I have been making my own body wash for about a year now. Completely homemade and I couldn’t be happier with the result. My husband also uses it and loves it too!
Previously I had been using Kiss My Face olive oil soap. It’s really nice and pure and worked for awhile but after I gave birth to my last baby my skin changed and became really dry. Suddenly the olive soap wasn’t cutting it anymore. I knew from past experience that plain liquid castille soap would also be too drying. I needed a little more oomph.
I started searching around for a homemade body wash recipe that would be really moisturizing. There are dozens of options out there. I knew I wanted something simple that I could make with ingredients I already have on hand or could be easily (and cheaply) acquired. The process also had to be simple. Mixing was all I wanted to do.
When I first read this recipe for homemade body wash on DIY Natural, I thought “there’s no way that will work.” Honey is one of the ingredients and I thought for sure it would wind up as a sticky mess. But honey is something I already have on hand plus I heard it’s a great moisturizer. I was intrigued and decided to give it a try.
And I’m so glad I did! The honey gives this body wash a silky texture. It’s not sticky at all. A couple additional oils also provide moisture and the castile soap makes it nice and foamy. The optional essential oils give it a nice fragrance. It really is perfect.
Here is a link to the full recipe:
Homemade Body Wash @ DIY Natural
To make this body wash I mix the soap and the honey in a liquid measuring cup with a spout until completely combined. Then I add the additional oils and stir gently. Then I pour it into my bottle (pictured above) and add the essential oils last, directly in the bottle.
The bottle is just a reused 16oz Castile soap bottle. I’ve reused it so many times that the label rubbed off. I could’ve bought a prettier bottle but I prefer to reuse when I can. A double batch of this body wash fits perfectly in that 16oz bottle. Since Benzo and I both use it I almost always make a double batch. A double batch will last approximately 6-8 weeks with two adults showering daily. The ingredients will separate so you have to give the bottle a good shake before each use.
I’ve tried a few different scents in the past year. I really enjoy the geranium and lavender combination that DIY Natural recommends. Lately I’ve made it with sweet orange which was nice in the winter. I also tried a peppermint and cinnamon blend which I did not care for at all. Thinking back I’m not sure why I thought that would be a good idea! Whenever I’m trying a new scent or ingredient I start with a single batch. I recently bought a different brand of honey and while it tastes fine, it gave my body wash a bit different smell. I’ll be going back to my regular honey next time.
I used to use this body wash with the geranium-lavender blend on my face for awhile too! That is until I started making my own foaming face wash. Post coming soon….
I hope this will inspire you to try to make your own homemade body wash. I honestly love it and see no reason to ever go back to store bought again. There are so many different variations out there, so use this as a starting off point and then tailor it to your likes and needs. I would love any essential oil recommendations for different scents!
Good luck!
did you have any problems with clogging pores and creating acne? Can you use this on sensitive skin?
Hi Kayla! I have not had any problems with clogged pores and acne personally from using my homemade body wash, however everyone’s skin is different. My skin is generally not too sensitive. I would recommend making a half batch and leaving out the essential oils the first time. Then you can see how your skin reacts and try adding in one essential oil at a time after that. Let me know if you try it!