A Pastel Puff is on the horizon thanks to this DIY whipped soap

Imagine a homemade soap that’s as gentle as a cloud…

According to our weather report, you’re in for a treat: there’s a high chance your future showers will be blessed with billowy pastel clouds. It’s all thanks to Pastel Puff, a beautifully light homemade whipped soap! 

Made with SCI, glycerin, hydrosol, and mango butter, this unusual but cleansing cloud formation gently washes your skin, leaving it soft, clean, and delicately scented. This DIY whipped soap is not just effective, it’s also as dreamy as subtly hued clouds at sunset. Even better: unlike a cold process soap, you can use it right away. How often do the clouds actually brighten your day?

Before you begin

SCI (sodium cocoyl isethionate) can irritate your respiratory tract and must be handled with caution. Work in a well-ventilated space or wear a dust mask, or both.

Ingredients

Phase A

• 48.5 g (20.2%) demineralized water
• 19.4 g (8.1%) vegetable glycerin
• 19.4 g (8.1%) propylene glycol

Phase B

• 48.5 g (20.2%) true lavender hydrosol
• 19.4 g (8.1%) aloe gel

Phase C

• 48.5 g (20.2%) SCI

Phase D

• 5.8 g (2.4%) stearic acid  
• 9.7 g (4%) caprylis oil
• 12.1 g (5.1%) mango butter

Phase E

• 3.9 g (1.6%) elderberry extract
• 4.8 g (2%) true lavender essential oil

Phase F

• 7 drops blue liquid colourant
• 10 drops pink liquid colourant

Tools

• 5 small stainless steel bowls
• 1 large stainless steel bowl
• Components to make two double boilers
• 1 basin filled with water to make a cold water bath
• 1 small silicone spatula
• 1 scale, accurate to 0.1 g
• A few ramekins
• 1 immersion blender
• 1 electric mixer
• 1 thermometer
• 1 freezer
• A dust mask or stove hood
• 1 piping (cake decorating) bag
• 1 wide-mouth mason jar (240 ml)

Good to know!

• The true lavender hydrosol can be replaced by the same quantity of another hydrosol or by demineralized water. If you’re using water instead of hydrosol, weigh phase B together with phase A. 
• Propylene glycol is the emulsifier in this whipped soap recipe. It can’t be replaced; without it, the soap won’t be homogeneous. 
• Mango butter makes this soap nourishing and gives it a creamy texture. 
• You can replace the true lavender essential oil with another, non-dermocaustic essential oil, an aromatic essence, or a mixture of your choosing. Here are some suggestions:
  • Petitgrain essential oil has a pleasant, refreshing scent and is an excellent skin toner.
  • Patchouli essential oil has a bewitching fragrance and is good for all skin types. 
  • A 50/50 mixture of ylang-ylang and bergamot essential oils yields a delicate and relaxing scent. 
  • Honeysuckle aromatic essence has a refreshing, delicate bouquet that’s perfect for gently waking yourself up in the shower. 
• Caprylis oil is non-greasy and suitable for all skin types. You can replace it with another dry oil of your choosing. 
• You can use 1–4 g of liquid colourant for every 100 g of soap paste, depending on how vivid or pale you’d like the colour of your DIY whipped soap to be.

Steps to follow

1. Prepare and disinfect your equipment and workspace.
2. Weigh the phase A ingredients in the first small stainless steel bowl and heat on the double boiler.
3. Weigh the phase B ingredients in the second small bowl. Set aside until step 9.
4. Weigh the phase C ingredient (the SCI) in the large bowl. Set aside until step 7.
5. Weigh the phase D ingredients in the third small bowl and melt on the double boiler.
6. Weigh the phase E ingredients in a ramekin. Set aside until step 9. 
7. When phase A has reached 60°C, remove it from the double boiler and add phase C to phase A. Mix with the immersion blender until the mixture is white, liquid, and homogeneous. It’s normal for it to foam up. When the mixture is homogeneous, pour it into the large bowl.
8. When phase D has melted, add it to the large bowl containing phases A and C. Mix with the immersion blender for about one minute, then place the bowl in a cold water bath and mix with the spatula. The mixture will thicken.
9. When the mixture has cooled to 40–50°C, add phases B and E. Mix with the immersion mixer until homogeneous.
10. Place the mixture in the freezer for about 15 minutes so that it firms up.
11. Mix with the electric mixer.
12. Separate the soap batter into two equal parts. Add a liquid colourant to each soap batter, then mix each coloured soap batter with the electric mixer.
13. Put the coloured soap batters in the piping bag (see video) and transfer them to the wide-mouth mason jar.

Use and conservation

This homemade whipped soap is formulated for all skin types. It has a pH between four and five, which is very close to your skin’s natural pH. It washes your body gently, while delicately scenting your skin.   

When made in optimal sanitary conditions, it will keep for at least three months.