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Amazing Charcoal Tea Tree Soap Recipe – cold process

Posted by Kelly Face, Handmade Soap, Homemade Soap Recipes, Reviews and Giveaways 108 comments
Please Share

A lot of people have shown interest in these Acne Detox Soap Bars that I sell in my shop. After all, a good activated charcoal soap recipe is amazing in and of itself. The added good ingredients, including bacteria killing tea tree essential oils, makes it an important recipe for any soap maker to have. So, here’s the recipe, so that you can have your own charcoal tea tree soap recipe.

Acne Detox Soap Recipe - Cold Process soap

Charcoal Tea Tree Soap Recipe

This is a basic soap recipe with just 2 added ingredients that will pull toxins from the skin, while killing bacteria at the same time.

The 2 Major Ingredients:

  1. Activated Charcoal
  2. Tea Tree Essential Oil

Activated Charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. (1)  Carbon is used to absorb toxic elements that are on the surface and just under the skin through chemical attraction.  Not all toxins will bond with it, but many will (including the chlorine from the water you are using).

Tea Tree Essential Oil, also called Melaleuca, is an amazing anti-bacterial oil.  You can read more about disinfectant essential oils, which ones are the best and why, in my article Disinfectant Essential Oils Blends.

Charcoal Tea Tree Soap Recipe

Makes: just over 2lbs of soap or eight, 4-oz bars.

Superfat: 5%

Ingredients:

  • 14 ounces tallow
  • 6 ounces olive oil
  • 6 ounces coconut oil
  • 10 ounces filtered water
  • 3.7 ounces lye
  • 0.7 ounces tea tree essential oil
  • 1 tablespoon activated charcoal powder

Directions:

  1. Weigh tallow, olive, and coconut oil in the glass bowl. Move oils to a large pot. Melt over medium heat and then allow to cool to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Weigh water and set aside. Weigh Lye in a zip close bag. Wearing protective gloves and charcoal mask, go outside and pour lye into water and stir until dissolved. Do not breathe in fumes. They will dissipate in 1-2 minutes. Allow to cool to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Pour lye water into oils and mix with a stick blender until it reaches light trace (starts to thicken).
  4. Add essential oil and activated charcoal and mix well.
  5. Pour into prepared mold and insulate lightly for 24 hours.
  6. Remove from mold and cut. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks.
Charcoal Tea Tree Cold Process Soap Recipe

Here is the recipe in printable form.

Acne Detox Soap Recipe - Cold Process soap
Pin Recipe Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Charcoal Tea Tree Soap Recipe

A charcoal soap with tea tree essential oil
Type: Charcoal Soap
Superfat %: 5%
Keyword: charcoal soap, cold process soap, tea tree soap
Makes: 2 pounds
Author: Kelly

Equipment

  • 1 large soup pot
  • 1 large spoon
  • 1 scale
  • 1 measuring spoons
  • 2 large glass bowl
  • 1 2lb mold
  • 1 stick blender
  • 1 wax paper
  • 1 zip close bag

Ingredients

  • 14 oz Grass-fed beef tallow
  • 6 oz Olive oil
  • 6 oz Coconut oil
  • 10 oz Filtered water
  • 3.7 oz Lye
  • 0.70 oz Tea tree essential oil
  • 1 Tbsp Activated charcoal powder

Instructions

  • Weigh tallow, olive, and coconut oil in the glass bowl. Move oils to a large pot. Melt over medium heat and then allow to cool to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
    14 oz Grass-fed beef tallow, 6 oz Olive oil, 6 oz Coconut oil
  • Weigh water and set aside. Weigh Lye in a zip close bag. Wearing protective gloves and charcoal mask, go outside and pour lye into water and stir until dissolved. Do not breathe in fumes. They will dissipate in 1-2 minutes. Allow to cool to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
    10 oz Filtered water, 3.7 oz Lye
  • Pour lye water into oils and mix with a stick blender until it reaches light trace (starts to thicken).
  • Add essential oil and activated charcoal and mix well.
    0.70 oz Tea tree essential oil, 1 Tbsp Activated charcoal powder
  • Pour into prepared mold and insulate lightly for 24 hours.
  • Remove from mold and cut. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you’d like to see next.

