Creating your own natural skincare and cleaning products is a rewarding experience! From gentle soaps to multi-purpose bars, this collection highlights the beauty of simple, homemade remedies.
Discover how basic ingredients like oils, lye, and natural additions can transform into nourishing treats for your skin or effective cleaners for your home.
Dive into the world of DIY and craft something wonderful yourself!.
Table of Contents
1. Gentle Lye Soap for a Clean Feel
This traditional lye soap recipe creates a wonderfully creamy and gentle bar.
It’s made with simple ingredients like fats, oils, and lye, which react to form a soap that cleans effectively.
The result is a mild, oily soap that’s kind to your skin and perfect for everyday use.
Plus, you can make it right in your own home!.
Key Ingredients:
- Fats/Oils (e.g., lard, olive oil, coconut oil)
- Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
- Water
Benefits:
- Gentle cleansing
- Creamy texture
- Simple ingredients
Pro Tip: Always wear safety goggles and gloves when working with lye for a safe and successful soap-making experience.
Get the Recipe: Gentle Lye Soap for a Clean Feel
2. Soothing Olive Oil Castile Soap
Experience the nourishing power of pure olive oil with this simple castile soap recipe.
Known for its moisturizing qualities, olive oil creates a mild and gentle bar that’s perfect for sensitive skin.
This versatile soap is great for hands, body, and even as a cleaning soap, leaving your skin feeling soft and well-hydrated..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Lye
- Water
- Orange Essential Oil (optional)
Benefits:
- Deeply moisturizing
- Gentle on sensitive skin
- Versatile use
Pro Tip: Allow your Castile soap to cure for at least four weeks to ensure a harder, longer-lasting bar with a great lather.
Get the Recipe: Soothing Olive Oil Castile Soap
3. Nourishing Lard and Olive Oil Soap
Create a luxuriously smooth soap bar with this recipe featuring nourishing lard and olive oil.
Lard provides a creamy lather and moisturizing feel, while olive oil adds to its skin-conditioning benefits.
This homemade soap will leave your skin feeling soft and cleansed, and it makes a beautiful, thoughtful gift..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Olive Oil
- Lye
- Water
- Essential Oils (optional)
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Nourishing
- Smooth lather
Pro Tip: To help your homemade soap bars last longer, cure them for 3-6 weeks in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Get the Recipe: Nourishing Lard and Olive Oil Soap
4. Basic Cold-Process Lye Soap
Master the art of soap making with this basic cold-process recipe.
Using simple ingredients, you can create a great creamy natural soap bar that holds its hardness and lathers up wonderfully.
This foundational recipe is a fantastic starting point for creating your own custom skincare products..
Key Ingredients:
- Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
- Water
- Oils (e.g., lard, coconut oil, olive oil)
Benefits:
- Creamy lather
- Good hardness
- Customizable
Pro Tip: Always measure your ingredients by weight using a digital scale for the best and most consistent soap-making results.
Get the Recipe: Basic Cold-Process Lye Soap
5. Traditional Lard and Water Soap
Discover the time-honored method of making soap with just three essential ingredients: fat, water, and sodium hydroxide.
This traditional approach results in a natural soap bar perfect for various uses, from washing clothes to cleansing your hands.
It’s a simple yet effective way to create a functional, homemade cleaning product..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Water
- Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
Benefits:
- Traditional method
- Effective cleaning
- Simple ingredients
Pro Tip: Ensure you add sodium hydroxide slowly and little by little to the water to manage the exothermic reaction and prevent splashing.
Get the Recipe: Traditional Lard and Water Soap
6. Old-Fashioned Lye Soap with Lard
This old-fashioned lye soap recipe, often made with lard, provides a reliable and effective clean.
Historically, it was a cost-effective way to create soap for a year's supply.
