This gentle, fragrance and dye-free homemade Manuka honey goat’s milk soap recipe is perfect for sensitive skin and an easy DIY your kids can help make.
It’s been rainy all day today, and in a quest to find a fun, quick activity, I ran across a recipe I had saved for a quick and easy homemade soap. As it turns out, soap-making (with a couple of handy, kid-safe shortcuts) is the perfect way for littles to have some fun in the kitchen!
I had recently purchased a HUGE jar of Manuka honey (semi-accidentally) and thought I’d take advantage of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so we throw it in the mix. The whole project was SO EASY and worthwhile I had to share it here.
For kids (or adults) with sensitive skin, this is super soft and gentle, and I *swear* it is actually easier than shopping for a dye and fragrance-free soap that isn’t outrageously expensive.
For another natural DIY project your kids will have fun making, visit the tutorial for our DIY pixie dust, a DIY linen powder with magical powers (and an exceptionally clever bottle). Or mix up a bottle of meditation with our eco-friendly DIY glitter jar (biodegradable glitter for the win!).
To make your own DIY honey goat’s milk soap, you’ll need:
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Yields: Roughly four average-sized bars of soap or ten smaller bars.
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- 1 lb Goat’s Milk soap base (you can find it at a craft store or use the kind I did)
- 3 Tbsp. Manuka Honey (something like this or just whatever honey you have in the cabinet!)
- A Soap mold (soap/mini cake molds, wood or ice cube trays all work – I found Silicone molds are the easiest and used this adorbs honeycomb mold to make many smaller soaps)
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Soap colorants like these non-toxic colorants
- 3-4 Tbsp. Oatmeal
- Lavender
- Grated lemon or orange peel
- Coconut, Olive, or Avocado oil
- Essential oils for scent
Our Homemade Honey Goat’s Milk Soap Recipe – DIY Instructions:
Cut the soap base into cubes and melt.
Cut your base into 3″ x 3″ cubes (roughly – any manageable size works). Place the cubes into a microwave-safe container, and alternate heating for 30 seconds, then stirring for 30 seconds until all the cubes are melted.
Stir in the honey and any other colorants or oils. If you’d like to add grated peels, oatmeal, or lavender, place those evenly into the bottom of the mold/molds before pouring.
Pour the soap mixture into a mold and set it aside to harden.
Once you’ve evenly poured the soap mixture into the mold, the job is basically done! Put it aside and give it 2 hours to fully harden.
Pop your finished soaps out of the mold.
Gently push your hardened soaps out of the mold. We cut small squares of tissue paper and folded them around the bars we wouldn’t use immediately, then stacked them in a small storage container to keep under the sink. In a cool spot, they’ll last until you need them!
YAY! Soft and gentle soap for little faces and bodies. We specifically made ours fragrance-free – but even without aromatics and color, there is a lovely barely-there honey scent and warm off-white hue.
This was a great way to get in some pouring practice and introduce some basic kitchen utensils for the younger of the two little biscuits who joined in the soap-making process. And we ALL loved popping the soaps out of the molds to see what we had come up with.
My only regret was that I hadn’t planned ahead and ordered a couple of colorants – color-mixing would have been the perfect addition to this activity, and I’m already excited to try it with our next round.
Honey Goat’s Milk Soap-Making Tips and FAQs
What are the benefits of using honey and goat’s milk in soap?
Honey and goat’s milk both offer a range of benefits for your skin. Honey is a natural humectant, helping to retain moisture and providing antibacterial properties.
Goat’s milk is rich in nutrients and vitamins, making it gentle and nourishing for sensitive skin. Combined, they create a luxurious and soothing soap that leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed.
Can I use essential oils to add fragrance to my honey goat’s milk soap?
Yes, you can use essential oils to add fragrance to your honey goat’s milk soap. Be sure to choose skin-safe essential oils, such as lavender, chamomile, or sweet orange. Start with a small amount (a few drops per batch) and adjust according to your preference. Remember to always conduct a patch test before using essential oils on your skin or your child’s skin.
Are there any precautions or safety tips to follow while making honey goat’s milk soap with kids?
