2016 Note: This post was first published back in 2013 as I was just learning how to DIY in my bathroom. Since that time I’ve learned a lot about making homemade products, including the safety side of ingredients. While this recipe is extremely gentle and luxurious, and many folks have loved this body wash, it must be used very, very quickly due to the coconut milk. This is a fun DIY to make and freeze, and pull out in a small batches to use “in the moment.” You can find my current body wash recipe over here.
Being a mom is dirty business.
Literally.
Within a few hours minutes I can go from fresh, clean and smelling fabulous to, “When’s the last time she bathed?” How is it that every piece of dirt, marker, food crumb, and well, you know what else, ends up being worn by mom? I truly cherish the dirt and whatever else happens to find its way onto my skin, clothes, and hair, each day. Let me rephrase that. I truly cherish the little people who lovingly adorn me with such well-earned souvenirs. This OCD (or is it CDO?) woman is truly learning to embrace the dirt that comes with the role of mommy-hood.
While I truly am learning to love this stage of dirtiness and fun, I am all for a good scrub down. You’re welcome, honey.
This past year I have been challenged to “clean-up” the non-food items in our home. I’m talking about the products we use on our bodies: soaps, toothpastes, lotions, deodorants, and make-up. Anything that comes in contact with our skin and within seconds our bloodstream.
Nothing like a super clean system filled with pastured, organic meats and good fats, organic fruits, and veggies, soaked organic whole grains, fermented and proboitic goodies and then adding in a large dose of daily toxins.
As I have shared in the past, I have fallen in love with developing my own recipes for toothpaste, lotion, lip balm, and laundry soap. I’ve even ventured down the road of making my own make-up. I’ve also found a local lady who makes wonderfully nourishing homemade soaps. Life has been good.
My beloved soap lady went on vacation last month. I intended to order lots of back-ups, but life got the best
of me, and I forgot. After a few days of grieving and wondering how I would survive a month, inspiration came knocking on my natural door. I decided to try making my own soap, more of a body wash to be exact.
I have a great love for Dr. Bronner’s Soap. If you haven’t tried Dr. Bronner’s you really must. No toxic ingredients and a thousand and one uses (okay, maybe more like ten) for just one bottle of soap. This body wash uses Dr. Bronner’s as well as coconut milk as the main ingredients. Please buy real coconut milk , usually found in a can, not the coconut beverage sold in cartons.
This soap is gentle enough I have also been using it on my children. The lavender is perfect for a nighttime bath!
Nourishing Homemade Body Wash
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk canned
- 2/3 cup castile soap I prefer the lavender or Baby Mild
- 3 tsp vitamin E oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 tsp vegetable glycerin optional
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bottle. Shake and use on a washcloth.
- This body wash has a very short lifespan since it lacks preservatives and contains coconut milk, so it's best to keep this body wash in the fridge and use it within a week. If you don't think you'll use this body wash quickly, reduce the recipe, or freeze the extra in an ice cube tray to defrost in small batches. See the 2016 note below. The glycerin may be left out if you don't have any on hand. As an alternative, you can use a nourishing oil, like jojoba, almond, or olive oil.
Notes
*This recipe needs to be used quickly due to the coconut milk. If you’re looking for a body wash that can be stored at room temperature with a longer shelf-life, I recommend use this recipe.
2016 Note: This post was first published back in 2013 as I was just learning how to DIY in my bathroom. Since that time I’ve learned a lot about making homemade products, including the safety side of ingredients. While this recipe is extremely gentle and luxurious, and many folks have loved this body wash, it must be used very, very quickly due to the coconut milk. This is a fun DIY to make and freeze, and pull out in a small batches to use “in the moment.” You can find my current body wash recipe over here.
With the cleaning power of Dr. Bronner’s and the antibacterial properties and hydrating moisture of coconut milk mixed with the antioxidant powers of Vitamin E and Essential Oil, this body soap is a perfect combo for both fighting the dirt and helping this mom relax at the end of a fun, messy day.
More DIYs You May Like:
Homemade Honey and Aloe Facial Cleanser
DIY Homemade Facial Cleansing Wipes
I have really dry skin throughout the winter months so would LOVE to try this! I’m not familiar with Dr. Bronner’s soaps… where can I find these? Thanks in advance!
It’s generally found at health food stores or through sites like Amazon or Vitacost. I buy Dr. Bronner’s through Amazon.
