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10 Fabulous DIY Body Washes & Hand Soaps for Summer
We all use it multiple times a day. Soap. I love keeping it simple and have "failed" many times over the years to produce a pleasant, effective mix that would let me reuse my foaming soap dispensers and limit the re-purchasing of more containers.
What I really appreciate about these mixtures is that you can target what you need to with with clean, readily available ingredients and skip the excess bottles.
I use foaming soap options in the shower in the summer, too, and absolutely LOVE an aromatic combination of pure sandalwood and wild orange oils. It just smells like summer to me now.
Here are some of my favorite combos and I hope you delight in benefitting from my experience (yes, I already mentioned I had some EPIC fails) and in being playful with your essential oil combinations to suit your mood, room, and aromatic preferences.
Supplies
First, I love the glass bottles from doTERRA.com the #abode line of amber and black metal pump #foamingsoap glass bottles are very inexpensive and designed to be durable. You can also pick up a silicon base to help the glass from slipping on your counter or side of your pedestal sinks or tubs. Very smart idea! doTERRA also carries a non-BPA plastic foaming soap bottle if you'd prefer not to use glass.
Grab some dr. Bonner's Castille soap or even doTERRA's onGuard cleaner concentrate for the soapy component. Glycerin adds a creamy texture and helps make suds and is readily found in grocery and department stores.
Disclaimer: I only use doTERRA essential oils for their guaranteed consistent attention to purity and potency. Everything is absorbed through the skin so you're kind of defeating the purpose if you use adulterated or cheap essential oils in your soaps. Don't kid yourself, your skin will know if it's a synthetic oil as synthetics cause skin irritation and damage and leave an offensive, artificial scent on your skin far too long.
Let's get started.
Coconut Honey Hand and/or Body Wash
Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut oil or fractionated coconut oil (no need to heat)
1/4 cup raw honey
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
15 drops #eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops wild orange essential oil
10 drops #lemon or #grapefruitessentialoil
Instructions
Scoop the coconut oil into a microwave-safe bowl and heat on a medium setting for 30 seconds until melted.
Add essential oils, honey, and vitamin E oil and whisk together.
Add Castile soap slowly, stirring gently to avoid creating suds.
Transfer to a glass or plastic bottle. Tip and swirl gently before each use to mix.
Skin Clearing Acne Body Wash
Sad but true: acne happens. And I’m not just talking about the face kind.
During the summer months, sweaty workouts, pore-clogging sunscreen and chemical-soaked swimsuits can cause acne to pop up where we least expect it. And while I’m not thrilled to still be experiencing bacne (that’s back acne for all you blissfully unaware ladies) at the ripe ol’ age of fifty, I now have the tools to deal with it.
For those of us with sensitive skin, this skin-clearing acne body wash is a summertime game changer. Sudsing up with it regularly helps kill the bacteria that causes breakouts, so you can bust out the tank tops and show off your summer skin with confidence.
I have also found this recipe helpful if you are prone to razor burn or irritation. You can foam up and use this blend to shave with for less irritation.
Ingredients
1 bar castile soap chopped or grated (you can use 1/2 cup liquid castile soap and omit the the boiling step)
5 cups water
20 drops each of tea tree, clary sage, and lavender essential oils
2 tablespoons jojoba oil
1 tablespoon glycerin
1/3 cup raw honey
Instructions
1. In a medium pot, bring water to a rolling boil. Add castile soap and stir until completely melted.
2. Pour melted soap mixture into a bowl and let cool overnight.
3. Add remaining ingredients and use an immersion blender or food processor to mix thoroughly.
4. Pour into foaming soap dispenser and you'll love the aroma of this one. Very soothing with a hint of herbal notes.
Coconut Milk and Vanilla Body Wash
Now if this doesn't smell like a tropical summer in your bathroom, I don't know what would. Get the fresh soothing aroma of coconut milk with a comforting qualities of pure vanilla absolute and hot damn, it smells like a tropical summer!
This is probably the least expensive body wash you’ve ever used, but it may feel like the most luxurious. And it calls for just three ingredients:
1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk
1/3 cup liquid castile soap
10 - 12 drops of doTERRA Madagascar vanilla oil (per your preference)
Combine the ingredients in a squeeze bottle or foaming soap bottle and lather up. The mixture tends to separate after sitting for a while, so you may just have to shake it up a bit before using. This can also be used as a face wash or even shampoo and is especially lovely for babies. If using for babies, you may like to add 5 drops of lavender essential oil if you bathe your babe at night for a wonderfully relaxing as well as soothing aroma.
Green Tea Moisturizing Body and/or Hand Wash
Since green tea is chock full of healing antioxidants, flavonoids and catechins, it can help skin look smoother and counteract the effects of free radical damage from sun exposure and environmental toxins. Studies even show that green tea may help soothe inflammation and protect skin from cancer caused by sunlight.
When combined with extra moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil and honey, this body wash sinks into parched skin and creates a protective barrier against the elements. And because it uses castile soap as its base, it lathers like a dream without stripping skin of its natural oils–thus leaving your skin even softer than before.
Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons green tea leaves
2 tablespoons shea butter
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1/4 cup raw honey
10 drops vitamin E oil
15 drops essential oils. I like lemongrass oil or geranium or rose oil to support dry skin. A combo of 10 drops sandalwood + 5 drops copaiba is also extremely beneficial.
Instructions
In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil and stir in the tea leaves. Let simmer on low for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the shea butter and stir until just melted. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
When the mixture has cooled slightly, add in the remaining ingredients and whisk everything together.
Pour into a soap dispenser or lidded jar. Shake before each use.
I hope these recipes give you some inspiration to make your own foaming soaps and body washes for the best smelling summer yet!
Do you need some essential oils? We can definitely help! Visit the homepage to request free samples or join in for the next workshop or class in your area.
Until next time, I hope you feel squeaky clean!
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