DIY: Meadow Soap for Damaged Skin
Meadow soap is one of the many soaps we make—and used to sell—here at Black Oak Hollow. This soap is a wonderful blend of botanicals that aid in nourishing and protecting skin, particularly skin that sees a lot of sun.
You will need the following ingredients and tools.
Ingredients
Argan oil Melt and Pour
Dried flowers
Calendula oil
Geranium oil
Galbanum oil
Tools
Knife
Soap mold
Double boiler
Something to stir with (we use a silicone spatula)
Step One:
Cut your argan Melt and Pour into manageable chunks and weight out about 12-13 Oz.
Once you've done this, go ahead and transfer the soap into a double boiler, which you can buy at any craft store or on amazon for about ten to fifteen dollars. It's a good investment. Trust me.
Place the double boiler—with the soap in it; come on now—into a half-filled pot. Leave it on medium-low heat until your soap is melted and its time to add the oils.
Step Two:
As your soap is melting, prepare your molds. For a pretty bit of flair, we add a blend of dried flowers. We use cornflower, calendula petals, heather, and chamomile.
Gather your flowers and sprinkle some of each into your molds.
Step Three:
Once your molds are prepared and your soap is melted, its time to add your oils. Add the calendula oil first because it isn't an essential oil, but rather an infusion, and it will not evaporate easily. The calendula infused oil is what helps your skin after sun exposure, so it's kind of the star of the show. Add about a tablespoon—or two capfuls—and stir into your soap.
After the calendula has been incorporated, you want to cut the heat before you add geranium or galbanum because essential oils such as those will evaporate in a hurry if the soap is even a bit too hot.
Add two drops of galbanum—it goes a long way—and about 12 drops of geranium.
Give the soap one more stir, and it's time to pour.
Step Four:
Pour your soap mixture into the molds. As you pour, the flowers will begin coming to the surface—that's what happens; don't panic—just make sure they don't float above the soap. They are going to end up at the top of the mold no matter what. Remember that it's a mold so the top is the bottom.
You may also get a few air bubbles. Again, don't panic. It's fine. If you don't like that look, you can fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spray the surface of the soap, and that will get rid of the bubbles.
Once the soap is poured and you're happy, let the soap sit for at least three hours.
Step Five:
After you've waited for three hours, you're done! Simply pop your soaps out of the mold, package them or don't—whatever you like—and they are ready to be enjoyed.
These soaps will stay good in storage for about three months because they are melt and pour as opposed to cold process. They make great gifts or just as a nice treat for yourself.
Enjoy!