I purchased my Dr. Bronners from Walgreens and also found it at Woodman’s grocery store and Target. Look around, you might be surprised where all it can be found.
That’s awesome, Lori! I’m so glad Dr. Bronners is becoming more main stream. Thanks for sharing.
I am excite to try this! If I don’t have coconut milk could I sub coconut oil?
Hi Kate, The coconut oil will leave your skin very oily vs. the coconut milk which won’t leave any oily residue. I think the coconut milk really needs to be used. 🙂
Hello, can I use goat milk over coconut milk I’m allergic to coconut.
I’m not sure, however, if you try it, I would definitely refrigerate it.
This recipe is just what I’ve been looking for–natural, hydrating for winter, and frugal (I love Dr. bronner’s but need to make it stretch). I want to make this tomorrow but don’t have Vitamin E. Would almond oil work? I do have that on hand. Thanks in advance!
Sorry for the delayed response as I was out of town. Almond oil would work wonderfully.
Great. Thanks and no problem! I’m going to try to whip up a batch tonight. 🙂
Kristin-
With the coconut in this recipe does it need to be refrigerated? That would be a pain to have to remember to get the soap out of the fridge. It does sound luxurious!!! If we can keep it in the shower, how long will it last?
Thanks for so many great ideas on how to live a chemical less (impossible to be free) life!!!
Linda
Sorry…..I just saw in the above comments that we can leave in in the shower! Thanks!
Glad you found the answer 🙂
Edited November 2015: This body wash has a very short lifespan since it lacks preservatives, so it’s best to keep this body wash in the fridge and just pull out a little as needed. I use this within 2 weeks and freeze the extra, if needed. If you don’t think you’ll use this body wash quickly, reduce the recipe by half or make this recipe: https://livesimply.me/2014/10/30/diy-homemade-kids-body-wash/ (which doesn’t require the extra handling precautions).
A refreshing and simple way to be clean and do it economically. Enjoying your site.
I made this today for my 5 year old & myself (hubby isn’t into it), but we love it. It was quick, easy & of course all natural. Thanks so much!!!!!
Yay! So happy to hear. My husband isn’t a fan, but the kids and I love it!
As a skin care specialist and certified aesthetician, I know that our skin has an acid protection of about a 4.5 pH. Anything alkaline strips this protective natural mantle and leaves our skin open to anything until it can replace a new one. Dr. Bonner’s Catsille soap is the most extreme alkaline ingredient you can put on the skin or hair. It turns a litmus strip the darkest purple black immediately.
Dr. Bronner’s is composed of essential oils and other oils which have been used traditionally. I feel much better using such a product on my family and myself than any store-bought soap. I would love to here your suggestions for a good, natural, healthy soap alternative. Please share. Thanks 🙂
I’m late to this party. But, I love your body wash/shampoo! I also just pH tested it and mine came out at 7, which is neutral. The Dr. Bronner’s might be very alkaline, but the coconut milk fixes that nicely. I’ll take a product that should be just a tad bit more acidic in order to avoid the chemicals. This is a great recipe that won’t damage skin or hair. I’ve been trying to go no poo and natural for all personal care products and this recipe just gave me a big boost. Follow with a vinegar/water rinse for perfect hair. Thanks!
You’re welcome, Linda. Thank you for sharing the PH information! Enjoy the body wash!!
How does it compare with commercial body washes? Are they pH balanced and if so, how? If some kind of citrus acid was introduced to this would it improve the pH balance?
No attack on what you’ve just said because I think it’s completely legitimate, but I feel like every “natural” body/hair/etc treatment I’ve read about includes someone commenting on how, due to pH, it is actually really bad for your hair/skin/etc but what we don’t know is, is it worse than commercial products?
I find this body wash suds just like store-bought without the yuck factor of all the questionable ingredients. I would not be concerned about the PH balance issue. Commercial products are not ideal, IMO. If you don’t feel comfortable using homemade products, sticking with store-bought products is probably your best option.
Che, I have VERY dry skin and would also love to know any natural alternatives you can offer! I hate that my skin always feels stripped and tight/dry/scaly.
