How to Make Natural Oatmeal Soap

Natural soaps are a healthy alternative.

Even making basic bars from scratch takes serious soap-making skills. Luckily, "melt and pour" soap bases are easy to find in crafts shops and online. These glycerin bases are perfect for people who are looking for homemade alternatives, but don't have the time to learn the whole soap-making process. Glycerin soap bases can be customized to include any scent or exfoliating element. Oatmeal happens to be one of the best of the latter, and a little dried oatmeal goes a long way towards making your skin healthier and more vibrant.

Things You'll Need

• 3 to 4 ounces glycerin melt-and-pour soap base
• 1 1/2 tsp. oatmeal
• Soap mold
• Wooden or metal spoon
• Serrated knife
• Microwave-safe 2-cup measuring cup
• Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
• Microwave oven

Instructions

1. Assembly all your tools and ingredients next to the microwave oven.

2. Chop the glycerin soap base into cubes with a serrated knife.

3. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp. oatmeal in the bottom of the mold.

4. Put the soap cubes into a microwave-safe 2-cup measuring cup and heat them in the microwave on high for 40 seconds. Stir. Continue to heat and stir the soap base at 10-second intervals until the cubes are completely melted.

5. Pour the melted soap from the measuring cup into the mold, filling it halfway. If the soap begins to harden before you are finished, simply reheat and stir.

6. Add 1 tsp. oatmeal to the soap still in the measuring cup and stir. Pour the mixture into the mold.

7. Allow the soap to set for a minute or so until the bubbles rise to the top. Squirt the soap with a spray bottle full of rubbing alcohol. This keeps bubbles from forming in the soap so you have a nice clear bar.

8. Allow the soap to cool for about a half hour or until the soap bar has hardened.

9. Turn the mold over and pop out the soap bar by pressing down on the mold with your thumbs. If the soap bar is stubborn, place the mold in the freezer for 10 minutes and try again.

Tips & Warnings

• Try an olive oil glycerin soap base for a moisturizing facial soap.

• Cornmeal can be substituted for oatmeal.

• Add a drop of soap fragrance or soap coloring.

• The melted soap is very hot. Don't use plastic utensils and keep small children out of the way.

References

• Cierra Candles: Instructions for Melt & Pour Glycerine Soap