Four simple ingredients make this the best homemade honey face wash. The soothing ingredients will leave your skin clean and glowing, without the harsh chemicals. I’ll show you how to make an easy honey face cleanser and how to use it in your everyday skincare routine.
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What Readers Say
“I made this about 8 weeks ago and I absolutely love it. I have older skin prone to blemishes on occasion and I find this cleanser has really jazzed up my skin a lot. I use it twice a day. It rinses well and cleanses well.”
NIKKI
The best part about making your own face wash with honey is that you don’t have to worry about toxic chemicals. And the cost savings of making your own cleanser is quite significant!
A few concerning ingredients found in commercial face wash
- Fragrance: may contain up to 3,000 different chemicals to make a single fragrance, including phthalates to make the scent last longer, which producers don’t have to disclose due to trade secret laws.
- Parabens: Used to extend the shelf-life of face wash, but with reproductive health concerns.
- Sulfates: Used to create suds in face wash, but also strips the skin of natural oils, which could even cause the skin to overproduce oils and breakout.
Ingredients Needed to Make a Natural Cleanser With Honey
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup liquid castile soap
- 3 tablespoons distilled water (this is the safest type of water to use, found at any grocery store)
- 2 tablespoons nourishing oil (I use jojoba, other options include: sweet almond, avocado, and olive oil)
These powerhouse ingredients come together to create the best DIY face wash.
Ingredient Spotlight
Raw Honey: Due to the lack of pasteurization (heating), raw honey is naturally rich in antibacterial and probiotic properties. Honey is gentle for sensitive skin, but tough enough to remove dirt and other impurities. Learn more about the benefits of washing your face with honey. If you can’t find raw honey, use what you can find; just make sure it’s pure honey. Some folks swear by using raw manuka honey for skincare uses, which you’re welcome to use.
Castile Soap: A concentrated vegetable-based soap. I use castile soap for everything from homemade laundry detergent to body wash and foaming hand soap. Use either Baby Mild Castile Soap or Tea Tree Castile Soap for facial cleansing. A 32-ounce bottle of liquid castile soap costs about $17, and one bottle will make about 10 homemade face washes. Explore other natural ways to use castile soap.
Distilled Water: Added to dilute the concentrated soap. Distilled water has all impurities removed, so it’s the safest water to use when making body and cleaning products.
Nourishing Skin Oil: Since oil dissolves oil, it’s only natural to add a nourishing oil to DIY face wash recipes. Jojoba or sweet almond oil work best for all skin types. Avocado oil and olive oil are also options, but can be heavier on the skin.
How to Add Essential Oils
Essential oils may irritate sensitive skin, so I’ve skipped using essential oils in this DIY honey face wash.
If you prefer a scented face cleanser, add an essential oil that is soothing and less likely to irritate the skin, like lavender, and only use a few drops.
I avoid citrus oils, like lemon essential oil and orange essential oils, when making body products, as they can cause irritation with sunlight exposure.
How to safely use essential oils to create your own products.
How to Make: Instructions & Video
To make this homemade honey face wash recipe, you’ll need a soap dispenser (like this). You’ll find this at any home store, like Target or Walmart, in the bath section.
Step 1: Combine all Ingredients
In a soap dispenser, add the water first (to prevent bubbles) then the liquid castile soap, honey, and oil. Shake the ingredients together until the honey is fully dissolved.
Step 2: Use Immeadiately or Store For Later
The cleanser is ready to use immeadiately after making. You may use it right away, or store in a cool place (like a bathroom cabinet) for later use.
Storage Tips
Store the soap in a cool place for up to 1 month. It’s important to use distilled water, as tap water will quickly grow mold and bacteria within a few days.
How to Use
First, shake the bottle before use (separation is normal).
Next…
- Wet your hands with water.
- Add a squirt of face wash to the palm of your hand.
- Rub your hands together to create suds with the soap.
- Use your palms to massage the soap over your entire face and down your neck. I usually spend about 30-60 seconds massaging my face with the cleanser. As you massage the skin, you’ll loosen dead skin cells, dirt, oils, and makeup.
- Wet a clean washcloth with warm water.
- Use the washcloth to rinse the face wash from the skin, rinsing the washcloth and repeating as needed. This will remove makeup, dead skin cells, etc. and should leave the skin with a glowing complexion.
After Cleansing Your Face…
Use a spritz of toner (I love rosewater), any serums you may like (I use this A+ serum for hormonal breakouts), and a moisturizer (the best 8 natural face moisturizers).
Is this cleanser safe for all skin types?
- My Personal Experience: I have sensitive skin that is more on the oily side and acne-prone. I have seen a noticeable difference in the appearance of my skin when using this face wash and honey in my skincare routine.
