DIY Lemon Exfoliating Soap Bars (with Video)
As a fun follow up to our popular Lemon Poppyseed Sugar Scrub, today’s Lemon Poppyseed Soaps have a refreshing scent and built-in exfoliation thanks to the addition of poppy seeds and dead sea salt.
DIY Lemon Exfoliating Soap Recipe
While I’m more of a body wash person, my daughter loves fancy bar soaps.
After she went through all of the ones she received as gifts a couple of years ago, I thought we’d hit up *that fancy bath shop* in the store for her to re-stock… and experienced some serious sticker shock.
After begrudgingly paying for her selections that day, I resolved to start making our own DIY soaps – and we’ve actually had a lot of fun doing it!
We’ve made play dough soap, jiggly jelly soap… and yes, even poop soaps. (Don’t judge.)
Today’s lemon poppyseed soap was inspired by one of our favorite baked goods: lemon poppyseed muffins.
These lemon soap bars have a refreshing lemon scent that will perk you up while naturally exfoliating your skin. The addition of dried lemon slices in the center also gives them a professional touch that makes them seem a lot fancier (and trickier) than they actually are.
You will want to buy melt and pour suspension soap for this recipe so that your poppy seeds can be suspended throughout the soap bar and not all clump at the bottom. With regular melt-and-pour soap the poppy seeds don’t experience the necessary tension and will sink.
You can customize these lemon exfoliating soaps with different scents, colors or by swapping out the dried lemons in the center for other design elements. You can also buy dried sponges to add to the soaps for more intense exfoliation.
Dead sea salt is a great addition to this soap as it’s both exfoliating and also calming. It’s touted as a great ingredient for eczema and psoriasis due to it’s high mineral content and gentle, soothing properties.
Check out our quick video to see how to make your own lemon soap bars – and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe card:
Lemon Exfoliating Soap Ingredients
- 1/2 pound clear melt and pour soap suspension, cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 tablespoon dead sea salt
- 6 dried lemon slices
- 10-20 drops lemon essential oil
- 1-2 drops vegan soap colorant
- Round silicone mold
- Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol
- Microwave-safe Measuring Cup
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: Suspension soap helps your poppy seeds to “float” throughout the soaps. With regular melt and pour soap, they have a better chance of sinking to the bottom.
How to Make Lemon Poppyseed Soap
Step 1: Add clear soap to your measuring cup. Melt the soap in the microwave at 30 second bursts until soap is completely melted.
Steps 2-4: Add soap colorant and lemon essential oil to measuring cup. Whisk together. If you want a darker color, add another drop or two.
Steps 5-7: Add poppy seeds and salt to the measuring cup. Whisk ingredients together.
Steps 8-10: Spray your soap mold with the rubbing alcohol. This prevents bubbles from forming. Pour the soap mixture into the mold until it just covers the bottom of each cavity. Spray top of mixture with rubbing alcohol to prevent bubbles.
Steps 11-13: Allow to harden for about 15 minutes. Place one orange slice in each cavity and add the soap mixture to the top of each cavity. I would stir the mixture in the measuring cup each time you pour, or they will clump at the bottom. Spray top of mixture with rubbing alcohol to prevent bubbles.
Step 14: Dry for at least 3-4 hours or until hardened completely. To release, pop gently from mold. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag until ready to use.
Pin this DIY Lemon Soap Bar for a fun spa-inspired craft:
Grab your free printable instructions for our lemon exfoliating soap bar recipe:
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DIY Lemon Poppyseed Soaps
An easy beauty DIY with an invigorating lemon scent, these Lemon Exfoliating Soap Bars are inspired by our favorite lemon poppyseed muffins. Poppyseeds and dead sea salt act as natural yet gentle exfoliants. Add a dried lemon peel or dried sponge for extra visual interest and exfoliating power.
Materials
- 1/2 pound clear melt and pour soap suspension, cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 tablespoon dead sea salt
- 6 dried lemon slices
- 10-20 drops lemon essential oil
- 1-2 drops vegan soap colorant
Tools
- Round silicone mold
- Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
Instructions
- Add clear soap to your measuring cup. Melt the soap in the microwave at 30 second bursts until soap is completely melted.
- Add soap colorant and lemon essential oil to measuring cup. Whisk together. If you want a darker color, add another drop or two.
- Add poppy seeds and salt to the measuring cup. Whisk ingredients together.
- Spray your soap mold with the rubbing alcohol. This prevents bubbles from forming. Pour the soap mixture into the mold until it just covers the bottom of each cavity. Spray top of mixture with rubbing alcohol to prevent bubbles.
- Allow to harden for about 15 minutes. Place one orange slice in each cavity and add the soap mixture to the top of each cavity. I would stir the mixture in the measuring cup each time you pour, or they will clump at the bottom. Spray top of mixture with rubbing alcohol to prevent bubbles.
- Dry for at least 3-4 hours or until hardened completely. To release, pop gently from mold. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag until ready to use.
Notes
Suspension soap helps your poppy seeds to “float” throughout the soaps. With regular melt and pour soap, they have a better chance of sinking to the bottom.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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100% Natural Loofah Slices for Soap Making (20 Pack) - Luffa Slices Cuts - Loofah Kit - Organic Soap Making Products - Loofah Sponge Natural - Loofah Natural - Loofah Soap -
X-Haibei Round Circles Soap Silicone Mold Chocolate Jelly Muffin Cupcake Baking Mould
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Essential Oil Set 14-5 ml Therapeutic Grade 100% Pure Frankincense, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Orange, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Clove, Spearmint, Lemongrass, Cinnamon
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Dead Sea Salt Fine Grain 8 oz (226 g) by Natural Elephant 100% Natural & Pure for Psoriasis Eczema Acne & Other Dermatological Needs
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Freeze-Dried Lemon Slices (4 packs of 5 slices)
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Melt and Pour Soap Base Suspension 1kg
I hope your family (or guests) love these bright and cheery homemade lemon soaps!
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