Honey in Soap: A Sweet Treat for Your Skin

All of us love honey. It's more than just a golden drizzle for your toast or a soothing balm for a sore throat, this liquid gold has been celebrated for centuries for its incredible benefits. But have you ever considered its magic beyond the kitchen? We're talking about honey in your soap; a truly sweet treat for your skin!

If you're a DIY enthusiast, a natural beauty advocate, or simply curious about elevating your skincare routine, you're in the right place. Let's look into why honey is such a powerhouse ingredient for soap and how you can easily incorporate it into your next batch.

Why Your Skin Will Love It

So, what makes honey such a fantastic addition to soap? It's not just about adding a lovely natural scent (though it does!). Honey brings a variety of skin-loving properties to the table:

• Natural Humectant Powerhouse: This is certainly honey's biggest superpower in soap. A humectant is a substance that attracts and retains moisture. Think of it like a magnet for hydration! When you use soap with honey, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin, keeping it feeling soft and less prone to dryness after washing. Say goodbye to that tight, stripped feeling.
• Gentle Antiseptic and Antibacterial: Honey has natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties, thanks to its low pH and the presence of hydrogen peroxide. While not a replacement for medical treatment, this can be beneficial for keeping skin clean and potentially helping with minor blemishes.
• Soothing and Calming: Have you got irritated or sensitive skin? Honey is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties. It can help calm redness and reduce discomfort, making honey-infused soap a wonderful choice for those with delicate skin.
• Antioxidant Rich: Honey is packed with antioxidants like phenolic acids. These compounds help protect your skin from environmental damage caused by free radicals, contributing to healthier-looking skin over time.
• Natural Glow Enhancer: By promoting hydration and offering gentle cleansing, honey can contribute to a healthier complexion, giving your skin a natural, healthy glow. 

How to Incorporate Honey into Your Handmade Soap

Let's talk about how you can incorporate honey into your very own soap. Adding honey to cold process soap requires a little focus, but it's totally achievable for both practiced soap makers and confident beginners. The key is to add it at the right stage and temper its sugars to prevent scorching.

Here's the most common way to do it:

1. Prepare Your Lye Solution and Oils as Usual: Follow your chosen cold process soap recipe, accurately measuring your lye and water, and your oils. Get them to their ideal temperatures.
2. Dilute the Honey: This is crucial! Never add raw, undiluted honey directly to your soap batter, especially if it's hot. The sugars in honey can scorch due to the heat of saponification, leading to discoloration, a burnt sugar smell, and potentially an accelerated trace.
   • The Golden Rule: For every 1 teaspoon of honey, dilute it with 1 tablespoon of warm water or a small portion of your warmed liquid oils (like olive oil). Some makers even add it to a small amount of their cooled lye water after the lye has fully dissolved and cooled.
   • General Guideline: A good starting point for honey in soap is 1-2 teaspoons per pound of oils in your recipe. You can go up to 1 tablespoon per pound, but start small until you see how your recipe reacts.
3. Add at Light Trace: Once your oils and lye solution have come together and reached a light trace (when the mixture has thickened enough that a whisk leaves a faint trail on the surface), slowly drizzle in your diluted honey mixture.
4. Blend Well: Continue stick blending or whisking until the honey is thoroughly incorporated into the soap batter. It might accelerate trace slightly, so be prepared to work efficiently.
5. Pour and Cure: Pour your honey-infused soap into your mold, insulate it if your recipe requires it, and allow it to cure for the usual 4-6 weeks. The longer cure time allows the soap to harden and milden, resulting in the perfect bar.

Pro Tip for Working with Honey: If your honey is particularly thick, gently warm it in a double boiler or a microwave (just for a few seconds) before diluting to make it easier to work with.

Using Honey Soap for Your Skin

Once your honey-infused soap is cured and ready, incorporate it into your daily routine. Use it on your face, hands, and body. You'll likely notice a difference in how soft and moisturized your skin feels compared to commercial soaps that strip away natural oils. It's a truly indulgent experience.

Embrace the Sweetness!

Adding honey to your homemade soap isn't just about a fancy ingredient; it's about harnessing nature's goodness to create a product that genuinely cares for your skin. The next time you're whipping up a batch of soap, reach for that golden jar and give your skin the sweet treat it deserves. 

Happy soaping!

How would you incorporate honey into your homemade soaps? Let us know in the comments!