- Will it Work for Others? Since sharing this recipe, over 7 years ago, many people have made and used this cleanser with great success. Everyone’s skin is different and finding what works for you, even if it works for someone else, takes patience and exploration. The great thing about this recipe is that it costs very little to make and you can use the ingredients (like castile soap and oil) to make other products as well (like natural cleaners and moisturizer).
- Dry Skin Types: If you have dry skin, the castile soap in this natural face wash may be drying for your skin, which could cause the skin to produce excess oil and breakout. This is true of other soap cleansers as well. In this case, I love this aloe vera and honey face cleanser made without soap. If you want suds, which you’ll only get from soap, you could also reduce the amount of castile soap in this recipe.
4 More Ways to Cleanse Your Face & Body With Honey
Beyond this cleanser, here are my favorite ways to use honey in my skincare routine.
- Sugar Scrubs: Combine honey and sugar to make this soothing and exfoliating body scrub.
- Straight Up Honey: Use 100% honey, straight from the bottle, as a face wash. No extra ingredients needed.
- Honey & Aloe Facial Cleanser: For an ultra-gentle cleanser, without soap, combine aloe and honey. Great for very sensitive skin or dry skin.
- Acne Soothing Face Mask: Combine clay, honey, and aloe to make this soothing, pimple-fighting face mask.
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DIY Homemade Honey Face Wash
Equipment
- soap dispenser 8-ounces or larger
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup liquid castile soap unscented preferably
- 1/3 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons distilled water
- 2 tablespoons skin-nourishing oil I use jojoba, Other options include: sweet almond, avocado, olive.
Instructions
- In a soap dispenser, add the water first (to prevent bubbles) then the liquid castile soap, honey, and oil.
- Shake the ingredients together until the honey is fully dissolved.
To Use:
- Wet your hands with water.
- Add a squirt of face wash to the palm of your hand.
- Rub your hands together to create suds with the soap.
- Use your palms to massage the soap over your entire face and down your neck. I usually spend about 30-60 seconds massaging my face with the cleanser. As you massage the skin, you'll loosen dead skin cells, dirt, oils, and makeup.
- Wet a clean washcloth with warm water. Use the washcloth to rinse the face wash from the skin, rinsing the washcloth and repeating as needed.
- After cleansing, use a spritz of facial toner (I love rosewater), any serums you may use (I use this A+ serum for hormonal breakouts), and a moisturizer (the best 8 natural face moisturizers).
Video
Notes
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The post you shared here is very informative. Thanks for publishing such great content.
You’re welcome, Shirlyn!
Maybe this has been addressed in the comments already. If so I apologize but I was wondering if you had any suggestions as to why my skin would feel tingly and almost itchy after using this? It’s leaving my skin nicely moisturized but ya I get a tingly and sometimes slightly itchy sensation afterwards. I made it exactly like the recipe using sweet almond oil, unscented Castile and 100% raw honey. No essential oils so not a fragrance issue. I wouldn’t describe myself as having sensitive skin. I’d say normal to oily, sometimes dry in the winter. Any suggestions would be helpful. I really want to make my own all natural products.
Hey Heidi, It’s probably the castile soap. I would try just honey (honey is a great cleanser on its own) and see what happens. The soap may be too drying during this time of year.
Is castile soap good for dry and sensitive skin? Thanks
Can I use thyme honey instead of raw honey because I can’t find it anywhere in my country?I know that thyme honey is one of the most beneficial types of honey for skin
Sure I don’t know what that is but if it’s honey, you can use it.
LS Team
I made this about 8 weeks ago and I absolutely love it. I have older skin prone to blemishes on occasion and I find this cleanser has really jazzed up my skin a lot. I use it twice a day. It rinses well and cleanses well. I even shared your recipe and link on my own blog. I use to use Paula’s Choice now I have my own!
That’s wonderful, Nikki! Thanks so much for sharing, it means a lot to Live Simply.
LS Team.
Hi,
I have everything except for the castile soap, so I was wondering if I can substitute it for anything else…?
By the way, this is a great recipe! Thanks so much 🙂
Hi Samara!
Unfortunately castile soap is essential for this recipe, but you can try this one: https://livesimply.me/homemade-honey-and-aloe-facial-cleanser/
Let us know how you like it!
LS Team.
Hi Kristin!
My wife and I really enjoy your website and this soap – we actually use it as a body wash and love it!
Personally, my skin is extremely sensitive, and I’ve had acne and red spots on my face, chest, shoulders, upper back, etc. for a long time. As I am 23 now (and went on accutane when I was in high school), my face has gotten under control. However, the body wash my dermatologist has assigned has never made my below-the-face skin happy. This honey wash, while not clearing my body, does seem to calm my skin, which is amazing!
