Making your own soap is fun and affordable, and allows you to be creative with the scents, textures and shape of your soap bars. When used in moderation, palm oil, an extract from the seeds of the oil palm plant, helps soap bars retain their hardness and will promote a stable and creamy soap bar. The oil can cause bars to dry out if used excessively, so palm oil should account for 50% of the oil used in hand soap bars and 30% of the oil used in facial bars.
Oatmeal Palm Oil Soap
Because oatmeal has natural moisturizing properties, this soap is great for dry or sensitive skin. To make, carefully combine 2 ounces of lye and 8 ounces of water (pour the lye into the water carefully to prohibit splashing) and stir until lye is dissolved, then set aside to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, melt 10 ounces of palm oil and 4 ounces of coconut oil together and set aside to cool. In a blender, mix 2 ounces of olive oil with 1/4 cup of old-fashioned oatmeal (not instant), and blend until ground. Slowly pour the lye into the coconut and palm oil mixture, stirring constantly. When soap can be drizzled across the top and remain for one second, add the oatmeal mixture and stir well. Pour mixture into molds, wrap in towels and put aside for 48 hours. Unmold and allow to stand for three weeks before using.
Palm Oil Facial Soap
This soap creates small bubbles that cleanse the skin. It is light enough to be used on sensitive or facial skin. To create, add 15 ounces of lye to 41 ounces of water and set aside to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, heat and combine 56 ounces of tallow, 22 ounces of palm oil and 28 ounces of olive oil. Stir continuously to break up fats. Next, slowly pour the lye into the fats and stir constantly. When drizzle remains on top of mixture for one second, pour the mixture into molds and wrap in towels. Put aside for 48 hours, then unmold and allow to stand for three weeks before using.
Milk and Cocoa Butter Palm Oil Soap
This soap is ideal for dry skin, because the cocoa butter and milk both have natural moisturizing properties. To make, pour 2 ounces of lye to 3 ounces of water. Next, heat and combine 6 ounces of cocoa butter, 6 ounces of palm oil and 3 ounces of castor oil. Stir constantly until well blended. Next, add 4 ounces of cold milk. Add lye mixture to the oils and immediately blend and pour into molds. Allow to sit for 48 hours, then unmold and allow to stand for three weeks before using.
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