Benefits of Turmeric Soap and How to Make at Home

Turmeric, often referred to as the Indian Saffron is a spice native to South Asia that has been used in various cuisines for centuries. The root or rhizome of the turmeric plant is dried and ground finely to make turmeric powder, which is then added to dishes to give them an earthy aroma, great flavour and a golden yellow colour.

Apart from being used as a spice, turmeric is also used as a remedy for many ailments, because of its healing and medicinal properties. Cucurmin, a bioactive compound found in this golden spice is responsible for most of its medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, analgesic, antiseptic and anti-cancer properties.

Turmeric is well-known for its positive effects on the skin. In fact, it is one of the most inexpensive, natural and safest way of treating various skin disorders and getting smooth, soft and flawless skin. For this reason, turmeric is used as a key ingredient in many skin care products such as fairness creams, antiseptic lotions and soaps.

Turmeric soaps are available in the market and they are found to be effective in nourishing the skin, getting rid of skin problems and in making the skin look great. Here are some of the benefits of using turmeric soap:

Turmeric Soap for Acne

One of the best ways to treat acne is to use turmeric soap. The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiseptic properties of turmeric reduces redness and inflammation, fights off the acne causing bacteria and prevents further infection. It also helps to exfoliate the skin and reduce the excess secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands. Effective for all types of skin, the use of turmeric soap imparts a natural glow to the skin.

[Read more about 7 reasons to use turmeric for skin ]

Turmeric Soap Treats Dry Skin

Dry skin is usually caused by poor moisturization of the skin, excessive use of cosmetics, harsh soaps, long and hot showers, environmental pollutants and even medications. Severe dryness of the skin can make the skin rough, itchy, and can sometimes lead to the development of cracks on the skin.

Turmeric soap is an excellent remedy for soothing dry skin. It has nourishing and moisturizing properties that help keep the skin hydrated. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects of the soap reduce the inflammation, swelling and redness associated with dry skin.

Stay Young with Turmeric Soap

Aging is a natural process that can’t be prevented. But it’s always possible to delay the signs of aging by eating antioxidant rich food and wisely choosing the products that we apply on the skin. Turmeric is packed with antioxidants and hence is one of the best natural anti-aging remedies available.

The regular use of turmeric soaps can therefore help keep the skin looking young, by reducing the appearance of aging signs like wrinkles, dark spots, pigmentation and fine lines. Turmeric stimulates the production of collagen that helps in improving the elasticity and suppleness of the skin, reducing wrinkles and preventing sagging of the skin.

Turmeric Soap to Get Rid of Eczema

Eczema, also referred to as Atopic Dermatitis is a common skin condition characterized by irritation and inflammation of the skin. This condition usually develops in childhood and in some cases may continue during the adult life as well.

Turmeric soap is an excellent remedy for eczema because the anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric is helpful in relieving the redness, irritation, swelling and inflammation associated with the condition. The hydrating properties of the soap further helps to cool the skin and promote faster healing.

[Read more about 12 home remedies for dry skin]

Turmeric Soap Provides Relief from Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease where abnormal, itchy, scaly and red patches are developed on the skin. Stress, cold and infection are factors considered to trigger the immune response, leading to psoriasis. The immune response causes the rapid buildup of skin cells, which in turn causes the scaling of the surface of the skin.

Although there is no cure for psoriasis, there are natural remedies that can treat the symptoms of the disease. The regular use of turmeric soap is a great way to get relief from psoriasis. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hydrating properties of the soap soothes the skin and provides nourishment and protection to the skin.

Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, inhibits the activity and reduces the levels of inflammatory chemicals such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

Turmeric Soap for Skin Lightening

Worried about uneven skin tone and dark pigments on the skin? Try using turmeric soap regularly! Turmeric is popular for its skin lightening properties and hence is used as the main ingredient in many fairness creams.

Turmeric soap is one of the best natural soaps that nourishes your skin and help it look beautiful and healthy. It can lighten your skin and even out your skin tone, leaving it smooth, soft and glowing. Turmeric soap also helps remove facial hair permanently and even out the dark spots or uneven pigmentation on your skin.

[Read more about chironji and skin benefits]

Here’s a quick summary of all the important benefits of turmeric soap:

Has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-microbial properties.
Natural remedy for treating various skin problems and getting flawless skin.
Treats and prevents acne.
Moisturizes the skin.
Helps soothe and prevent dry skin.
Nourishes and revitalizes the skin.
Keeps the skin looking young by preventing the appearance of aging signs like wrinkles and fine lines.
Stimulates the production of collagen, which improves the elasticity of the skin and keeps it smooth and supple.
Beneficial in the treatment of blemishes, acne scars, blackheads, hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
Helps treat the symptoms of various skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis.
Provides relief from skin rashes.
Soothes redness, irritation and itchiness of the skin.
Exfoliates the skin and controls the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands
Stimulates blood circulation
Reduces facial hair.
Promotes skin lightening and evens out the skin tone.
Effective remedy for dark pigmentation.
Leaves your skin soft, smooth and glowing.

