CHARCOAL SOAP RECIPE

For a long time, activated charcoal soaps have been a big hit. Activated charcoal is a great ingredient for your skin. You can make the soap in 2 ways. One is a black bar with a great detoxifying power. The other has swirls, a masculine scent, and is decorated in fancy wheels. Both are amazing!

When I was in dermatology school, my teachers always told me never to use soap on my face. When I was in dermatology school, our teachers always told us never to use soap to wash our faces. They probably didn’t think about homemade soap. This stuff is amazing, even for dry skin types like mine.

My skincare routine includes cleansing my face with my homemade soap. In winter, I use my gentle face soap. In summer, charcoal soap is a must, especially when the humidity levels are high.

This post contains two versions of charcoal soap. The first version is simple and perfect for beginners. It is a classic charcoal soap. The second uses a more complex swirl technique and woodsy essential oils blended in an upcycled mold.

Mix and match the two recipes as you please. You can mix and check these two recipes as much as you like, provided that you follow the instructions carefully.

Want to make charcoal soap without lye? Try my simple recipe for melt and pour soap with charcoal.

BENEFITS of CHARCOAL Soap

Charcoal that has been heated to high temperatures and oxygen forced into it is activated charcoal. It becomes more porous, allowing it to absorb toxins. What it can do to your skin is:

• Deep cleansing and removal of impurities
• Absorb excess oil from oily, clogged skin.
• Help remove blackheads, blemishes, and other skin imperfections.
• Gently exfoliate to reduce the size of pores.
• It may help brighten skin
• Combining it with tea tree oil, which is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, can improve acne-prone complexions.

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL RECIPE

Before you begin, read my ” How To Make Soap at Home – Beginners’ Guide.”

Disclosure: This post contains links to affiliate sites. You can read the full disclosure by clicking here.

EQUIPMENT

• Stick blender/immersion blender
• accurate digital scale
• round silicone soap mold
• For upcycled mold: Pringles can (optional), freezer sheet and tape
• Use 2-3 heat-resistant containers. One to mix the soap and one for the lye. (A smaller container is needed to separate the black-colored soap from the swirled soap).
• Two small plastic cups
• Small glass cup
• spatula
• sharp kitchen knife

Ingredients

Make 8 bars of soap

Solution for Lye:

• Lye: 3 oz/84 g
• Distilled water: 5.5oz/156g

Solid Oils:

• Coconut oil (30%): 6.3 oz / 180 g
• Shea Butter (20%) 4.2 oz/120 g
• cocoa butter (14%): 3 oz / 84 g

Liquid Oil:

• olive oil (25%): 5.3 oz / 150 g
• castor oil (6%): 1.3 oz / 36 g
• sesame oil (5%): 1 oz / 30 g

Additives for facial soap:

• Tea Tree Essential Oil: 22 g
• kaolin clay: 1 Tbsp
• activated Charcoal Powder: 3 Tsp

Additives for Swirled Soap:

• Lime Essential Oil: 7g
• cedarwood essential oil: 8 g
• vetiver oil 8 g
• kaolin kaolin clay 1 Tbsp
• activated Charcoal Powder: 1 Tsp

How to make charcoal soap for the face

To make this soap, I used round silicone soap molds. Use the upcycled mold and follow the directions in the section on swirled soap further down.

1. Protect yourself by wearing gloves, goggles, and long sleeves.
2. Measuring lye in a small cup
3. Water can be measured in a container of medium size.
4. Add lye slowly to the water, stirring constantly. While going, be careful not to breathe in any fumes. Allow to cool.
5. Melt coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter on low heat in a water bath or boiler or at 30-second intervals in the microwave.
6. Add castor oil and sesame oils, olive oil
7. Add kaolin and charcoal powder
8. Add essential oils to the measuring cup