You can get this soap in my ShopSave

Save


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108 comments

About Kelly

Kelly is the author of number one best seller The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners and Easy Soap Making. She's also written multiple ebooks on herbal remedies and natural bath and body DIYs. Her journey toward better health has inspired her to make things in and around the home from scratch, start a homestead, and become more resourceful when it comes to health and home. She shares her recipes and DIYs here on Simple Life Mom and has a shop where she sells products for those who would rather buy than make (SimpleLifeMom.com/shop).

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108 comments

Leave your reply.
  • Teresa
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 7:30 AM

    The soap would be great for my fourteen year old son and I would really appreciate the eye cream as I just turned 50. Thank you.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 16, 2015 at 11:34 AM

      Teresa, thank you for entering 🙂

  • Jen
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 7:42 AM

    Thank you so much for this awesome giveaway. My oldest is starting to get ance. She’ll love this. I’m going to see what other natural soaps you make. Very excited to follow you!!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 16, 2015 at 11:33 AM

      Thank you Jen!!

  • Maria
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 8:45 AM

    How do we sign up for the giveaway?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 16, 2015 at 11:33 AM

      Maria, is the rafflecopter loading for you? Just check that you left a comment, and sign up in other ways for more entries. Have fun!

  • terese dudek
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 9:44 AM

    I would love to try any natural soap that doesn’t cause skin dryness. I seem to have a reaction to some chemicals in name brand moisturizing soap. Thanks!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 16, 2015 at 11:32 AM

      Me too! That’s one reason I started making my own. Much better for your skin. 🙂

  • Karen C
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    I’m interested in the natural liquid hand soap.;

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 16, 2015 at 11:31 AM

      Great! Have you seen my recipe for the hand soap?
      https://simplelifemom.com/2014/05/14/diy-liquid-hand-soap/

  • Melanie C
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 12:23 PM

    Woykd ove to try this!

  • Dee
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 3:47 PM

    Love the thought of natural soap. I want to get away from the chemical stuffed bars. So many ‘flavors’ to choose from, I don’t know where to start 🙂 . Your acne detox soap sounds great, would love to give it a go. 🙂

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 17, 2015 at 11:01 PM

      Thank you Dee. Over the past month I have had a number of people tell me how their skin cleared up, no more eczema, no more dry skin, etc. After switching to natural soap. It’s good stuff.

  • Joely Smith
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 4:19 PM

    I like tea tree soaps, pine tar, and carrot seed soaps for my psoriasis. Thank you for the giveaway and good luck to all who enter!

  • Joy @ Joy Love Food
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 4:51 PM

    Sounds like a great soap! Love the eye cream too.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 17, 2015 at 10:59 PM

      Thank you Joy.

  • Kathy
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 7:34 PM

    I would like to try something for older, combination skin.

  • Carol
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 10:24 PM

    Sounds like a wonderful recipe. Thank you.

  • Kristen
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 10:59 PM

    So Stoked!

  • Katie
    · Reply

    January 16, 2015 at 11:52 PM

    ooo! If you’re referring to the homemade soaps in your Etsy, the cocoa mint soap would DEFinitely be the one I’d like to try 🙂

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 17, 2015 at 10:58 PM

      Thank you Katie. Those are some if my favorites for sure! 🙂

  • Liz King
    · Reply

    January 17, 2015 at 10:31 AM

    I would love to have a soap that is filled with Jasime and Rose scents, That would be great! Thank for for doing this give away!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 17, 2015 at 10:59 PM

      Sounds lovely!

  • Lauren Frugé
    · Reply

    January 17, 2015 at 7:04 PM

    This sounds like a great soap! I have struggled with skin issues for years and feel like I *may* be on the tail end of acne. And on the cusp of wrinkles 🙂 thanks for sharing your recipe too!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 17, 2015 at 10:57 PM

      LOL, yes, I know what you mean. Thanks for stopping by.

  • Amie
    · Reply

    January 17, 2015 at 9:53 PM

    Thank you for the giveaway. I’d be interested in a natural shaving soap recipe.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 17, 2015 at 10:52 PM

      Hi Amie! For shaving soap recipes, try these 5 https://simplelifemom.com/2014/11/12/5-homemade-shaving-cream-recipes/

  • Jordan D.
    · Reply

    January 17, 2015 at 11:06 PM

    This sounds like a fantastic soap! I break out during times of high stress, so this would be great to have on hand. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • Suzanne
    · Reply

    January 18, 2015 at 4:29 PM

    Any tips for where to find tea tree oil? I’ve only recently started using essential oils since I got two to review for my blog, but I know so little! I love learning more; thanks for this post! #upallnightblogging

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 18, 2015 at 10:12 PM

      Suzanne, you can click on the links and they will take you to Mountain Rose Herbs. They are an affiliate, but for good reason. Great products!

