I, Kara, am a self diagnosed soap addict. But not just any soap. I love cute soap that I can DIY. While I have never tried my hand at cold process soap, the melt and pour variety is able to be manipulated into all sorts of cool shapes, colors, and designs. I have also been a bit obsessed with gradients of late, so it was only natural that I combine my two obsessions and create these DIY gradient soap bars. Not only do I love how these turned out (the colors seem so three dimensional, don’t they?), but they were also so much easier to make than they might look.
Supplies:
–clear melt and pour soap
–white melt and pour soap
–non-bleeding colorants (you will need at least 2 for the gradient effect)
–rectangular silicone soap mold
–essential oil
-spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
-microwave safe bowl
-spoon and knife
-slim book to use as a riser
Step One: Cut up 1/2 cup of clear soap and melt it for 15-20 seconds in the microwave. Stir and microwave again if needed to just melt the soap but don’t let it boil. Add your colorant (I used a tiny sliver of a solid block colorant, but a few drops of liquid colorant also works), and stir to combine.
Step Two: Tip your mold up using a slim book on each end, and pour your soap into one side of each rectangle mold until it reaches about 3/4 of the way to the other side. Now spritz with the rubbing alcohol to get rid of any air bubbles and smooth out the soap. Repeat with the rest of your soap and mold cavities. Let the soap cool for 20 minutes.
Step Three: Repeat the melting and coloring step with another 1/2 cup of clear soap and a new color. Remove the book riser from under the mold, spritz the soap with more rubbing alcohol (this ensures the soap layers will stick together), and pour in your next color on the opposite side of the first color until it comes about 3/4 of the way up on the first color.
Step Four: Let your new layer of soap cool for 20 minutes. Once cool, cut up 3-4 cups of your white soap into 1″ chunks, and melt in the microwave in 20 second intervals until just melted. Stir to make sure all the pieces are melted, and then add in a few drops of your essential oil. Spritz the gradient soap in the mold with more rubbing alcohol and pour on your white soap until it reaches the top of the mold. Let this white soap cool over night or for at least a few hours.
Step Five: It’s time to unmold your DIY gradient soap bars!
As you can see, I got a little carried away with the soap making, but I just had to try them in all the colors! I think the seafoam blue and pink version might be my favorite. What’s yours? And not to worry if you get carried away making tons of bars of soap because they make some of the easiest and best gifts ever! xo. Kara
Credits // Author and Photography: Kara Whitten. Photos edited with the NEW A Beautiful Mess Presets for Lightroom.
33 Comments
Can I just use normal food coloring?
Wow! Is it possible to make candles with this tip?
I used this to make a beach scene concept!! It turned out really really great!!
Hi!
Thank you for your tutorial for such a clever gradient soap! I have shared a link to your tutorial in my article about colourful melt ant pour soap making techniques (In estonian language unfortunately)
Beautifull
Hi! These are the prettiest soaps I have ever seen!! I was wondering if the rubbing alcohol dried out your skin, and if it does is there a substitute for it??
Thank you
Very beutiful!! Love the Colors!
Hello! I tried making these… Its my first time making any kind of DIY soap project ever… I however had trouble with the hearing process.. You said not to let it boil… I heat between 10-15 seconds but it still seems to bubble up, and when i pour in the soap to the mold it seems to not come out as smooth and with lots of little bubbles… I tried spraying the 99% alcohol but it didnt seem to work and only made the edge of the clear colored soap turn opaque and white? What am I doing wrong? I would greatly appreciate any advice as this is a hobby I would really love to devel in! (:
Try using a double boiler, i find it easier than microwave for melt and pour
this is a masterpiece. it the most beautiful soap that I have ever seen. kisses from Brazil.
how did you achieve such beautiful pastel colors? Love this soap!
It was something I was looking for. Thank you.
I love these! So pretty!
When I saw the first photo and colors in Feedly, I said to myself, “That’s Kara’s hand and she made more soap! I love it!” Haha.
I didn’t even realize until I clicked over that the post wasn’t on Kailo Chic but A Beautiful Mess. Excited to see you over here. I love all your soap posts plus everything else you do. I keep saving them for Christmas stocking ideas. 🙂
Thanks Heather! You don’t know how much your comment just made my day! I am excited to be over here sharing a few DIY’s each month and am so happy you love all the things my crazy brain comes up with! ha!
Oh my god, I am absolutely in love with it! as soon as I saw the pictures I clicked on this post right away haha.
www.jasminesecret.com
This is one of the kickassest DIYs I’ve seen in a while!!
These are absolutely beautiful!!
Love it!! I’ll have to make some of these soon!! 🙂
SO pretty! I make cold process (and kind of hot process) soap, and would love to try this idea, but it usually ends up quite opaque (I use coconut oil and superfat it) so I’ll have to look into other oils.
Cold process will never be clear, BUT you can totally do a gradient with it! I’ve seen some beautiful ones! 🙂
They are so pretty, they look like they were made with unicorn’s magic <3
https://www.myblackcloset.com
The gradient color of these are AMAZING. So, so pretty. <3
www.wonderlandsam.com
Wow. They are so perfect looking. My eyes are drooling.
WOW! I absolutely love these! I’ll have to make me some. 🙂
Looks amazing and it seems such an easy project! Will definately give it a try!
they are gorgeous! I’ll definitely do them with my niece, she will love this DIY x
These are so cute, your colour selections are spot on!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
These are stunning! I feel like I would make a bunch to give as gifts but then end up wanting to keep them in a glass jar in my bathroom. Already will need to double the batch!
Yes! Great idea for easter gifts! We like it that very much.
These are gorgeous! I want to make some as Easter gifts for my girlfriends!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
These are so pretty! Would make excellent treats in an Easter basket!
x0x0 Caro http://thecarolove.com/
Wow, they look like masterpieces!
https://www.makeandmess.com/