How to Make Facial Soap
Facial products can range from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars and they all claim to do relatively similar things: moisturize, cleanse, prevent wrinkles or blemishes, etc. But what if we told you that you could make your own facial soap for only a couple dollars that was just as good, if not better, than what you could buy at a drugstore or makeup store?
Handmade facial soap has a similar makeup to most body soaps; the only difference is that some ingredients may be used more sparingly to accommodate the gentle skin of the face. Homemade facial soaps can leave you skin feeling refreshed and nourished, all without multiple chemical ingredients.
If you suffer from acne, look into facial soaps made with charcoal and clay. These ingredients draw out impurities and lessen sebum production. Other great ingredients for acne prone skin include lavender and tea tree oil, both chock full of antibacterial properties.
If your skin is parched and in need of moisture, we recommend using rich, luxurious ingredients in your facial soap like Shea butter, avocado and olive oil, which will all help restore the moisture balance in your skin.
Dry or acne prone skin can often be suffering from sensitivity issues as well. To help ease the irritation caused by sensitive skin, use chamomile or oatmeal to soothe, moisturize and gently exfoliate the skin.
If your skin needs some exfoliation, stay away from harsh ingredients that may be okay for your body like ground peach stone, walnut shells or baking soda. These may be great exfoliators for feet or hands but will cause micro tears in the gentle skin of the face. To exfoliate your face properly, use ingredients like oatmeal or poppy seeds. Poppy seeds even texture will create a light, rolling exfoliation while oatmeal will also soothe the skin.
If you want to reap the benefits of anti-aging properties in your soap, look to use rich, moisturizing ingredients and gentle exfoliators. Goat’s milk, honey and oatmeal are all incredibly beneficial for moisturizing sensitive skin and removing dead cells.
Caring For Your Handmade Soap
Commercial bar soaps like Dove or Irish Spring contain multiple preservatives that help them maintain their texture and shape over time, but they can be irritating to the skin. Unlike commercial soaps, handmade soaps are much more susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity not only because they are made without these preservatives but also because of the natural glycerin that remains in them.
To extend the life of your handmade soap before you’re ready to use it, store them in a cool, dry spot away from sunlight. Your bathroom may retain more moisture so you may want to keep them in a linen closet. Some people also opt to keep them in sealed jars or boxes so they retain their scent better. Handmade soap responds well to curing and the longer it cures, the harder it becomes.
If your handmade soap is for use by your sink, be it for your face or your hands, invest in a soap dish that drains well and doesn’t allow water to pool beneath the soap. Soaking in even a small amount of water will disintegrate the soap and make the bottom of it slimy and unusable. No matter how well made your soap dish is, it probably won’t allow all the water to drain. We recommend turning it over once every few days and letting any pooled water spill out.
If you’re using your soap in the shower, be sure to keep it out of the spray of the water! We can’t stress this enough: water destroys handmade soap. This is valuable when you’re using it to wash yourself, but not so great when your soap is melting away down the drain when you’re not even using it. To prevent this, buy a soap rack with suction cups that will allow you to attach it to a part of your shower away from the spray of water. Metal bars can be preferable since they allow the water to drain completely when the soap isn’t in use.