  • Corina Ramos
    · Reply

    January 18, 2015 at 7:38 PM

    Wow, thanks for sharing this recipe to make our own acne detox soap. I’m just amazed that you do this. Great gveaway. I would love to win this prize.

    Hope you’re had a great weekend.

  • tess
    · Reply

    January 18, 2015 at 8:10 PM

    Any you have… need something for oily mature facial skin or moisturizing body soap!
    ~Tess

  • Holly E
    · Reply

    January 18, 2015 at 9:43 PM

    Tea tree soap is very nice. I love the recipe.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 18, 2015 at 10:03 PM

      Thank you Holly.

  • Helena
    · Reply

    January 19, 2015 at 8:34 PM

    I’d love to try your Jasmine Soap and honestly, they all look wonderful! I love natural soaps!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 20, 2015 at 5:58 AM

      Thank you Helena. I know! All natural soaps are wonderful!!

  • Wehaf
    · Reply

    January 19, 2015 at 10:23 PM

    I would like to try something soothing and moisturizing for my poor skin in the winter.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 20, 2015 at 5:57 AM

      I hear you. My skin is a lot less dry since switching to all natural products.

  • Jennifer
    · Reply

    January 20, 2015 at 2:29 AM

    Would love to know how well this works. I have horrible acne and use proactive now but would love to switch to something cheaper and more natural. Nothing I have tried has worked yet…

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 20, 2015 at 5:56 AM

      It’s hard to tell because everyone is different. A lot of people have found great relief from switching to all natural products, but eating real food is highly important as well. The more healthy you eat and hydrate,the more healthy your skin.

  • Amy Coleman
    · Reply

    January 20, 2015 at 8:10 AM

    I would love to try a soap to help with my 3 year old daughter’s eczema. It has gotten pretty bad this winter, worse than it’s ever been!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 20, 2015 at 8:51 AM

      Amy, I recently made a sensitive skin bar that will be on sale in a week or two in my etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/SimpleLifeMom
      It’s made with lavender essential oil and alkanet root powder. My niece had horrible eczema that she would scratch and would bleed, but using a soap with alkanet root really helped her to heal.

  • Kristy
    · Reply

    January 20, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    I would love to try a bar of this before making. My oldest is getting to the point where she will need this type of soap soon. Thanks for a chance at your give-away.

  • Wendy
    · Reply

    January 20, 2015 at 7:47 PM

    Love to try this soap have been wanting to make some for some time Thanks

  • Hope Clark
    · Reply

    January 20, 2015 at 8:06 PM

    I would love to try them all! Except for maybe the beer and bacon – LOL. I just ordered several bars of several kinds.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 20, 2015 at 10:45 PM

      What, no bacon and beer? Ha ha, that one actually smells like juniper berry because I just couldn’t take the bacon smell. It makes amazingly thick hand soap 😉

  • Lavon Head
    · Reply

    January 20, 2015 at 9:14 PM

    Want to try the acne soaps for my son!

  • Ali patton
    · Reply

    January 20, 2015 at 10:49 PM

    Body acne is the worst. Being a teenager is a struggle on it’s on, and acne shouldn’t be another problem. After entering, I would like to make some whether I do or do not Win:) where do I find these type of ingredients?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 20, 2015 at 10:55 PM

      I agree. A healthy diet is a key element as well. You can find the ingredients by clicking on the links in the post.

  • Stephanie
    · Reply

    January 21, 2015 at 9:46 AM

    Hi Kelly! This soap sounds amazing! After having my son almost seven years ago my face started getting cyst-like acne and it was quite painful. It took me years to finally find something that worked, but finally 2 years ago I found a face cleanser that has done the trick. I am all for using natural so this soap sounds right up my alley – can you use it on the face?

    Thank you so much for sharing at Roses of Inspiration – I truly appreciate it 🙂 You have a lovely site and I am off to explore….

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 21, 2015 at 1:14 PM

      You can definitely use it on the face or whole body. If your son still has issues, you may want to look into straight tea tree. Just make sure you test first to make sure it’s not too strong.

