How to Make Aloe Vera Soap (Skin Soothing Recipe)

This aloe vera soap recipe contains soothing botanicals that help restore and protect your skin while you wash your hands. It’s easy to make at home and can be customized with any scent you like. As an added bonus, aloe vera is great for both the hard-working skin on your hands and the delicate skin on your face.

I have seen so many aloe vera soap bars around. I have always wondered how they are beneficial for your skin.

After a little research and study, I’m happy to say that I was quite impressed with its benefits. So much so that I decided to make a batch myself.

But for my version, I wanted to make liquid soap! This soap is so easy to make and great for your hands.

So, don’t be shy and let’s make soap with this aloe vera soap recipe!

Benefits of Aloe Vera

Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) is one of the oldest plants recorded to have medicinal properties. It has been cultivated around the world due to its highly adaptable properties and usefulness as a skin healing herb.

Aloe vera has natural antibacterial properties and contains antiseptic properties that help clean cuts and wounds by killing bacteria and fungi. Aloe vera’s pH is similar to our skin’s, which helps to gently (but thoroughly) cleanse the skin while also closing pores. Its anti-inflammatory properties can soothe inflamed skin.

I wanted to take this wonderful skin healing herb and add it to the soap. Just adding this one extra ingredient can really Helps relieve dryness and chapping That happens because of washing your hands too often.

We know that aloe vera is great for the skin. It has been used throughout history to treat burns, rashes, wounds, and other types of skin problems. It can also be used as a laxative to aid digestion and reduce inflammation.

But it is usually prepared as a juice or gel for both internal and external use. So when adding it to a soap recipe, I wondered if the beneficial properties of aloe vera gel would be diminished by the high temperatures required for this aloe vera soap recipe.

Fortunately, the answer is yes—The benefits of aloe vera appear to remain intact.

I always recommend having an aloe vera plant in your home or garden as part of your herbal first aid kit. I have lots of great information in My Herbal Guide to Aloe Vera on how to harvest the gel. Plus, it shows you how to use it to soothes sunburn and other skin irritations.

Fresh aloe vera vs aloe vera gel

In this formula, I use the prepackaged gel because of its shelf life. However, like many herbal products, there is a lot of confusion about what is actually inside that bottle of aloe vera gel you are buying. If fresh gel only lasts about a week in the refrigerator, can store-bought gel have the same properties and last for one to two years?

The answer is definitely no, but that doesn’t mean the gel you buy in the store doesn’t have any beneficial properties. This simply means that there is a trade-off between benefits and shelf life. Any processing reduces the effectiveness of aloe vera.

The best way to get the most potent aloe vera is to grow a plant in your home or garden, but a good alternative is to find a high-quality aloe vera gel that can be used in recipes like this liquid hand soap.

How to make soap with fresh aloe vera

You can certainly make this recipe with fresh aloe vera gel. However, you will need to keep the liquid soap in the refrigerator and throw it away after a week. It is definitely possible to make a batch weekly as it is quite easy to make.

However, if you want to use it for a little longer, I recommend doing some research to find the best aloe vera gel with the least processing.

I like to use Lily of the Desert aloe vera gel because this product is said to be harvested from the inner fillet of the aloe plant, minimally processed at their facility, and USDA certified organic.

Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gel is food grade and contains over 99% organic aloe vera juice along with other ingredients such as carrageenan (thickener), citric acid (pH stabilizer), and potassium sorbate (mold inhibitor).

By the way, They did not sponsor this post. I have been using this brand’s products for years and have had no problems.

How to make aloe vera soap

The base of this recipe is Castile soap, which is the name given to an olive oil soap recipe that originated in Castile, Spain. I buy liquid Castile soap from a local soap drugstore or Dr. Bronner’s online, and with these, “Castile” refers to a plant-based liquid soap. It can be made from olive, coconut, avocado, or other vegetable oils.

This biodegradable, non-toxic soap is concentrated so it needs to be diluted to different concentrations for different purposes.. I always choose unscented soap as the main ingredient and add my own essential oils to the final recipe.

Ingredient

See the recipe card at the end of this post for exact measurements.

Jump to Recipe

Let’s do it!

Once you have all the ingredients, making aloe vera soap is quite simple.

Firstly, Whisk together water and aloe vera gel until smooth.. Then add the castile soap and stir again to combine. Add the essential oil of your choice—I used lavender and lemon, which are a great combination.

Then pour it into a glass soap bottle and shaken. I find the easiest way to do this is with a funnel.

Shake the bottle well before using the soap. One batch can last up to three months.But if you notice any discoloration or strange odor, throw it away.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aloe Vera Soap

More projects with Aloe Vera Gel

If you’re looking for more ways to use aloe vera gel, try one (or more) of these projects.