I can’t tell you how excited I am to share with you my very own play dough recipe! This Skin Therapy Play Dough is amazing. It is incredibly easy to make, is less messy than typical play dough, smells like cookies, has no salt, and makes your skin feel heavenly.
I adapted my play dough recipe from this Pumpkin Pie Play Dough recipe by Akinson Drive.
Why I love Skin Therapy Play Dough?
I really believe that it is one of the best play dough recipes that I have ever made. I made three batches of this play dough, and my child played with it for hours! I can’t believe that this play dough is not only easy but:
- Fast to make
- Uses common ingredients. (If you don’t have coconut oil, just substitute olive oil. I buy my coconut oil from Amazon. Even though it is expensive compared to other oils, you can use it not only for baking but as a natural rash ointment for babies. It also smells heavenly.)
- It involves NO cooking (not even hot water).
- It has NO salt. Regular play dough can irritate sensitive skin, but this play dough conditions skin. (Note: This play dough needs to be stored in the refrigerator and has a shorter shelf-life as a result.)
- It is easy to clean up. I couldn’t believe that this play dough didn’t cause the normal play dough streaks on the table that ordinary play dough does. I also swept up the bits of play dough that fell on the floor with a broom, and the dough didn’t stick to the broom or the floor!)
- The wonderful smell makes this play dough perfect for pretend baking.
- Your skin feels moist and smells wonderful after playing with this play dough. You won’t want to put it down. The oatmeal and coconut oil are natural skin conditioners.
- The dough is easy to mold and has a great texture that is very similar to traditional play dough!
The Ingredients for Skin Therapy Play Dough:
- 1 cup (plus a couple Tbsp) All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Water (If you want to color the play dough, add the food coloring to the water.)
- 2 cups Quick Oats
- 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp Vanilla (opt.)
- 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder (opt.)
How to Make Skin Therapy Play Dough
- Mix one cup of the flour, quick oats, and vanilla.
- Add water and stir until the play dough forms a ball.
- Knead in the coconut oil one tablespoon at a time.
- Knead in the cocoa powder.
- If the play dough is too sticky add flour a tablespoon at a time to reach the desired consistency.
- Knead the play dough for around three minutes to make the dough elastic.
Store in the refrigerator and keep wrapped in an air tight container. Since this play dough does not have salt, it will not last as long as other play dough recipes. I would personally only keep it around a week and of course always check it carefully for a rancid odor or mold. I usually keep my play dough around 3 days.
If your play dough becomes sticky after time, you can add additional oil.
For an idea of how to play with this play dough be sure to check out my Cookie Dough Play Dough!
If you make Skin Therapy Play Dough I would love to hear what you think!
Are you looking for more sensory play ideas for kids? Be sure to check out my: Four Season Sensory Bottles, Glittery Ball Bottles, and Play Dough Tea Party.
This blog contains Amazon affiliate links.
I’m Bethany, a mom who loves to add magic to my kids’ lives by books, activities, and fun! Don’t miss out, you can join me online on Facebook or sign-up to have No Twiddle Twaddle delivered directly to your email inbox.
Amazing! I need to make some of this skin therapy for myself. Pinned.
Thanks, Tulip! I hope that you like it. It is hard to stop playing with it. : )
Thanks for the recipe, I think my 3 year old and her cousins would love this. Don’t have to worry about them eating it. =)
I agree, Crystal. I always get a little nervous with the high salt content of normal play dough especially when food like scents are added. Even if a child tasted this play dough I don’t think that they would eat much, since the flavor would be very bland with no salt.
Pinning this and trying in the near future. Isn’t coconut oil the best thing ever? I first discovered it when we started using cloth diapers with our second baby. Now I use it for everything, including to help keep my excema under control.
That’s how I discovered coconut oil too. It really is so amazing & smells so wonderful! I have excema as well, so I’m going to have to try it for that too. I think that this play dough will work great for kids who have excema on their hands or extremely sensitive skin.
I can’t wait to try this
Thanks, Ali. I hope that you like it!
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Wow! I must admit that I rarely make play dough because it seems like such a chore. This though looks perfect. I have a feeling that you might become my girl’s favorite blogger!
Thanks, Stacy. This play dough really has to be one of the easiest recipes to make. I hope that your little girl enjoys it. : )
I can’t wait to try this! I’m flattered that you liked my recipe!!
