Turmeric Soap Benefits for the Skin + DIY Soap Recipe

Turmeric is an excellent ingredient to add to your handmade soap recipes due to its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This post explores all the benefits of turmeric soap for the skin.

Turmeric is an Indian spice with a warm and bitter taste. It is a bright orange colour and is often used to flavour curries or mustards. The turmeric plant grows wild Southeast Asia and is part of the ginger family.

For hundreds of years turmeric powder has been linked to many health benefits due to its antioxidant properties, and vitamin content. Many of these health benefits are due to a component within turmeric called curcumin.

Turmeric is often used in Ayurvedic treatments to help beautify the skin and hair.

This post is all about the benefits of turmeric soap

Turmeric Soap Benefits

What is Turmeric Soap?

Turmeric soap, also known as curcumin soap, is a natural bar cleanser that contains high amounts of the compound curcumin. Due to turmeric’s natural orange and yellow hue, turmeric soap is often a dark orange or amber colour.

The use of this bright yellow spice in soap goes back to ancient times. Turmeric soap was originally formulated by ancient Ayurvedic doctors during the days of the Mughal Empire in accordance with traditional healing methods.

Today, these soaps often contains essential oils, and other natural ingredients such as coconut oil, olive oil or shea butter. They are popular cleansers to treat a variety of skin concerns, as well as to maintain good overall skin health.

Why Use Turmeric Soap?

There is clinical evidence that turmeric soap may be beneficial in treating several inflammatory skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema and acne. It is also effective in removing excess oils and dirt from the skin, leaving it clean and healthy.

Studies have also shown that turmeric, can help with wound healing and prevent infection. This makes it a good choice for broken or acne prone skin as it speeds up recovery time and reduces the likelihood of scarring. Many scientific papers have been published which evidence the benefits of curcumin on wound healing.

In general a turmeric soap bar is a popular choice for dry skin, sensitive skin, or people with skin problems such as acne or eczema. This is because it’s a very gentle soap which soothes redness and inflammation whilst nourishing the skin.

Turmeric soap benefits for skin

Many people who use turmeric soap regularly find it brings out a healthy glow in their skin. Since turmeric also promotes collagen production, it can help reduce acne scars or fine lines caused by UV rays or the aging process.

Here are some of the main ways turmeric soap can benefit your skin.

Helps wounds heal faster

Soothes inflammation

Reduces flare ups of psoriasis

Minimises stretch marks

Fades dark marks or age spots

Improves skin tone

Exfoliates dead skin cells

Helps to clear acne

Brightens dull skin

Gives the skin a natural glow

Reduces fine lines

Some of the main reasons people look for turmeric soap is to reduce dark spots, or treat acne, eczema and psoriasis. Let’s look in a little more detail at how turmeric soap can help these skin concerns.

Turmeric Benefits for Skin Lightening

Turmeric has been found in clinical studies to reduce hyperpigmentation. In one study, turmeric along with other natural ingredients such as licorice, was shown to be effective at treating melasma and hyperpigmentation.

Using turmeric soap regularly can help to improve uneven skin tone, brown spots and dullness. It has been shown to have whitening properties and can help to get rid of acne traces. Another skin lightening ingredient often found in turmeric soap designed to whiten the skin is potato juice.

Since turmeric not only lightens the skin, but also increases collagen production, it is also effective at minimising the marks left behind from acne scars or stretch marks.

Turmeric Benefits for Acne

Turmeric soap is a popular remedy to reduce acne breakouts since it has both anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. A good turmeric soap also helps to remove dead skin cells and unblock the skin pores. Many studies have shown that when applied to the skin, turmeric helps to reduce acne and improve the complexion.

The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric help to reduce any redness caused by active acne lesions, and the antibacterial benefits prevent new blemishes from forming.

Homemade turmeric soaps to target acne often contain tea tree essential oil which has the same anti-inflammatory qualities of turmeric. Tea tree is also anti-fungal and antibacterial, and has a long history of being used for the treatment of acne.

Turmeric Benefits for Psoriasis

There is some evidence that due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-oxidative properties, Turmeric may be able to improve psoriasis when applied to the skin. The National Psoriasis Foundation also recommend taking turmeric in supplement form to help with psoriasis as well.

Although there is evidence that using turmeric soap can help to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis, there are more studies into the effect of curcurmin on the psoriasis when it is ingested.

