Charcoal and Shea Butter Soap

December

2024

Charcoal and Shea Butter Soap

Introduction

Energize your skincare regimen with a homemade soap recipe featuring activated charcoal and shea butter. Activated charcoal cleanses pores and removes impurities, perfect for oily or acne-prone skin. Shea butter offers deep hydration and a luxurious lather, keeping skin soft and supple. Together, they purify and nourish, leaving your skin feeling refreshed, balanced, and silky smooth.

Benefits of DIY Charcoal and Shea Butter Soap:

Deep Cleansing: Charcoal draws out impurities and toxins from the skin.
Exfoliation: Helps remove dead skin cells for a smoother texture.
Moisturizing: Shea butter hydrates and softens the skin.
Balances Oil Production: Charcoal can help regulate excess oil, making it suitable for various skin types.
Detoxifying: Charcoal promotes a clear and refreshed complexion.
Soothing: Shea butter’s anti-inflammatory properties help calm irritated skin.

Ingredients:

1 pound shea butter
1 pound coconut oil
1/2 pound olive oil
1/2 pound castor oil
7 oz sodium hydroxide
14 oz distilled water
2 tablespoons activated charcoal
1 tablespoon charcoal essential oil

Steps:

Combine the sodium hydroxide and water in a heat-resistant container. Stir until dissolved.
Melt the shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and castor oil together.
Slowly add the sodium hydroxide solution to the melted oils, stirring continuously.
Add the activated charcoal and charcoal essential oil to the mixture.
Continue stirring until the mixture reaches a trace.
Pour the mixture into a soap mold and let it set for 24-48 hours.

Lye and Water Calculations

Using the following values from a Lye Calculator:

Shea butter: 0.128 oz NaOH/oz of oil
Coconut oil: 0.183 oz NaOH/oz of oil
Olive oil: 0.135 oz NaOH/oz of oil
Castor oil: 0.129 oz NaOH/oz of oil

Step-by-Step Calculations:

Shea butter (16 oz): 16 oz × 0.128 = 2.048 oz NaOH
Coconut oil (16 oz): 16 oz × 0.183 = 2.928 oz NaOH
Olive oil (8 oz): 8 oz × 0.135 = 1.08 oz NaOH
Castor oil (8 oz): 8 oz × 0.129 = 1.032 oz NaOH
Total Lye Amount: 2.048 oz + 2.928 oz + 1.08 oz + 1.032 oz = 7.088 oz NaOH
Water Calculation: Assuming a water-to-lye ratio of 2:1 (a typical range for cold process soap): 7.088 oz NaOH × 2 = 14.176 oz water

This Recipe was originally published in DIY Shea Butter Soap Making Recipes

Popular Soap Calculators:

SoapCalc.net: A widely used online calculator with a user-friendly interface. SoapCalc: http://www.soapcalc.net/
Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetics Guild (HSCG) Calculator https://www.soapguild.org/tools-and-resources/product-price-calculators/lye
Lye Calculator: Another popular option with a simple design. https://www.lyecalc.com/
Soap Recipe Calculator: Offers additional features like fragrance and color calculations. http://thesoapcalculator.com

There are also many YouTube Videos on how to calculate this.

Remember: Always handle lye with extreme caution. It is a strong chemical and can cause severe burns. Ensure you're following safety guidelines when working with it.

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