Thanks for the link!
Thanks Sam! It is a great recipe!
Wow! I am going to see if I can find coconut oil to make this with my kiddos. And share with my sister in law who is a preschool teacher and has eczema–I bet she will love it!
PINNED. Love this safe to use play dough. A+
This play dough sounds lovely! Thanks for sharing at the Sunday Showcase.
Wonderful!!!
I am going to.have to try this. My two year old has severe excema. Never heard of coconut oil. Where can i get some?
Coconut oil is becoming more mainstream and you can even buy it at places like Walmart and organic/high end grocery stores such as Whole Foods and Earth Fare would definitely have it. I purchased my coconut oil on Amazon because I use it as a diaper ointment and that particular brand was recommended by others. Many people recommend it on skin with excema too.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003B3OOPA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003B3OOPA&linkCode=as2&tag=notwitwa-20
This is brilliant Bethany. My son has eczema so this is perfect for him. Thanks for sharing! I’ve pinned this and we might give it a try this weekend.
Oooh what a clever idea. I had to use olive oil recently as I ran out of normal oil.. but great idea to use oats/ not salt. LOVE. Off to pin.
Maggy
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I think I need to make this for myself this winter. It gets so dry here.
That sounds great, I don’t like the salt in the usual stuff. x
We love playdough and I love coconut (and never seem to have time to put hand cream on!) this seems perfect!
We made this recently, and you are right- it was like skin therapy!
What a great option for play dough. We will have to try it.
I made this in the food processor and it worked like a charm! I just had to keep adding a little extra flour to get it to the right texture so it wasnt sticky and gummy. It smells divine!! Cant wait for my boys to play with it!
I’ve made this 3 times now. Not only is it my favorite homemade playdoh, it’s my 4 year-old twins favorite too. They get so creative with it, moreso than with other ones. Thank you!!
Thank you, Amber! I’m so glad that your kids are enjoying it. I’ve found that my kids seem to really like it as well. I wonder if the texture and feel makes playing with it more pleasant.
Will definitely have to try this one, thx! Karen
http://www.OTinPublicSchools.blogspot.com/
[...] Skin Therapy Play Dough [...]
This will be great for our Down syndrome children as well! Their hands become very dry and wrinkly! As well as the other children in our group care! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Vickie. I didn’t realize that! I’m glad that this recipe will be useful for you.
I know that even my own kid doesn’t like to play with homemade salt play dough. He loves to draw and usually has small paper cuts on his hands.
[...] Skin Therapy Play Dough – No Twiddle Twaddle [...]
i tried this with the oats and it came out crunchy. I did another batch with oat flour and it is coming out way better. hope this helps!
Ours wasn’t crunchy. I would recommend just kneading it a little bit longer or adding a tiny bit more moisture. Using old fashioned oats might also add more texture issues. I usually use quick oats. That’s a great idea though to try it with oat flour though. I’ll have to try it sometime and compare the textures.
I used your recipe for our weekly activity for Family Night @ the Library last night. I divided the recipe by four in order to allow the children to mix all of the ingredients in a sandwich size zip baggie. They had a lot of fun. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I have added a hyperlink to your original recipe on my blog.
Loved this! We added sprinkles and the food color to make it a bit more fun. The kids at my in-home daycare keep asking for this over and over again! Distracted them for a good hour too
Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks so much, Sara. Love your ideas for expanding the activity too!
Is this recipe appropriate to use as an air-dry clay? ie, if my kiddos make sculptures with it, will it dry okay?
Thanks for any input!
I’ve never tried that, but since the dough doesn’t have salt my guess is it would just spoil. Instead, I would try this recipe on Growing a Jeweled Rose for air-dry clay: http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/03/clay-recipe.html. I haven’t tried it personally, but I trust her recommendations and the recipe looks simple.
[...] therapy play dough recipe from No Twiddle [...]
We found this recipe through pinterest, and tried it out as soon as we found it. All four children (2 x 4.5yr, 3yr & 1.5) loved it! Kept their attention while I cleaned the kitchen and then some.
Clean up was a breeze, no smear marks on the table, the pieces on the floor swept up easily.
Their preschool teacher was ecstatic upon hearing your recipe!
Thanks so much, Marcellina! I so glad that you enjoyed it. : )