DIY ZERO-WASTE CLEANSING BAR WITH BLUE CLAY & YARROW

Timi Racz Author

Formulate a blue cleansing bar with blue clay and yarrow. This eco-friendly, skin-nourishing formula offers a soothing cleanse for your daily

ABOUT THE FORMULA

Last week, I mentioned on Instagram that I wanted to share a few zero-waste skincare formulations with you. Solid bars are such a brilliant place to start; they have less packaging, are travel-friendly, and surprisingly easy to make.

Since today is Blue Monday, I thought, why not lean into the theme and make a blue clay cleansing bar with blue yarrow essential oil? It’s soothing, nourishing, and just a little bit different from the usual.

Who Is This For?

This little bar is:

• A good fit if you’re trying to move towards zero-waste skincare

• Great for normal, combination, and slightly sensitive skin

• Beginner-friendly - once you’ve made one, you’ll be hooked!

HOW TO USE

Use on wet/ damp skin. Wet your hand and swirl the bar around in your hands just like you would a soap bar. Apply it to your skin, and massage it well to remove all grime and dirt. Rinse well with water and use your favourite toner and moisturiser after.

POSSIBLE SOURCES

This is where I purchased my ingredients:

• SCI powder
• Tegosoft PC31

THE FORMULA

Method:

1. Blend Phase A ingredients and heat till liquid (around 75-80°C).
2. When molten, remove from heat and stir until it is around 70°C.
3. Add Phase B ingredients one by one and stir very well.
4. While still runny (above 60°C), fill up the mould you choose and leave the bar to set.

• Vary your oils and butter to suit your theme.
• Choose your own essential oils.
• If the cleanser solidifies too fast, place it back on the heat and melt it gently again.

Why These Ingredients?

SCI Powder

A mild surfactant that makes this bar foam without harshness. It’s my go-to for solid cleansing bars.

Serbian Blue Clay

I wanted something that fit the Blue Monday theme, but beyond the colour, this clay is rich in minerals and great at drawing out impurities.

Blue Yarrow Essential Oil

Blue tansy has been everywhere recently, so I thought I’d give yarrow a moment to shine. It’s soothing, calming, and excellent for skin prone to irritation.

Tegosoft® PC 31

This is a refatting agent, which is just a fancy way of saying it helps the skin feel soft and conditioned after cleansing. It also makes the bar gentler overall.

INGREDIENT SWAPS

• Blue clay - kaolin or French green clay.

• Apricot oil - almond oil, sunflower oil, or another light carrier.

• Shea butter - cocoa or mango butter.

• Essential oils - customise to your heart’s content (lavender, tea tree, geranium, etc.).

And as always, do a quick patch test when trying something new.

WHY TRY A SOLID CLEANSER

• It’s eco-friendly and plastic-free.

• It’s travel-friendly (no spills or liquid restrictions).

• It feels luxurious but simple to make.

• You can personalise it to your own skin type and style.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This zero-waste cleansing bar is one of those little projects that feels both practical and special. It cleanses gently, looks pretty, and saves a plastic bottle or two along the way.

I love the idea of playing with themes like this, colour, mood, or season, it makes the process fun and a little more personal.

💬 Would you try making a solid facial cleanser? What theme would you pick?

If you’d like to dive deeper into solid bar formulations, you’ll find step-by-step guidance in my Solid Cleanser Spotlight Course inside Formulator Hub. And if you ever get stuck while experimenting, my FormuFix troubleshooting app is there to help you problem-solve in real time.

Categories: : Formulations