Coconut Oil Soap Recipe
What you will need:
- 33 oz coconut oil
- 4.83 ounces lye
- 12.54 oz water
- .5 – 1 ounce essential oils (optional)
Step 1: weigh your ingredients and turn your crockpot on to ‘low’.
Step 2: add your water to a glass or ceramic bowl and carefully add the lye to the water, mixing with a long-handled spoon. Do this in a well-ventilated area or outside and be careful not to breathe any of the fumes.
The mixture will become very hot so let it cool and go from cloudy to clear before bringing it back to your work station. Let it sit for another 10 minutes to cool as you continue working.
Step 3: You can either add your coconut oil directly to your crockpot and wait for it to melt, or put it a saucepan and heat it to 120-130 Fahrenheit. After the oil is thoroughly melted, add it to your crockpot.
Step 4: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the crockpot.
Step 5: Using an immersion blender, begin mixing the ingredients until they reach the consistency of pudding (this is called trace).
Step 6: Cover your crockpot and let it cook on low for about 45 minutes to an hour. This will depend on the heat of your crockpot so check it often. The mixture will rise up the walls a bit, but if it looks like it may overflow just give it a quick stir to bring it back down.
Step 7: You can tell that your soap is ready when it has the appearance of Vaseline (thick and semi-translucent) and it should have no oil puddled in the middle.
If you’re not confident that all the lye is converted (which is a very important step), you can PH test the mixture. It should be between 7 and 10 PH. If it’s higher than 10, it’s not yet ready and could burn the skin.
Step 8: If you’re adding essential oils you’ll want to wait until the mixture cools a bit and then fold them in. Adding them earlier can weaken the fragrance. Coconut oil pairs really well with fresh, fruity scents (think tropical), like orange or lime.
Step 9: Begin spooning your mixture into your molds. Unlike other soap recipes that need to cool for 24 hours, coconut bars will become very firm very quickly so be prepared to cut as soon as the bars are cool and firm.
Step 10: Let the bars dry on an elevated rack with good airflow. Allow them to dry and harden for a few days and then rest for 2 to 3 weeks to allow the bars to fully develop.
Voila!
Top 5 Ingredients For Handmade Soap Making
Pine Tar
Pine tar is a substance produced when the wood of pine trees is burnt. A sticky substance with a strong smell, pine tar has long been used in medicinal, homeopathic and veterinary uses to help heal a variety of issues.
Its anti-fungal and antibacterial qualities make it useful in treating symptoms associated with bug bites, poison ivy, poison oak and sumac. It has also shown promise in treating eczema flare-ups.
Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is the food source of young bees and is very high in protein. It was first introduced by beekeepers in Thailand whose apiaries were over producing and people soon discovered its benefits.
When added to soap, bee pollen acts as an effective moisturizer and helps prevent wrinkles, dry skin and cracking.
Aloe Vera
This common household plant is a cactus that grows naturally in the dry climates of Africa and India. It has been used medicinally for centuries.
The secreted gel is often used to treat minor burns and irritations since it helps skin heal quickly and prevents scarring. Aloe Vera soap is soothing to the skin, helps prevent acne and also lessens the visibility of stretch marks.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil soap is a powerful anti-microbial that will help people suffering from body acne, blemishes, body odor and from infection.
Used for many years by aboriginals in Australia to treat infections, cuts and skin abrasions, tea tree oil has now been adopted across the world for its ability to treat inflammation and bacteria.
Oatmeal
This morning meal is also incredibly beneficial to the skin. You may remember being bathed in oatmeal when you were suffering from chicken pox as a child to soothe the itch. This is because colloidal oatmeal, which is finely ground, brings itchy and inflamed skin back to its normal PH.
Oatmeal soap is great for dry, sensitive skin as it moisturizes and protects the skin while soothing any ongoing irritation.