  • Gikmi Sherpa
    · Reply

    May 21, 2015 at 3:45 AM

    Thank you so much for sharing the knowledge. If I don’t want to use tallow, which oil would be the best subitute for this?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      May 21, 2015 at 11:14 AM

      lard or palm oil is the best substitute for tallow.

  • Deb
    · Reply

    August 10, 2015 at 4:38 PM

    Thanks for the acne soap recipe. I gave it a try yesterday and unmolded 15 bars this afternoon. I cut the recipe in half. Instead of using 1/4 cup of the charcoal, I used 1/8 cup. Mine came out much darker than your soap pictured. Will mine lighten up after the 4-6 weeks of curing? Thanks

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      August 11, 2015 at 6:48 AM

      It will lighten slightly as it cures, but it could also be the lighting in my picture. They are pretty dark soaps. They are not a “dirty” soap like cocoa. Meaning, they don’t leave dark streaks on your skin that you need to rinse off as you wash. It washes with clean, white bubbles.

  • Deb
    · Reply

    November 18, 2015 at 5:53 PM

    What do you recommend instead of the beef tallow, I try to keep my soaps vegan. Thanks for the recipe.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      November 18, 2015 at 6:02 PM

      You can try a castille soap recipe: https://simplelifemom.com/2012/09/30/castile-soap-recipe/
      Or a Palm oil soap: https://simplelifemom.com/2014/04/07/8-homemade-palm-oil-soap-recipes/
      Those are two vegan options when making soap.

  • Tracy
    · Reply

    March 6, 2016 at 12:37 PM

    I wish I would’ve seen this method before I used the Wellness Mama recipe. My soap isn’t setting up under the outside layer. I’m a soapmaker already and made a charcoal soap for the first time and I’m not sure what happened. I followed the measurements exactly. Do you have any advice on what to do to maybe save the batch of soap? The coconut oil to liquid oils ratio wasn’t even, maybe that’s it??

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      March 6, 2016 at 12:50 PM

      Without seeing the recipe, it’s hard to tell exactly what went wrong. I would double check the recipe on a site like soapcalc.net (choose lye calculator at the top).
      How long have you let it set? It’s rare, but some recipes take closer to 48 hours.
      If it’s really cold where you are, it could have come to a false trace instead of a real trace (your oils could have started to congeal instead of really reacting with the lye and then it cooled down too quickly in the mold.)
      At this point, I would give it another day if it’s only been 24 hours. Then, if it still is not setting up, I would hot process it: https://simplelifemom.com/2014/09/29/how-to-hot-process-soap-video-tutorial/ I hope that helps. Let me know if you have other questions and I’ll try to help.

  • Anne
    · Reply

    March 17, 2016 at 5:54 PM

    after buying everything i needed from bulkapothecary i made several batches of this for my teenage boys and some of their friends, and they love it. thank you so much for the great recipe! for sure a keeper.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      March 17, 2016 at 6:32 PM

      Wonderful Anne. That’s what I love to hear! 🙂

  • Jenn
    · Reply

    April 29, 2016 at 8:32 AM

    Learning to make soap is on my list of things to do someday!

  • Alicia Owen
    · Reply

    June 8, 2016 at 12:01 PM

    Interesting. We’re no strangers to soap making, but I might have to try this because my face is awful! Thanks for sharing!

  • Ken Verdoliva
    · Reply

    November 20, 2016 at 10:57 AM

    Could sea salt be added to this recipe to make it a spa bar?

    Thanks in advance

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      November 20, 2016 at 12:20 PM

      Because you’d need to change the superfat content, it would be better to use a spa bar recipe and then add activated charcoal to it instead.
      https://simplelifemom.com/2016/08/21/make-natural-salt-soap-bars/

  • Stephanie
    · Reply

    December 19, 2016 at 10:45 PM

    What would be some other good EO’s I can add along with the tea tree to make this a super facial bar? And about how much max EO should be added to the recipe?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      December 20, 2016 at 10:43 PM

      I typically use 1/3 ounce of essential oil per pound of soap. So a 2 pound batch would need 2/3 to 1 ounce of essential oil. It depends on the essential oils used and if you are using them for scent or other purposes as well.
      Facial bars, I like to up the superfatting. That means lowering the lye. This recipe is set at 5% superfatting. You may want to run it through a lye calculator for 10-15%. Try adding some essential oils that are soothing to the skin like lavender, or healing like frankincense.

