Body washes and shower gels aside, we have all come to know of bars soaps as the nifty tools we all need for clean skin. The feeling of lathering up a good ol’ bar soap in the shower is nothing less than satisfying and refreshing. However, bar soaps get a bad rap for being too dry or irritating on the skin. Having said that, that does not always have to be the case. With handmade soaps, you get the best of both clean and non-irritated skin! Beyond being a gimmick, these artisanal bar soaps boast countless skincare benefits and not to mention, they smell heavenly. 

Beauty Insider lets you in on everything you need to know about handmade soaps. 

What is Handmade Soap Exactly?

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Handmade soaps are all-natural alternatives to the usual store-bought soaps. Instead of harsh chemicals, they are made with organic, plant-based oils to leave your skin feeling moisturised and nourished.

These soaps go way back to their roots and are typically made using two traditional methods of soap making — cold process and hot process. The cold process method involves mixing lye, water and fatty oils along with essential oils and natural dye before being poured into a mould. The soap will then dry after 24 to 48 hours. This process typically allows for more flexibility when it comes to creating swirls and designs in the soap batter. For the curious ones, here is how cold-processed soap is traditionally made.

Similar to the cold process method, the hot process method also involves blending lye, water, fatty oils and essential oils. However, instead of placing the mixture in a bold to air dry, hot-processed soaps are placed over a heat source to cure the soap.

Even though the two methods are distinct from each other, they both promise to create soaps that are just made of pure goodness. 

What’s more, handmade soaps are also gentle on the skin, perfect for people who struggle with even the most sensitive of skin types. Even those who suffer from acne, eczema and psoriasis can get in on the fun. 

What is the Difference Between Handmade Soap And Commercial Soap?

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A quick stroll down the aisles of drugstores will present you with countless bar soaps that promise squeaky clean skin. We might be all too familiar with these commercially sold bar soaps, but most of them prove to do more harm than good on your skin. They often contain chemical detergents, artificial fragrances and synthetic ingredients that can dry out the skin and irritate it. Essentially, commercial bar soaps are bad news for the skin.

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On the other hand, handmade soaps are known to be the natural alternatives to the usual commercial soap. As they are made from plant-based oils and butters, you do not have to worry about any harsh chemicals. Plus, they do not contain artificial fragrances and only use natural essential oils to give off the same divine scent you can find in commercial soaps. 

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Benefits of Handmade Soap

Restore Healthy Skin

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Apart from bringing all-natural goodness to your skin, handmade soaps also pack a punch in restoring healthy skin. As handmade soaps are made with plant-based oils and butter, they are often enriched with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients, which are essential to improving skin health. Clean AND healthy skin? Sign us up. 

Keeps The Skin Moisturised

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Handmade soaps have gained a reputation for being the key to soft and supple skin. This is all thanks to the natural glycerin that is found in these soaps as a by-product of the traditional soap making process. Glycerin works to attract and lock in moisture to the skin to quench the thirst of parched skin, so dry and rough skin will be a thing of the past. 

The Options Are Endless

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The best part about handmade soaps is that there are customisable options too! Whether you are a fan of the scent of zesty citrus or sweet-smelling vanilla, you can throw in any essential oils based on your preferences. Since you get to decide what goes into your handmade soap, you can add in essential oils based on what your skin loves, so you do not have to worry about skin irritation. 

What Handmade Soaps Are Best For Me?

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There is no absolute answer to what the best handmade soap is! After all, it boils down to everybody’s individual skin concerns and preferred scents! If your mind is boggled by the endless amount of options for essential oils, we have got you covered on some of the best oils to choose from for each skin type and concern. 

Dry skin – If dry skin is your worst enemy, go for geranium oil. Known for its intense hydration, geranium oil replenishes the skin’s moisture for smoother skin. Moreover, geranium oil is known to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so you can expect youthful-looking skin!

Oily skin – Rosemary oil is the key to keeping excess oil at bay. It works to balance oil production and soothe redness thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, rosemary oil is also known to fight off greasy hair and even stimulates hair growth!

Sensitive skin – Lavender oil is your best bet to combat sensitive skin. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, lavender oil helps to soothe and calm any redness while being extra gentle on the skin.

Eczema – Eczema can cause some pesky and painful skin rashes that are just not ideal. In order to combat this, use eucalyptus oil. A natural remedy for wounds and skin infections, eucalyptus oil handles inflammations to fight off eczema flare-ups!

