Oatmeal and Honey Soap – A Gentle Recipe for Dry, Sensitive, Eczema-Prone Skin
Nurit Rozenblat
Nature's Recipes Magazine | Body Care
When the skin's protective barrier is damaged, even a short shower can leave a feeling of dryness, tightness or itching. This is especially common among people with sensitive skin, dermatitis or eczema.
Colloidal oatmeal is one of the most interesting plant-based ingredients in this field. It contains substances that help retain moisture and soothe the skin, which is why it can also be found in products intended for atopic skin.
In this recipe we will combine it with a small amount of honey and choose an especially gentle cleansing base. The goal is to prepare a solid, pleasant cleansing product, with no fragrance and no unnecessary ingredients.
- Cut the cleansing base into small cubes, if the manufacturer's instructions allow it.
- Melt or soften the base according to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not use a heating method that was not approved for it.
- Mix the colloidal oatmeal with a small amount of the base until evenly dispersed, with no lumps.
- Add the mixture to the base and stir gently.
- If the base allows adding honey, add half a teaspoon and mix well.
- Pour into clean, dry silicone molds.
- Leave to harden according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Remove from the molds only after the bars have hardened completely.
- 500 g solid Syndet cleansing base, intended for melting and pouring (Melt & Pour), fragrance-free, with a pH suitable for the skin, around 5–6
- 1 tablespoon cosmetic-grade colloidal oatmeal (Colloidal Oatmeal)
- ½ teaspoon natural honey, provided the base manufacturer allows adding it
- Silicone molds
Important when choosing the base: not every Syndet base is suitable for melting, and not every base allows adding honey. Choose a product whose manufacturer explicitly states that it is suitable for preparation by the Melt & Pour method, and follow its limits on additives.
If there is no suitable base that allows adding honey and oatmeal, do not automatically replace it with regular soap. It is better to prepare the recipe only after a compatible base has been found.
How to Use?
Wet the skin with lukewarm water and lather a little of the product between your hands.
Cleanse the skin gently, without rubbing, and rinse well.
After washing, it is recommended to apply a rich, fragrance-free moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp.
Why Colloidal Oatmeal?
Colloidal oatmeal contains beta-glucan, starches, natural fats and compounds called avenanthramides.
These components have been studied for their ability to support the skin's protective barrier, help retain moisture, and soothe feelings of itching and irritation.
However, most of the evidence refers to products that were specially formulated and tested, and not to a homemade recipe that is rinsed off the skin.
And What Is the Role of Honey?
Honey contains sugars that are able to bind water, which is why it is also used in the cosmetics industry as a moisture-retaining ingredient.
In our recipe the amount is small, so as not to harm the texture and stability of the cleansing base.
There is no proof that the amount of honey in this recipe treats eczema or dermatitis, so it is a complementary ingredient and not the main therapeutic ingredient.
Why Did We Choose a Syndet Base and Not Regular Soap?
Traditional soap is usually alkaline, and may sometimes increase dryness and irritation in skin whose protective barrier is already damaged.
Syndet cleansers are based on cleansing agents that are not traditional soap, and they can be formulated at an acidity level closer to that of the skin.
This does not mean that every Syndet product is suitable for eczema. It is important to choose a gentle, fragrance-free base and to check its ingredient list.
Is the Product Suitable for Eczema and Dermatitis?
The recipe is intended for dry and sensitive skin, but it was not clinically tested on people with eczema or dermatitis.
Someone who suffers from eczema may benefit from using gentle cleansers and colloidal oatmeal, but it should not be assumed that the homemade mixture will give the same results as a tested product.
During a flare-up, when the skin is cracked, wounded or stinging, it is better to use a familiar cleansing product intended for atopic skin and not to try a new homemade recipe.
Storage
Wrap each bar after it has hardened and cooled completely, and store it in a cool, dry place.
During use, place it on a draining dish, away from standing water.
Since new ingredients are added to the ready-made base, a safe shelf life cannot be determined without stability and microbiology testing. It is recommended to prepare a small trial amount and not to store it for a long time.
In Conclusion
The difference between regular soap and a gentle cleanser can be especially significant when the skin is prone to dryness and irritation.
In this recipe the oatmeal is the central ingredient, the honey is a small addition, and the most important choice is actually the base on which the recipe is built.
The better we know the raw materials and their limitations, the better we will be able to prepare homemade products out of understanding and not only out of tradition.
With love, Nurit Rozenblat / OrOrgani
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