How to Add Exfoliants to Homemade Cold Process Soap

Cold process soap making is one way to make your own soap at home where you can control all the ingredients. You choose your blend of oils or butters, fragrances, and additives. These extras, the fragrances and additives, are what make cold process soap making so much fun! You can create an unlimited number of soap combinations for your own use, to sell, or to give as gifts.

Note: This article assumes that you have a basic working knowledge of cold process soap making techniques, including safety precautions when working with sodium hydroxide (lye).

What are Exfoliants?

Exfoliants are usually natural products that you can add to your cold process soap for texture or to help slough away dead skin. If you use just a little exfoliant in your soap batch, then you are using the ingredient mostly to obtain a pleasing texture. If you add larger quantities of the product, then you are looking to produce a soap that specifically targets dry skin and helps to remove it. For example, you may want to produce a soap rich in exfoliants for your tired, calloused feet. You would not want to use this same soap on your face since it may be too rough.

What Types of Exfoliants Can I Use?

Look to nature for the best exfoliants including seeds, pumice, dried organic matter such as flowers, stems, or leaves, or ground nut shells. You may want to classify your exfoliants into several categories: gentle exfoliants and scrubby exfoliants

Gentle exfoliants can include products such as ground oatmeal, jojoba beads, finely ground pumice, and finely ground seeds. These products work well for cold process soap that you intend to use on your entire body.

Scrubby or harsher exfoliants are a bit stronger and help to remove dead skin on stubborn places like feet, elbows, and hands. These exfoliants can also work well in soaps for mechanics or gardeners. Look for products such as ground shells, whole poppy seeds, whole berries, cornmeal, or coarse ground pumice.

You can often purchase exfoliating additives in bulk at your local grocery store to help save money. You can buy these products online, but you will pay a higher price for a smaller amount of the product.

If you plan to sell your soap, be sure to clearly label any product that contains exfoliants. Some people love the extra scrubbiness and some people hate it!

How to Add the Exfoliants to Your Cold Process Soap Batch?

Once you have selected your exfoliant product, go ahead and prepare your cold process soap normally. Start adding exfoliants conservatively to a small batch of soap first. Once the soap is cured and you like the texture, then make a larger batch.

Bring your soap batch to a light or thin trace. Before adding fragrance or coloring, add about 1 tablespoon of exfoliant per pound of soap. Adjust this amount if you want more or less scrubbing power. Keep in mind the type of exfoliant since the harsher products (such as cornmeal or whole poppy seeds) may overwhelm the end product if you use too much.

Stir the soap completely to mix the exfoliant throughout your soap. Add fragrances or colorings, as desired, and pour into your mold. Cure as normal and enjoy your exfoliating soap!