Shea Butter Moisturizing Cold Process Soap Recipe

Create a luxuriously moisturizing bar that soothes and nourishes dry, sensitive, and mature skin. This recipe features a generous amount of shea butter, known for its rich, creamy texture and powerful conditioning properties. Shea butter is packed with vitamins and fatty acids that help restore skin's natural moisture barrier, making this soap perfect for anyone dealing with dry patches, eczema, or simply wanting extra pampering. The soap creates a creamy lather while leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Ingredients

Oils & Butters

• 18.0 oz (510g) olive oil
• 12.0 oz (340g) coconut oil
• 10.0 oz (284g) palm oil
• 8.0 oz (227g) shea butter (raw or refined)
• 6.0 oz (170g) palm kernel oil

Lye Solution

• 5.0 oz (142g) sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
• 12.0 oz (340g) distilled water

Additives (Optional)

• 0.6 oz (17g) fragrance oil (vanilla, honey, or unscented recommended)
• 0.5 tsp (2ml) mica or oxide colorant
• Essential oils like rose, geranium, or jasmine (0.3-0.4 oz)

Equipment Needed

• Digital scale accurate to 0.1 oz
• Two stainless steel pots
• Stainless steel spoon
• Stick blender (immersion blender)
• Thermometer
• Soap mold
• Safety goggles and gloves
• Small heat source (to warm shea butter if needed)
• Soap cutter or serrated knife
• Vinegar (for cleanup)
• Optional: spray bottle with rubbing alcohol

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Don safety goggles and chemical-resistant gloves. Set up your workspace with all equipment ready. Ensure adequate ventilation for lye fumes. Keep vinegar nearby for accidental spills.

Step 2: Mix the Lye Solution

Pour 12 oz of distilled water into a heat-safe stainless steel pot. Slowly add 5.0 oz of sodium hydroxide while stirring constantly with a stainless steel spoon. The solution will heat to 160-180°F as the lye dissolves. Set aside to cool to 100-110°F. Do not proceed until the lye solution has cooled completely, as the shea butter will be sensitive to high temperatures.

Step 3: Prepare Oils and Shea Butter

In a separate pot, combine:

• 18.0 oz (510g) olive oil
• 12.0 oz (340g) coconut oil
• 10.0 oz (284g) palm oil
• 8.0 oz (227g) shea butter
• 6.0 oz (170g) palm kernel oil

Shea butter is solid at room temperature. To ensure it incorporates evenly, gently warm the pot so the shea butter melts with the other oils. Stir occasionally until all ingredients are fully combined and the mixture is liquid. Once combined, gently heat to 100-110°F. Avoid overheating, as high temperatures can compromise the beneficial properties of shea butter.

Step 4: Check Temperatures

Ensure both the lye solution and oil mixture have cooled to 100-110°F. Temperature consistency is crucial for proper saponification and to preserve the shea butter's skin-conditioning properties.

Step 5: Combine Oils and Lye Solution

Once both reach 100-110°F, slowly pour the lye solution into the oils while stirring steadily. Continue stirring for about one minute to ensure complete incorporation.

Step 6: Begin Stick Blending

Using your stick blender, pulse for 30 seconds, then stir by hand for one minute. Continue this alternating pattern for 8-12 minutes until you reach light trace. The mixture should resemble thin pudding with visible trails when the blender is lifted out.

Step 7: Prepare Colorant

In a small cup, disperse 0.5 tsp of mica or oxide colorant in a small amount of oil to prevent streaking and uneven color distribution. Keep this mixture nearby for quick addition at trace.

Step 8: Add Fragrance and Color

At light trace, add the colorant mixture and stir thoroughly for about one minute. Then add your 0.6 oz of fragrance oil or essential oils. Stir for another 1-2 minutes to ensure even distribution. The shea butter will have given the soap a rich, creamy appearance.

Step 9: Pour Into Mold

Pour the soap batter into your prepared mold. Use a spatula to smooth the top. If desired, spray the surface with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles and create a smooth, professional finish.

Step 10: Create Surface Design (Optional)

For an elegant finish, you can create simple swirls using a skewer or create a smooth top using a heat gun on low setting. The creamy texture of shea-butter-enriched soap creates beautiful visual effects.

Step 11: Insulate for Gel Phase

Wrap the mold with blankets or towels to insulate and encourage gel phase. This helps develop consistent color and texture. Some soapmakers use a cooler or wrapped mold for insulation.

Step 12: Wait 24-48 Hours

Leave the soap undisturbed for 24-48 hours. The exothermic reaction will occur naturally. Don't disturb the mold during this critical saponification period.

Step 13: Unmold the Soap

After 24-48 hours, carefully remove the soap from the mold. Shea butter soaps are often creamier and may take slightly longer to fully harden than standard soaps. If the soap is still quite soft, wait another 12-24 hours before unmolding.

Step 14: Cut Into Bars

Using a soap cutter or sharp serrated knife, cut the loaf into 24 equal bars. The creamy texture of shea butter soap may result in slightly softer bars that should be handled gently during cutting.

Step 15: Air Cure

Place bars on a well-ventilated rack with space between each one. Cure in a cool, dry location (60-75°F) for 4-6 weeks. Shea butter soaps benefit from longer curing times, which allows for proper hardening and development of the creamy lather.

Tips for Success

• Raw shea butter has a richer scent but refined shea butter is more stable and easier to work with
• Don't exceed 8 oz (or 10%) of shea butter per batch, as too much can make soap soft or mushy
• Shea butter can sometimes cause trace to accelerate slightly, so monitor blending closely
• The water content in this recipe (12 oz) is higher than standard to accommodate shea butter's properties
• This soap produces a creamy lather that feels more luxurious than standard bars
• Shea butter soaps are excellent for sensitive skin, eczema, and mature skin
• Store in a cool location, as shea butter content makes these soaps slightly more temperature-sensitive
• These bars are more moisturizing but may not last as long as standard soap

Variations

• Shea honey lavender: Add honey and lavender essential oil for a spa-like bar
• Shea rose geranium: Combine rose fragrance with geranium essential oil for floral luxury
• Shea vanilla oatmeal: Add vanilla fragrance and finely ground oatmeal for gentle exfoliation
• Unscented shea butter: Create an unscented bar for those with fragrance sensitivities

Cost Breakdown

Estimated Cost per Bar: $0.55

Related Recipes

• Avocado Oil Luxury Soap - Alternative luxury conditioning soap
• Coconut Milk Soap - Creamy alternative without shea butter
• Basic Cold Process Soap - Standard recipe without luxury butters

Skin Benefits: Shea butter is rich in vitamins A, E, and F, plus essential fatty acids that deeply nourish and condition skin. It's particularly beneficial for dry, sensitive, or mature skin, helping to restore the natural moisture barrier. Shea butter has been used for centuries in African skincare traditions and is now recognized worldwide for its exceptional skin-care properties. This soap is gentle enough for daily use while providing intensive moisturizing benefits.