Olive Soap Benefits & How To Make It

No matter how far you go back, natural olive oil soaps have been a feature of skincare since way back. It’s been heralded as a good choice as it’s gentle on the skin, has excellent moisturising power, and has rich nourishing properties. It might be that you are looking for an alternative to harsher soaps, or you’ve got sensitive skin, so olive soap could be a good choice for you. Commercial soaps often have harsh chemicals in them, so a more natural alternative is welcome. I’ve pulled together all you need to know about olive soap benefits, so you are armed with the knowledge to make the right choice for you and your skin. I’ve also included the lowdown on how to make your own. Here are the benefits of olive oil soap, which may be an excellent choice for your skin, daily routine and a more youthful appearance.

Olive Soap Benefits

If you want a more eco-friendly skincare routine, olive oil soap delivers in spades. Read on to find out more about olive soap benefits.

Gentle Cleansing Across Skin Types

Olive oil soap is actually a very gentle cleanser that will retain the skin’s natural oils as it cleans. Try it for yourself, it cleans without stripping moisture. This is one of the main reasons that people use it. It’s ideal for those with dry skin, sensitive skin, or those with skin conditions like eczema or dermatitis.

Thanks to its mild, natural ingredients, it’s well-suited for use as a part of your daily cleansing routine. If you are looking for chemical-free products, olive soap fits seamlessly into a natural skincare routine. It’s both free from synthetic fragrances and animal fats.

Moisturising & Nourishing

You’ll find that soy-based or harsh detergent bars often leave skin tight or irritated. In contrast, olive oil soaps boast moisturising properties thanks to rich glycerine, and are loaded with Vitamins A and E. These vitamins are good for moisturising all types of skin. Olive soap is a healthy fats that help maintain healthy skin, leaving it soft, supple, and glowing. One of the benefits of olive soap is that you’ll soon be enjoying a much smoother complexion in no time.

Antioxidants & Anti-Inflammatory Support

Olive oil is abundant in natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds (like polyphenols and squalene), which help protect the skin against free radical damage. This, in turn, can reduce redness and help you achieve a more radiant skin tone.

Balances Oily & Acne-Prone Skin

It’s almost counterintuitive, but olive oil soap is often non-comedogenic, so it may help balance oily skin by replenishing moisture and preventing rebound oiliness.

Using olive soap regularly, you’ll find that it provides enough hydration that your skin produces less sebum. This, in turn, helps calm acne-prone skin naturally, all without using harsh chemicals.

Eco-Friendly & Natural Ingredients

Many commercial soaps rely on animal products, synthetic detergents, and artificial colourants. It really is quite an eye-opener when you look at what is going into our soaps.

But an olive oil soap uses natural olive oil. Often these soap bars are blended with milder oils like coconut oil. Olive oil is biodegradable, vegan, and much more environmentally friendly. By choosing olive oil soap, you are choosing a natural soap which is good for you and good for the environment. Win Win!

How To Make Your Own Olive Oil Soap

If you are convinced of the benefits of olive soap, here is a great way to craft your own olive oil soap at home.

Ingredients (for approx. 6 bars)

Olive oil (extra virgin) – 500g (moisturising base and rich in antioxidants)
Coconut oil – 200g (boosts lather and hardness)
Shea butter – 100g (adds creaminess and nourishing properties)
Castor oil – 50g (enhances creamy lather)
Distilled water – 300g
Sodium hydroxide (lye) – 115g
Essential oils (optional) – 20–30g (lavender, tea tree, or eucalyptus are great options)
Dried botanicals (optional) – e.g., calendula petals, chamomile, or lavender buds

Equipment You’ll Need

Heatproof mixing bowls or stainless steel pans
Digital kitchen scale (for accuracy—soap making is an exact science)
Stick blender or hand whisk
Silicone soap mould (loaf mould or individual bar moulds)
Safety gear: goggles, gloves, long sleeves, mask (for handling lye)
Thermometer (optional but useful for measuring oil/lye temps)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Soap making involves lye, which is caustic before it’s fully cured. It’s a good idea to make soap in a well-ventilated space, wearing some protective gear. Make sure you keep children/pets away from the area you are working in.

Step 2: Make the Lye Solution

1. Measure 115g of lye and 300g of distilled water separately.
2. Slowly sprinkle the lye into the water (never the other way around) while stirring gently.
3. You’ll then need to allow the solution to cool in a safe, ventilated spot. You will find it will heat up quickly and release fumes.

Step 3: Melt the Oils & Butters

1. Add olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter to a stainless steel pot.
2. Warm gently until the coconut oil and shea butter are fully melted.
3. Now you should let the oil mixture cool to around 100–110°F (38–43°C).

Step 4: Combine Oils and Lye

1. When both the lye solution and oils are around the same temperature (38–43°C), slowly pour the lye solution into the oils.
2. Next part is to blend with a stick blender in short bursts until the mixture reaches trace (a thin pudding-like consistency is perfect).

Step 5: Add Extras

Stir in essential oils and any natural colourants or botanicals at this stage. Give it a good mix.

Step 6: Mould and Set

1. Pour the soap mixture into your mould, smoothing the top with a spatula.
2. Then you should tap the mould gently on the counter to release air bubbles.
3. Finally you can cover it with a towel or cling wrap and let it sit undisturbed for 24–48 hours.

Step 7: Unmould and Cure

1. After 1–2 days, remove the soap from the mould and slice it into bars.
2. Place bars on a drying rack in a cool, ventilated area.
3. Allow to cure for 4–6 weeks—this ensures the soap hardens, becomes milder, and lasts longer in the shower.

Top Tips

I’d suggest using small batches when experimenting. That way you can adjust and tweak without wasting lots of ingredients.

For a pure Castile soap, you can use 100% olive oil. You’ll find it requires 6–12 months of curing for the best texture though.

Store finished bars in a dry, cool place to prevent sweating.

For easier lather and firmness, add 10% coconut oil to 90% olive oil, plus a tablespoon of salt or sugar. This will actually help avoid a slimy texture.

When using your bars, you should store them on a draining rack or a draining soap dish. This will make your olive oil soap last longer and stop the bottom from going gooey.

I can’t stress this enough, but always patch-test your soap on a small area of your skin first. Although olive oil soaps are excellent for most sensitive skin, allergic reactions are still possible, particularly when you are making your own soap.

Everyday Skincare

You can use your olive soap as a gentle facial cleanser or body wash every day. It’s good for daily use even on dry patches and delicate areas.

You can blend your soap with essential oils like lavender or tea tree for extra skin-calming properties and a lovely fragrance.

Swap out harsh commercial soaps or beauty products, and instead rely on this natural source of essential nutrients and fatty acids. If you are ready to embrace a healthier, natural skincare journey, why not try out olive oil soap? You can buy one to see if it suits your skin, but why not make your own with my handy recipe? You can tailor it to your skin, add lovely, nourishing oils, kick harsh ingredients to the kerb and watch your skin flourish.