People have found it particularly useful for its cleansing properties, making it a must-try for anyone interested in traditional home crafts..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Distilled Water
- Red Devil Lye
Benefits:
- Effective cleaning
- Traditional recipe
- Cost-effective
Pro Tip: Ensure your lard is not overheated before mixing to help the soap trace faster and more smoothly.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Lye Soap with Lard
7. Cold-Process Lard Soap with Essential Oils
This cold-process lard soap recipe uses a blend of lard, coconut oil, and olive oil to create a beautifully moisturizing bar.
Adding essential oils like lemongrass and cedarwood provides a lovely natural fragrance.
The result is a soap that's gentle on the skin and a pleasure to use, offering a delightful sensory experience..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Lye
- Lemongrass Essential Oil
- Cedarwood Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Natural fragrance
- Gentle on skin
Pro Tip: To reduce soda ash, you can lightly spritz the top of your poured soap with rubbing alcohol (optional).
Get the Recipe: Cold-Process Lard Soap with Essential Oils
8. Basic Lye Soap with Coconut Oil and Beef Tallow
This recipe offers a straightforward approach to creating a cleansing bar soap using coconut oil and beef tallow.
It's a great starting point for understanding the saponification process, resulting in a hard, effective soap for laundry or general use.
You'll learn the basics of combining oils with lye to create a foundational soap..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Beef Tallow
- Lye
- Water
Benefits:
- Cleansing
- Hard bar
- Simple ingredients
Pro Tip: Always wear protective gear, including gloves and eye protection, when working with lye, and ensure good ventilation.
Get the Recipe: Basic Lye Soap with Coconut Oil and Beef Tallow
9. Simple Lye Soap with Lard
This easy-to-follow recipe focuses on using lard to create a basic white soap.
It’s designed for beginners, making the process of soapmaking with lye approachable and rewarding.
The resulting bars are perfect for everyday use, offering a simple, effective clean..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Lye
- Soft Water
Benefits:
- Gentle cleansing
- Good for beginners
- Long-lasting bars
Pro Tip: Using soft water or rainwater can improve the lather of your soap if you have hard water.
Get the Recipe: Simple Lye Soap with Lard
10. Grammaw's Lye Soap for Complexion
This traditional lye soap recipe, often called 'Grammaw's Lye Soap,' is lauded for its benefits to the complexion.
Made with simple ingredients like lard or meat drippings and borax, it offers a cost-effective way to achieve beautiful, soft skin.
It's a wonderful choice for those seeking a natural remedy for skin concerns..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Lye
- Borax
Benefits:
- Improves complexion
- Moisturizing
- Cost-effective
Pro Tip: After aging, this soap is particularly beneficial for complexion issues and dry skin.
Get the Recipe: Grammaw's Lye Soap for Complexion
11. Creamy Cow Milk Cold Process Soap
Experience the luxurious moisture of cow milk in this beautifully layered cold process soap.
The cow milk adds extra hydration and skin-loving properties, creating a truly pampering bar.
The visually striking black and white pattern makes it as lovely to look at as it is to use..
Key Ingredients:
- Cow Milk
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Palm Oil
- Shea Butter
- Lye
- Fragrance Oils
Benefits:
- Extra moisture
- Skin-loving properties
- Visually appealing
Pro Tip: Freezing your cow milk before adding lye helps prevent it from scorching, ensuring a smooth and beautifully colored soap.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Cow Milk Cold Process Soap
12. Gentle Goat's Milk Soap with Oatmeal & Honey
This gentle cold process soap recipe features the nourishing goodness of fresh goat's milk, combined with the exfoliating touch of oatmeal and the moisturizing benefits of honey.
It creates a wonderfully creamy and sudsy bar that cleanses and soothes the skin, leaving it feeling soft and hydrated.
It's mild enough for both face and body..
Key Ingredients:
- Goat's Milk
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Lye
- Honey
- Oatmeal
Benefits:
- Creamy texture
- Gentle exfoliation
- Moisturizing
Pro Tip: Goat's milk has a pH similar to human skin, helping to maintain natural oils without stripping them.