How did this recipe work for you? I find the coconut milk helps with moisture 🙂
It’s definitely different than most store bought washes. My skin doesn’t necessarily feel stripped, but if I try to shave with it on my legs, it almost feels as though the razor is “catching” on my skin. It doesn’t glide smoothly. The wash seems to leave a sort of sticky film. It’s hard to explain. I’m still using it. As I said, my skin doesn’t feel stripped, which is LOVELY 🙂 Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Glad to hear. Just wondered if it might help 🙂
I make a shaving gel that makes my skin feel better than before I shaved. I mix 1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel, 1/4 cup Liquid Castile Soap, unscented, 1/4 cup distilled water, 1 Tbs Olive Oil, and a few drops of Vitamin E. I keep it in a glass jar, and put some in another container when heading for a shower and shave.
That’s a great recipe, Shauna! Thank you for sharing.
For shaving, this is my all-time favourite natural shaving butter! It goes on smoothly, is great for sensitive skin, and can even be used for body wash and covering body in the final wash in shower and keeps skin soft after! I have yet to figure out how I can make this on my own. I love theirs so much I just buy it and it lasts a long time! Pink Sugar is a scrumptious fragrance!
http://soapstones.myshopify.com/products/372
I’ve added raw honey to homemade shampoo to balance the pH and I bet that it would help with the alkaline pH of the Dr. Bronner’s in this recipe too.
Thank you for sharing, Erin.
Will this burn baby’s/kid’s eyes?
I would avoid getting it in their eyes. It wouldn’t be pleasant, however, I use it on my kids nightly and they love it and haven’t had any burning eyes.
I’m just worried about it dripping down when washing their hair… or when the baby is having a splash-a-thon in the tub!
In what sort of bottle do you store the wash? I’ve read that plastic is a “no no” with products containing essential oils. I’m a newbie to homemade body care, so all suggestions are welcome!
I haven’t heard about the plastic before. I have been using a plastic bottle and it seems to be working just fine. You could use a mason jar and find a pour spout to attach to the top.
The only time plastic is bad is if you are using citrus oils…they leach out the toxins in the plastic…as long as they aren’t citrus plastic is fine!
Can I make it without the essential oils?
Yes, you can. I add the essential oils just to give it a great smell, which is pretty much already there from the Dr. Bronners.
This stuff is amazing…i used coconut glycern instead and it turned out just fine.Thanks for sharing…
Awesome, Michelle. Enjoy!!
Does this mix need to be stored in the fridge or can it be left at room temp?
You can store it in the bathroom, no need for refrigeration as long as you are using it and it isn’t sitting for months 🙂
Edited November 2015: This body wash has a very short lifespan since it lacks preservatives, so it’s best to keep this body wash in the fridge and just pull out a little as needed. I use this within 2 weeks and freeze the extra, if needed. If you don’t think you’ll use this body wash quickly, reduce the recipe by half or make this recipe: https://livesimply.me/2014/10/30/diy-homemade-kids-body-wash/ (which doesn’t require the extra handling precautions).
Hi Kristen,
Is there a “shelf life”? I’ve tripled the recipe (because I LOVE it SO much!) to put in an extra Dr. Bronner’s bottle and I’m wondering if I should be concerned about bacteria growth.
Thanks for an awesome recipe!
Hey Gennifer, I’m so glad you love the body wash!! The vitamin E works as a preservative, but I’m not sure for how long. If you make extra I’d probably keep half the body wash in the fridge (using the other half) until needed.
first, i want to say i enjoy your blog. 🙂 i tried making this body wash as it sounded great, but it was thin and i was also concerned that i couldn’t keep it in the fridge because it solidified when i tried that (i made liquid castile soap from kirk’s coconut bars which probably caused it to solidify).
i started thinking more about the shelf life of a product with water, not even considering that milk is also problematic. from all the info i am reading 1-2 weeks is okay for products with water or milk *if they are refrigerated*. unrefrigerated would be quite a breeding ground for (invisible) bacteria which the vitamin e oil doesn’t address (it only helps oils to not become rancid.) i think if you can keep this body wash in the fridge it will be okay for 1 to 2 weeks. i may try making a true liquid castile soap from only olive oil soap and see if that will keep it liquid in the fridge.
here is a great article on shelf life of homemade products and using natural preservatives: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/07/natural-product.html
this article will probably scare the socks off you like it did me, but i think it is important info. note that some folks ended up in the ICU with a deadly bacteria from using a moisturizing body milk. the article itself reviews a bunch of preservatives, both natural & synthetic by a cosmetic chemist. http://www.makingskincare.com/preservatives/
as for me i think i am staying away from using anything with water (including milk, aloe vera, etc) or a hydrosol (floral waters) unless it can be refrigerated. i love making my own products but it can be quite the learning curve.