How to Make Turmeric Soap at Home?

Making turmeric soap is very easy if you’re familiar with the process. The two common methods of preparing soap are Melt and Pour method and Cold Process method. We will explain both methods here.

With just a few easily available ingredients you can make the soap and add it to your daily beauty regime. Let’s check out a few easy turmeric soap recipes, which you can try at home:

Preparing Soap Using Melt and Pour Method

Things needed:

Turmeric powder – 2 tsp
Goat Milk Melt and Pour Soap Base – 60 Oz
Essential Oil or Soap Fragrance Oil – 2 tsp
99% Isopropyl alcohol
Rectangle silicon mold

Directions:

Cut the goat milk melt and pour base into small chunks to make it easier to melt. You can also use glycerin or shea butter base in the place of goat milk base.
Place the chunks in a microwave safe container and microwave them at 15 to 30 second intervals until the base melts completely. Make sure to stir the base in between each interval.
Mix the turmeric powder with 2 tablespoons of 99% isopropyl alcohol. This will help the turmeric to easily blend with the melted soap base.
Once the soap base has melted, add the turmeric powder – alcohol mixture and 2 tsp of essential oil. Some of the best choices of essential oils include, lemon, orange, thyme and lavender. However, make sure the oils are safe for your skin.
At this stage, if you want, you can also add exfoliants (1 tbsp) like ground oatmeal or ground apricot seeds. Oatmeal is recommended because it is extremely good for the skin, especially acne-prone skin.
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly using a spatula.
Now, pour the mixture into the silicon mold and spray the top of each cavity with 99% isopropyl alcohol. This will help prevent the formation of air bubbles. If you’re using plastic molds, make sure that the mixture is cooled to below 145°F (63°C) before pouring it into the molds, to prevent warping of the molds.
Cover the top of the mold with a plastic wrap and allow the soap to cool for about 12 to 24 hours.
Now all that’s left to do is to demold the turmeric soap and enjoy its awesome benefits.

Preparing Turmeric Soap Using Cold Process Method

This method of soap making involves mixing fixed oils such as olive oil, coconut oil and palm oil with an alkali such as Sodium Hydroxide or Lye. The cold process method requires a curing period of about 4 to 6 weeks.

Things needed:

Green tea bags – 2
Turmeric powder – 1.5 oz
Water – 15 oz
Coconut oil – 8 oz
Safflower oil – 2.5 oz
Castor oil – 3 oz
Avocado oil – 2 oz
Olive oil -15 oz
Hemp seed oil – 1 oz
Cocoa butter – 2 oz
Mango butter – 1.5 oz
Shea butter -1 oz
Lye – 4.9 ounces
60% solution liquid Sodium Lactate – 1 oz
Fragrance oil (optional) – 2 oz
Safety goggles
Heavy-duty rubber gloves

Directions:

Add2 bags of cold brew green tea to a pitcher containing 15 ounces of water and keep it in the fridge overnight. Discard the tea bags the next morning. Green tea is used here because it is rich in antioxidants. You can choose not to use green tea and use plain water instead.
Pour 11.8 ounces of the tea into a heat safe pitcher.
The next step requires the use of safety gear such as safety goggles and rubber gloves. The solution in this step will heat up and produce fumes, so turn on the exhaust fans and open the windows. Lye is caustic and so you need to wear heavy duty rubber gloves to prevent burns.
Slowly add the lye into the pitcher and stir with a wooden or plastic spoon. Take care not to add water into lye or the solution will blow up.
Take the oils and butters in a stainless-steel pot and melt then on a medium heat.
Allow the solution to reach 95 to 110°F (35 to 44°C) and then add the sodium lactate to the lye solution.
Using a stick blender, mix the turmeric powder into the oil-and-butter mixture.
Add the lye solution into the oil-and-butter mixture and mix well using a stick blender. Now, you can add fragrance oil or essential oil if you want to.
Blend until the mixture reaches a medium trace and then pour into the molds. Smoothen the top of the mixture with a spatula.
Cover the mold with a plastic wrap and place a folded blanket or towel on top.
Wait for 2 or 3 days before cutting the soap, if you are using a silicon mold. If you’re using a wooden mold, wait for one day.
Demold the soap carefully and cut it into bars.
Allow the soap to cure for 4 to 6 weeks and then it’s ready to use.

Conclusion

Skin is the one of the most important organs of our body that protects us from microbes, allergens, water loss, chemicals and environmental factors. So, it is highly crucial that we take proper care of its health. The use of turmeric soap is guaranteed to protect your skin against various skin disorders and keep it healthy and flawless.

Have you tried making turmeric soap at home? Let us know how it turned out!