So, as I mentioned in my post about creating your own sugar scrub, I am in the process of transitioning many of my beauty products over from store bought to homemade. My goals in doing this are to:
- Reduce physical waste by being able to reuse existing containers
-
Limit my exposure to unnatural and harmful chemicals
-
Save money and handle my resources responsibly by turning my home into a place of production rather than consumption
The most recent beauty product I’ve had in need of refilling is my body wash. After doing a lot of research I decided that the best product to begin using for my DIY beauty product/home cleaning needs was castile soap. Castile soap is a plant based soap that works best when diluted. The most common brand of castile soap is Dr. Bronner’s. My reasoning behind choosing this soap is that it is a product commonly used in a lot of homemade cleaning products from body wash to mopping solution and because it is most effective when diluted to varying degrees, a little goes a long way, making it good choice for saving money as well. So far I have used it in two other projects: plant spray and cloth baby wipe solution but this was the first beauty product I was planning to use it in. I bought the lavender scent at the store because I knew I would be using this bottle primarily in beauty products however there are many other scents available. Here is the dilution ratio I used:
Directions for a 12 oz bottle:
2/3 Castile Soap
1/3 Water
The soap is obviously more watery than traditional body wash, however you still only need a small amount on a luffa for it to lather well and get you nice and clean. I have been using it for about a week now and I have to say I love it. Its cleaning properties are great, but what I love most is that I was able to make it in less than two minutes, while making dinner, and that it ended up costing me about 2 dollars overall. When compared to other environmentally friendly, plant based body washes for sale online that is a savings of anywhere from 8-18 dollars or more. Give it a try and let me know what you think! Have any of you all made any of your own beauty products before? How did they turn out?
16 Comments
Yes! I have been wanting to make body wash for a long time. I’m about to run out of what I currently have, so this is probably a good time to start! In terms of other homemade beauty products, I don’t really “make” this, but I wash my hair with baking soda and vinegar. I just take a couple of heaping teaspoons of baking soda and dissolve it in about a cup of warm water. Same thing with the vinegar. Haven’t used shampoo in almost a year and I only wash my hair every 2-3 days. It keeps my hair super soft and split end free. I’ve also tried using coconut or olive oil to add shine.
Suzanne, that is a great tip about the baking soda and vinegar shampoo. I have heard that before, but do you have to mix it up every time you take a shower? I am planning on trying coconut oil as a conditioner next though, I’ve heard it works really well.
Yep, I mix it up every time, but it’s really doesn’t feel like a hassle to me. I just have a couple of old water bottles that I use and a plastic spoon that I keep with my baking soda and apple cider vinegar. I just throw a couple of spoonfuls into a bottle, fill with water, shake it up, then hop in the shower. You could probably make it in bulk, but the amount of baking soda and vinegar you need varies on your hair length/oiliness, so by mixing it every time I know how much I’m using. And coconut oil is wonderful on hair. I’ve only used it post-washing, but I love it.
Awesome thanks for the great tips! I would love to do a cost comparison on using baking soda and vinegar vs Store bought shampoo I am sure it is significantly less expensive!
Are the baking soda mixture an vinegar mixture in separate containers? I wondered if the soda mix washed and the vinegar conditioned?
I’ve been looking for a body wash recipe thanks I will try this! Here are some recipes to share 🙂
Eye makeup remover! 1 oz bottle 1/2 witch hazel 1/2 baby oil shake it up and use a cotton ball!
I use castile soap to wash my hair 2oz soap 4-5 oz water and apple cider vinegar as conditioner 50/50 ACV to water in a spray bottle then rinse. I wash my hair once a week unless I do a sweaty workout. Use baking soda for deodorant! Here is a great video on youtube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OimpOcObkFE
I also make home made febreze 1 cup cheap vodka 1cup water 20-40 drops of essential oils. I like 20 drops of lemongrass/20 drops of lavender nice fresh smell! Question: I use cheap conditioner to shave my legs and I’m trying to find a more natural alternative. I have coarse leg hair and the only reason I use cheap conditioner is it helps glide the razor reduces nicks (I was trying to save money instead of using shaving cream). Any suggestions for a safer economical solution? I am open! Thank You ;}
Personally, I don’t use shaving cream. But If you are looking for a natural alternative I would try coconut oil. Just put some in a small jar in your shower and the heat of the shower will soften it up enough to use. Plus as with any oil, a little will go a long way and it will act as a good skin moisturizer.
OMG love everything I am reading right now. Samantha, thank you for sharing all this! Great info!
Thanks Heidi!
I use a similar recipe but i find the castile soap a bit drying (living in a dryer climate) so i add a but of almond oil/grapeseed oil to help. I just have to tilt the bottle a few times (gently) before using it.
Lacy, how much alomond oil would you put with a Recipe like this?? I have some on hand and would love to use it!
I’ve used conditioner to shave and I liked it. Then I used coconut oil which I like too but in the summer I felt it was a little too oily. Right now I make a shaving foam. I reuse a foaming hand wash container. One squirt castile soap, two squirts aloe gel, optional splash vegetable glycerin and about an ounce or so olive, almond, or any other oil that floats your boat, I’ve even used canola in a pinch. Fill the rest of the way with water. Be sure to give it a good shake. I even put a couple of marbles in it to help mix it up, the marbles also give a little weight to the bottle so it doesn’t tip over as quickly (my pet peeve). It gives a very nice slip for the.razor. One tip, be careful if you use peppermint soap. It gives a little tingle in the bikini area and NOT in a good way!
Comments are closed.