Soap Making Herbs
Herbal soaps made from a soap base or totally from scratch using the cold or hot process method of soap making will save you money and are a great alternative to commercial cosmetic soaps that contain harmful preservatives and can easily damage the skin. Free of irritants that commonly cause breakouts and rashes, as well as clog pores and dry your skin, herbal soaps offer a refreshing eco-friendly alternative to commercially made soaps.
We know herbs for their medicinal, aromatic, and skin-soothing properties, and a basic soap recipe that includes herbs offers time-proven cosmetic benefits. The key to creating successful and beneficial herbal soap recipes is a high-quality basic soap formula that contains soothing and non-irritating ingredients. Also necessary is a basic knowledge of herbs to determine which herbal soap recipe to use for which type of skin.
Below are some of the best natural herbs for soap making:
Lavender
Lavender is one of the best soap-making herbs. Its light and clean scent is famous for a reason and provides a sense of comfort. It is antibacterial and can help heal wounds. Lavender is also well known for its calming properties and use as a natural sleep aid.
Marshmallow Root
One of the most soothing natural herbs for herbal soap is marshmallow root. When powdered and used in making soap, the soap becomes calming and softens the skin very well. Its demulcent action helps to keep overworked hands hydrated.
Rosemary
Rosemary is one of the most used herbs in herbal soap making. It is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal, filled with antioxidants. Rosemary Oil Extract, or ROE, comes as a preservative for soap and other body care products.
Calendula
Calendula is healing and can help to remove redness from the skin. Many herbs turn dark after a few weeks in the soap, but calendula herbal soap will hold its color well for a long time.
Chamomile
Chamomile is soft and fragrant. It’s a gentle healing herb and is soothing. It can also aid in the removal of bacteria from the skin.
Lemon Balm
When it’s dried, loose its lemony scents, but it still works well in soap. We think lemon balm can be antiviral and can help to kill germs when you wash with it. It provides a dark green color and rougher exfoliation than lavender or chamomile while not abrasive the skin.
Nettle
Nettles are high in vitamins and minerals. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it excellent for skin and hair. Nettle is anti-inflammatory and is soothing for your skin, making it ideal for acne. We can infuse it in oil to give a green color to your soap.
Mint
Most of the mints are antibacterial, making them an excellent choice for soap making. There are several types of mint, some having more of the characteristic aroma than others.
Peppermint
Peppermint is known for its ability to refresh, revitalize, and tone the skin is also excellent for giving skin back its natural elasticity. It has superb results when used on those with large pores or oily skin. People often use herbs for skincare for their ability to soothe the skin as well.
Rose Petals
Rose petals are soft, and they can lend a softening property to soap making. Using rose petals in herbal soap can not only soften the skin but also provide gentle exfoliation. Rose petals are high in vitamin C, which is also good for the skin.
Sage
Sage leaves are commonly used to treat people who have spotted, oily, or sagging skin. It closes pores, stimulates blood flow to the skin, and increases skin elasticity.
Comfrey
Comfrey root, dried and ground into a powder, is added to soap to help heal your skin. It’s very effective for acne and poison ivy rash, without being too harsh. You won’t dry out the skin but will help to heal the skin. You can even use the leaf, although the root has more healing properties.
