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inding the right soap for your skin can feel like a guessing game. With so many options out there, it’s hard to know what’s truly gentle, effective and actually good for your skin. That’s where making your own comes in. When you create soap from scratch, you’re in control—from the ingredients to the scent to how it feels on your skin. It’s simple, rewarding, and best of all, tailored exactly to what your skin needs.
Making your own soap recipe at home might sound a little intimidating at first, but it’s actually simpler than you’d think—and incredibly satisfying. You get full control over what goes into each bar, so you can leave out the harsh ingredients and focus on what your skin actually needs. Whether your skin tends to be dry, oily, sensitive, a bit of everything (hello, combination skin), or pretty balanced, there’s a recipe that can help support and nourish it.
In this post, we’ll walk through five natural cold process soap recipes, each one tailored to a different skin type. These aren’t complicated formulas—just honest, wholesome ingredients that your skin will love. Ready to dive in? Let’s make some soap.
*A Note on Safety First
All these recipes require sodium hydroxide (lye), which is necessary for saponification (the chemical reaction that turns fats into soap). Always:
- Wear gloves and goggles
- Work in a ventilated area
- Never pour water into lye—always pour lye into water
Basic Supplies You’ll Need
- Digital scale
- Stick blender
- Heat-safe containers
- Silicone soap mold
- Thermometer
- Safety gear (gloves, goggles)
1. For Dry Skin: Oatmeal, Honey & Shea Butter Soap
Why it works: Dry skin craves moisture. Shea butter deeply nourishes, while oatmeal gently exfoliates and honey locks in hydration.
Ingredients:
- 300g Olive oil
- 200g Coconut oil
- 150g Shea butter
- 100g Sweet almond oil
- 80g Castor oil
- 135g Lye (NaOH)
- 310g Distilled water
- 2 tbsp colloidal oatmeal
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- Optional: 10 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions:
- Make your lye water: Slowly add lye into the water (not vice versa). Let it cool to about 40–45°C.
- Melt oils: Gently melt the coconut oil and shea butter, then combine with liquid oils.
- Combine lye and oils: When both are within 40–45°C, blend using a stick blender until light trace forms.
- Add oatmeal & honey: Mix in gently, along with essential oil if using.
- Pour and cure: Pour into mold, cover, and insulate. After 24–48 hours, unmold and cure for 4–6 weeks.
2. For Oily Skin: Charcoal & Tea Tree Detox Bar
Why it works: Activated charcoal draws out impurities, while tea tree oil has antibacterial properties. Coconut oil offers cleansing, and castor oil provides lather without heaviness.
Ingredients:
- 250g Coconut oil
- 250g Olive oil
- 150g Castor oil
- 100g Rice bran oil
- 120g Lye
- 285g Distilled water
- 1 tbsp activated charcoal
- 10 drops tea tree essential oil
Instructions:
- Prepare lye solution and let cool.
- Melt and mix oils, ensuring all are fully blended.
- Blend until trace and add activated charcoal and essential oil.
- Pour into mold, cover and insulate.
- Unmold after 24 hours, then cure for 4–6 weeks.
Tip: Use 2–3 times a week to avoid over-drying the skin.
3. For Sensitive Skin: Goat Milk & Chamomile Soap
Why it works: Goat milk is rich in lactic acid and fatty acids, soothing the skin without stripping it. Chamomile calms irritation, making this recipe ideal for easily reactive skin.
Ingredients:
- 300g Olive oil
- 150g Coconut oil
- 150g Cocoa butter
- 100g Avocado oil
- 115g Lye
- 285g Frozen goat milk (use ice cube trays)
- 2 tsp chamomile-infused olive oil (optional)
- 5 drops Roman chamomile essential oil
Instructions:
- Make lye with frozen goat milk: Add lye very slowly to frozen milk cubes to prevent scorching.
- Melt butters and mix oils, keeping everything below 40°C.
- Blend until trace, add chamomile oil and essential oil.
- Pour into mold and refrigerate for 24 hours to avoid overheating.
- Unmold and cure for 6 weeks.
Tip: Always patch-test on your forearm before full use.
4. For Combination Skin: Green Clay & Neem Balancing Bar
Why it works: Combination skin benefits from a bar that can absorb oil in some areas and hydrate in others. Green clay detoxifies T-zone areas, while neem oil balances and soothes.
Ingredients:
- 250g Olive oil
- 200g Coconut oil
- 100g Castor oil
- 100g Neem oil
- 110g Lye
- 250g Distilled water
- 1 tbsp French green clay
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops tea tree oil
Instructions:
- Prepare lye solution and allow to cool.
- Mix oils and heat gently.
- Blend to trace and add clay and essential oils.
- Pour into mold, cover with a towel.
- Cure for 4–6 weeks.
Tip: Ideal for people with an oily T-zone but dry cheeks.
5. For Normal Skin: Lavender & Rosehip Gentle Bar
Why it works: Normal skin benefits from maintenance—hydration, mild exfoliation, and protection. Rosehip oil supports collagen and elasticity, while lavender provides soothing scent and gentle antiseptic action.
Ingredients:
- 300g Olive oil
- 200g Coconut oil
- 100g Rosehip oil
- 100g Castor oil
- 120g Lye
- 280g Distilled water
- 1 tbsp pink clay (optional for color)
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions:
- Prepare lye water, letting it cool down.
- Melt oils, then combine when temperatures match (around 40–45°C).
- Blend until trace, add pink clay and lavender essential oil.
- Pour into mold, insulate and leave for 24–48 hours.
- Cure for a full 4–6 weeks.
Final Tips for Soap Success
- Curing is key: This allows excess water to evaporate and the pH to lower, making the soap gentler.
- Label your soaps: Especially important when making different types at once.
- Storage: Store in a cool, dry place with air circulation.
Wrap-Up: Crafting Clean Beauty That Works for Your Skin
There’s something really satisfying about making soap that’s actually made for your skin. When you tailor the ingredients to what your skin needs—whether that’s a little extra moisture, something calming, or a deep clean—you’re not just creating a bar of soap, you’re creating something that works with your skin, not against it.
With soothing chamomile for sensitive skin or clarifying clay and neem for oily areas, these recipes are all about keeping things simple, natural, and effective. No guesswork, no unnecessary additives— just clean, purposeful ingredients designed to support healthy skin.
If you’re feeling inspired, start with the recipe that matches your skin type and keep it small at first. Soap-making is a bit of a process, but once you get the hang of it, it’s honestly addictive. And trust me—your skin (and your shower shelf) will be better for it.
If you’re looking for more natural skincare recipe ideas – check out our post on using avocados in your skincare routine!
