{DIY} 15 Minute Honey Soap: Natural + Amber Colors
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I recently had my annual check-up at the dermatologist where yet again, I had to have a biopsy on a suspicious-looking growth. It wasn’t the first time and I doubt it will be the last time.
I grew up in Florida, in the 1980s, a time when sunscreen was optional and baby oil was mandatory. Let’s just say I have a history of several ridiculously painful sunburns.
My Irish|Scottish|English ancestry has blessed me with fair skin that’s easily irritated, burns in the sun, and reacts not so nicely to certain chemicals. There are even a few natural products that irritate my skin (tea tree, I’m looking at you).
Needless to say, taking care of my skin without creating a reaction (like hives) can be a bitch. Thankfully, after years of trial and error, I’ve learned what I can use, and what I cannot use.
Side note: If you have keratosis pilaris aka chicken skin, this lotion really helps smooth the bumps on my arms.
One of the products that I can and do use is melt and pour honey soap. I make it at home with a 2-lb block of honey goodness that contains the following:
Coconut oil, palm oil, safflower oil, glycerine (kosher, of vegetable origin), honey (100% pure natural grade A honey), purified water, sodium hydroxide (saponifying agent), sorbitol (moisturizer), propylene glycol (of vegetable origin), sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), oat protein (conditioner)
The only extras that I add are essential oils for scent and occasionally soap colorants if I want an amber color. If you have sensitive skin, dry skin, or are looking to cleanse your skin with something more natural, I highly recommend making this honey soap.
DIY: 15-Minute Honey Soap
What You’ll Need
- 2-lb block of melt and pour honey soap base
- soap mold (I used this one)
- glass bowl
- metal spoon
- essential oil in your choice of fragrance (I used orange because it’s summer)
- spray bottle with witch hazel or rubbing alcohol
- optional: soap colorant
How to make honey soap (natural color)
Cut the block in half. Cut that 1lb block up into smaller pieces. Place in a glass bowl.
Microwave in 30-second intervals until the soap is melted.
Stir in 15-20 drops of essential oil.
Immediately pour into your soap mold. Note: Make sure the soap mold is lying flat before you do this.
If you see any bubbles in the soap, lightly mist it with the alcohol or witch hazel. This will break up those annoying bubbles.
Let cool.
When hardened, flip over the mold and carefully remove the soap.
Store in a cool, dry area or glass jar.
This is how the honey soap looks without any soap colorant added. I love, love, love the bee patterns.
Each rectangle in the mold has a different pattern variation so I was able to get a nice assortment of cool-looking bee soaps. #craftnerdlife 😉
That tiny honey pot in the lower right corner of the photo was an impulse buy. Amazon showed it to me when I was buying the honey soap base and at $3.99, I couldn’t resist the cuteness.
Well played, Amazon. Well played.
How to make honey soap (amber color)
Now, to make an amber-colored honey soap, you’re going to repeat all of the same steps (listed above) except before you pour, you’re going to add soap colorant.
To make the amber brown, I mixed 3 drops each of red, blue and yellow colors.
Note: Do not use food coloring in these soaps. It will stain your skin.
I used my metal spoon to combine the colors and then poured the melted soap into the bee mold.
Quite a different look from the natural colored soaps, right? Which one do you prefer?
These honey soaps would make cute gifts (especially if presented in a linen or burlap drawstring bag).
If you’re not ready to make this project yet, please feel free to pin one of our photos to your crafts or soap-making board so you’ll have it bookmarked for future use.