Hey Linda, It’s so great to hear you’re enjoying Live Simply! And thank you for sharing the info!
While this product doesn’t contain water, like you said, anything using tap water is best used within a couple of weeks. The liquid in this recipe is coconut milk, which should also be used quickly (this isn’t a long-term body wash recipe, unless you freeze the extra). When making a body wash with water (https://livesimply.me/2014/10/30/diy-homemade-kids-body-wash/), distilled or boiled water is a great alternative since tap water already contains bacteria (mostly good, but some can be bad and breed future bacteria growth).
I think there’s a lot of scary info out there–including scary information about green onions from a grocery store, eating out, meat handling, etc. Even the baby food pouches (the ones with fruit puree/applesauce inside) have been found to contain mold/bacteria in rare cases. As long as you’re handling the products safely and using homemade products quickly (when using fragile ingredients or tap water), I believe they are definitely not something to be feared.
hi kristin. thanks for responding. 🙂 yes, using distilled water does help some and i’d always recommend using it over tap water in homemade products. your coconut milk does contain water as one of its main ingredients. i’ve checked a bunch of websites (among them makingskincare.com, fromnaturewithlove.com, naturalbeautyworkshop.com, soapmakingforum.com and the books EcoBeauty and The Green Beauty Guide), and they are pretty much in agreement that the 1-2 weeks for products containing water is to be stored in the refrigerator. some actually recommend less time and for perishable food items it is 3-4 days or some say up to 1 week in the fridge. if you have different info from other sources i’d certainly be willing to take a look as i admit i’m still learning about all this.
think of it this way: it isn’t much different than consuming perishable foods or water. just as you wouldn’t open that can of coconut milk, pour it into a jar, leave it sitting on your counter for 1-3 weeks and then drink it, it really isn’t safe to slather it on your skin when you’re actually trying to get clean. there is just too much bacteria in it now even though yes some of it will be good bacteria.
products that get taken into the shower like body washes and body scrubs get mentioned in particular as being easier to contaminate despite our best efforts because of the water & bacteria in the shower and on our wet fingers. i’m not suggesting anything like using parabens but just pointing out what seem to be general shelf life guidelines for homemade beauty products.
i do encourage you to do some more research on all this, especially if you are selling any recipes in your ebook with water or perishable food items. all the sources i mentioned above recommend at a minimum being much stricter in your guidelines, and usually using at least natural preservatives when giving away products to friends or when selling them, because others won’t generally be as diligent as the person making the products in using them safely.
sorry, for the essay. i just would hate to see you or anyone else get sick from using a contaminated product. God bless.
Thanks so much, Linda. I appreciate the words of caution and research. Safety and research are always my top concerns when it comes to making homemade products for my family (and sometimes those are shared on the blog after use, research, and retesting) or purchasing products. The cleaning ebook contains an entire chapter on safety and storage.
I love the lavender recipe, but do you have any scent recommendations to make a more manly version?
I love this question! Great idea! Here are a few suggestions: Bergamot, Sandalwood and Patchouli and you can also throw in a little pine needle essential oil. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this. I make one similar to this but without the coconut milk. I bet this will smell amazing. My husband likes when I use Dr. Bronner’s Almond Castile soap. I am getting low, so I will try this and I have all the ingredients.
I am just curious as to finding any “natural” body wash that does NOT include coconut oil. I am allergic to all variations of it and I find that everything that is considered “natural” has it included as an ingredient. Do you have a suggestion?
You can try Dr. Bronner’s with the other ingredients and leave out the milk.
I have yet to find a Dr. Bronner’s product that doesn’t include coconut oil, milk, hydrogenated, cocomide MEA/DEA, or cocamidopropyl betaine. Any suggestions, if the Dr. Bronner or any product eliminates the coconut oil derivatives all together?
