DIY Make You Own Grapefruit Soap
Make your own soap
I recently told a client to utilize soap making as a coping skill. I figured you could add different scents to it that could be calming and helpful to the skin. I expressed that I would research it for her and then I became obsessed with all the different and amazing things you could do with soap. I became incredibly intrigued by choosing my own ingredients to make a special one of a kind scent, adding colors to make it look more aesthetically pleasing and then getting to share the goodies with my family, friends and others is my favorite part.
Through all the research I came across some amazing soap Instagram and soap makers. I recognized that the process was going to be hard for me to complete in a studio apartment. I was worried that the experience would be dangerous, to say the least I was very intimidated. That is until I was walking down the isles of Michael’s Craft Store and saw melt- and- pour soap bases. I read the label and say that you can literally heat this up in the microwave (or on the stove top). Once it is heated you can then add whatever ingredients you want and customize your soap bars to be the most like you! Making soap this way, is totally something I can get on board with.
Ingredients:
10- 15 drops of grapefruit essential oil
10-15 drops of peach mango essential oil
1 teaspoon of coconut oil (I use Trader Joe’s brand)
1 teaspoon rosehip oil
Yellow, red and peach colorant
Supplies:
Optional: Whisk (for swirled soap)
Spray bottle
*Before getting started put some of the Isopropyl Alcohol in a spray bottle and have on hand*
Step One: First take the soap base out of the container and place it upside down. On the backside of the soap base is an outline of the cubes you will be cutting. Follow that to cut your entire block into cubes. I used 2 lbs of soap and made 10 bars in 3 batches
Step Two: Next place 10 cubes of soap into the glass measuring cup and microwave on 30- second increments to not burn the soap. It takes about three goes in the microwave. Stir as you go with a wooden dowel.
Step Three: Now, while your soap is in the microwave combine the red, yellow and peach colorant in a small bowl and swirl around to mix together. Leave aside for later use
Step Four: Next, once your soap base is entirely melted, start by adding the coconut oil and rosehip oil, stirring with the wooden dowel to combine. Once that is evenly combined add your oils and stir to make them evenly disperse.
Step Five: Now, pour the colorant that you placed aside into the melted soap. You can now either choose to combine the color by stirring with a wooden dowel or using a whisk, place the whisk into the center of the colorant, spin ONE time and remove. It will leave a swirling design on the melted base and will evenly distribute as you pour.
Step Six: Next place the soap mold onto a tray for easy clean up. Pour the soap into the silicone mold and let harden. Fill the mold up to just about the top, but not all the way. When you are pouring you will notice bubbles, use the wooden dowel to try and pop some and then spray some isopropyl alcohol on top, just one spray worth. This will leave no bubbles and an even shine. *Follow step two- six two more times to use up all soap base and have 10 bars of soap*
Step Seven: Now let harden for 2-3 hours at minimum. I often leave mine overnight but if you are in a rush you can put them in the fridge.
Step Eight: Once your soap is hardened, pop the bars out of the molds and wrap up to gift to all of your friends and family!
The goat’s milk in this soap is great for moisturizing and great for eczema. The grapefruit oil is said to balance skin discolorations and keep skin glowing. I personally like the amazing citrus scent and when paired with the peach mango it is one of the most refreshing bars of soap I have ever experienced. So clean!
You can absolutely try to add things to this soap base like fresh zest, dried flowers, poppy seeds. There is glycerin in the soap base and that will preserve and keep fresh things from molding while they wait to be given as amazing gifts!!