Water removes most of the dirt from our skin; soap is used to clean the molecules that are not water soluble like grease and oil. What happens is that soap sometimes does too good of a job and cleans so much that it strips the skin of good oil.
Handmade soap counters drying and stripping the skin of its good stuff. We formulate our recipe from scratch and pick the ingredients to enhance what the skin needs.
For a baby soap recipe:
- Use oils and butters that are not harsh for the skin. Avoid coconut oil. You can use some but I would suggest very little.
- Include oils and butters that will give the skin extra moisture and hydration. Shea and cocoa butter are excellent for sensitive skin. Castile soap is a nice soap when you want to keep things simple.
When it comes to babies and people with skin sensitivities remember:
Less is best
Most small children are not rolling around in grease. A little soap goes a long way!
Wash last
Babies and children love the water and can sit and play. There is something very relaxing about baths. To prevent drying skin, especially if you are using a commercial soap, it is best to wash just before getting out and avoiding sitting in soapy water that might dry the skin..
Fragrance, I think not!
Babies smell great naturally! Okay babies smell great most of the time. I would not suggest any fragrance in products for babies and children. Certain essential oils can be used for a baby soap recipe although we avoid essential oils for baby soap,
Calendula Sunflower Cocoa Butter Soap
INGREDIENTS
Fats, oils and butters
- 210 grams rice bran oil
- 120 grams sunflower oil (optionally infused with calendula)
- 120 grams palm oil
- 90 grams cocoa butter
- 60 grams castor oil
Lye ― Water Solution
- 74 grams lye (sodium hydroxide)
- 228 grams distilled water
This recipe is superfated at 8% instead of my regular 5%. It makes about 2 pounds of soap which will produce about 6-7 bars of natural soap.
Remember that ingredients need to be weighted and not measured. Fragrance and essential oils should also be weighed. cold process soap making directions
Aloe Chamomile Shea Butter Soap
INGREDIENTS
Fats, oils and butters
- 210 grams olive oil (optional infused with chamomile)
- 180 grams shea butter
- 90 grams palm oil
- 60 grams avocado oil
- 60 grams castor oil
Lye ― Water Solution
- 74 grams lye (sodium hydroxide)
- 228 grams cold aloe vera gel (you can also use distilled water)
This recipe is superfated at 8% instead of my regular 5%. It makes about 2 pounds of soap which will produce about 6-7 bars of natural soap.