In this post, we’ll be exploring how to craft a delightful Papaya and Coconut Handmade Soap that will pamper your skin like never before. This combination creates a luxurious bar that will surely bring the essence of the tropics to your bathroom.
Papaya and coconut are two power-packed ingredients that are a match made in skincare heaven. Papaya is rich in enzymes like papain, which gently exfoliates your skin, leaving it looking radiant and rejuvenated. It’s also loaded with vitamins A, C, and E, which may nourish and repair the skin, revealing a natural glow.
Coconut has great moisturizing properties which help to keep the skin hydrated and supple while the fatty acids it contains create a lush, creamy lather.
Ingredients
- 14 oz Coconut oil
- 12 oz Olive oil
- 2 oz Castor oil
- 2 oz Cocoa butter
- 2 oz Shea butter
- 8.15 oz Distilled water
- 4.73 oz Sodium hydroxide
- 1 oz Fragrance oil
- 4 oz Papaya puree
- 0.85 oz Coconut milk powder
- 1.5 grams Titanium dioxide
- 1.5 grams Orange colourant
Note: The water amount was reduced by 4 ounces to include the papaya puree.
The orange colourant I used in this soap is Electric Orange by Nurture Soap.
Directions to Make the Papaya and Coconut Handmade Soap
Gather all your tools and ingredients.
Safety is always paramount when working with sodium hydroxide, so suit up for safety. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, rubber gloves and safety goggles to protect your skin and eyes. Work in a well-ventilated area away from children and pets.
Weigh the water in a heat-proof or stainless steel container.
Next, weigh the sodium hydroxide in a dry plastic container.
In a well-ventilated area, add the sodium hydroxide to the water and stir with a stainless steel spoon to dissolve completely. The mixture will become very hot and give off fumes, ensure that you do not inhale the fumes. Once it is dissolved, set it aside in a safe place where it will be undisturbed and allow it to cool to room temperature.
Next, prepare the papaya puree.
Cut a fully ripened papaya in half and remove the seeds.
Scoop the flesh from the skin and weigh out 4 ounces.
Using a Magic Bullet or food processor, puree the papaya until it is smooth.
Strain the puree through a strainer to ensure there are no lumps. Put the puree in the fridge until ready to use.
Weigh the coconut milk powder.
The fragrance oil I used in this recipe is the Mango and Coconut from Candle Science. The sweet, fruity fragrance pairs really well with the tropical theme of this soap.
Weigh the fragrance oil in a glass or ceramic container. Do not use plastic as fragrance oils can degrade plastic.
Weigh the shea and cocoa butter in a microwave-safe or Pyrex container.
Melt the butters in the microwave or in a double boiler.
Weigh the oils.
Add the oils and melted butters to the mixing bowl.
Set aside one tablespoon of oil from the mixing bowl into two containers. These are to mix the colourants.
Weigh the colourants and add to each of the containers above with the tablespoon of oil.
An easy method to weigh out small amounts of colourants is to place the entire container minus the lid on the scale and tare the scale to zero. Then remove the necessary from the container.
Mix the colourants well into the oils separately until there are no lumps. I suggest using a mini whisk or coffee frother for best results.
Now that everything is prepared, put away the unnecessary tools and let’s get ready to make the papaya and coconut soap.
Add the coconut milk to the oils.
Blend with the immersion blender to incorporate fully.
Next, add the papaya puree to the mixture and blend well.
Add the fragrance oil and blend again to distribute.
Using a stainless steel strainer, carefully strain the lye into the mixing bowl.
Now blend on a low speed using a combination of blending and stirring with the immersion blender until the soap reaches a light trace.
Separate the soap batter into two portions and add the orange colourant to one part and the titanium dioxide to the second part. Use the blender to mix in the colourants just until blended. Do not overwork the batter or the soap will start to solidify – again, only enough to mix in the colours.
Once mixed, pour in alternating colours into the mould. You can also do an in-the-pot swirl before pouring, but whatever method you use, decide on it beforehand as time is of the essence to get it into the mould.
Once swirled in the mould, tap the mould gently on a hard surface to remove any air bubbles. Texture the top using a stainless spoon or a wooden skewer according to your preference.
Set the mould aside in a cool well-ventilated area for 24 hours.
After the 24 hours have passed, remove the soap from the mould and cut it into bars.
Place the bars on a shelf in a well-ventilated area and allow them to cure for a period of four to six weeks. After the cure period, lather up and enjoy the tropical oasis of skincare that is your papaya and coconut handmade soap.
This soap is a perfect example of why I adore the craft of handmade soaps. Why settle for ordinary store-bought commercial soaps when we can create unique natural soaps at home using ingredients we love?
If it suits you, try this recipe and let the soothing and nourishing properties of papaya and coconut elevate your skincare routine to a whole new level of blissful indulgence!
Happy soap-making! 🙂