Get the Recipe: Gentle Goat's Milk Soap with Oatmeal & Honey
13. Rosemary Peppermint Goat's Milk Soap
Invigorate your senses with this refreshing rosemary and peppermint goat's milk soap.
Made using the cold process method, this recipe yields a rich lather and a balanced bar that nourishes the skin.
The essential oils provide a delightful, natural scent and can offer additional skin benefits..
Key Ingredients:
- Goat's Milk
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Cocoa Butter
- Avocado Oil
- Castor Oil
- Lye
- Rosemary Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Oatmeal
Benefits:
- Refreshing scent
- Nourishing lather
- Soothing for skin
Pro Tip: Freezing goat's milk into ice cubes helps prevent it from burning when mixed with lye, ensuring a smooth process.
Get the Recipe: Rosemary Peppermint Goat's Milk Soap
14. Lemon Buttermilk Soap with Clay and Essential Oils
This vibrant soap recipe blends creamy buttermilk, known for its luxurious lather, with the uplifting scents of lemon and litsea essential oils.
Infused with pumpkin seed powder and clays, it offers a gentle cleanse that leaves your skin feeling soft.
The beautiful layered design adds a special touch to this homemade treat..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Olive Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Rice Bran Oil
- Buttermilk Powder
- Lemon Essential Oil
- Litsea Essential Oil
- Pumpkin Seed Powder
- Yellow Clay
- Rhassoul Clay
Benefits:
- Creamy Lather
- Soothing
- Refreshing Scent
Pro Tip: A light dusting of charcoal powder creates beautiful lines, but avoid using too much, or it might cause the layers to separate.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Buttermilk Soap with Clay and Essential Oils
15. Moisturizing Milk Soap with Lard and Coconut Oil
Experience the super creamy and soft feel of this milk soap recipe, made with nourishing cow or goat's milk, homemade lard, and coconut oil.
It's a deeply moisturizing and gentle bar that will leave your skin feeling wonderfully soft.
The addition of dried herbs and essential oils adds a beautiful, natural touch..
Key Ingredients:
- Milk (Cow or Goat)
- Lard
- Coconut Oil
- Dried Calendula Flowers
- Dried Lavender Flowers
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Orange Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Nourishing
- Soft and Creamy Lather
Pro Tip: Using frozen milk is key to prevent scorching when mixing with lye, ensuring a smooth and high-quality soap.
Get the Recipe: Moisturizing Milk Soap with Lard and Coconut Oil
16. Gentle Goat Milk Soap with Coconut Oil and Olive Oil
This goat milk soap recipe creates a bar that's wonderfully good for your skin, offering a gentle and nourishing cleanse.
The combination of coconut oil and olive oil results in a beautiful, moisturizing soap with a lovely feel.
It's a fantastic option for sensitive skin and a great way to pamper yourself naturally..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Lard
- Goat Milk
- Essential Oils
- Oatmeal
- Lavender Flowers
Benefits:
- Great for Skin
- Moisturizing
- Gentle
Pro Tip: Always keep your milk frozen and the lye/milk mixture very cold during the process to prevent scorching and ensure the best result.
Get the Recipe: Gentle Goat Milk Soap with Coconut Oil and Olive Oil
17. Long-Lasting Beeswax Soap with Cocoa Butter
Discover the benefits of beeswax in this wonderfully moisturizing and long-lasting soap recipe.
Beeswax creates a firmer bar that's incredibly durable, saving you money in the long run.
Its natural emollient properties protect and hydrate your skin, making it perfect for dry, sensitive types..
Key Ingredients:
- Avocado Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Palm Oil
- Cocoa Butter
- Beeswax
- Lye
- Water
Benefits:
- Long-Lasting Bar
- Moisturizing
- Protective Skin Barrier
Pro Tip: Ensure you use sustainably sourced palm oil if you choose to include it in your recipe.
