Palm Oil Free Soap

Here are some palm oil free soaps that do not contain rainforest-destroying palm oil. If you are ever in doubt look for the prefixes: LAUR, STEAR, GYLC and PALM in the ingredients list on packaging – this is most likely palm oil. Another tip is to shop for locally produced soaps instead of mass-produced soap and hand sanitiser. Every year, more and more brands are going #palmoilfree, fight back against extinction and ecocide every time you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Palm oil is NOT vegan

Did you know that palm oil is one of the world’s most destructive crops, as it can only be harvested in tropical rainforest and peatland landscapes where the highest concentration of endangered species live? The majority of palm oil and soy is fed to farm animals that people eat. This is why palm oil is an animal rights issue. And it is for these reasons that palm oil is NOT considered vegan by animal activists. It may be a plant-based substance, but it is NOT VEGAN. Soap brands like Palmolive, Unilever and L’Oreal claiming that their soap is plant-based AKA #vegan, yet are still using palm oil are simply greenwashing extinction and ecocide!

Palm Oil Free Soap

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An easy palm oil free recipe for soap by RMR Savage on Mastodon

Thank you RMR Savage for this easy melt and pour lavender and rosemary soap recipe!

Melt and pour soap is one of the easiest ways to make soap and it’s safe to make with your children. One of the reasons I make it is to avoid palm oil as I find it in more and more hygiene products these days. You don’t need a lot of ingredients and you can easily source palm oil free melt and pour bases from suppliers.

One soap I love making is lavender and rosemary. I use either a clear glycerine base or a shea butter soap base. This recipe also uses a microwave, which takes up less energy than a gas/electric hob and should be quicker without a risk of burning your soap base. For this you only need a few more ingredients, so here’s what you need and how to make it:

Ingredients

• 500g soap base (palm oil free)
• Natural blue colouring such as indigo powder
• Lavender oil
• Rosemary oil
• Dried lavender flowers
• Silicone moulds
• A jug and a wooden spoon
• Cup (with cold water)

Step one:

Cut your soap base into smaller cubes about 1-2cm. Then add some into a clean jug that you can use in a microwave. I normally add just a handful of cubes at a time. Here’s where that cup of water comes handy. Place the jug on one side in your microwave and place the cup of water opposite. The water will absorb excess microwaves to make it harder to burn your soap. Set the timer for short bursts to avoid the soap boiling (which means it’s burnt). I’d recommend 45 second bursts. Once your cubes start melting, gradually add the remainder, continuing the short bursts.

Step two:

Once your soap base has completely melted you’ll now be able to add your essential oils. I use equal amounts of rosemary and lavender oil, mixing with the wooden spoon. Then, before the soap base has a chance to form a skin on the top, add in your colour. I won’t add amounts because I think everyone has a different colour that they prefer. Softer, lighter colours are more attractive to me, so I don’t use much at all. At this point I don’t yet add the dried flowers.

Step three:

Pour your coloured and scented soap base into moulds. I find silicone ones easier to use and there’s lots of different designs to choose from. Next add your dried flowers. This creates a scrub layer, which is acts as a gentle exfoliator for skin.

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