Summer is here, which means one thing when you live in sunny and HOT Florida: it’s time to sweat!
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I understand that summer is supposed to be a hot weather season, but living in Florida takes this reality to an extreme. Just walking outside your front door to retrieve the mail brings on a workout-style sweat session. This means a Florida gal needs a hard-working (natural) deodorant and a really good way to wash off all that sweat at the end of the day.
Friend, let me introduce you to my Easy DIY Foaming Body Wash.
This body wash only contains 4 natural ingredients, all of which come together to gently and effectively wash away the summer sweat and dirt. The ingredients are all liquid, which means they are pretty watery (and hard to work with as a body wash) without the secret “ingredient” that takes this body wash from a runny liquid mixture to the ultimate foaming soap: a foaming soap dispenser. Let’s take a look at each ingredient…
Rosewater: Rosewater is simply a flavored water that’s created by distilling the petals of the rose with steam, or steeping the petals in water. The result is a fragrant liquid that boasts anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Thanks to these anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, rosewater has been hailed as an amazing skin spray, toner, and a wonderful addition to lotions and creams. Rosewater is a refreshing addition to this summer body wash (which, by the way, may be used all year long, not just during the summer).
Witch Hazel: Witch hazel is a natural astringent, and is used to fight acne due to its anti-bacterial properties. Witch hazel is added to this recipe to help remove excess oils on the skin. I purchase alcohol-free witch hazel so it doesn’t try out my skin. While witch hazel is a gentle pH neutral product, you may leave this ingredient out and add more rosewater in its place if you have very sensitive skin.
Castile Soap: Castile soap is a concentrated vegetable-based soap made of ingredients you can actually pronounce. This soap is gentle on the skin and effective in the fight against dirt and unwanted germs. When it comes to using castile soap on my body (it may also be used in cleaning products), I prefer Baby Mild Unscented Castile Soap. Lavender and citrus castile soap are two great options if you’d like a scented body wash. Since this body wash also includes witch hazel, I only use two tablespoons of castile soap in this recipe. You’re welcome to increase this amount, if desired, but adding more castile soap with the witch hazel may cause your skin to feel dry.
Nourishing Oil: Since oil dissolves oil, it’s only natural to add a nourishing oil to a cleansing body wash. The nourishing oil also helps keep the soap and witch hazel from drying out my skin. I prefer to use 2 tablespoons of almond, jojoba, or olive oil (depending on what I have available). I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon, testing the body wash on your hands, and increasing the nourishing oil until you feel comfortable with how your hands feel once they’re dry.
Each ingredient in this simple body wash, including the special foaming soap dispenser, may be used to make multiple other DIYs.
Rose Water may be used as a replacement to water in any DIY beauty recipe, or used as a facial toner (my favorite way to use rosewater). Witch hazel may be used as a gentle facial toner or refreshing summer spray (this spray is perfect to use after a workout). The castile soap–probably the most versatile ingredient–may be used to make multiple homemade products, from an all-purpose cleaner and dusting spray to facial wipes. Finally, the nourishing oil may be used for cooking purposes (if you use olive oil), or added to any body-care recipe, such as: facial cleanser or facial wipes.
Even the body wash itself may be used in multiple ways. I use this foaming soap during the summer as a refreshing, natural body wash, but it may also be used as hand soap or a face wash. As always, I recommend testing a small amount on your skin first before liberally using it all over your body, just to make sure it agrees with your skin, particularly if you’re going to try it out as a face wash.
Florida, let’s do this summer thing! I’m ready for you.
Easy DIY Foaming Body Wash (Multi-Purpose)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rosewater
- 1/3 cup alcohol-free witch hazel
- 2 TB baby mild castile soap
- 1-2 TB jojoba oil or almond or olive oil (optional)
- foaming soap dispenser Without this product the body wash is very watery.
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a foaming soap dispenser, adding the castile soap as the last ingredient.
- Gently shake the bottle, with the top on, to combine the ingredients. Store the body wash for up to 3 weeks.
To Use:
- Press the pump down to dispense the body wash. Use your hand, a washcloth, or a puff to massage the body wash over the skin. This body wash may also be used as hand soap or a face wash.
hi! love this recipe! would this work as a no rinse option? or do you have any suggestions on how to make your own no rinse body wash? thank you!
I haven’t heard of a no-rinse body wash. So I’m not much help with that.
LS Team
Thank you for another great recipe! I have been using this body wash for a few months now and I am curious if you know of any bulk options for the alcohol free witch hazel that you trust. Just trying to save money where I can. Thanks!
Does the foaming body wash separate after sitting for awhile?
Hey Bev-Ann, It will. You’ll want to shake the bottle to combine.
