Top 6 Most Affordable Oils for Soap Making & Skincare (Beginner-Friendly Guide)
If you’re getting into soap making or natural skincare, choosing the right oils can feel overwhelming—and expensive.
The truth? You don’t need luxury oils to create beautiful, effective soap recipes and skincare products.
These 6 oils are:
- Beginner-friendly
- Widely available
- Cost-effective for makers
- Packed with skin-loving nutrients
Let’s break down exactly what each oil does, why it works, and how to use it, including beginner friendly recipes. Plus, a bonus oil you can use to elevate your body oil/butter recipes!
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🫒 1. Olive Oil (The Beginner Staple)
🌿 Vitamins + Nutrients
- Rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and squalene
- High in oleic fatty acids
✨ Skin Benefits
- Deeply moisturizing
- Soothes irritation and dry skin
- Supports skin barrier + anti-aging
🧼 In Soap Making
- Creates a gentle, conditioning bar
- Low bubbles but very nourishing
- Perfect for sensitive skin
💰 Cost Effectiveness
- One of the cheapest bulk oils
- Easy to find (grocery store friendly)
- Ideal for beginners
Did you know: Olive Oil is an amazing makeup remover! I've been using it for years to remove makeup including mascara!
Recommended options: Walmart, Costco, grocery store.
🥥 2. Coconut Oil (The Cleansing Powerhouse)
🌿 Vitamins + Nutrients
- Contains vitamin E + fatty acids (lauric, capric)
✨ Skin Benefits
- Antibacterial + antifungal
- Helps cleanse and protect skin
🧼 In Soap Making
- Creates hard bars + big bubbles
- Adds strong cleansing power
💰 Cost Effectiveness
- Very affordable
- Long shelf life
- A little goes a long way
Recommended options: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
🌰 3. Sweet Almond Oil (Light + Nourishing)
🌿 Vitamins + Nutrients
- Rich in vitamin E, A, D + fatty acids
✨ Skin Benefits
- Softens and smooths skin
- Helps with dryness, irritation, and texture
- Lightweight and fast-absorbing
🧼 In Soap Making
- Adds a conditioning, silky feel
- Great for gentle and facial soaps
💰 Cost Effectiveness
- Mid-range but still beginner-friendly
- Works well in small percentages
Recommended options: Soapeauty Sweet Almond Oil
🥑 4. Avocado Oil (Deep Moisture Boost)
🌿 Vitamins + Nutrients
- High in vitamins A, D, E + fatty acids
✨ Skin Benefits
- Deep hydration
- Great for dry, aging, or sensitive skin
- Helps repair and restore
🧼 In Soap Making
- Adds richness and conditioning
- Great for superfatting
💰 Cost Effectiveness
- Slightly pricier
- Use at 5–20% to stretch cost
When using Avocado Oil in body oil/butter formulations, keep it at lower percentages for face or anti acne products because it does tend to clog pores.
Recommended options: Soapeauty Avocado Oil
🌿 5. Jojoba Oil (Skin-Mimicking Oil)
🌿 Vitamins + Nutrients
- Contains vitamins, fatty acids, and wax esters
- Mimics skin’s natural sebum
✨ Skin Benefits
- Balances oil production
- Non-greasy hydration
- Great for all skin types
🧼 In Soap Making
- Adds a luxury feel
- Best used in small amounts
💰 Cost Effectiveness
- Higher cost
- Use at low % for big impact
Recommended options: Soapeauty Jojoba Oil
🍇 6. Grapeseed Oil (Lightweight + Budget Friendly)
🌿 Vitamins + Nutrients
- Rich in vitamins C, D, E + antioxidants
✨ Skin Benefits
- Lightweight + non-comedogenic
- Great for oily or acne-prone skin
- Helps tone and tighten
🧼 In Soap Making
- Adds light conditioning
- Best used in lower amounts
💰 Cost Effectiveness
- Very affordable
- Easy to find
Grapeseed Oil can cause DOS (Dreaded Orange Spots) in soap. Because grapeseed oil has a short shelf life and a high linoleic acid content, it is one of the oils most likely to develop dreaded orange spots in soap. These spots are a sign of oxidation (rancidity), which can happen during cure or months later, especially if the oil is older or the soap is stored in warm, humid conditions. Use at very low amounts for soap and oil formulations and always add Vitamin E to body oil/butters.
Recommended Options: Soapeauty Grapeseed Oil
🧴 Simple Beginner Recipes (Using These Oils)
🧼 Beginner Soap Recipe (Cold Process)
Total oils: 900g
- Olive oil – 40% (360g)
- Coconut oil – 25% (225g)
- Sweet almond oil – 15% (135g)
- Avocado oil – 10% (90g)
-
Grapeseed oil – 5% (45g)
- Shea Butter - 5% (45g)
Notes:
- Superfat: 5%
- Use a lye calculator for exact lye + water, recommended at 40% Lye solution.
Soapcalc.net
- Cure: 4–6 weeks
👉 Balanced bar: cleansing + moisturizing + beginner-safe
✨ Simple Body Oil Recipe
Lightweight Glow Oil (100g total):
- Grapeseed oil – 40g
- Sweet almond oil – 30g
- Jojoba oil – 20g
- Avocado oil – 10g
Optional:
- Vitamin E – 1g
- Fragrance/essential oil
- Handcraft Blends Essential Oils
- Mayjam Essential Oils
👉 Fast-absorbing, non-greasy, great for everyday use
Bonus Oils:
Use Argan Oil in your oil and butter recipes for a completely elevated and luxury product.
Soapeauty provides excellent quality oils in larger containers that are very cost effective, especially if you make body oil/butter products.
Squalane Oil is another high-end ingredient that is amazing in oil/butter formulations.
Related: What Is Squalane Oil? (And How to Use in DIY Skincare)
🧴 Beginner Body Butter Recipe (10 oz / ~283g)
- Shea butter – 50% (142g)
- Coconut oil – 20% (57g)
- Sweet almond oil – 15% (42g)
- Avocado oil – 10% (28g)
- Jojoba oil – 5% (14g)
Optional:
- Arrowroot powder (for less greasiness)
👉 Rich, creamy, and beginner-friendly
My Favorite Affordable Soap Making Oils: Soapeauty Sweet Almond Oil
Soapeauty Jojoba Oil
Soapeauty Avocado Oil
Soapeauty Argan Oil
Soapeauty Grapeseed oil
Bonus Oil:
Argan oil is a luxe upgrade ingredient that instantly elevates body oils and butters. Naturally rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, it helps improve skin elasticity, boost hydration, and leave a soft, smooth finish without feeling greasy. In body oil blends, argan adds a lightweight, fast-absorbing slip that gives that “glowy skin” effect, while in body butters it helps balance heavier ingredients like shea or cocoa butter so the final product feels more silky and less dense. Even used at 5–15%, argan oil can make your formulas feel more high-end and skin-loving.
Recommended Product: Soapeauty Argan Oil
🫧 Final Thoughts: Start Simple, Then Upgrade
You don’t need expensive ingredients to make amazing products.
These oils are:
- Proven in soap making + skincare
- Affordable for beginners
- Flexible for endless soap ideas and recipes
Start with simple blends, then experiment as you grow.
