Making handmade soaps enables you to add in special ingredients in order to treat conditions on your skin, such as acne and pimples. By adding in tea tree oil to the soap mixture, you can create an effective acne-fighting soap. One benefit of making your own acne soap is that you can add in only natural ingredients, allowing you to avoid applying harsh chemicals on your skin that are usually added to commercially-produced acne soaps.
Step 1
Pour 7 oz. of lye into a glass measuring cup, and add 16 oz. of water to it. Place a glass candy thermometer into the lye water to gauge the temperature. While the lye water is heating, pour the coconut, olive and palm oils into a stock pot. Heat the oils gradually over medium heat. Place a second glass candy thermometer into the oils to gauge the temperature. When both the lye water and oils reach 110 degrees F, carefully pour the lye water into the oils.
Step 2
Stir the soap mixture vigorously using a wooden spoon. Pour 1 tbsp. of tea tree oil into the soap mixture and continue to stir. Keep stirring the soap mixture until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency. This is called "tracing," and prevents the soap mixture from separating when it cures.
Step 3
Pour the soap mixture into soap molds and place them into a cool, dark room for at least six to eight weeks to cure. "Curing" allows the lye to be usable on your skin, and enables the soap to become hard and produce a rich lather when used. Once the soaps have cured, remove them from the molds.
Tips and Warnings
- Wash your acne-prone skin with the acne soap up to three times per day; avoid scrubbing or rubbing your skin.
- When combining the lye with the water, make sure to do so in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors. Always wear protective goggles and rubber gloves when handling lye.
Things You'll Need
- 7 ounces of Lye
- 16 ounces of water
- 16 ounces of Coconut oil
- 16 ounces of Palm oil
- 16 ounces of Olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. of Tea tree oil
- 1 glass Candy thermometers
- Stock pot
- Glass measuring cup
- Soap molds
- Wooden spoon
- Rubber gloves
- Protective goggles
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