DIY Layered Oatmeal Soap Recipe

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Made with moisturizing goat’s milk and shea butter, this DIY oatmeal soap has a mild exfoliant and a delicious scent.

I think I’ve added a new passion to my long list of hobbies — soapmaking.

These layered oatmeal soap bars are my latest project, and they smell so good!

And yes, the soap really does have oatmeal in it — ground and whole — to provide some mild exfoliation.

I know these look fancy, and maybe just a little complicated to make. But I promise this oatmeal soap recipe is perfect for beginners, because I’m one too!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, but I only recommend products I use and love. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Oatmeal Soap Supplies

• 1 pound goat’s milk melt and pour soap base
• 1 pound shea melt and pour soap base
• 1 ounce outmeal, milk and honey fragrance oil
• 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon cappuccino mica powder
• Isopropyl alcohol
• spray bottle
• Cow and calf soap mold
• Large glass bowl or measuring cup
• Rubber spatula
• Food processor or blender
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Thermometer (optional)

Instructions for Making Oatmeal Soap

Process 1/2 cup of oatmeal in the blender, food processor or bullet blender until it is a fine powder.

Cut goat’s milk soap base into cubes. Place in a large glass bowl or measuring cup and microwave on high, 30 seconds at a time, until melted. Stir frequently and do not overheat.

Add 1/2 ounce of the fragrance oil to the melted soap base. Stir to incorporate.

Then add the 1/2 cup of ground oatmeal. Stir to incorporate.

Pour into the soap mold and spritz the surface 5 or 6 times with alcohol to eliminate air bubbles.

Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, until a slight skin has formed, before adding the second layer of soap.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together 1 Tablespoon of alcohol and 1 teaspoon of mica powder until the powder is dissolved.

To make the second layer of soap, cube and melt one pound of shea soap base in a large glass bowl or measuring cup and microwave on high, 30 seconds at a time, until melted. Stir frequently and do not overheat.

Add 1 teaspoon of the liquid mica powder to the melted soap, and stir until the color is fully incorporated. If you want a darker color, you may add more of the mica liquid.

Next, add 1/2 ounce of the fragrance oil to the soap mixture and stir to incorporate.

Finally, stir in 1/2 cup whole oatmeal. If the soap mixture is too hot, the oatmeal will sink to the bottom and won’t be dispersed throughout the poured soap. So continue stirring until the soap cools to around 125 or 130 degrees, enough so that the oatmeal pieces remain suspended.

When the liquid is the right temperature and before pouring, spray the soap in the mold with 5 or 6 spritzes of alcohol. This will help the layers stick together.

Then quickly pour the liquid soap into the mold. Spritz with alcohol 5 or 6 times to eliminate air bubbles.

Allow soap to cool and harden for four to six hours, or overnight, then release from the mold.

If you loosen the edges of the mold first, the soap should come out easily.

Use a large knife to cut the oatmeal soap into bars.

I just love how this soap appears to have three separate layers when you only have to do two separate pours.

In the first step, since I didn’t stir the soap to cool it down before pouring, the ground oatmeal settled in the bottom of the mold. It created a nice effect and a nice exfoliating layer.

The mold I used will hold two pounds of soap. With the addition of the oatmeal, I had a little more left in my measuring cup. So, I just poured the leftovers in another mold I had, so I was able to make 10 bars with this recipe. If you don’t have any extra soap molds, you can use yogurt cups or other plastic containers instead.

For best results, store homemade oatmeal soap bars in plastic wrap. I like to let mine sit out for a few days in the air before wrapping them.

These soaps would make a great Mother’s Day gift.

If you like this project, don’t forget to pin it.

If you’re looking for other handmade Mother’s Day gift ideas, you may also like these posts:

Sand Dollar Homemade Soap

Mini Succulent Garden Tins

No-Sew Spring Tote Bag