With bentonite clay, activated charcoal, and tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils, our Clarifying bar soap is a great option for giving the skin and face a good cleanse and detox.
The use of the two essential oils in this recipe offers a fresh and invigorating scent without the health concerns associated with artificial fragrance oils. Activated charcoal and bentonite clay are fantastic detoxing agents used both internally and externally to draw impurities from the body. Because of this powerhouse combination, Clarifying soap is such a great option for acne-prone skin!
Of course, if you don't feel like making this recipe yourself, you can always purchase the ever-popular handmade Clarifying soap in the store.
Soapmaking can be dangerous. Please read and understand the recipe completely before beginning, as well as researching the use and safety precautions of using lye.
There are plenty of great videos to be found on proper soapmaking, and I would absolutely recommend watching videos or asking a soapmaker in person if you can observe them.
List of ingredients:
50 oz coconut oil
42 oz olive oil
14.4 oz lye (sodium hydroxide)
32.3 oz distilled ice water
4 oz castor oil
0.5 oz tea tree essential oil
0.5 oz eucalyptus essential oil
2 tsp activated charcoal
4 tsp bentonite clay
List of supplies:
Stock pot
2 small glass or stainless steel bowls
1 medium glass or stainless steel bowl
Measuring spoon
Digitial scale
Digital or meat thermometer
Immersion blender
Three 10 inch loaf molds
Let's get started!
1. Measure and melt the coconut oil and olive oil together.
Place your stock pot on the digital scale and accurately measure out your coconut and olive oils. Place over a low flame on the stove and melt slowly. They will need to reach 110-120*, so allow them to heat, but don't let them overheat.
2. Measure out ice water and lye.
Place your medium sized bowl on the scale and measure out the ice and water. I typically do half and half. In a separate bowl, very carefully measure out the lye. Be extra cautious to not spill outside of the bowl!
3. Measure and combine the castor oil and essential oils.
Place a small bowl on the digital scale and accurately measure out the castor oil. Add the two essential oils and set aside.
4. Combine the lye and the water.
Slowly pour your lye into the ice water. The chemical reaction that occurs when you mix the lye and the ice water will heat the water quickly to a high temperature. Pour the lye in slowly, and/or in small batches to regulate the temperature- there's no need for it to reach an extremely high temperature as it will also need to be between 110 and 120* for soaping.
5. Combine the lye water and the melted oils.
Once you have both individual mixtures to around 110*, pour the lye water into the melted oils. Begin carefully mixing with your immersion blender. Keep mixing until you reach trace.
Some signs of reaching trace are:
a) the soap has thickened
b) you can no longer see an oil layer on the top
c) the soap is the same color all the way through
d) you can drizzle a bit of the mixture on the top and it doesn't immediately sink in, but sits on the top.
6. Add in the castor oil and essential oils.
You will need to work quickly now. Pour in the last mixture of oil and combine with the immersion blender.
7. Separate and color the soap.
Pour 1/3 of the soap mixture into a smaller bowl, add the activated charcoal, and blend. Add the bentonite clay to the original pan and blend.
8. Pour.
Pour the bentonite clay mixture into you three molds, dividing as evenly as you can. Smooth the soap, and pour the charcoal blend on top. Smooth the tops and use a butter knife or wooden skewer to swirl the soap going all the way to the bottom of the molds.
9. Cure.
Leave the soap in the molds for at least 48 hours. Unmold the soap loaves and cut desire bar size, and then let them sit for approximately 6 weeks in a well-ventilated area where air can get around each bar.
Watch me make this soap recipe here!