  • VeganLove
    · Reply

    December 21, 2016 at 2:47 AM

    I’m vegan, is there something else I can use instead of the beef oil?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      December 21, 2016 at 8:33 AM

      Use a palm oil recipe. There are companies that are replenishing the palms and supporting the communities, so palm oil isn’t an issue like it used to be. Just choose your company wisely.
      You can’t just substitute. The whole recipe needs to be altered, but you can use one of these and add charcoal and tea tree.
      https://simplelifemom.com/2014/04/07/8-homemade-palm-oil-soap-recipes/

  • Maria
    · Reply

    March 29, 2017 at 10:09 AM

    Hello!

    I love that you have a recipes with activated charcoal! Do you have a recipe that uses palm oil instead of the tallow?

    Thank you!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      March 29, 2017 at 10:33 AM

      Thank you. Yes, you can use one of the palm oil recipes here: https://simplelifemom.com/2014/04/07/8-homemade-palm-oil-soap-recipes/
      Just add the charcoal to one of the batches. I typically add 1 tsp to 1 Tbsp per pound of soap.

  • DONNA
    · Reply

    July 18, 2017 at 5:05 AM

    THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE,,, I’M SUFFERING FROM COME AND GO PIMPLES SINCE MY ADOLESCENCE,,, I WANNA TRY THIS ONE,,,

  • Wendy @ Power Your Skin
    · Reply

    August 30, 2017 at 12:57 AM

    Hi Kelly,

    Thank you for sharing this recipe. I am planning to experiment something making my own acne treatment recipe. I found your blog and for sure this will help me with my ideas making soap recipe for acne.

  • Peggy
    · Reply

    September 7, 2017 at 10:51 PM

    I made your soap recipe, I bought it from your store and loved it some much I tried to make it! For some reason it only made 15 bars a little more than 2 oz each. What am I doing wrong?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      September 8, 2017 at 10:43 AM

      This may seem like a crazy question, but did you set your scale to zero after putting your bowl on it so you were not weighing your bowl as well?

  • Peggy
    · Reply

    September 12, 2017 at 11:58 PM

    Yes I did 🙂 I am going to try again because my bars came out gray and still have the tallow smell! Is that normal by the way? Because yours have no tallow smell at all!

    • Peggy
      · Reply

      September 13, 2017 at 3:48 PM

      I smelled my soap today and the tallow smell is gone! Yay!!!

      • Kelly
        · Reply

        Author
        September 13, 2017 at 5:05 PM

        That’s great. Tallow scent usually only carrier over into the soap.when you render it fresh from bacon and sometimes from beef. Did you not use essential oils?

  • Jenny - Support Your Beauty
    · Reply

    October 2, 2017 at 12:55 PM

    Hey Kelly,

    Just made your recipe and it turns out good not just exactly the way you made it. I am planning to make again for a better one. Practice makes perfect! Thanks for this recipe, I make friends in my new neighborhood. I gave some of the bar soap and they were happy :).

  • Phate
    · Reply

    October 20, 2017 at 3:39 AM

    Hi Kelly thanks for the recipe. Can I subtitute the beef tallow with shea butter?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      October 20, 2017 at 7:17 AM

      No, it probably won’t harden well and you could have a slimy bar with that much shea. Put your changes through a lye calculator like soapcalc.net. Change the amount to ounces and add th ingredients and amounts and then calculate. The next page will tell you some of the qualities of your recipe.

  • Nancy
    · Reply

    November 5, 2018 at 1:33 PM

    What is beef tallow and what does it do for the skin and where to get it??.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      November 9, 2018 at 10:49 AM

      Tallow is beef fat. Lard is pig fat.

  • Whittany
    · Reply

    May 20, 2019 at 5:57 PM

    5 stars
    I used your recipe to make my first every batch of soap. It doesn’t yield near as much as it says in the description. I got about 10 bars that were about 3 ounces each…not 36 bars that were 4 ounces each. Looking at the ingredient amounts, I feel like I got about what I should have. Where did the 36-4 ounce bars come from?

    I used one of the small bars I made after it cured for a week (I know I should wait longer, but I was out of my usual stuff). It has a fantastic lather, and the scent is not overpowering. I loved it!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      May 21, 2019 at 9:27 AM

      Whittany, I had someone whine about it being too large of a batch so I made it smaller and missed changing that detail. Thanks for catching that and sorry about the confusion.

