Turmeric and Red Palm Oil Soap

Introduction: This brightening and clarifying soap features the antioxidant properties of turmeric and the moisturizing benefits of red palm oil. The vibrant red color of red palm oil adds a touch of luxury and visual appeal to this cold process turmeric soap.

Ingredients:

• Red Palm Oil: 8 oz (227 g)
• Coconut Oil: 4 oz (113 g)
• Olive Oil: 4 oz (113 g)
• Lye (sodium hydroxide): see the lye-water calculation below
• Distilled Water: see the lye-water calculation below
• Turmeric Powder: 1/4 cup (17 g)
• Essential Oils: (Optional, recommended limit of 1 tablespoon in total for this 16 oz (454 g) of oils)

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Instructions:

1. Prepare the lye solution: Combine lye and distilled water in a heat-resistant container. Stir until the lye is completely dissolved.

2. Melt the oils: Melt the red palm oil, coconut oil, and olive oil together in a double boiler.

3. Combine: Carefully pour the lye solution into the melted oils and blend until the mixture reaches trace.

4. Add turmeric: Stir in the turmeric powder until evenly distributed.

5. Add essential oils: If desired, add your favorite essential oils to the mixture.

6. Pour into molds: Pour the soap batter into your chosen molds.

7. Cure: Allow the soap to cure for at least 4-6 weeks before use.

Lye-Water Calculation

Using the following saponification values (how much lye is needed to turn each oil into soap) from a lye calculator, and check the recipe in a lye calculator before making it:

• Red Palm Oil: 0.142 oz NaOH/oz of oil
• Coconut Oil: 0.183 oz NaOH/oz of oil
• Olive Oil: 0.135 oz NaOH/oz of oil

Step-by-Step Calculations:

• Red Palm Oil (8 oz): 8 oz × 0.142 = 1.136 oz NaOH
• Coconut Oil (4 oz): 4 oz × 0.183 = 0.732 oz NaOH
• Olive Oil (4 oz): 4 oz × 0.135 = 0.540 oz NaOH

Total lye at 5% superfat: 2.29 oz (65 g) NaOH

Water Calculation: Assuming a water-to-lye ratio of 2:1 (a typical range for cold process soap): 2.408 oz NaOH × 2 = 4.816 oz water

Why Make This Soap: Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant that can help to brighten and clarify the skin. The red palm oil provides moisture and nourishment, while the vibrant red color adds a touch of luxury and visual appeal to this soap.

This Recipe was originally published in "20 DIY Soap Making with Red Palm Oil"

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.