How to Make Calendula & Turmeric Cold Process Soap

Calendula flowers are some of the most beautiful flowers in my garden, and they double as a very versatile herbal remedy. Topically, calendula addresses a myriad of skin complaints, including rashes, stings, wounds, burns, abrasions, swellings, eczema, acne, insect bites, scrapes, and bruises. This Calendula and Turmeric Soap is perfect if you are looking for a soap that will moisturize without leaving your skin oily.

Paired with the calendula, turmeric also has properties that are beneficial to skin and has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-neoplastic (cancer fighting) properties. Studies have shown that there is an active component of turmeric, curcumin, that may be used medically to treat a variety of dermatologic diseases and is very beneficial to skin health.

The inspiration for this recipe came from two separate soap recipes created by LovelyGreens.com. I wanted to make calendula soap, but also wanted some really good color and a boost to this soap’s skincare properties. Turmeric contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components that provide glow and luster to the skin, and can also revive your skin by bringing out its natural glow. We use turmeric in the kitchen frequently and it stains almost everything it comes in contact with, so I knew it would bring a bold color to the table!

For this soap I primarily followed LovelyGreens’ Natural Turmeric Soap Recipe, while also following the directions in this Simple Calendula Soap Recipe to make calendula infused oil. I then used the calendula oil instead of plain olive oil, subbed sweet almond oil for the sunflower oil, and completely left out the grapefruit seed oil. It’s always good practice to enter all your ingredients into a soap calculator to make sure there won’t be lye leftover and that the soap will cure correctly.

Ingredients Needed

Solids:

• 113g | 4oz Coconut Oil (refined if you don’t want a coconut smell- I use unrefined as it’s healthier)
• 68g | 2.4oz Shea Butter
• 23g | 0.8oz Cocoa Butter

Lye Solution:

• 63g | 2.2oz Sodium Hydroxide
• 120g | 4.2oz Distilled Water
• 1tsp Ground Turmeric

After Trace:

• 1.5tsp Tea Tree Essential Oil (or any essential oil of your choice)
• Dried Calendula (optional)

Equipment Needed

• Heatproof plastic jug
• Kitchen Scale
• Candy/Food Thermometer
• Immersion Blender
• Stainless Steel Saucepan/Pot
• Soap Mold
• Stainless Steel Whisk
• Protective Equipment (Rubber gloves, safety glasses, apron, etc)
  

Step One – Prepare Turmeric and Lye Mixture: Measure out your turmeric and lye mixture. Feel free to play with the amount of turmeric, adding more for a darker color and less for a light orange. After putting on your protective clothing, gather your lye mixture, distilled water (in a heatproof container), metal whisk, and thermometer. The solution will heat up and produce fumes as you add the lye to the water, so make sure you complete this step in a well ventilated area or somewhere outside. I usually opt to go outside to avoid any worry. Slowly add the lye mixture into the distilled water, stirring as you go. Once all of the lye has been added, let your mixture sit and cool while you continue with next steps.

Step Two – Melt Solids and Combine with Liquids: On a stove over low heat, put all of your solid ingredients into a stainless pan and let them melt, stirring occasionally. Once almost everything has melted, remove from the heat and add stir until the last bits of solid are gone. Gather all of your liquid ingredients and pour into the pan, using a spatula as needed to transfer as much of the liquid mixture as possible.

Step Three – Getting the Correct Temperature: I made this instruction into a whole step because it is very important not to mix your lye solution into your other ingredients until both mixtures reach 100°F if you are hoping to maintain the coloring we are aiming for.

Step Four – Adding Turmeric and Lye: Once both mixtures reach 100°F, pour your turmeric and lye mixture through a strainer lined with muslin and into the pan. Give the liquid plenty of time to strain in order to get plenty of liquid and not force any solids through.

Step Five – Blending: After all the liquid has drained through the muslin, remove the muslin/strainer and get your immersion blender. Place your immersion blender into the mixture, approaching at an angle to avoid trapping any bubbles. Hold the blender on the bottom of the pan and blend for 5-6 seconds, keeping as still as you can. Turn off the blender and use it to gently stir the mixture. Continue to alternate between blending and stirring until the mixture comes to a light trace.

Step Six – Essential Oils/Scent: Add in your essential oils and stir until completely mixed into your soap. I chose to use Tea Tree Essential Oil, but feel free to use any oils/fragrance you want. I went with tee tree for this recipe as it provides many benefits to your skin’s health and also goes well with the therapeutic properties already present from the turmeric and calendula.

Step Seven – Pouring, Drying, and Curing : This recipe makes roughly six standard size bars, so I recommend using a six cavity soap mold. I ended up having a little extra batter and used a couple of recycled yogurt containers to mold some smaller round soaps. Our herb cabinet has an abundance of dried calendula flowers and petals, so I decorated some of the bars with flower accents. Keep the soap in the mold to dry for at least 48 hours. Once 48 hours have passed, remove your soaps and line them up on a piece of parchment paper in a well ventilated area out of direct sunlight, leaving some room between each bar so there is adequate airflow. Let your soap cure for at least a month before use so it reaches the correct hardness.