Yes, this week’s challenge was to put salt in soap! I’ve only just recently heard of a salt soap, so I watched a video of someone making it about a month ago. Looked pretty crazy to me! Honestly, I thought to myself that I wouldn’t be trying that any time soon. And then Amy decided to add it to the challenges! So what’s a girl to do? Accept the challenge of course! After reading the commentary that salt soap can be extremely moisturizing, I was intrigued as well. And it turns out that comment was absolutely correct! I think I may have found a new love! Salt soap is awesome!!! 
This soap contains 80% coconut oil, 10% avocado oil, 5% shea butter, and 5% castor oil with 18% superfat and 75% fine sea salt. I used 100% champagne as the liquid! I had a cheap bottle sitting in my fridge from Christmas that just didn’t taste good anyway, so I made soap with it rather than throwing it out! (I also made another batch of Champagne & Strawberries with real champagne instead of beer this time!) After heating and combining the oils, I added eucalyptus, peppermint and spearmint essential oils, then added the champagne/lye solution, and finally added a bit of blue oxide. The color of the raw soap was an incredible turquoise! 
I guess in the picture it does still look blue! I wish it would have stayed that aqua color, but alas… It did turn a nice shade a blue in the end.
After molding the soap, I placed it in the oven at 170 degrees for 2 hours, then I let it stay there for another 3 hours. I cut it right after I removed it from the oven, still warm and truly invigorating with all the minty action floating around my kitchen. The bottom of each bar did crumble quite a bit! Might have something to do with the mitre box that I use to cut, too! But I was able to make them more presentable by beveling the edges a few days later. 
The bars are very hard, and they lather like a dream! It’s creamy, then fluffy, and stable! Darling hubby compared the lather to shaving cream. The scent of this soap reminds me of a mint mojito (though I’ve never actually had one to drink) and a margarita (because of the salt I guess). I expected the salt to be exfoliating, but I don’t feel it at all when I use these bars. And they become even harder and more glossy in water!
Notice how creamy it is at first lather.
- And here’s what happens after working with it a bit! Lots of bubbles. Quite yummy! And smells incredible! Relaxing and invigorating at the same time… Is that possible?
So. much. fun! I love the result, and I will definitely be making more salt soap. Once again, I’m so thankful for Amy’s challenges! They’ve pushed me to learn to make so many different types of soap in such a short time. Check out the other challenge salt soaps here.
Wow, what a lovely ocean blue!
Natalia
Thanks, Natalia! You’re so sweet! Can’t wait to see your soap! 🙂
The blue of this bar is gorgeous. I wasn’t brave enough to try a loaf mold, but maybe next time. I honestly went in thinking I’d probably not like this soap and, as it turned out, I loved the quick unmold time, the hardness and the lather. That’s what a challenge is all about I guess.
Well said, Suzy! This was a great challenge! From the looks of it, many of us didn’t have a lot of interest in making salt soap until now, and we’re all glad we did!
They look lovely! The reason you can’t feel the exfoliation is just because your hands are tougher. It is a light exfoliation, but if you take it in the shower and use it on your body, you should be able to feel it then. I don’t think I have ever left a comment on your blog and I’m sorry! I have always read the challenge ones but I just now saw where the leave a comment button was! All your soaps are lovely!
Thanks so much, Carol! I try to leave comments here and there as I have a bit of time, too. Somehow time escapes me… Maybe it’s those four messy babies I’m chasing after all the time! I plan to use this soap in the shower tomorrow! Funny thing, though, is that I’ll probably have to steal it back from my husband’s shower! He loves it as much as I do!
I completely agree. I had no interest in salt bars but had so much fun doing this challenge. Your soap looks great!
Thanks, Traci! It was super fun! I just looked at yours, too. Awesome!
Yay! Another convert!! 🙂 You really do have to use more color in the salt bars to get it to stay….not sure why it likes to fade so much, but you did end up with a lovely blue! Congrats on converting your hubby too – mine’s still not completely convinced!
Your salt bars are lovely, and the colour is very appropriate. It is true that you have to add more colour to salt bars, I don’t know why either, maybe the salt sucks in all the colour. It’s nice to get another salt bar convert. I love them too, xx Linda
Pretty color! I can’t believe how smooth they look!