Get the Recipe: Long-Lasting Beeswax Soap with Cocoa Butter
18. Gentle Tallow Soap with Coconut Oil and Olive Oil
This traditional tallow soap recipe results in a gentle, long-lasting bar that's fantastic for your skin.
Tallow provides a creamy lather and a moisturizing feel, making it ideal for dry and sensitive skin types.
It’s a simple yet rewarding way to create a natural, budget-friendly soap..
Key Ingredients:
- Tallow
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Distilled Water
- Lye
Benefits:
- Very Moisturizing
- Long-Lasting
- Creamy Lather
- Gentle on Skin
Pro Tip: If your tallow isn't completely clean, rendering it a second time can make a big difference in the final soap's quality.
Get the Recipe: Gentle Tallow Soap with Coconut Oil and Olive Oil
19. Basic Lard Soap with Essential Oils
This simple lard soap is incredibly economical and creates a hard, long-lasting bar with wonderful, bubbly lather.
Perfect for beginners, it's a fantastic way to experiment with soap making without using expensive ingredients.
Adding a touch of essential oil, like sweet orange or lavender, gives it a pleasant, natural scent and a gentle cleansing touch..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Soapmaking Lye
- Distilled Water
- Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Economical
- Hard, long-lasting bar
- Bubbly lather
- Gentle cleansing
Pro Tip: Lard soap can sometimes have a slight fatty smell if left unperfumed. Opt for gentle essential oils like lavender if you have sensitive skin.
Get the Recipe: Basic Lard Soap with Essential Oils
20. Refreshing Lemon Soap with Shea Butter
This bright and beautiful lemon soap is a treat for your hands, especially when kept by the kitchen sink.
It combines nourishing shea butter with the invigorating scent of lemon zest for a refreshing cleanse.
This recipe is beginner-friendly and creates a balanced bar that's gentle enough for frequent use..
Key Ingredients:
- Lye
- Water
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Castor Oil
- Lemon Zest
- Sodium Lactate
Benefits:
- Refreshing scent
- Nourishing
- Gentle cleansing
- Beginner-friendly
Pro Tip: Due to its high olive oil content, this soap will seem slightly soft at first but firms up nicely over a few weeks of curing, making it last longer.
Get the Recipe: Refreshing Lemon Soap with Shea Butter
21. Moisturizing Cold Process Shower Soap
Discover the ultimate cold process soap recipe for your shower! This bar is designed to be both deeply moisturizing and effectively cleansing, creating a rich, bubbly lather that feels amazing on your skin.
With a blend of nourishing oils like coconut, olive, and sweet almond, plus the secret weapon for big bubbles, castor oil, this soap is a must-try for a luxurious cleansing experience..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Palm Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Castor Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Mango Butter
- Lye
- Water
- Fragrance Oil
Benefits:
- Super bubbly lather
- Moisturizing
- Cleansing
- Luxurious feel
Pro Tip: Castor oil is key for boosting lather; avoid substituting it if you want those abundant, creamy bubbles!
Get the Recipe: Moisturizing Cold Process Shower Soap
22. Invigorating Coffee Scrub Soap
This homemade coffee scrub soap is surprisingly simple to make and offers a wonderfully invigorating experience.
It's mild, soft, and feels like your favorite cup of coffee in a bar.
The coffee grounds provide a gentle exfoliation, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and smooth..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Soybean Oil
- Coffee Grounds
- Lye
- Water
Benefits:
- Gentle Exfoliation
- Invigorating Scent
- Soft Skin
Pro Tip: Using expeller-pressed coconut oil and second-pressing olive oil can result in a higher quality bar without the extra cost.
Get the Recipe: Invigorating Coffee Scrub Soap
23. Gentle Aloe Vera Soap for Sensitive Skin
Perfect for those with sensitive skin, this homemade aloe vera soap is crafted to be mild and soothing.