However, we live in the midwest, and that means that our seasons are extreme. Summer is HUMID and hot, and winter is sooo dry and cold. My skin is so oily in the summer, and is so dry in the winter. Now that winter is here, what would you recommend to make this body wash a bit more moisturizing? Increase the amount of nourishing oil? (we use jojaba) We were thinking of maybe just using 4 TB of it in the winter and 2 TB of it in the summer? What are your thoughts for someone like me?
Thanks so much for your time!!
Hey Nathan and Krista, I’m so glad you’re enjoying the face wash and blog. I would maybe focus on a good lotion, or even using shea butter on your skin after cleansing your body during the winter. This will provide intense moisture. For the face, a good facial oil could be used for the hydration and moisture. It’s expensive but the True Botanicals Face Oil is AMAZING, particularly for sensitive and problematic skin. Or another great brand is Leahlani Skincare or Evanhealy (they also make an intense moisture cream with shea butter). For the soap, you could try adding more oil, or maybe just diluting it a bit more with distilled water or using less soap.
Hello Kristin,
I just found your recipe online and like it very much!
I hope nobody did ask this before, but what do you think about using diluted ACV instead of the water? I’m using it as a toner in the evening, but sometimes I wish for a more intensive cleaning.
Thanks alot!
Hey Ulrike, You could try, but for a daily cleanser on top of using ACV as a toner, I would probably stick to something more gentle like water. For a more intensive cleaning, maybe try mixing together some water, ACV, and bentonite clay 1-2 times a week as a face mask.
Hello Kristin,
thank you for your quick answer! I thought I might skip the AVC as a toner if I would replace the Water with ACV – like a shortcut 😉
Thanks for the mask sugestion, I will try that!
All the best!
DIY projects are always fun to do. There is always so much more things that you can do.
Great recipe thanks. I put 1% essential oils; juniper berry and clary sage and then follow with oil cleansing with a mixture of oils and then a mixture of face oils after that, different night/day treatments, This has cleared my skin up no end and recently been told i look in my 20’s, coming up to 35 now. All in all, this has saved me a fortune on the rip off skincare products and i no longer have acne at all. Nathan
Wow, Nathan! That’s so great!!
Love this recipe! I’ve made it twice now and I cut it in half because it lasts a while. I use lavender Dr Bronner’s Castile soap and avocado oil. Thank you!
Sorry if this question has been asked in the above 250 comments (I could not scroll through them all) but I LOVE that quaint little pump bottle in the photos in this post. Where can I buy it please?!
Hey Vivienne, I believe it came from Target.
I have been considering that how to make a suitable face wash,I hope it could be with lemon scent. Thank you for sharing.
Can aloe vera gel be used in place of the distilled water?
Hey Angela, Yes, you could try something like this recipe: https://livesimply.me/2015/10/07/homemade-honey-and-aloe-facial-cleanser/. It probably won’t work as well in a pump bottle.
Hi! I’m loving the facewash so far! My only concern is that for myself, it may be too much Castile Soap. How would you alter the recipe to lessen the amount used? 🙂
Hey Abby, I would reduce the amount of castile soap used, or you can increase the water in your current batch to dilute it.
Hi there. Loving the idea of this recipe and the awesome feedback from your community of readers! Would this recipe work with omitting the water? Or would it alter the recipe entirely? I was just thinking without the water I could use in a standard soap pump? Also, In a comment you mentioned you were using a raw honey and aloe face wash. Is this DIY on your blog site as well? I love the idea of DIYing where I can in an effort to save a little $$ but I am concerned about the water breeding bacteria and then I am spreading that bacteria growth on my face and hands and on and on and on… I didn’t know if honey was aiding as the preservative or not.
Hey Jennifer, I’m so glad the post and comments are helpful! You could omit the water and basically make the aloe and honey face wash with some castile soap added: https://livesimply.me/2015/10/07/homemade-honey-and-aloe-facial-cleanser/
Yum! Does this mixture separate from each other after a certain period of time?
Hey Suzanne, Yes, it will. That’s very typical for a natural face wash without an emulsifier. You’ll want to shake it up when this happens.
Thanks for sharing! I love making these kinds of things as gifts!
Hey Suzanne/Vanessa, Enjoy!
Hi Kristin, I noticed that some others do not like the smell of the cleanser when mixed…I used a plain castile soap and it ends up with a little bit of a fishy smell. My next batch, I reduced the castile a bit and used raw orange blossom honey…much better! Today, I will be trying it with a new raw blueberry blossom honey, which also has a very light scent.
Awesome, Lorraine! Thank you for sharing.
Does it matter what scent of castille soap you use? I have a peppermint one, and I frankly don’t want to be keeping numerous bottles of castille soap around the house just because of all the different scents.
Hey Chloe, It’s up to you and your preference. Peppermint will work. I personally like baby mild since it’s unscented.