I’ve talked before about how beneficial salt can be, both when consumed and when used on the skin. A fun and simple way to add these benefits to your daily routine is by making your own soap with salt. This inexpensive ingredient can turn a regular soap bar into a luxurious sea salt soap that gently exfoliates and softens your skin.
If you’re new to making soap, it’s a good idea to check out my tutorial on cold-process soap first so you have a solid understanding before trying this variation. Adding salt to soap changes the process a bit, so here’s what you need to know:
You’ll need to tweak your favorite soap recipe to include salt. Salt can reduce the soap’s lather, so you’ll want to increase the coconut oil content to at least 70%. Coconut oil creates big, fluffy bubbles, but it can be drying if used too much, so typically, you’d use 15-50% coconut oil with a 5-8% superfat. In this salt soap recipe, the coconut oil goes up to 70%, and the superfat is increased to 15%. This keeps your skin from drying out while maintaining a nice balance. You might want to try a lower superfat percentage, but make sure to adjust the lye amount accordingly.
Avoid using Dead Sea salt and Epsom salt for this project, as they can attract moisture and cause the soap to sweat. Sea salt and Pink Himalayan salt are great options, and the grain size is up to you. Both dissolve when mixed with warm water, making the soap gentle on your skin.
There’s no strict rule on how much salt to add. You can use anywhere from 50-100% of the weight of the soaping oils. For regular hand-washing, I prefer 50%, while higher amounts work well for a shower body bar.
After mixing lye and water, add the salt when your soap reaches trace. Stir it in with a spoon, but be quick, as the soap will set fast. You might need to spoon the mixture into the mold. If using a traditional log mold, cut the soap about an hour after it sets to avoid crumbling. For simplicity, I find individual silicone molds work best. Just leave them overnight, and they’ll pop right out.
I like to have a separate set of supplies for soap making. You can use kitchen tools if you’re careful about cleaning them well, but I prefer to keep them separate. Remember, all measurements should be by weight, and this recipe aims for a 15% superfat, producing 2 pounds of soap.
This soap works well for my slightly oily skin, making it a great facial option. If you’re looking to add a little exfoliation to your regular soap, give this recipe a try! Have you tried using salt in your beauty routine before? Will you give it a shot in your soap making?
