As people are becoming their skin experts, they are more conscious of the products they use every day. More and more people are hopping onto the ‘all-natural’ bandwagon.
In fact, some are ditching all those commercial products like makeup, sunscreens, face cleansers, and shower gels right into the trash!
Commercial shower gels or body washes are readily available almost everywhere, from big box stores to corner drug stores. They come in a variety of fragrances, but that fantastic smell is often due to a concoction of chemicals.
We may not realize it, but slowly and steadily, these chemicals creep into our bloodstream through our skin and lead to toxic buildup in our bodies.
While you may have taken control of what goes inside your body, it’s time to control what goes in from the outside as well.
Homemade body washes are pretty easy to make and do not include those harmful chemicals or preservatives.
We bring you the 5 best recipes to make your homemade body wash; they not only help you avoid the unnecessary toxins in commercial soaps but also make you smell oh-so-amazing!
Contents
Method 1: Raw Honey Body Wash
Honey is a golden elixir that has been in use since ancient times for healing as well as enhancing beauty.
While honey can be gooey and sticky to slather directly on your skin, incorporating it into your homemade body wash is a clever way to add honey into your daily skincare regimen. Honey also helps you get glowing skin and gorgeous hair.
Honey works as a humectant, relaxing drawing in moisture to the skin. It is also loaded with essential nutrients and antibacterial properties. Plus, raw honey can also take care of skin troubles like acne or psoriasis.
This recipe also uses Castile soap that is super gentle on your skin and will add suds to the shower gel.
The castor and olive oils will help moisturize and nourish your skin, and the lavender essential oil will help relax your mind and body while adding a pleasant fragrance.
Things you’ll need:
- Liquid Castile soap (cleanser) – 3 tablespoons
- Raw honey (humectant) – 3 tablespoons
- Olive oil (moisturizes body) – 1 tablespoon
- Castor oil (moisturizes body) – 1 tablespoon
- Lavender essential oil (relaxes mind and body) – 10 drops
Step 1. Combine honey with Castile soap and oils
- Pour 3 tablespoons of Castile soap into a jar.
- Add 3 tablespoons of raw honey to it.
- Add 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and castor oil.
Step 2. Add essential oil, mix well & store the body wash
- Add 10 drops of lavender essential oil to the mix.
- Using a spoon, thoroughly mix the ingredients.
- Transfer the prepared body wash to a sterile dispenser and use daily when you bathe.
This honey body wash will stay good for 2 to 3 months at room temperature.
Method 2: Coconut Milk Body Wash
This homemade body wash is surely a summer treat. If you love smelling coconutty, try this recipe. It uses coconut milk that is full of healthy fatty acids to relieve and hydrate the skin in the summer months.
Coconut milk also has antibacterial properties. You can learn how to make homemade coconut milk here.
The castile soap is used as a sudsy base and is also extremely gentle on your skin while helping slough away impurities.
Optionally, you can add in some lavender essential oil for fragrance as well as to enhance the skin-healing properties of the body wash.
This body wash is extremely gentle and can also be used as a face wash and shampoo as well.
Things you’ll need:
- Liquid Castile soap (gentle cleanser) – ⅓ cup
- Coconut milk (nourishes skin) – ¼ cup
- Lavender essential oil (adds fragrance) – 10 drops
Step 1. Combine Castile soap, coconut milk, and lavender essential oil
- Pour ⅓ cup of Castile soap into a container.
- Add ¼ cup of coconut milk to it.
- Add in 10 drops of lavender essential oil.
Step 2. Whisk the ingredients and store the body wash
- Use a hand blender to whisk up the ingredients.
- Transfer it to a sterile bottle and use it when you bathe.
This coconut milk body wash will stay good for up to 1 week. It is advisable to make small batches to avoid spoilage and waste.
Method 3: Glycerin Body Wash
Glycerin is an odorless and colorless viscous fluid found in many beauty products. Similar to honey, it can work as a humectant to moisturize and restore supple skin.
Since pure glycerin can also draw moisture out of your skin, it needs to be mixed with other ingredients so that it’s replenishing for the skin.
This body wash includes coconut oil, castile soap and vitamin E oil for moisturizing your skin and protecting it against damage. We’ve also added rose essential oil for its fragrance and therapeutic properties.
