxic component for health that a regular soap could present in its composition.
- The presence of glycerin in natural soap means that your skin is always moisturized and does not dry out.
- As a treatment for acne, it is a good ally, since the vitamins and nutrients they have improve the dermis of the skin.
- Its aroma is natural, not artificial, so it is not unpleasant or strong.
- You can use it for any part of your body, as they keep your pH balanced.
Precautionary Measures When Making Homemade Soap
If you are convinced to make homemade soaps due to their great advantages, you should consider some precautions before making the soaps. Well, even if they are natural, you know that they will always touch our skin and we must do it in the best way.
First of all, you should keep children away, although it is a beautiful and recreational activity, there are many natural elements that when ingested or touched by sight can cause irritation and intoxication, so keep them as far away as possible.
You must protect yourself with all the necessary implements, since mixing soda can produce toxic gases or bleach that burns, so do it in a ventilated place and use gloves, glasses, old clothes that cover everything or an apron.
Note: vinegar neutralizes soda, keep it nearby.
Utensils needed to prepare homemade soap
- Glycerin stick and caustic soda.
- Knife, spatula, mixer, measuring spoons (preferably silicone or wood).
- Pots
- Clear cups or stainless steel mixing containers.
- Cosmetic dyes and fragrances, herbs, almond oil, bath salts, among others.
- Molds for silicone or plastic soap.
- Spray Bottles
- Food thermometer.
- Kitchen scale.
- Transparent film.
- Vinegar
- Newspaper for the work surface.
- Plastic glasses or face shield to protect your eyes and face.
- Gloves.
- Face mask.
- Dressing gown or apron.
Measurements and proportions to make homemade and natural soaps
The measurements and proportions to make natural homemade soaps will depend on the type of soap you want to make, that is, its size, color, aroma and with which natural ingredients.
Here’s how to make the different types of soap.
With caustic soda
Caustic soda is the chemical basis for the manufacture of detergent, it is not invasive on the skin when it is well prepared in soap, but in its original form it can cause burns if it comes into contact with the skin because it is highly corrosive.
Carrot soap
Carrot, as a component of a soap, contains beta-carotene, which acts as an antioxidant, protecting the skin from the sun’s UV rays.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup caustic soda.
- 1/2 cup coconut oil.
- 1/2 cup almond oil.
- 1/2 cup pureed cooked carrots.
- 1 glass of the water left over from cooking the carrots.
- 1/2 tablespoon pure honey.
Procedure
- Cook the carrot in a pot until soft.
- Pour them into another cup and mash them into puree. Then add the glass of water from cooking the carrots and mix.
- Add the caustic soda carefully, stirring the mixture gently.
- Let stand for 5 minutes
- Add the oils and honey, stir well until the consistency is increased.
- Place the mixture in silicone molds and cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
Lavender soap
Lavender soap helps moisturize the skin, relieve inflammation, regulate pH, and decrease acne.
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut oil.
- 1/2 cup almond oil.
- 1/2 cup caustic soda.
- Fresh or dried lavender flowers.
- Lavender Essence.
- 65 ml of distilled water.
Preparation
- In a bowl, place the water first and then the caustic soda and let it sit for a few minutes.
- In a pot, place the oils over low heat for a couple of minutes.
- Stir in with the caustic soda, whisking constantly, and add the lavender essence.
- In the soap mold add some flowers, then the mixture and more lavender flowers, cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
With Aloe Vera
An Aloe Vea soap has the benefits of tissue regeneration, improves acne, restores collagen, reduces scars and gives a feeling of freshness.
Ingredients
- 3 aloe vera sprigs with green skin previously removed.
- 1/2 cup coconut oil.
- 1/2 cup almond oil
- 1/2 grams of caustic soda.
- 200 grams of water.
Preparation
- In a bowl add the water and then the caustic soda and wait a few minutes.
- In a pot, heat the oil to about 38º Celsius.
- In the blender, place the oil and soda and beat at maximum power until the consistency of gelatin is left.
- Add the Aloe vera and beat for a few more seconds.
- Place the mixture in silicone molds and cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
Rosemary soap
Rosemary soap attributes anti-inflammatory properties to soothe skin discomfort.
Ingredients
- 150 ml of water.
- 1 cup dried rosemary
- 1/4 cup caustic soda.
- 2 cups olive oil or your choice.
- 1 glass of rosemary infusion.
Preparation
- In a bowl add the water and then the caustic soda and wait a few minutes.
- In a pot, bring water to a boil and when it is ready, add two tablespoons of rosemary and turn off the heat and let it act for a few minutes and then strain the water to remove the rosemary seeds from the water.
- Add the rosemary infusion to the caustic soda, continuing to mix slowly.
- After the mixture cools, add the oils and continue beating, you can use the electric mixer on a low level until it gets a creamy consistency.
- In the soap mold add a little rosemary, then the mixture and more rosemary, cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
Rosehip
Rosehip as an active component in a soap considerably improves the appearance of the skin and improves acne.