      • Whittany
        · Reply

        May 28, 2019 at 3:26 PM

        5 stars
        I feel like if that person had done a little research maybe they could see how to adjust the ratios themselves? I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this recipe, and I’m going to try it with palm oil (from a sustainable source) instead of tallow soon so I can make a vegan-friendly soap. Thanks so much for sharing!

  • Kathy
    · Reply

    July 22, 2019 at 3:32 AM

    Hi! Can I substitute lard instead of tallow? If yes, will it be the same measurement? Thanks!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      July 22, 2019 at 8:04 AM

      You can on this recipe. No changes.

  • Tracy
    · Reply

    September 13, 2019 at 4:57 PM

    5 stars
    I made this recipe and loved it! I normally have to pay about $20 for a nice moisturizing face soap. I will be using this instead! I used about .6 oz of tea tree since it’s fairly expensive for the whole oz. – Where do you get your Tea Tree? Thanks so much for a great recipe. I’ll be trying more of your recipes. 🙂

  • sofia
    · Reply

    September 22, 2019 at 7:46 PM

    Hello! I made the recipe for soap detox without butter, with the corresponding amount of lye according to the measures that should be used for olive and coconut oil. I let it heal for 8 weeks, then I used it but I feel a burning in my eyes, take the Ph and it gives me more than 9, has it happened to you? it gave me nerve to continue working with caustic soda

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      September 23, 2019 at 7:57 AM

      You did adjust the lye amount?
      Yes, if you lowered the lye amount you should not have any burning. You either measured incorrectly or you are having an allergic reaction to an ingredient.

  • Dakota
    · Reply

    January 4, 2020 at 7:14 PM

    Can I substitute tallow for anything?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 6, 2020 at 9:03 PM

      You can substitute it for Lard, but otherwise the recipe would need to be changed. You can always use a different soap recipe and add the tea tree and charcoal if you’re looking for those benefits.

  • Ainav
    · Reply

    April 18, 2020 at 3:59 PM

    Hey! I made the soap and loved the recipe. After 48 hours when I cut it, it started falling apart. I did use Shea butter instead of the tallow without consulting and regretting it… what would I do ..?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      April 18, 2020 at 6:58 PM

      You can’t substitute Shea for tallow. Your soap is now very lye heavy because she’s does not use up as much lye as tallow does. It also makes a slimy soap when too much is used. You can rebatch the soap by placing it all in a crock pot on as low as you can. I would add about 1/4 cup olive oil and seal the top with plastic wrap. Wait until the whole thing is melted through (bubbly like mashed potatoes). Remove the plastic wrap and stir really well. Add essential oils for scent if needed and scoop into a mold. You can cut and use after it cools and hardens.

  • Judy
    · Reply

    June 8, 2020 at 12:47 PM

    Thank you so much for sharing your expertise!
    They eye cream and charcoal soap look amazing!
    Can you substitute the tallow with palm oil or Shea butter?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      June 15, 2020 at 4:40 PM

      Not shea butter, but you can with palm oil. Check out how to substitute oils here: https://simplelifemom.com/2020/06/07/how-to-substitute-oils-in-soap-recipes/

  • Lisa
    · Reply

    July 5, 2020 at 4:57 AM

    5 stars
    Hi Kelly,
    Glad i came across your website it has so much of information that we can benefit from. Thank you for this 🙂
    For this recipe what is the lye concentrate you would suggest, i generally keep mine at 40% . and super fat at 5% . would this be okay?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      July 7, 2020 at 8:54 AM

      The superfat content is 5%

  • Ella
    · Reply

    July 5, 2020 at 10:30 PM

    May I know what is the superfat of this soap? Or can you recommend a good superfat for a face bar? Thank you.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      July 7, 2020 at 8:46 AM

      I think a good face bar superfat is around 15%. I like the bar to still be very cleansing, but to be gentle and moisturizing as well.

  • Glendz
    · Reply

    July 3, 2021 at 12:12 AM

    Can i buy your soap for acne?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      July 4, 2021 at 10:16 PM

      I do sell it in my shop. https://simplelifemom.com/shop

  • Steven
    · Reply

    July 20, 2026 at 11:39 AM

    Is this soap good for oily prone skin?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      July 21, 2026 at 4:23 PM

      Yes, it’s not overly stripping so it helps your body balance oils by being very cleansing, but also gently moisturizing.

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