Aloe Vera & Green Tea Cold Process Soap Recipe

Aloe Vera & Green Tea Cold Process Soap Recipe

Create a refreshing, skin-loving soap with the soothing benefits of aloe vera and the antioxidant properties of green tea. This recipe produces a creamy, long-lasting bar with a gentle cleansing action and a fresh herbal aroma.

Ingredients

Oils

• 350g Olive Oil
• 300g Coconut Oil
• 200g Palm Oil
• 100g Shea Butter
• 50g Castor Oil

Lye Solution

• 142g Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
• 300g Strong brewed green tea, frozen to a slushy consistency

Additives

• 20g Aloe Vera Powder
• 30–40ml Tea Tree & Lavender Essential Oil Blend (or fragrance oil suitable for cold process soap)
• 1 teaspoon Spirulina Powder (optional, for a natural green colour)

Method

1. Brew a strong batch of green tea and allow it to cool completely. Freeze until it becomes a slushy consistency.
2. Slowly sprinkle the sodium hydroxide into the frozen green tea while stirring continuously until fully dissolved. Never add the liquid to the sodium hydroxide.
3. Allow the lye solution to cool to approximately 35–40°C.
4. Melt the coconut oil, palm oil, and shea butter. Add the olive oil and castor oil and mix well.
5. When both the oils and lye solution are between 35–40°C, slowly pour the lye solution into the oils.
6. Blend with a stick blender until light trace is reached.
7. Add the aloe vera powder, essential oils or fragrance oil, and spirulina powder if using.
8. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
9. Pour the soap batter into your mould and gently tap it on the work surface to release any trapped air bubbles.
10. Decorate the top with dried green tea leaves or calendula petals if desired.
11. Cover and insulate the mould for 24–48 hours.
12. Unmould, cut into bars, and cure for 4–6 weeks before use.

Benefits

• Rich, creamy lather.
• Aloe vera helps leave the skin feeling soft and moisturised.
• Green tea is rich in natural antioxidants.
• Tea tree and lavender provide a fresh, clean, herbal scent.
• Creates a hard, long-lasting bar that is suitable for everyday use.

Safety First: Always wear gloves, eye protection, and long sleeves when handling sodium hydroxide. Measure all ingredients accurately and never substitute ingredients without recalculating the recipe using a reliable lye calculator.