From Kitchen to Curing Rack: My Favorite Natural Ingredients for Handmade Soap

One of my favorite things about soapmaking is working with natural ingredients that don’t just clean — they nourish. Every bar I make is infused with a little bit of love and a whole lot of nature. Over time, I’ve come to rely on a few tried-and-true ingredients that bring amazing benefits to the skin while adding character and charm to each batch.

Whether you're a fellow maker or just a curious soap lover, here are some of my favorite natural ingredients that go from my kitchen shelf straight to the curing rack:

 

1. Olive Oil:  The Skin Savior

Highly moisturizing and gentle on the skin — olive oil is a staple in my pantry and in soapmaking. It is cold pressed from the olive seed and packed with oleic acid and antioxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory properties.  Olive oil produces a mild, non-irritating soap ideal for people with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. I use it in every soap recipe I make and love it for the luxurious feel it gives every bar.  Check out the wonderful qualities of Bastille Soap gentle enough to use on a baby's bum.

2. Aloe Vera: The Ultimate Skin Soother

Aloe vera gel is one of nature’s most gentle yet powerful ingredients. Known for its calming and hydrating properties, it’s perfect for sensitive or sun-kissed skin. I like using it in smoothies, but for soapmaking I often swap water in my lye solution for fresh aloe that comes straight from my tiny suburban garden — this gives the final soap a soothing touch and a silky texture.

Find it here in my newest soap - Rock Rose Soap inspired by the rock rose bushes that grow in my neighborhood. 

3. Herbs and Botanicals: Skin Loving 

I love herbal teas at the end of a long day to relax and revitalize my body.  I also love using herbs and botanicals for the skin loving properties they hold.  Chamomile is gentle for irritated skin, especially rosacea, and I use it as a tea and ground up as a powder in my soaps.  Another botanical I adore is dandelion flowers.  Every spring, I pick hundreds of these sunny orbs to use with oil infusions in my seasonal Dandelion Soap.  Dandelions are full of anti-inflammatory properties and do wonders for skin afflicted with eczema.  I also love white sage, a plant native to the chaparral regions of Southern California where I live.  This is the same plant used to make sage sticks that banish negative energy from your home.  The powerful oils in white sage leaves are also anti-inflammatory and helpful for irritated skin, as well.  I use these leaves in White Sage Soap

4. Honey: Sweet, Antibacterial Goodness

Honey isn't just a sweetener, it's a powerful humectant and naturally antibacterial, helping to retain moisture in the skin. It also adds a golden tint to my soaps and boosts the lather.  I've used it in my Lady Bits Handmade Soap, a soap made especially for the delicate skin in our intimate regions.

 You can read more about it here - Lady Bits Feminine Soap

5. Activated Charcoal: Detox Power

I keep activated charcoal capsules on hand for the occasional upset stomach.  But did you know this black powder is perfect for oily or acne-prone skin? Activated charcoal helps draw out impurities, absorbing oils and toxins that lead to clogged pores, and the soap washes it all away, leaving clean skin behind.  The activated charcoal I use is derived from coconut shells, a sustainable and superior form of the ingredient. 

Check out Acne Detox Soap, a gentle, yet effective soap with anti-inflammatory turmeric that helps reduce acne breakouts.

Why These Ingredients Matter

I could go on and on about all the special ingredients I like to use in my soaps.  These natural ingredients aren’t just “extras” — they define how each soap feels, smells, and works on the skin. My goal is to create bars that are as nourishing as they are beautiful, using ingredients your skin will recognize and love, leaving behind healthy, radiant skin after every use.

The Beauty of Handmade

Part of the magic of handmade soap is knowing what’s in it — and what’s not. No harsh chemicals, no synthetic fragrances — just nature doing its best work. I believe in transparency and simplicity, and these ingredients are my way of sharing the goodness of the natural world, one bar at a time.

Do you have a favorite natural skincare ingredient? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!