By excluding common irritants like artificial fragrances and colorants, it provides a clean that preserves your skin's natural moisture.
The inclusion of aloe vera offers a calming and hydrating touch, making it ideal for managing conditions like eczema..
Key Ingredients:
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Glycerin
- Fatty Oil
- Chamomile Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Soothing
- Gentle Cleansing
Pro Tip: If you have ultra-sensitive skin, consider substituting coconut oil with babassu oil in recipes.
Get the Recipe: Gentle Aloe Vera Soap for Sensitive Skin
24. Versatile Coconut Oil Cleaning Soap
This easy-to-make coconut oil soap recipe is incredibly versatile and can be the base for dish soap, laundry soap, shampoo, or body wash.
It's a hot-process soap, meaning you can start using it the next day without a long curing period.
Made with just three simple ingredients, it's a workhorse for all your cleaning needs..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
- Water
Benefits:
- Versatile Cleaning
- Quick Use
- Economical
Pro Tip: Grate the soap into a food processor for a quicker way to make liquid dish or laundry soap.
Get the Recipe: Versatile Coconut Oil Cleaning Soap
25. Moisturizing Glycerin Soap
This homemade glycerin soap creates a hard bar that lathers beautifully while gently cleansing and moisturizing your skin.
Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it helps retain moisture, leaving your skin feeling soft and supple.
It's known for being milder and gentler, making it a great choice for faces and bodies, and can even help with acne..
Key Ingredients:
- Tallow
- Castor Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Glycerin
- Alcohol
- Sugar
- Distilled Water
- Lye
Benefits:
- Deeply Moisturizing
- Gentle on Skin
- Hard Lathering Bar
Pro Tip: Using oils like tallow and coconut oil can help ensure a hard, long-lasting bar.
Get the Recipe: Moisturizing Glycerin Soap
26. Nourishing Cold-Process Chamomile Soap
This beginner-friendly cold-process chamomile soap recipe is wonderful for soothing sensitive skin.
It's made with moisturizing coconut oil, palm oil, and beneficial chamomile essential oil.
The soap bar has a lovely scent and is perfect for dry skin, promoting calm feelings and aiding relaxation..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Palm Oil
- Olive Oil
- Chamomile Essential Oil
- Lye
- Water
Benefits:
- Soothing for Sensitive Skin
- Moisturizing
- Calming Aroma
Pro Tip: Always add lye to water, never the other way around, for safety during the soap-making process.
Get the Recipe: Nourishing Cold-Process Chamomile Soap
27. Mild and Conditioning Lard Soap
Made from animal fats, this lard soap is a cost-effective and waste-reducing option that results in a very mild and conditioning bar.
It retains its natural glycerin, which is excellent for moisturizing.
This soap is a luxurious choice for personal washing and also works well for homemade laundry detergent..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Water
- Caustic Soda (Lye)
Benefits:
- Mild and Conditioning
- Highly Moisturizing
- Reduces Waste
Pro Tip: If you prefer a bubbly lather, consider adding a small amount of castor oil to your lard soap recipe.
Get the Recipe: Mild and Conditioning Lard Soap
28. Masculine Cedarwood & Lemongrass Soap
This homemade soap recipe is designed with a masculine scent profile, featuring grounding cedarwood and fresh lemongrass essential oils.
It creates fantastic soap bars that last a long time.
While named for its scent, it's excellent for anyone seeking a clean, refreshing wash with antifungal and antibacterial properties..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Cedarwood Essential Oil
- Lemongrass Essential Oil
- Brown Oxide Pigment
- Lye
- Water
Benefits:
- Invigorating Scent
- Long-lasting Bars
- Antifungal & Antibacterial
Pro Tip: Use a deep bowl when bringing ingredients to trace to help prevent splashing and enhance safety.
Get the Recipe: Masculine Cedarwood & Lemongrass Soap