Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe - Boots & Hooves Homestead (2024)

ByMary Woita

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This super easy DIY Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe is incredibly beneficial. It uses a melt and pour goat milk soap base. And it can easily be made vegan friendly by changing the soap to plant based soap.

Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe - Boots & Hooves Homestead (1)

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I like using a simple melt and pour soap base because it doesn’t require me using lye. And I still have very young children running around.

The risk of them getting into it while I would make a from scratch soap just isn’t worth it to me.

And using a melt and pour soap base is incredibly easy. Plus, it is super quick to make a bunch of soap bars. I make as many or little as I want to make at a time.

Related: Easy DIY Goat Milk Soap Recipe

Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe - Boots & Hooves Homestead (2)

Supplies Needed for Clay & Charcoal Soap

  • Two pounds of melt and pour soap base. I used goat milk soap for this, but you can easily use another plant based option if you prefer.
  • bentonite clay
  • activated charcoal
  • Essential oils (optional) I used Frankincense, Copaiba, and Lavender
  • Double Boiler
  • Soap Molds

Check out: 20+ All Natural Homemade Soap Bar Recipes

Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe - Boots & Hooves Homestead (3)

How to Make This Clay Charcoal Soap Recipe

This recipe is incredibly simple to make because it uses a melt & pour base. And begins by setting up a double boiler on the stove top and bringing the water to a low boil.

The next step is to cut up the soap base into pieces to help it melt faster and more evenly.

After the soap is melted, I mix in both the bentonite clay and the activated charcoal. It takes a little bit of time to mix it in.

I’ve used an immersion blender to help speed up the process. But it is really important to be super careful that you don’t splash the hot liquid soap and burn yourself!

And you also don’t want to blend it up to much to create a bunch of suds from the soap.

After those ingredients are combined, I stir in my essential oils. Then, super carefully ladle the melted soap base to the molds.

It takes a couple of hours to dry and set before they can be removed from the molds.

Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe - Boots & Hooves Homestead (4)

Clay & Charcoal Soap

Mary Woita

This super easy DIY soap bar combines the benefits of bentonite clay with activated charcoal in a quick melt & pour goat milk soap base. And it can easily be converted to a vegan friendly soap by switching to a plant based soap base.

5 from 1 vote

PRINT RECIPEPIN RECIPE

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Additional Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course DIY Projects

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds melt & pour goat milk soap
  • 2 tablespoons bentonite clay
  • 2 tablespoons activated charcoal
  • 10 drops Frankincense essential oil
  • 20 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops copaiba essential oil

Instructions

  • Set up double boiler by filling a large pot with about an inch or two of water and bring to a low boil over medium/low heat. Place a large glass bowl over the top of the large pot so the bowl is resting above the pot.

  • Cut up the goat milk soap base into pieces and place inside of the glass bowl. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon while it is melting.

  • Once the soap has melted completely, gently stir in the activated charcoal and the bentonite clay. Turn off the burner.

  • If using essential oils, add them to the melted soap.

  • Immediately and very carefully, ladle the liquid soap to soap molds. I use a soap bar mold that will make 4 oz bars. So this recipe makes 8 soap bars. (See below for recommended products.)

Keyword activated charcoal soap, bentonite clay soap, charcoal soap recipe, clay soap

Tried this recipe?Give it a 5 star rating and pin it to your Pinterest account!

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Leave a Reply

  1. HI!

    Just wanted to thank you so much for the recipe, I made it and it’s just done wonders for my face!

    All the best and hope you’re keeping safe at these times,
    Liel

    Reply

    1. Hi Liel! Thank you so much for sharing…so glad it is working for you and you love it! 🙂
      -Mary

      Reply

  2. Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe - Boots & Hooves Homestead (11)
    We just made this recipe for the first time and I had one question. When are the bars ready to use?

    Reply

    1. Hello! They will be ready after about 1 day or so when the bars have enough time to dry and get hard.

      Reply

Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe - Boots & Hooves Homestead (2024)

FAQs

Clay and Charcoal Soap Recipe - Boots & Hooves Homestead? ›

Loaded with activated charcoal, and bentonite clay which provides gentle detoxification. Exfoliates dead skin cells. Perfectly suited for oily, sensitive, or just plain dirty skin.

What does charcoal and clay soap do? ›

Loaded with activated charcoal, and bentonite clay which provides gentle detoxification. Exfoliates dead skin cells. Perfectly suited for oily, sensitive, or just plain dirty skin.

