Making Glycerin Soap at Home The Best Way You can customize it even better with an easy and fun way to make nice and moisturizing bars that are super gentle on your skin with just a few basic ingredients like glycerin soap base. You can further customize it with your favorite scents and colors.
Making your own glycerin soap at home is a satisfying and creative activity that you can customize by using your favorite scents and colors and textures. Glycerin soap is a popular choice because it is gentle on the skin. And it’s moisturizing. It can be made with very simple ingredients and this guide will take you through every step of the process giving you all the details to make your own beautiful handmade Glycerin soap that is Makes it perfect for beginners.
What is glycerin soap?
Glycerin soap is a cleansing and moisturizing soap made from glycerin, a natural by-product of the soap-making process. Unlike traditional soaps that can strip your skin of its natural oils, glycerin soaps are examples enough for people with dry or sensitive skin.
Why make glycerin soap?
- Moisturizing: Glycerin helps keep the skin fully hydrated by drawing moisture from the air.
- Gentle and safe: It is especially used for sensitive skin conditions such as eczema, acne, or skin swelling.
- Easy and fun: Glycerin soap is very easy to make and you don’t need any special knowledge or tools for it and you can make it in different shapes, colors, and scents.
- Customizable: You can add your favorite scents, natural exfoliants, and even herbs and flowers for a unique touch.
Read more: Recipe to make liquid soap at home Prepare a natural cleanser
Material Needed
1. Glycerin soap base: This is the basic ingredient in glycerin soap. Upcraft stores can buy pre-made glycerin soap bases online or from a specialty soap supplier. It has different types including clear glycerin and opaque glycerin soap base so you can choose it based on your preference.
2. Essential oils(optional): They are used for fragrances. Some popular options include lavender, peppermint, tea tree, and lemon oils. Essential oils also make your skin enjoy additional benefits such as soothing or antibacterial properties.
3. Soap colorants(optional): If you want to add colors to your soap, then you can use some specific color in your soap and it is also available in the form of liquid powder or mica. For an up-to-the-minute natural color, add natural dyes like Turmeric Yellow, Cocoa Powder Brown, or Pro Lina Green.
4. Soap molds: These are used to shape your soaps, silicon molds are more popular because they are flexible and easier to use, but you can also use plastic or metal molds and even everyday items like silicone ice. You can also use cube trays or cupcake liners.
5. Rubbing alcohol: This helps remove air bubbles that form after the soap is poured into the mold.
6. Microwave-safe bowl or double boiler: A microwave-safe bowl is used for the microwave method of melting, and a double boiler is used for the stovetop. Both methods work well for melting soap bases.
7. Stiring stick or spoon: It is used to stir the melted soap base and mix in your colored essential oil or exfoliant.
8. Knife: cut the glycerine base into small pieces.
8. Paper towels or newspaper: It is used to clean up any slippage and protect your work surface.
Read more: How to Make Bar Soap at Home
Step-by-step instructions for making glycerin soap
Step1.Prepare your workspace:
Before you start, make sure that your area is completely clean and smooth. Place it under a newspaper or paper towel to protect your surfaces from splashes and drips. Keep all your materials within reach and ready to work quickly. Because soap in glycerin hardens very quickly after being poured into molds.
Step2.Cut the glycerin soap base:
Using a knife, cut the base of the glycerine soap into small cubes about one inch in size. Cut the soap into small pieces to make it melt more evenly and faster.
- Tip: If you’re using a soap base like Unique Clear, cut each type into separate pieces.
Step3.Melt the soap base:
There are two ways to melt the glycerin soap base: a microwave or a double boiler.
- Microwave method
1. Place the soap cubes in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave the soap for 30 seconds or stir it.
3. Continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring constantly, until the soap is completely melted. Be careful not to overheat as this increases the risk of burning the soap.
- Double boiler method
1. Fill the bottom of a double boiler with water and bring it to a boil.
2. Place the soap cubes in the top of the double boiler.
3. As the soap boils, stir it occasionally and make sure the water doesn’t touch the soap at all.
4. Continue stirring until the soap base is fully melted and smooth.
Step4.Add essentail oils and colorants (optional)
Once the soap is melted, you can customize it by adding essential oils and coloring.
