Vegan soap is soap that is manufactured without the use of any animal-derived ingredients or by-products. It is a cruelty-free and ethical alternative to traditional soaps that often contain ingredients like tallow (animal fat).
Vegan soaps can be made from plant-based oils, essential oils, and natural additives. Because they are natural products, they don’t have the same negative impacts on human health and the environment as non-vegan alternatives.
You can purchase vegan soap from a range of sustainable brands but why not have more fun and get creative by making your own animal-free soap at home?
In this article, we’re going to cover what the benefits of vegan soap are and how to make vegan soap at home.
What Are the Benefits of Using Vegan Soap?
Vegan soap offers a wide range of benefits compared to their non-vegan counterparts. Here are some of these benefits:
- They’re cruelty-free – vegan soap doesn’t involve testing on animals or the use of animal-derived ingredients, making it a compassionate and cruelty-free choice.
- They’re more eco-friendly – because vegan soaps are made using plant-based oils and natural additives, their production doesn’t harm the environment as much as non-vegan alternatives. They’re often packaged in eco-friendly materials too.
- They’re less irritating on the skin – compared to non-vegan soaps that are packed full of chemicals and synthetic fragrances, vegan soaps contain only natural plant-based ingredients. As a result, they’re less likely to cause skin irritation and feel softer and gentler on the skin.
- They’re easy to make at home – you can easily make your very own vegan soaps at home using minimal ingredients. By creating your own soaps, you can add your favorite fragrances, save money, and have fun! You can also customize the soap according to your individual skincare needs.
How to Make Vegan Soap at Home
Now you know about all of the amazing benefits of switching to vegan soap, you might be keen to start making some of your own at home.
Here’s a general step-by-step guide to follow:
- Collect all the necessary ingredients, including plant-based oils, a lye solution, essential oils for fragrance, natural additives, and safety equipment (goggles, gloves, and long sleeves). You’ll also need soap-making equipment like a stainless-steel pot, a thermometer, and soap molds.
- Accurately measure the oils and lye solution according to your chosen recipe. Heat the oils in a pot and gradually add the lye solution while stirring until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency.
- Add your chosen essential oils and additives, and mix well to distribute them evenly into the soap mixture.
- Transfer the soap mixture into soap molds and tap them a few times to remove any air bubbles. Cover the molds and let the soap cure for several weeks in a cool, dry place.
- Once the soap has cured, gently remove it from the molds and allow the bars to further air dry for a few days to harden completely. Store the soap in a well-ventilated area or wrap it in wax paper to prevent moisture build-up.