I am sorry I misunderstood your question. Here are the ingredients on my bottle: Water, Saponified Coconut-Hemp-Olive Oils (with retained Glycerin), Olive Fatty Acids, Lavandin & Lavender Oils, Rosemary Extract.
instead of using coconut try coco butter or shea butter and a lil steric acid which acts as a cleaning agent
Mary…there are a number of recipes out there for making your own Castile Soap. They tend to make a lot, but you have control over the ingredients. The one here (http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Lye-Free-Liquid-Castile-Soap-from-your-Kitc/) has only 3 ingredients…olive oil, KOH and water. Glycerin can be added to sudsing purposes.
Good Luck.
I like Dr. Bronner’s, but I can’t use it in a facewash bc it makes the inside corners of my eyes itch like crazy! Is anyone using a good recipe they made and are happy with?
I am very happy with this body wash. The diluted Dr. Bronner’s doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin at all. I even use it on my kids and in their hair! If it bothers your eyes it may be the oils in it? They can be strong. I use just coconut oil for cleaning my face. I only use this on my body (and my kids’ hair).
Would you recommend this for hair too?
I saw you use it on your kids hair; these ingredients look like they would be great on hair.
Hey FLOR, My kids do very well with the kid-version body wash recipe as a shampoo (which is very similar to this recipe minus the coconut milk). Personally, my hair always turns out very greasy when I use this for shampoo. I think everyone is probably different. My hair is naturally pretty greasy, so maybe that’s the reason castile soap doesn’t agree with it.
why not just use Dr Bronners?
Dr. Bronner’s alone really irritates my skin. Plus the coconut milk adds some more antibacterial qualities and moisturizes.
I am excited to try it as well. Not a huge list of ingredients and seems simple – so great! Wonder if it will bubble up for bubble bath for my 3 year old? That would be a perfect mix for him instead of what I use now – slowly trying to find other better choices for everything, but it can be overwhelming to say the least!
I love the bubble bath idea! I would probably add a bit more glycerin just for the added bubbles. I would love to know how it turns out!
can’t wait to try this, I already have all the ingredients:)
You will love it! I am looking forward to experimenting in the future with different Essential Oils too.
How long will this last considering the coconut milk?
I use it within a few weeks of making (2-3 weeks) between using it on myself and my kids. You can also cut the amount in half for each ingredient as it is so easy to make and takes just a couple minutes to shake together and store the extra coconut milk in the fridge till it’s time to make a new batch.
I have 400 IU Vitamin E capsules but I see the one you are recommending is 32,000 IU. What is the difference and will mine be an effective preservative seeing it’s less? Will I need to use more than the recipe states?
Hey Andrea, I prefer the vitamin E listed for DIY recipes (due to consistency), but I’ve used many different IUs with great success for skincare. The IU levels, to my understanding and research, apply to how much someone should take internally as a supplement. Here’s a chart: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-vitamin-e. As long as the vitamin E is not synthetic, it will work great in this recipe.
Hello,
I am looking for a wipe or spray to put on my 8 year old son after he wrestles and/or between matches. Would this be a good option for this recipe? I am trying to find a natural way to replicate this product: http://www.matguardusa.com/matguard-for-athletes.html
Thank you SO much!
Hi there. As a nurse, I see a lot of infections, as you can imagine. I have boys and understand how icky they can be. I would suggest avoiding products like this for several reasons. Alcohol is very drying, and can irritate the skin, making it even more prone to infection. Harsh chemicals and anti-bacterial products are part of the reason we have things like MRSA to begin with. You can make homemade wipes similar to the cleaning wipes on this blog that would do a fabulous job of cleansing and balancing your son’s skin. I would use a weak apple cider vinegar solution with aloe, witch hazel, a nourishing oil like coconut (which has antibacterial properties of its own) or Tamanu oil (Great for skin and BO) and essential oils designed to manage microbes. Tea tree, lavender, cloves, and many others would be good choices. You can experiment and come up with a nice smell that does the job. Just remember that they are not all ideal for every skin type, and it doesn’t take much. They can irritate the skin if it is too concentrated. I like orange, cloves, Rosemary, and frankincense on guys, with maybe a drop or two of cinnamon. I made a nice aftershave with those for my guys. Look up thieves oil and play with that. It is highly anti-microbial, and you can make it yourself to add to your wipes. I use it around the house in my all purpose cleanser, and it leaves things smelling like cloves and lemons, plus it kills the germs. Maybe Kristen can help us out! Good luck!
Great tips, Sheila! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Do you have to have the Vit.E oil and the essential oils?
Hey Anna, You can skip them :).