- Essential oils: Add 10-15 drops of essential oil for each pound of soap base. You can adjust the base prime to your preference for fragrance strength. Stir the mixture gently to evenly distribute the oils.
- Colorants: Add your desired color to the liquid powder soap colors Follow the package directions for one minute at a time until the desired color is achieved. For a natural color like cocoa powder or turmeric, add 1-2 teaspoons each and stir well.
- Exfoliants (optional): If you want your soap to have an exfoliating effect, you can add ingredients such as oatmeal, ground coffee, or salt to the mixture.
Step5.Pour the soap into molds:
Pour the remaining soapy goodness into your chosen molds. You can use a silicone mold to remove it easily. But any mold will work, including plastic containers, cupcake liners, or silicone ice cube trays.
- Tip: If you want to make layered soap, pour the first into the molds and let cool slightly before pouring the second.
- Tip: For a decorative effect, dry flowers and herbs or glitter can be added to the molds before pouring them into the soap.
Step6.Remove air bubbles:
After adding the soap to the surface
If air bubbles appear on top of the soap, spray the surface with rubbing alcohol to remove them. This will pop the bubbles and create a smooth, clean surface.
Step7.Let the soap cool and harden:
Leave the soap in the molds at room temperature for 1-2 hours to completely cool and harden. Avoid shaking the molds at all to prevent the soap from distorting its shape. If you are in a hurry, you can refrigerate the molds for 30 to 60 minutes to speed up the cooling process. Also, avoid freezing the soap as this can cause it to break.
Step8.Unmold the soap:
Once your soap has completely hardened, you can gently remove it from the molds. Silicone molds make this step easier because they allow the soap to come out more easily if you’re all used to the environment. If doing this, carefully stir the soap or run a knife along the edges to loosen it.
Step9. Allow the soap to cure:
Although glycerin soap can be used immediately, it is better to let it cure for 24-48 hours before use. This gives time to cure completely which makes the soap last longer.
- Storage: Store your soap in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture.If you want to store it for a long time, wrap it in plastic wrap. Glycerin soap can attract moisture.
Additional tips for customizing your glycerin soap
- Shaped soap: Different molds can be used to create fun shapes such as hearts, stars, or flowers, making the soap more personal and perfect for the gift.
- Exfoliating soap: For a scrubbing effect, add ingredients like ground coffee, sea salt, or sugar, which are great for body soaps.
- Moisturizing additives: Consider adding shea butter or coconut oil to the soap base for added skin benefits.
Benefits of glycerin soap
- Hydration: glycerin helps draw moisture from the air to keep your skin hydrated.
- Gentle on sensitive skin: These are more suitable for dry, sensitive, or eczema skin.
- Customizable: You can add your favorite fragrance colors and exfoliants to make a soap according to your personal needs.
- Easy to make: With the right ingredients and a few easy steps, you can make your own soap at home without any special equipment.
Read more: Homemade tea tree oil cleanser soap recipe for natural skin clean
Summary
Making glycerin soap at home is not only a rewarding skill, but it also allows you to customize the instructions for moisturizing skin more to your personal preferences. Whether you’re making soap for yourself, your family, or as a gift for someone, this is a fun and creative project. Experiment with different colors, scents, and additives to create unique soaps that everyone will love.
Read more: Choosing the best lye to use in making soap
FAQS
1. How do you make glycerin soap at home?
To make glycerin soap at home, melt the glycerin soap base, add your desired fragrance, color, and any additives, then pour it into the molds and let it set.
2. What are the ingredients of glycerin soap?
Glycerin soaps usually contain glycerin, water, an oil such as olive or coconut oil, sodium hydroxide, and optional additives such as fragrances, colorants, and moisturizers.
3. What is the ratio of glycerin to soap?
The ratio can vary but glycerin is usually 60-70% soap with the rest being oil or soap base.
4. What is the easiest way to make homemade soap?
The easiest way is to use a melt-and-pour soap base where the base can be easily melted. Add flavor and color to the mold and allow it to harden.