The reason why turmeric soap may help psoriasis is because curcurmin is thought to suppress phosphorylase kinase (PhK) activity. People with psoriasis have higher levels of PhK than those who don’t have the condition. (PhK is a protein that contributes to the overproduction of skin cells.)

Turmeric Benefits for Eczema

There is evidence to show that turmeric soap may be beneficial for patients with eczema. In a 2015 study, 360 patients with eczema applied a mixture of turmeric extract, walnut and Indian pennywort to their skin. At the end of the trial the patients saw a marked improvement in their skin with less itching, redness, and flaking.

Turmeric soaps that benefit eczema are usually made with other natural ingredients that help dry skin types such as Vitamin E or castor oil. They help to moisturise the skin, soothe redness and prevent eczema flare ups. With regular use turmeric soap can help to revive dull skin and leave it with a natural glow.

How to Make Turmeric Soap

Turmeric soap is relatively easy to make using a soap base. There are lots of different types of soap base available. If you have dry skin like me, choose a base that contains natural butters such as cocoa butter, shea butter or avocado butter. These ingredients help to add hydration and leave you with soft skin.

Once you have chosen a soap base you will need to ensure you have turmeric powder, a soap mould and any essential oils you want to add.

If you want to make a turmeric soap to help with a specific skin condition, you may want to include essential oils that help. For example, if you have acne-prone skin, try adding a few drops of tea tree oil. If you have psoriasis you may want to try adding rose oil due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Instructions

Cut the soap base into small pieces
Place the soap base into a bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds until it is melted
Mix in the turmeric powder – the amount you add will depend on how dark you want the soap to be
Add in a few drops of your chosen essential oils
Pour the soap into a soap mould
Put the mould into the refrigerator for 30 minutes
Once the soap has hardened, wrap it in plastic

Turmeric Soap Recipes

I have tested out a number of different turmeric soap recipes. These are my favourite recipes that I’ve discovered from other beauty bloggers:

Side Effects of Applying Turmeric on Your Face

If you put a lot of turmeric into your soap it’s possible it may temporarily stain your skin, or leave an orange or yellow residue. You skin is more likely to be stained from getting turmeric powder directly on your skin. This is normal and the stain will wash off.

If you’re allergic to spices in food, it’s possible applying turmeric to the skin could cause irritation or redness. Overall turmeric is considered to be generally safe to use on the skin.

FAQs on Using Turmeric on the Skin

Can turmeric remove dark spots?

Yes. Turmeric has a lightening effect on the skin and can help to eliminate dark spots or hyperpigmentation. It is often combined with other whitening ingredients such as azelaic acid or licorice root.

Can I apply turmeric on my face everyday?

Yes. Turmeric soap is safe to be used on the skin everyday.

How does turmeric clear skin?

Turmeric has both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which makes it effective at clearing the skin, and reducing acne breakouts.

Can I use kitchen turmeric for face?

Yes. Kitchen turmeric is easily available and can be used in your homemade soaps.

Can we apply turmeric on pimples?

Yes. As well as mixing turmeric into your soap mixture, you can also apply the powder directly to pimples to help dry the spot out and reduce any redness.

Sources Used in this Post

NCBI – Potential of Curcumin in Skin Disorders
NCBI – New Herbal Biomedicines for the Topical Treatment of Dermatological Disorders
PubMed – Innovations in natural ingredients and their use in skin care
Indian Journal of Dermatology – Turmeric: A condiment, cosmetic and cure
Science Direct – Curcumin as a wound healing agent
NCBI – Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition
PubMed – Curcumin improves wound healing by modulating collagen and decreasing reactive oxygen species
PubMed – Are Natural Ingredients Effective in the Management of Hyperpigmentation? A Systematic Review
NCBI – Use of Curcumin in Psoriasis
NCBI – Potential of Curcumin in Skin Disorders
PubMed – Formulation and clinical evaluation of topical dosage forms of Indian Penny Wort, walnut and turmeric in eczema

POSTS FROM OTHER BEAUTY BLOGGERS

If you found this article about the benefits of turmeric soap helpful, you may enjoy the following posts from beauty bloggers that I follow and trust.

REALLY REE

BRITISH BEAUTY BLOGGER

CAROLINE HIRONS

RUTH CRILLY

This post was all about Turmeric Soap Benefits

Thank you for reading my post about the benefits of turmeric soap. If you have tried turmeric soap, please leave me a comment below and let me know how you got on. Since turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, it is beneficial for all skin types that are prone to sensitivity.

In Summary