Homemade Chamomile Soap for Sensitive Skin

Gentle Bar Soap for Babies (and those with sensitive skin)

At the time I first created this homemade chamomile soap recipe, we had a brand new great-nephew to fuss over, so I wanted to come up with a gentle bar soap just for him, for times when soap is needed.

Water, of course, is the best cleanser for babies because, unlike alkaline soaps, it preserves the protective acid mantle of skin. The pH of the skin is between 4.5 and 6.2, which is weakly acidic. Bacteria, viruses and other chemicals are primarily alkaline in nature and the skin’s acidity helps to neutralize their chemical effects. Soap’s natural alkalinity neutralizes this mantle, so I recommend using it sparingly.

Super-Fatted Chamomile Soap

When I was creating this recipe, I had several requirements since I was formulating it for young, sensitive skin.

First of all, it needed to be super-fatted. Let me explain. Soap making involves a chemical process where lye and fat are combined in exact amounts to form soap (saponification). After curing, the soap will not have any traces of lye left in it. With super-fatting, extra oils are added, or the amount of lye is reduced to form a very emollient soap.

Next, I wanted a soap that suds nicely, but is not drying. Oils which help to form suds include coconut and palm, but these oils can actually be drying to the skin if they make up more than a third of the oil in the recipe. I chose coconut oil for my soap, but it makes up only about 10% of the oil in the recipe.

I’ve also included a small amount of jojoba oil. I chose this because jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax – not an oil – with properties similar to our skin’s sebum – that acid mantle that we already discussed. It is gentle, rich in Vitamin E, protects the skin from the elements, and has anti-inflammatory properties. It is one of the oils in my shampoo bars that makes them so special.

Next, I chose olive oil, which is gentle, soothing, and moisturizing – perfect for a baby’s sensitive skin. It is also a source of antioxidants, which protect the skin.

And finally, my soap needed to have a mild, herbal fragrance, and the essential oils used needed to add beneficial qualities to the final product. Essential oils can be harsh for a baby’s skin, so care was taken in choosing an oil that is safe, even for newborns.

And chamomile essential oil is the perfect choice. Either Roman or German chamomile may be used, but I have chosen German because it is more soothing and healing to skin. Chamomile is soothing, and just breathing in the scent will help a child relax so that he can sleep soundly. In addition, it is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.

It is important to note that all essential oils, even those deemed safe for newborns, should be used sparingly because they are so highly concentrated – never apply an essential oil directly to a baby’s skin.

Chamomile Bar Soap

Equipment

To make this gentle chamomile soap you will need the following equipment (it’s best to keep these items only for soap making):

• a scale to weigh ingredients
• a stainless steel or enamel pot
• a heat proof glass , plastic or stainless steel pitcher for mixing and pouring the lye (do not use aluminum)
• plastic containers for holding oil while it’s being weighed – I use 32 oz plastic yogurt containers
• 2 large plastic or wooden spoons – one for stirring the lye and one for the oils
• a spatula
• 2 thermometers – one for the lye and one for the oil
• soap mold – this can be as simple as a shoe box lined with plastic or parchment paper, a plastic tray with sides, or a plastic shoe box
• rubber gloves – wear these the entire time
• cardboard to fit over the molds
• a blanket to insulate the cooling soap
• protective clothing – this is not a project for shorts and a tank top. Wear long sleeves and long pants to protect your skin.

Ingredients for Chamomile Soap

• chamomile tea, room temperature (To make chamomile tea, you can use fresh or dried chamomile flowers, or a purchased tea bag. Add boiling water and steep for 5 – 7 minutes.)
• lye (recommended brands include Red Crown, ComStar, and Essential Depot)
• olive, coconut, and jojoba oils
• chamomile essential oil

If you are new to soap making, please familiarize yourself with the process at my post Basic Soap Making.

The photo below shows what soap looks like when it reaches trace. Trace is the point when your stirring causes lines in the mixture that stay in place or when a drizzle of the soap mixture retains it shape on the surface of the soap. This indicates that your soap is ready to pour. If using essential oils, add them at trace, and then pour into molds.

Whether you are an experienced soap maker or a beginner, I think you’ll enjoy this delicately scented, creamy soap – even if there is no baby in your house. I first made this soap for my little nephew, but I enjoy using it myself. It is wonderful for adults with sensitive skin.

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Homemade Chamomile Bar Soap

This gentle bar soap is both safe and gentle enough for babies. Adults with sensitive skin will also appreciate it!

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Keyword: chamomile bar soap

Ingredients

• 3 ounces coconut oil
• 1 ounce jojoba oil
• 25 ounces olive oil
• 3.72 ounces lye
• 10 ounces chamomile tea or distilled water
• .5 ounce chamomile essential oil part lavender essential oil may also be used and is safe for babies

Instructions

• Gather the ingredients and weight on a scale. Please note that these are NOT liquid measurements.
• Prepare chamomile tea by pouring about 1 1/2 cups of boiling water over 2 chamomile tea bags, or 2 tablespoons of chamomile flowers. Steep for 5 – 7 minutes. Strain and allow to cool. Using a kitchen scale, weigh out the needed 10 ounces of tea for the recipe. You may add distilled water if you do not have quite enough tea.
• Fill your sink with several inches of cold water and some ice to use as a water bath to cool the lye mixture.
• Wearing rubber gloves, place the 10 oz of cooled chamomile tea into a pitcher and very slowly stir in the lye. I suggest doing this outdoors since even the fumes are toxic. Stir slowly until dissolved.The temperature will rise very quickly to 220°F or so. Now place the pitcher into the cold water bath in your sink and begin to take its temperature. The goal is 100°F.
• Place all the oils, except the chamomile essential oil (and lavender if using), into your pot and heat at a low temperature trying to reach 100°F. This will happen quickly. You now want to get both the lye and the oil to 100°F at the same time. This is one of the trickiest parts of soap making. Use the ice water bath to help lower the temperatures as needed.
• When both the lye and the oils are at 100°F, pour the lye mixture very slowly into the oil mixture. Continue stirring with a spatula until the mixture reaches a point called “trace”. The soap is at trace when your stirring causes lines in the mixture that stay in place or when a drizzle of the soap mixture retains it shape on the surface of the soap. Trace can take up to 2 hours or more, but usually occurs within a half hour. If it is taking over 15 minutes, you may take breaks in stirring – stir for 10 minutes or so and rest for 10 minutes.
• At trace, add in the .5 oz of essential oil and stir well. Then pour your soap into your prepared molds. Cover with the piece of cardboard and then wrap in a towel or blanket to hold the heat. You want the soap to cool slowly. You may remove the towel after the first day, but the soap itself will take several days to harden. Super-fat soap is a soft soap that takes longer to cure than recipes that are not super-fatted. When it feels solid, you may cut the soap into bars and un-mold it. The soap is still alkaline and should not be used until it has cured for 6 weeks.

Notes

Please note that the ingredients need to be weighed on a scale. These measurements are not liquid ounces.