Have you found any success adding a liquid lecithin or any other natural emulsifier to both hand soap and body wash? If so, how much? All my soaps separate so much, it’s hard to shake the dispenser if I’m trying to wash my hands after touching raw meat, for example. Would love to find a way to keep it all blended together.
I added 1 Tbsp glycerin and 1/4 tsp xanthan gum to this and it worked pretty well. Mix the gum into the oil completely, then into the rest of the mixture. DO NOT mix the gum with water first or it will clump.
Making this for a second time! We all enjoyed it the first time around. However, mine smelled very much like olive oil last time. I don’t remember if I used 1 or 2 T last time. What do You think about using vitamin E as a sub?
Hey Ticia, You definitely could try vitamin E. I would decrease the amount to just a teaspoon or two.
Hi!
I am trying to make a natural facewash with Meyenberg canned goat’s milk and Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap. I was going to put sweet almond oil and AMTicide Coconut with Leucidal SF to preserve it for a month. Can I do that?
Hey Sasha, Using milks always concerns me for longer term use, so I’m not sure. Maybe contact the preservative company?
I made this a few days ago with 1 tablespoon olive oil & citrus Dr. Bronner’s Castile. Finally!!! A soap that doesn’t leave my hands feeling tight & chapped!! This is the first time all winter that I haven’t had to slather on lotion every time I wash my hands. Thank you so much!
I wanted to add that I used distilled water instead of rose water so the scents wouldn’t clash. The citrus smells so good!
Yay, Julie! That’s awesome.
After trying this at the sink for a few days I decided to give it a try in the shower. Oh my word! That’s the first time that it’s ever felt like my skin sighed with relief after I dried off! Bath & Body Works and Dove have nothing on how this soothes. The citrus smelled so good in the steamy shower too. 🙂
Yay, Julie! That’s so great to hear.
Hi my name is Sheila, do you have any recipes for using goats milk in the body wash? I am using goats milk and oatmeal soap but I prefer body wash. Thanks
Hey Sheila, I don’t have any recipes.
Hi there, wondering if I could sub Sunflower oil for the almond oil as I tend to break out easily.
Hey Emily, Yes, you could.
What do you think about adding a little silk peptide in the recipe ?? do you think it will make a ‘softer/silkier’ body wash ??
Hey Wendy, I’m not sure about that. Sorry
Hey there,
Thank you for sharing your recipes! I love the Apple Cider Vinegar Toner.
Would it be possible to infuse the Rosewater in tea leaves, such as White Willow Bark or Chamomile? Or perhaps simply distilled water infused with a tea of choice? I’m seeking a recipe to help treat my hormonal bacne.
All the best x
…just wondering if you think it might work? x
Hey Kim, I apologize for missing your comment. I think you could infuse the distilled water, but I think infusing may also reduce the shelf-life.
Hi, can the foaming body wash also be used as a hair shampoo?
Just like to say that I love your website. The quick dish soap is brilliant, as is the powdered toilet cleaner. I put the powder in an empty Vim container, but I don’t know if you can get Vim in America (I live in the UK).
Next to try is the laundry powder.
Please keep the good work, and thank you.
Awesome, Tracy! I’m so glad you’re enjoy the recipes. I haven’t had much success with using castile soap on my hair. You’re welcome to try it.
Hello,
Seems I’m late to the party. I just stumbled on your page and super excited to make the mix
Just a couple of questions. Can I use deionised water for this?
Also if I don’t use any water at all, Can use rose water as the only liquid but still add lemon essential oil?
Hope I’m making sense? Thanks
Hey Amina, I believe deionised water is the same as purified water? If so, you can use that. Yes, you could use rose water as the only liquid, and yes to lemon essential oil. Just be careful with sun exposure when using lemon essential oil on the skin.
For the toothpaste, do you mean use vegetable glycerin to replace coconut oil or just addition? THanks.
Hey Marina, I think you could use it as a replacement. I haven’t tried it, but that’s my best guess.
In the lotion recipe, will aloe gel instead of aloe juice cause the mold ?
Also, did you try Hemp seed oil or Camellia oil for your lotion? I heard some good things about them.
Sorry, One more question. for your tooth paste recipe, is there any oil can replace coconut oil? I live in cold place, coconut oil is very solid in the normal temperature.
Many many thanks.
Hey Marina, I’m not sure about the aloe gel, since most contain preservatives. That may work, but I’m not sure since I’ve never tried it. I’ve never tried hemp or camellia in the lotion–my only concern is they may be a bit too heavy for a lotion recipe. I don’t have enough experience with either oil to know if this would be true.
For the toothpaste, you could try vegetable glycerin–that may work without clogging any drains. There are quite a few natural toothpaste companies who use glycerin as the base liquid in their recipes.