Acne – Bacne causing you troubles? Try using lemon oils. They are known to combat acne by controlling excess sebum production. On top of that, they also protect the skin from harmful free radicals that trigger acne breakouts.

Where Can I Find Handmade Soap Making Classes in Singapore?

If DIY activities are your thing, why not take your hand in soap making? Here are some of the best soap making classes to make your very own handmade soap:

Soap Ministry

Soap Ministry is all about delivering the best soap offerings, so it is only fitting that they offer soap making classes as well! Suitable for all ages from as young as 4 years old, Soap Ministry offers various courses including the Melt & Pour and the Cold Process soap making classes you can get in on the know-hows of making your own soap. The classes are available in three different levels — Basic, Basic Upsize and Intermediate. Each lesson lasts anywhere from 1 hour to 5 hours depending on the chosen class level.

If you are more of a fan of body washes, Soap Ministry also has a Natural Liquid Workshop for you to learn how to customise your very own liquid soap. 

Price: Basic Workshop for $48 (1 hr), Basic Upsize Workshop for $75 (1.5 hrs), Intermediate Workshop for $182 (3-5 hrs)

Address: 277 Orchard Road, Orchard Gateway #03-04, Singapore 238858

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun: 10am to 9pm

Contact: 6634 1920

Find out more about Soap Ministry here.

Gardens With Purpose

Gardens with Purpose is in the business of growing greens and they are seriously dedicated to spreading the joy of a sustainable lifestyle. This gardening school offers classes related to cultivating homegrown herbs and plants, but they also offer 1-Day workshops on soap making as well! The class covers the ins and outs of soap making from the basics of essential oils to the techniques to fermenting dried herbs and flowers so that you can create natural herbal soap products.

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Moreover, expert trainers will also let you in on what are some of the best essential oils to treat different skin concerns. So if you are looking to make your very own skin-loving natural herbal soap, this class is for you.

Price: Make Your Own Natural Soap class for $68 (2.5 hrs)

Address: 1 Bah Soon Pah Rd, Plot A18, Singapore 769959

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am to 6pm

Contact: 6546 5801

Find out more about Gardens With Purpose here.

Sugar & Spice

handmade soaps

Learning the art of soap making has never been easier with Sugar & Spice.  With their Cold Process soap making classes, you will get a step-by-step guide to making your very own soap for your body, hair and face from scratch! For more advanced students, Sugar & Spice offers a professional-level cold process soap making class to take your soap making skills to the next level.

Price: Basic CP Soap Making Class for $100 (2 hrs), Advanced CP Soap Making Class for $180 (2 hrs)

Address: 81 Ubi Avenue 4, #10-19 UB. ONE, Singapore 408830

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm

Contact: 9885 6285

Find out more about Sugar & Spice here.

Rough Beauty

handmade soaps

There is nothing rough about the soaps made at Rough Beauty. Inspired by their mission of delivering simple and sustainable products, Rough Beauty offers a wide range of handcrafted bath and body products and of course, soap making classes.

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For beginners, go for the Cold Process Soap Making Workshop, where you will get to learn the basics of customising your own handmade soap from choosing colours to picking out different scents. You also get to learn the fundamentals of soap swirling to add a unique touch to your DIY soap. If you are more interested in learning about the hot process method instead, opt for the Melt and Pour Soap Crafting Workshop. 

Price: Cold Process soap making workshop for $185 (2.5 hrs), Melt and Pour soap crafting workshop for $85 (2.5 hrs)

Address: 20 Sin Ming Lane, #07-51 Midview City, Singapore573968

Email: hello@rough-beauty.com.

Find out more about Rough Beauty here.

Singapore Soap

handmade soaps

Singapore Soap offers budget-friendly soap making classes so you can hop on board the trend of using all-natural handmade soaps without breaking the bank. At Singapore Soap, you can find cold process soap making and melt and pour classes in beginner and advanced levels to cater to different skill levels. For the dedicated soap makers, Singapore Soap also provides class value packages for those looking to frequent their soap making classes!

Price: Basic Cold Process Soap Making Class (Beginner) for $125 (2-2.5 hrs), Advanced Cold Process Soap Making Class for $180 (2– 2.5 hrs)

Address: 80 Genting Lane, Ruby Industrial Complex #03-07, Singapore 349565

Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10am to 7pm, Fri: 10am to 6.30pm

Contact: 9483 2196

Find out more about Singapore Soap here.