Coconut oil is not only used in cooking, but it is also beneficial for your skin. The use of coconut oil is not only limited to hair growth but also as a hair mask, conditioner, face wash, makeup remover, lip scrub, etc.
Since coconut is so good for your skin, have you ever thought about using it as the main ingredient in your soap?
Want amazing lather in the soap? Simple and natural ingredients? Then this make-at-home coconut body soap is your best fit. This coconut oil soap can be made from three ingredients and is one of the easiest recipes you'll ever make.
Coconut oil is very hard and very bubbly and can end up overdrying your skin, so you must balance the recipe with milder oils. This recipe requires two types of oils – coconut oil and castor oil, which are easily available in any market. Apart from the oils, you will need molds and colorants.
What Is Lye, and Where Do You Get It?
Lye is a strongly alkaline solution that is used for washing and cleansing. It is available in many stores. Make sure to get lye that is labeled as "100% lye". Although several brands sell 100% lye, some brands don't, and it is important that you use the original lye.
Recipe
The recipe for making coconut oil soap is very simple. By using the same amount of ingredients and following the recipe, you will be able to make a three-pound batch of good-quality soap that will have 10 to 12 bars. The number of bars will also depend on how thick you slice the bars.
Coconut body soap has excellent cleansing properties, lathers well, and will smell nice even if you decide to leave it unscented.
The castor oil in the recipe will act as a moisturizer and produce bubbles which will add creaminess to the soap.
Ingredients Required for the Soap –
● 30 ounces of coconut oil
● 3 ounces of castor oil
● 4.7 ounces lye
● 10.9 ounces water
● 2 ounces fragrance oil or 1ounce essential oil
Procedure
- Set out the prepared molds. Try using two quart-sized milk or cream cartons. This recipe will make enough to fill one or one-half of these.
- Melt coconut oil in a pan and weigh about 30 ounces on your scale. Weigh castor oil, water, and lye separately and have each one of them ready in a separate container.
- If you wish, you can remove the cap of the essential oil bottle in advance, as some bottles have extra stoppers, which may take time. This delay might lead to the hardening of the mixture without fragrance being added to it.
- Add lye to the water and mix to dissolve. Let it cool to about 80-degree Fahrenheit.
- Pour the melted coconut oil and castor oil into a crock pot or ceramic bowl, or stainless-steel pot. Allow it to cool down to room temperature or 80-degree Fahrenheit.
- Slowly add the lye solution to the oils and mix them with a stick blender. Both solutions should be warm, which is 76 to 80-degree Fahrenheit but not too hot.
- Continue mixing the solutions until it reaches a light trace. The mixture will have a pudding-like consistency, and when the mixture is put on a surface, it will leave a visible trail or trace. This is the time when you add color and fragrance if you want to add.
- When it has reached a light trace, and you have added all the colors and fragrances that you wanted, the mixture is ready to be poured into the mold.
- Let this finished soap harden overnight. Unmold this after 12-18 hours. If you have used milk carton molds, simply tear off the milk carton.
- Use a long, sharp stainless steel to cut the mold into bars.
The soap formed is a cold process soap, so you have to allow it to cure for at least four weeks before using it. If you are too eager, then you can try out a soap after 48 hours of unmoulding. Most soap makers tend to trim the edges of the soap a little as the ends have imperfections. Also, these pieces can be used for testing before the soap is fully cured.
The quality level of the soap improves over the cure period. To cure soap, lay the bars on a shelf or a wooden rack and keep turning them every few days so that all sides are equally exposed to the air.
Benefits of Coconut Oil Soap
● Cleansing
Coconut oil, in itself, is considered highly cleansing and conditioning to the skin. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids, which help in removing blemishes, causing dirt, bacteria, and dead skin. It does it all without causing any harm or irritation to the skin.
The soap is considered great for removing makeup as the oil is greasy and is even used for cleansing hair. Its natural deodorizing properties help eliminate body odor. None of these products include the use of harsh chemicals.
● Moisturizing
Fatty acids in the coconut oil soap provide intense hydration without stripping the body of the natural oils, making the skin smooth and soft. Skin absorbs this oil without becoming greasy. Coconut oil is moisturizing enough to soothe dry skin but gentle enough not to block the pores of sensitive skin types.
● Anti-inflammatory
Coconut oil-based soaps have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps in tackling many skin problems. Acids like lauric, capric, and caprylic are accredited with many of these benefits. These acids help in soothing the skin, making it the perfect solution for problem-prone or sensitive skin.
Wrapping Up
Coconut oil is used in many areas of our life, and using it daily in our bathing routine will help us maintain the glow of the skin.
The shelf life for this soap is almost one year when stored in a cool and dry place. This recipe is worth trying as it needs minimum ingredients to be prepared.
If you are searching for a popular brand that can serve you the best coconut body soap, then it's the perfect time to turn to Organic Fiji. Their wide range of effective coconut products helps you look beautiful every day!
