I enjoy making my own beauty products. I like the simplicity of the process and I like knowing exactly what’s in each product. If I don’t include it, it’s not in there. Therefore, I can eliminate chemicals and dyes and preservatives. I make a facial serum that I really love and apparently, so does my skin. As one of my previous firsts, I made my own vanilla sugar body scrub which is yummy enough to eat! This evening, for today’s first, I made moisturizing body wash.
I’ve used Bath & Body products for years, favoring the Warm Vanilla Sugar shower soap and lotion. It’s been my signature scent! However, as I used up the last of the shower soap and lotion today, I decided to make my own soap, using a recipe my mom gave me. I’ve had that recipe tucked away, waiting for the perfect time. This was it.
At some future date, I’d like to try making bar soap as a first. But I enjoy using liquid soap in the shower, on my bath pouf. This body wash took only minutes to make, which is much less time than it takes to make bar soap. The simple, pure ingredients make this wash gentle enough to use on my face and also makes a rich lathering soap for using in the shower. I saved the empty container from my Warm Vanilla Sugar soap to reuse with my homemade version.
Here’s the recipe:
2/3 cup liquid castile soap
1/4 cup raw, unfiltered honey
2 teaspoons oil (I used liquid coconut oil, but jojoba, sweet almond, sesame or olive oil could be used as well)
1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
50 – 60 drops essential oils (I used 45 drops of lavender oil and 15 drops of calendula oil)
Combine all the ingredients in a bottle with a squirt top, shaking to mix. Shake gently before each use. Because the recipe doesn’t contain water, the wash has a shelf life of one year and does not need to be refrigerated.
I had most of the ingredients already and the liquid castile soap and raw honey were easy to pick up at a health food store. The honey is the secret ingredient in this recipe. Honey has amazing benefits for the body, inside and out. It helps the skin to retain moisture and elasticity without drying it out. Instead of making the body wash sticky, honey just makes it nice and smooth. It is important to use raw, unfiltered honey. I bought a large jar of it at Fox Farm Foods for about $12.
The castile soap, which is a vegetable based soap, ensures the body wash has enough suds, without the addition of chemical foaming agents. I bought the unscented Dr. Bonner’s Pure Baby Mild soap, also at Fox Farm Foods. A large bottle was $10. The vitamin E repairs and moisturizes and is an antioxidant. It can also prolong the shelf life of homemade personal care products. Adding additional oil that is easily absorbed, such as liquid coconut, jojoba or grapeseed oil, makes this body wash extra moisturizing. And lastly, the essential oils add fragrance naturally and depending on which oil is used, help soothe, heal or repair the skin. I chose lavender and calendula for their gentleness for all skin types. Calendula is very healing also. There are many essential oils to choose from for a variety of skin types and conditions.
I tried my new body wash by squirting a dab onto my palm and washing my hands. So lovely! The body wash was sudsy, delicately fragrant, rinsed cleanly and left my hands soft and silky smooth. I’m thrilled with the results. In the next few days, I’ll be making a moisturizing body lotion to pair with the wash. Move aside, Bath & Body!