Things you’ll need:
- Rose essential oil (antibacterial) – 20 to 30 drops
- Vitamin E oil (antioxidant and increases shelf life) – 1 teaspoon
- Coconut oil (nourishes skin) – 1 tablespoon
- Vegetable glycerin (acts as humectant) – 3 tablespoons
- Liquid Castile soap (cleanser) – ½ cup
Step 1. Combine Castile soap, glycerin and coconut oil in a container
- Pour ½ cup of Castile soap into a container.
- Add 3 tablespoons of glycerin.
- Also, add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
Step 2. Add vitamin E oil & rose essential oil, mix & store
- Add about 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil to the other ingredients.
- Finish up with 20 to 30 drops of rose essential oil.
- Mix everything well using a hand blender.
- Transfer the body wash to a dispenser and use when you bathe.
This homemade body wash can be stored for 2 to 3 months at room temperature.
Method 4: Aloe Vera Body Wash
Known as Cleopatra’s beauty secret, aloe vera is a natural skin serum that is rich in amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
The clear gel derived from aloe vera leaves can be used to heal minor burns and cuts, reduce wrinkles and blemishes, and also to get rid of acne. Plus, it also serves as an excellent hair conditioner.
When used in a body wash, aloe vera will help combat dry skin. The vitamin E will also nourish the skin and preserve the body wash for a longer time.
Sandalwood essential oil will help calm your mind and impart a soothing fragrance to the body wash
Things you’ll need:
- Sandalwood essential oil (calms mind and body) – 10 to 15 drops
- Vitamin E oil (increases shelf life) – 1 teaspoon
- Aloe vera gel (heals dry skin) – ½ cup
- Liquid Castile soap (for suds) – ¾ cup
Step 1. Add all the ingredients to a pitcher
- Pour ¾ cup of Castile soap into a small pitcher.
- Add ½ cup of fresh aloe vera gel.
- Add about 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil and 10 to 15 drops of sandalwood essential oil.
Step 2. Blend well, store and use
- Use a motorized blender to mix everything.
- Transfer it to a sterilized body wash bottle and use when you bathe.
The shelf life of this body wash is only 1 week. It is advisable to make small batches to avoid spoilage and waste.
Method 5: Used Soap Bar Body Wash
Wondering what to do with all those leftover small chunks of soap bars? Recycle them into a body wash by simply melting them in water.
Add in a few drops of an essential oil of your choice for fragrance and your homemade shower gel will be ready in minutes.
Things you’ll need:
- Water – 1 cup
- Leftover soap bars, grated – ½ cup
- Lavender essential oil (adds fragrance)– 10 to 15 drops
Step 1. Melt and combine grated soap with water
- Pour 1 cup of water into a pan.
- Add ½ cup of grated soap to it.
- Warm the ingredients on medium heat to melt and blend the soap into the water. Stir occasionally during the process.
- When melting finishes, transfer the solution to a bowl and let it cool down completely.
Step 2. Add essential oil and store the gel
- Add 10 to 15 drops of lavender essential oil to the solution.
- Stir it and transfer the solution to a sterile squeeze bottle for use when bathing.
The shelf life of this homemade body wash is 2 to 3 months.
Additional Tips
- Always do a patch test when using ingredients you have not tried on your skin before to test for a reaction.
- If you don’t have essential oils at hand, you can also use finely ground dried herbs like lavender buds, geranium leaves or rosemary stems.
- Do not go overboard with the essential oils. Only add the recommended amount.
- To maintain hygiene, make sure to air-dry your shower sponges completely before using them again. This will prevent any bacterial growth on the sponges. Also, replace your sponges every 2 months.
How can i keep the glycerin body wash from separating. Also, what preservative would you recommend for those of us who don’t have hangups about such things?
Dear Mare
Thank you for your query.
We would suggest to blend in all the ingredients well before storing it in a bottle. Also, shake the bottle well
before using it.
Talking about the shelf life, this body wash keeps good up to 3 months depending upon the temperature where you store it, as all the ingredients are natural and stay fresh without preservatives.
Hope we were able to help.
-Team FabHow