Settle into bedtime with this calming soap
If you’re looking for a fairly simple soap to make that is packed with skin soothing ingredients — and also is scented with essential oils that are incredibly settling and grounding, this is the one for you. It’s the perfect night time bar as we transition into relaxing and bedtime. I chose the ingredients for this soap for soothing both the skin and the spirit.
The Skin Soothers
Calendula:
Calendula is a great option for your skin as it has calming, healing, and anti-inflammatory qualities. It can calm sensitive skin, relieve irritation and soothe the skin after acne breakouts. Using it as an infused oil and tea in this recipe makes sure you get the most possible calendula benefits.
Shea Butter:
Shea butter is a wonderful moisturizer for dry skin and offers relief to itchy, irritated skin. It can also help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Sunflower Oil:
Sunflower oil is a wonderful soap ingredient as it adds a bit of hardness but also gives it a wonderful creamy lather and silky feel. For the skin, it’s another ingredient that is beneficial for dry, irritated skin.
Rose Hip Powder:
Rosehip powder adds a lovely color to your soap, but it also is packed with antioxidants and the vitamin A content supports growth of new skin cells.
The Relaxers:
Clary Sage essential oil:
Clary sage is an oil that can lessen stress by supporting healthy cortisol levels. It can give you a sense of well-being. The aroma of clary sage helps your body relax and release tension.
Vetiver essential oil
Vetiver has a sweet, yet earthy aroma and is a common choice in aromatherapy for relaxation. It can help you get a better night’s sleep, reduce stress and anxious feelings, and help you feel more tranquil.
Here’s my recipe for this beautiful calming soap. It’s at a 5% super fat which adds to its moisturizing qualities. Easy printable recipe below. This is a fairly easy soap to make, it comes to trace fairly quickly but none of these ingredients generally accelerate trace. You should get 6-8 bars out of this recipe. Always double check my soap math with a soap calculator like this one. If you make any substitutions it’s crucial that you use the soap calculator to insure you have the correct quantity of lye.
301g calendula tea**
111g lye
227g coconut oil
57g shea butter
113g sunflower oil
113g castor oil
283g calendula infused olive oil
2 T rose hip powder
20g clary sage essentail oil
20g vetiver essential oil
Always use protective gear when you make soap. Gloves, eyewear, long sleeves. Carefully (and a bit at a time) add the lye to cooled calendula tea. Stir thoroughly after each addition. Expect some color change during this step. Once all the lye is incorporated, add thermometer and set aside in a safe place until the temp is between 100 and 110 degrees F)
In the meantime, melt the coconut oil and shea butter. Add remaining oils and stir well. Combine essential oils and rose hip powder, set aside.
Once the lye solution is the correct temperature, add to the oils. Using both a stick blender and hand store until soap reaches a light trace. Add rose hip/essential oil combination and hand stir until well combined. Use a stick blender if necessary to full combine but watch trace carefully.
Pour into prepared loaf mold and cover lightly with waxed paper and a small towel. After 2-3 days, remove soap from mold and slice into bars. Cure for 4-6 weeks before using.
Make sure to check out our other soap recipes! This solid dish soap bar is a favorite.
Settle: calming calendula cold-process soap
Materials
- 301 g calendula tea**
- 111 g lye/sodium hydroxide
- 227 g coconut oil
- 57 g shea butter
- 113 g sunflower oil
- 113 g castor oil
- 283 g calendula infused olive oil
- 2 tablespoons rose hip powder
- 20 g clary sage essential oil
- 20 g vetiver essential oil
Instructions
- Always use protective gear when you make soap. Gloves, eyewear, long sleeves. Carefully (and a bit at a time) add the lye to cooled calendula tea. Stir thoroughly after each addition. Expect some color change during this step. Once all the lye is incorporated, add thermometer and set aside in a safe place until the temp is between 100 and 110 degrees F)
- In the meantime, melt the coconut oil and shea butter. Add remaining oils and stir well. Combine essential oils and rose hip powder, set aside.
- Once the lye solution is the correct temperature, add to the oils. Using both a stick blender and hand store until soap reaches a light trace. Add rose hip/essential oil combination and hand stir until well combined. Use a stick blender if necessary to full combine but watch trace carefully.
- Pour into prepared loaf mold and cover lightly with waxed paper and a small towel. After 2-3 days, remove soap from mold and slice into bars. Cure for 4-6 weeks before using.
- **steep 1/4 cup dried calendula petals with 2 cups of distilled or filtered water in a canning jar. Allow to sit for about 45 minutes. Strain and allow to cool.
