Your Skin Will Love This Nourishing Cold Process Oatmeal Soap
Oatmeal is a great addition to homemade soap. It creates a nourishing, cleansing bar that’s gentle on the skin, and you probably already have it in your kitchen. Here’s everything you need to know about making oatmeal soap, a cold-process recipe your skin will love.

Nourishing Oatmeal Soap Recipe
Equipment
- Safety gear
- kitchen scale
Ingredients
- 4 ounces almond oil
- 2 ounces castor oil
- 11 ounces coconut oil
- 10 ounces olive oil
- 3 ounces shea butter
- 10 ½ ounces water
- 4.30 ounces lye
- 2 tablespoons ground old-fashioned oats crushed in a food proessor
- color and/or fragrance if desired
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Instructions
- Combine the lye and water. In separate, non-reactive containers, measure out the lye and water. Add the lye to the water, stirring until the lye dissolves. Set aside in a safe, well-ventilated place and allow the lye water to cool to 100-115 degrees while you melt the oils.
- Melt the oils. Add all the oils and butter to a large, non-reactive saucepan and melt over medium-low heat until fully melted. Set aside to cool to 100-115 degrees. This may take an additional hour or so.
- Combine lye solution with the oils. (Before blending, prepare your soap mold and have your oatmeal, fragrance, and colors ready to go.) Pour the lye water into the pot with melted oils and combine with a stick blender until “trace” is reached. The batter has traced when a trail rests on the surface of the liquid rather than immediately sinking back it. Add the oats, fragrance, color, and stir by hand.
- Pour soap into mold. Immediately pour into the soap mold. Allow the soap to cure in the mold for 24 hours. To prevent gel phase, put it in a cold place such as the fridge. To force gel phase, place it in a warm (140 degree) oven, then turn the heat off and allow to finish curing in the oven.
- Unmold and cut into bars. Carefully turn the soap out of the mold. Cut into bars. Place on breathable fabric or wire racks and allow the soap to finish curing at room temperature in a well-ventilated space for at least two weeks. A longer cure time will result in harder, longer-lasting bars.
Video
Notes

Benefits of Using Oats in Soap Making (especially for sensitive skin)
Oatmeal soap can help you maintain your skin’s health. For dry or oily patches on the body – either one will benefit from having their pH balanced by oatmeal.
Oily skin can benefit from the absorbent nature of oatmeal. It’s often included in scrubs that work to remove dead cells and extra oil.
And of course, if you remember soaking in oatmeal after getting chickenpox as a child, you know that oatmeal can relieve itchy skin. A combination of oatmeal soap and an oatmeal soak is an effective treatment for rashes, chickenpox, poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac, rashes, and insect bites.
What You’ll Need
This recipe uses natural ingredients for gentle cleansing. I sometimes use artificial fragrances, but you can substitute essential oils or just leave them out.


This recipe fits perfectly in this ten-inch silicone loaf mold.
Safety First: Essential Precautions for Making Soap with Lye
Working with lye (sodium hydroxide) requires special care due to its caustic nature. It’s essential to prioritize safety and take the following precautions:
- Gear Up:
- Safety Goggles: Always wear protective goggles to shield your eyes from splashes.
- Gloves: Wear chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or latex) to protect your hands and arms.
- Long Sleeves and Pants: Cover your skin with long sleeves and pants to minimize exposure to lye solution or raw soap batter.
- Mask (Optional): Consider wearing a mask to avoid inhaling lye fumes, especially if working in a poorly ventilated area.
- Work Environment:
- Well-Ventilated Area: Choose a space with good airflow, ideally near an open window or exhaust fan.
- Clear Workspace: Keep your work area clean and free of clutter to prevent accidents.
- No Distractions: Avoid distractions and focus on your task to prevent spills or mishaps.
- Handling Lye:
- Slow and Steady: When mixing lye with water, always add the lye to the water (never the reverse) slowly and carefully.
- Stir Gently: Stir the lye solution gently until the lye is fully dissolved.
- Cool Down: Allow the lye solution to cool to the appropriate temperature before mixing with oils.
- Spill Control: Have a plan for spills. Keep vinegar (a mild acid) on hand to neutralize any accidental lye spills.
- Children and Pets:
- Keep Out of Reach: Store lye in its original container in a secure location, out of reach of children and pets.
- Supervise: Never leave lye solution or raw soap batter unattended, especially if young children or pets are present.
- Additional Tips:
- Read the Recipe Carefully: Familiarize yourself with the entire soap-making process before starting.
- Weigh Ingredients Accurately: Precise measurements are crucial for a successful and safe batch of soap.
- Respect Lye: Remember that lye is a strong chemical. Treat it with respect and follow safety guidelines meticulously.
Important Note: If you get lye solution or raw soap batter on your skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention.
Variations to This Recipe
This recipe can easily be adapted to suit different needs.
- For sensitive skin, try a goat milk base (just substitute goat’s milk for the water)
- For oatmeal and honey soap, add 1 tablespoon of honey to the oats. (You’ll need to cure the loaf in the fridge to keep it from overheating.)
- If you love adding natural ingredients. to your soap bars, you’ll love this lemon zest soap recipe.
Common Issues and Solutions
False Trace: If your soap mixture appears thick but hasn’t reached trace, it could be a false trace. This can happen if the oils or lye water are too cool. Warm them up slightly and blend again.
Preventing Overheating: To avoid overheating, especially when adding honey or using a goat milk soap base, cure the soap in the fridge.
Variations
Honey Oatmeal Soap Bars: Add 1 tablespoon of raw honey with the oats. This adds extra moisturizing properties and a lovely scent.
Goat Milk Oatmeal Soap: Replace water with goat milk for a creamier, more nourishing soap.
Layered Soap: Create a second layer of soap by pouring half the soap mixture, letting it set slightly, and then pouring the remaining mixture on top. This can create beautiful layered effects.
FAQs
You can use colloidal oats or ground old-fashioned oats. Colloidal oatmeal is finely ground and dissolves more easily, providing a smoother texture.
Yes, you can substitute or add oils like tamanu oil, sweet almond oil, or even cocoa butter for additional benefits.
Silicone molds are ideal because they are flexible and make it easy to unmold the soap.
You Can Do It
Oatmeal is a beneficial ingredient in soap, especially for sensitive skin. This recipe uses natural ingredients that are gentle on your body and includes oils to keep your skin moisturized. If you’re looking for an all-natural soap or need something with some extra benefits, this oatmeal soap recipe might be perfect.


By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.