When making honey goat’s milk soap with kids, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind. First, supervision is required at all times during the process. Use a microwave or double boiler to melt the soap base, and handle the hot container with caution. Ensure kids stay at a safe distance if it’s too hot for them to safely handle. Wear gloves when handling essential oils and soap colorants to avoid skin irritation. Educate children on the importance of soap safety, such as avoiding contact with eyes or ingestion. Lastly, conduct a patch test before using the soap on your skin or your child’s skin, especially if you’ve added essential oils or colorants.
Ten Ways Kids Can Help Make This Homemade Soap
FYI, these are suggestions based on our specific honey goat’s milk soap recipe. Other soap recipes may use ingredients or processes that may NOT be appropriate for kids to help create.
- Measuring Ingredients: Children can measure the soap base, honey, and essential oils (if using) with appropriate measuring tools. Always supervise to ensure accurate measurements.
- Cutting the Soap Base: Older children can help cut the goat’s milk soap base into small cubes with a blunt-edged knife, always under adult supervision.
- Stirring the Mixture: Children can stir the soap mixture gently once the soap base has been melted, and the honey and essential oils are added.
- Adding Honey and Essential Oils: With supervision, children can pour pre-measured honey and essential oils into the melted soap base.
- Pouring into Molds: Once the soap mixture is ready, kids can help pour it into the molds. Make sure the mixture is not too hot to avoid burns.
- Choosing Colorants: If you’re using soap colorants, kids can choose their preferred colors and help mix them in.
- Decorating the Soaps: Kids can personalize the soaps by adding in small, skin-safe decorative elements, like dried flower petals, under adult supervision.
- Cleaning Up: Kids can help with cleaning up the workspace and washing the utensils used.
- Unmolding the Soap: Once the soap is fully set and cooled, kids can pop the soaps out of the molds.
- Packaging: Children can help wrap and package the soaps, a fun activity if the soaps are being given as gifts.
Eight Ways to Use Your Homemade Soap Bars
- Use Your DIY Soap to Encourage Hand Washing or at Bath Time: Kids can use their homemade honey goat’s milk soap for regular hand washing. It can encourage them to maintain good hygiene, especially if they had a hand in making the soap.
- Use Homemade Soap to Clean Up After Art Projects: If the soaps are molded into fun shapes or have appealing colors, they could be used for some sudsy art projects in the tub or sink.
- Cleaning Toys: Children can use their homemade soap to clean their washable toys. This can be a fun activity and also teach them about cleanliness and taking care of their belongings.
- Make Honey Soap for Birthday Party Favors: These homemade soaps make excellent party favors for guests at a child’s birthday party. They’re unique, personal, and show a bit of creative effort.
- An Easy Kid-Made Mother’s Day or Father’s Day Gift: Kids can gift their homemade honey goat’s milk soap to their parents on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day as a personal and thoughtful gift.
- Teacher Appreciation Day: As a sign of gratitude, children can present their homemade soaps to their teachers. It’s a unique gift that’s sure to be appreciated.
- Holiday Gifts: Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other festive occasion, kids can gift their homemade soaps to friends, family, or even Santa Claus!
- Sleepovers or Playdates: Older kids can mix up these homemade soaps all on their own during sleepovers or playdates as a fun activity to share with friends, and each friend can take home their own soap afterwards.
More DIY soap ideas you can make with kids…
Homemade soap is definitely having a moment, and now that I’m on the bandwagon, I’ve found so many other soap-spiration kids would enjoy…
- How gorgeous are these soap gemstones? The dazzling, gem-like appearance is perfect, and they’re a great size and shape for tiny hands.
- I love this idea so much…Lego rescue soap! It’s a brilliant way to motivate tiny hands to scrub, rinse, and repeat until squeaky clean.
- When I was little, no bath was complete without a scribble on the tub. These soap bath crayons are a great way to DIY your own.
- This clever and colorful confetti soap looks like a party! Eager to experiment with a rainbow of colors? Give this fun process a whirl for stunning, vibrant results.
- Stop everything and check out this goldfish-in-a-bag soap – the epitome of cuteness! These soaps are a surefire hit as the most adorable school party favors ever.
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