Ingredients
- 300 g of demineralized water.
- 1/2 coconut oil.
- 1/2 almond or olive oil.
- 100 gr rosehip oil.
- 1/2 caustic soda.
Preparation
- In a bowl add the water and then the caustic soda and wait a few minutes
- In a pot, place the oils (except rosehip) and heat over low heat for a few minutes until it reaches a temperature of about 40ºC, then add the mixture previously prepared with the caustic soda, while whisking.
- When you have a homogeneous consistency, add the rosehip oil and beat a little more.
- Place the mixture in silicone molds and cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
Using Used Oil
Making soap from used cooking oil is preferably used for washing clothes or dishes.
Ingredients
- Half a liter of used cooking oil.
- Half a liter of water.
- 100 gr of caustic soda.
Preparation
- In a bowl add the water and then the caustic soda and wait a few minutes
- In a pot, place the oil on the heat until it reaches about 40 degrees
- Mix the two preparations together and add an essence if you like.
No Adding Caustic Soda
Soaps that do not contain caustic a soda are more natural and retain more of their additive properties.
With Saponaria and rosehip
The Saponaria plant is a good replacement for caustic soda since its natural components facilitate the making of soaps and rosehip retains its skin-rejuvenating properties.
Ingredients
- 1 liter of water.
- 50 g of Saponaria root powder or branches.
- 100 ml olive oil.
- 100 gr rosehip oil.
Preparation
- In a pot, bring the water to a boil and when it is ready, turn off the heat and add the Saponaria branches or the powder, let it stand for an hour.
- Strain to separate the branches of the water, and add the oils to the infusion, mix everything well until you get a homogeneous mixture.
- Place the mixture in silicone molds and cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days in the refrigerator.
Orange & Glycerin
Glycerin acts as a base in soaps as it is of natural origin and is non-invasive for sensitive skin, on the contrary, it moisturizes and cleanses them.
Ingredients
- Glycerin-based soap.
- Orange zest.
- Orange oil or essence.
Preparation
- Cut the glycerin into pieces to melt it in a bain-marie, but do not boil.
- When it is ready and a little cold, add the orange zest and the oil or essence.
- Mix well until smooth.
- Place the mixture in silicone molds and cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
Glycerin & Essential Oil Soap
Essential oils have analgesic properties, so they soothe irritations or inflammations.
Ingredients
- Glycerin-based soap.
- Essential oils of your choice.
Procedure
- Cut the glycerin into pieces to melt it in a bain-marie, but do not boil.
- When it’s done and a little cold, add the essential oil.
- Mix well until smooth.
- Place the mixture in silicone molds and cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
Sulfur
Sulfur soap helps remove blackheads and acne, improving dermatitis.
Ingredients
- 25° gr. of glycerin.
- 1 tablespoon sulfur.
- 50 ml essential oil
Procedure
- Cut the glycerin into pieces to melt it in a bain-marie, but do not boil.
- When it’s done and a little cold, add the essential oil and sulfur.
- Mix well until you get a homogeneous mixture without lumps.
- Place the mixture in silicone molds and cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
Almond soap
Almond soap softens and moisturizes the skin, soothing it if there is any irritation.
Ingredients
- 25° gr. of glycerin.
- 1 tablespoon ground almonds
- 50 ml of almond oil.
- Aromatic essence.
Procedure
- Cut the glycerin into pieces to melt it in a bain-marie, but do not boil.
- When it’s done and a little cold, add the almond oil and almond powder.
- Mix well until you get a homogeneous mixture without lumps, add the aromatic essence.
- Place the mixture in silicone molds and cover with the plastic wrap.
- Let them rest for at least two days.
How to Make Homemade Liquid Soap
One of the advantages of liquid soap is that your skin does not come into contact with all the soap, but only with the soap needed to wash you, thus preventing the bacteria that we bring on our hands from accumulating in the rest of the soap that is packaged.
With a bar of soap
Ingredients
- A bar soap.
- 1/2 lit of hot water.
- A dispenser container.
- Aromatic essence (optional).
Procedure
- Grate the soap.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the hot water to the soap zest and stir until it becomes liquid.
- Add the essences.
- Packaged.
With glycerin
Ingredients
- A bar soap.
- 3 cups distilled water.
- 2 teaspoons liquid glycerin.
- A dispenser container.
- Aromatic essence (optional).
Procedure
- Grate the soap.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the hot water to the soap zest and stir until it becomes liquid.
- Add the essences and glycerin
- Packaged.
Using fennel
Fennel oil in soaps has moisturizing properties, draining cellulite and circulatory problems.
Ingredients
- A bar soap.
- 3 cups distilled water.
- 2 teaspoons liquid glycerin.
- Fennel oil.
- A dispenser container.
- Aromatic essence (optional).
Procedure
- Grate the soap.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the hot water to the soap zest and stir until it becomes liquid.
- Add the essences, glycerin, and fennel oil.
- Packaged.
