Okay guys, it’s Saturday and you know what that means! Yes, another installment of my DIY lotions and potions! Today I thought it would be fun to make something for my husband. Can you guess what it is?
Shaving Soap!
My husband has always shaved using soap and a brush rather than shaving cream in a can. He says it gives him a closer shave. So, I just had to include him in my lotions and potions obsession. My journey (which means internet searching) came up with tons of information (for customized soap) when you are making your soap from scratch. However, so much of what I read had you adding a lot of the “specializing” ingredients after the soap was actually soap so why couldn’t I customize melt and pour soap you can find at craft stores?
I am going to share my recipe with you first and then in the notes at the end I will add info about the various ingredients.
Citrus Rise and Shine Shaving Soap – Melt and Pour Method
Ingredients:
1 pound melt and pour soap base (I used goat’s milk)
1 tsp castor oil (or coconut oil)
2 tsp bentonite clay
1/2 tsp lemon essential oil
1/2 tsp lime essential oil
1/2 tsp tangerine essential oil
1/2 tsp grapefruit essential oil
Supplies:
Double boiler
Whisk
Molds (silicone baking molds & coffee mugs make great molds)
Directions:
Most large arts and crafts stores sell melt and pour soap in a scored, 2 pound piece.
Take one pound of your soap, cut it into small chunks, and place in a double boiler. Melt your soap base.
When your soap base is melted, add your castor oil, clay, and essential oils. Blend. You will need to get your whisk out because the clay will clump.
When you soap and additives are thoroughly blended, pour into your molds. I decided to pour half into a mug for my husband and the other half I poured into a silicone baking heart mold for gifts. Once the soap hardens, remove from your mold.
The only thing left to get is a new shaving brush!
Notes:
- Melt and pour soap bases come in all sorts of varieties. I chose goat’s milk for the moisturizing properties but any other type would work.
- The addition of castor oil or coconut oil supposedly helps your soap create richer lather.
- Bentonite clay help the razor slide across the skin. Kaolin clay will also give this effect and is whiter in color. Since you do not need a lot of clay, I recommend stoppping by your local health food store (like Whole Foods) to purchase your clay. Many of these stores have a bulk spice/health and beauty area so you can purchase just what you need.
- I chose a blend of citrus essential oils for their mood boosting properties but you can use the scent of your choice.
Melt and pour soaps are super easy to use and a great way to experiment with different additives. Just grab that 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby and get some soap base to try!
4 You
Inspire Me Heather
Thanks for posting your recipe, it would be fun to try this and I’m sure my hubby would appreciate it!