How do you make clay soap? ›

Make a Slurry of Oil and Clay

Once your oils have melted, add your lye-water solution. Just stir it gently until the lye and oils are lightly mixed together, but do not mix too much. Ladle out a cup or two of the lightly mixed raw soap and put it into a large measuring cup or bowl, then add the clay and mix well.

How much charcoal does it take to make black soap? ›

For gray soap, start with 1 teaspoon charcoal per pound of oils. For black soap, start with 1/2 tablespoon charcoal per pound of oils. If your soap goes through gel phase, it will help make it dark black!

What does charcoal soap do to your skin? ›

Charcoal soap helps to absorb excess oil, dirt, product buildup and harmful bacteria from your skin, all of which are leading causes of common breakouts. Charcoal also works as an anti-inflammatory, absorbing substances that inflame the skin so it can prevent redness and leave you with cleaner, clearer skin.

What is the difference between black soap and charcoal? ›

African Black Soap can be used by itself for acne, blemishes, aging skin, and hyperpigmentation. Activated charcoal is not a soap but must be added to soap bases made from lye to create what is called black soap. The source of the charcoal is unknown and may contain petrochemicals.

What are the disadvantages of charcoal soap? ›

Activated charcoal is considered safe for most people when used as directed. However, charcoal soap disadvantages may include side effects, such as skin dryness, redness, or irritation. If you have delicate skin, it's always best to test out a new product on a small area of your skin before using it all over your face.

Is charcoal and clay soap good for your skin? ›

The bottom line

Its large surface area allows it to absorb toxins, which is why activated charcoal in soap theoretically binds to dirt and oil on the skin and helps clear out pores. While there's no good evidence that activated charcoal actually benefits skin, it's generally considered safe to use.

Is charcoal and clay good for your skin? ›

Clay is packed with minerals that help detoxify and nourish the skin, working similarly to activated charcoal to draw out excess dirt and oil and absorb toxins for a clearer complexion.

What is the best clay to put in soap? ›

For a gentle clay that is kind to all skin types, go with the Kaolin or Rose Clay varieties. For something stronger and extra absorbent, look to French Green, Bentonite, or Rhassoul. Kelly's test recipe used 33% coconut oil, 33% palm oil, and 34% olive oil. She added 1 tablespoon of clay per pound of soap.

Does clay soap dry your skin? ›

Unlike many cleansing products, clay does not deprive the skin of any moisture and cleans very gently. Minerals found in the mud also promote regeneration of the skin.

How much clay do you put in soap? ›

Start with 1/2 teaspoon of dispersed clay per pound of soap. Adding too much can make it hard to mix and can give the melt and pour a gloopy texture, so start small and go from there.

How many times a week should I use charcoal soap? ›

Even if you don't necessarily have any particular skin concerns, having a deep clean is a good idea at least once or twice a week. Charcoal soap is a great option to use for facial skin care. It removes excess oil from your skin as well as dirt and other toxins, giving you clear and oil-free skin.

How much activated charcoal should I add to my soap? ›

Activated Charcoal Soap Color Guide for Soapmakers. Activated charcoal usage rate: The standard recommendation for activated charcoal is to use 1/8 up to 1tsp of charcoal per pound of oil (PPO).

How much activated charcoal do I add to my soap? ›

Use rate in cold & hot process soaps: 1-2 teaspoons per pound of oils. Use rate in melt & pour soaps: . 5 teaspoons per pound of oils. Add Activated Charcoal to your soap making oils before adding your lye.

How do you melt activated charcoal for soap? ›

Place them into a heat-safe container and melt in the microwave using 20-30 second bursts until fully melted. Add the oil mixture to the melted soap. Use a spoon to thoroughly incorporate the oil mixture into the soap base.

Can charcoal be used in soap making? ›

Charcoal has been used for centuries to help purify the body and skin, and it's become a popular ingredient in soap. But what is it? Activated charcoal is a dark black powder produced by processing bamboo, coal, or coconut shells at high temperatures (they are all carbon-rich and result in a very fine powder).

Can activated charcoal be used in soap making? ›

Discover the secret to creating a soapy masterpiece with Activated Charcoal! Made from renewable hardwood sources, this eco-friendly ingredient won't stain washcloths and produces a beautiful white lather. Perfect for achieving a striking black color in your soap creations.

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