This easy calendula soap is made with melt and pour soap and dried calendula. It's excellent for dry or irritated skin.

If you're new to soap making or just looking for an easy DIY project that you can do in an afternoon, try this calendula soap recipe for dry skin. This herbal soap recipe is made with melt and pour soap, so you can do it in an afternoon.

I have eczema on my hand, so I use this as a hand soap. It would also make an excellent bar for your body, too.

How to make calendula soap. This soap making recipe for beginners is without lye. If you need melt and pour ideas, try this. Natural soap with dried calendula. Easy DIY soap with herbs. The recipe is perfect for a beginner. Soap making tutorials for glycerin soap. Make it for yourself or to sell. #calendula #soap #soapmaking

Calendula is my favorite herb for irritated skin, including eczema. It's also great for dry skin. You can also add essential oils for more skin loving benefits.

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CALENDULA SOAP RECIPE FOR DRY SKIN

This herbal soap recipe can be made in about an hour and then used right away, but it is best to let it sit for a few days to fully set up. I find that my melt and pour bars last longer if they sit before I use them.

MELT AND POUR SOAP

I use Crafty Bubbles melt and pour soap. I used their white base for this recipe. You can use a base with an additive like goat's milk or shea butter, but I prefer to buy a plain base and add butters or oils.

The melt and pour soap that I buy is only available on their website. You can use any white melt and pour soap base though.

POWDERED MILK

I added powdered milk because it has alpha hydroxy acid. This penetrates the skin to make it softer. The milk also helps nourish your skin.

Click here for a list of melt and pour additives that you can add to make a custom bar of soap.

CALENDULA

The real star of this recipe is the calendula. This herb, which is also referred to as marigold, is a great herb for your skin. It's full of antioxidants to prevent damage from oxidation in your cells.

It also works as an anti-inflammatory and promotes wound healing when applied topically to your skin. It has been shown to be an antiseptic and can help increase blood circulation to an area to promote healing.

You can harvest your own calendula (I'm growing my own this year) or buy it. I buy all of my herbs from an Amish greenhouse. You can also fine dried calendula on Amazon to add to your soaps and other recipes.

If you do grow your own, make sure it's completely dry before adding it to soap.

Other calendula recipes:

SHEA BUTTER

I added a teaspoon of shea butter for its skin properties. You can add up to 1 tablespoon per pound of soap, but since I added milk powder and calendula, I cut back on the shea butter.

Shea butter is my favorite natural body butter. It's high in vitamins A, E, and F for your skin. It also has essential fatty acids. It's said to promote collagen production, and it's also moisturizing.

You can use a different natural body butter. Learn more about the different natural butters for skin and hair here.

ESSENTIAL OILS

You can add essential oils if you'd like. I generally use helichrysum or lavender in recipes for dry skin. You can use one or more of the following.

HELICHRYSUM

Helichrysum a gentle essential oil. It's said to promote cellular turnover to help your body make new skin cells.

NEROLI

Neroli essential oil is one of my favorites. It can reduce inflammation, and it is great for scars and stretch marks.

GERANIUM

Geranium essential oil is a wonderful and strong anti-inflammatory.

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

Lavender essential oil smells great and is very gentle on the skin.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound melt and pour soap
1 tablespoon powdered milk
2 teaspoons calendula
1 teaspoon shea butter
0.25 ounces essential oils

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

You can melt your soap in a double boiler or in a Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave. The microwave is easier for me, so that's what I did.

Cut the soap in to 1" chunks and place them in the bowl. I also added the shea butter so it would melt in the heat.

Easy calendula soap recipe with milk powder, coconut oil, and chamomile for dry or irritated skin.

STEP #2

Microwave on high at 30 second intervals until melted. I give it a little stir between intervals.

It should be completely melted before you move on, but small chunks will usually melt if you stir it for a minute. Then I added the powdered milk and stirred.

STEP #3

Finally, add the calendula. I did not crush it very fine. You can use a mortar and pestle to crush it if you want.

STEP #4

Now give it a good stir to get everything incorporated.

STEP #5

Then pour in to soap molds. I use a mold that has 4 ounce and 3 ounce bars, but you can use anything. (I've since purchased this mold and love it.)

Ta da! Beautiful handmade calendula soap that's very nourishing for your skin.

You can use your soap as soon as it cools, but I like to let mine cure for a few days or weeks. The bars seems to get harder and last longer.

Melt and pour soap, like any soap, will get soggy if it's left in water. I use soap dishes to let the water drain off of my soaps. I use wooden soap dishes in the kitchen, but I use metal soap dishes in the bathroom. The wooden ones just don't seem to hold up with five people washing their hands all day long.