Easy Turmeric Soap Recipe

This is such an enjoyable soap-making recipe! This turmeric soap recipe is great for various skin conditions, being naturally anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial as well as deeply moisturizing.

A favorite in food recipes as well as in homemade beauty products. I’m talking about turmeric! 

It’s a warming spice that’s become increasingly popular over the years because of its tremendous health-boosting properties. 

And why not make a bar of soap out of it too? 

Turmeric adds warmth and color to soap, and its anti-inflammatory benefits extend far beyond the skin. 

Now the smell may not be to your liking, but it also may be.

I, in fact, love turmeric soap because of the smell! It’s so grounding and brings me calm simply sniffing it. Hmmm. 

In this post, I’ll share an easy, cold-process soap recipe for how to make turmeric soap. 

I leave the scent natural (as in turmeric smelling) because it’s not that strong and is actually really nice (I think.)

I hope you enjoy this one!

What is turmeric soap?

So without sounding too basic, a turmeric soap is a soap made with dried turmeric in it. 

There are other ingredients in there as well, but turmeric is the soap’s main benefit. 

It adds color, scent, and warmth to soap and is excellent for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, as well as acne.

It can reduce redness caused by inflammation and helps to balance the skin oils. It’s also good for dry skin. I love using turmeric soap on my hands, notably as it helps keep dry skin at bay. 

Why you will love this turmeric soap recipe

• It uses a cold process soap-making method, allowing greater flexibility for what goes in it!
• Turmeric has so many skin benefits. It’s a great skin soother and helps treat dry skin conditions naturally due to its anti-inflammatory elements, to name a couple. 
• It can be used by the whole family. Even kids will love this soap because of its yellow hue!

A little about the ingredients

• Turmeric: An ancient spice used notably in Eastern cooking. It has an endless list of skin benefits, in truth! From being anti-inflammatory and reducing redness and puffiness to helping hydrate aging skin and smoothing the skin. It also has a brightening effect, so it is great for skin with uneven tones. 
• Shea butter: A deeply hydrating and nourishing ingredient direct from nature. Shea butter contains natural fats which deeply penetrate the skin layer, adding much-needed moisture and maintaining that hydration far longer than standard skin moisturizers. 
• Coconut oil: Another rich source of fatty acids that add moisture to the skin. Coconut oil is found in many of my soap bars, including this herbal soap recipe.
• Sunflower oil: Naturally rich in linoleic acid, sunflower oil is another great moisturizing ingredient, so I love adding it to soap. It also happens to contain anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. 

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homemade turmeric soap recipe

Ingredients:

• Coconut oil 12 oz
• Shea butter 8 oz
• Sunflower oil 5 oz
• Lye 3.66 oz
• Water 8.18 oz
• Turmeric powder 1.5 tablespoons

Instructions:

Use a digital scale to measure out the water. Then add it to the heat-resistant container.

Slowly add the lye to the water. Stir the lye into the water until dissolved. Note that the chemical reaction will cause it to heat up quickly. Set aside to cool to about 120-130°F

Melt the coconut and shea butter and sunflower oil in a small saucepan on the stove over medium heat.

Once melted, set aside to cool slightly.

Add all the oils to a metal mixing bowl.

Pour the lye water in with the melted fat and oil a little at a time and mix with an immersion blender.

Continue adding the lye water and mixing between each round until the soap comes to trace.

To check the “trace,” hold the immersion blender over the bowl; if the soap drips and pools up on the top, it’s come to the correct trace.

Whisk in the turmeric powder, or use the immersion blender to mix. 

Pour the soap into the mold and allow it to dry for 24 hours or up to 3 days.

Once the bars are dry, set them on a drying rack or a shallow dish on their ends to cure for 5-6 weeks before enjoying them.

Frequently asked questions

is cold process soap making hard?

When it comes to soap making, it’s the same as anything else. Practice makes perfect. 

A common concern with any cold-process soap, whether this DIY or my lard soap recipe, is that it is more difficult than melt and pour soaps because you need to be very specific with your ingredients and the amounts you use. 

But the good news is, I’ve calculated the correct amounts for you in this recipe, so if you follow the instructions exactly, you should be fine. 

This recipe has already been calculated with a 5% superfat. So any adjustments made, say if you want to make a larger batch or sub an ingredient, you must recalculate all the ingredients using a soap calculator.

The thing to be aware of is the safety aspects of soap making too. Regardless of whether it’s a hot-process soap or cold-process soap method, I always advocate wearing safety gear.

So make sure you wear an apron, mask, goggles, and gloves when you’re making soap. 

And do so in a well-ventilated area with windows and doors open to allow better airflow.

Why does cold-process soap take so long to cure?

Cold process soap means that you mix the oils and lye at a cold temperature rather than heating them up. 

This means the saponification process happens slower, too, and therefore, the soap needs to ‘sit’ longer to cure.

What kind of soap-making options do I have?

I do have a hot process glycerin soap bar recipe if you don’t want to have to wait as long for the bars to cure.

Another option, especially for beginners, is to start with a melt and pour soap bar, such as this honey oatmeal soap recipe.

That way, the saponification process is already taken care of, and all you have to do is melt it down and add your finishing touches!

Wrapping up

Turmeric soap bars are great for the skin, and perfect for use in the shower or next to the sink!

I hope you enjoy making this turmeric soap recipe. Remember to be patient and let it cure for 5-6 weeks once it’s made. It’s well worth the wait!

And if you made this recipe and loved it, don’t forget to leave a review!

If you are looking for more great soap bar recipes to try next, you may like one of these.

• Activated charcoal soap bars
• Hibiscus-infused loofah soap bars
• Flower top chamomile bars
• Smooth lather swirl soap bars
• Goat milk soap bars (melt and pour)
• Simple shea butter soap recipe