By Betsy Jabs
This homemade face wash is a natural DIY face wash that works great, is inexpensive, and easy to make. You can also tailor it to your specific skin type.
For years I used commercial face wash products without looking at the ingredients. (Sigh.) Back then I suppose I was enticed by the care-free, flawless-skinned, flowing-hair teenage beauties bouncing around in their commercials. I thought they could have been my friends. I wanted to hang out in brightly-colored bathrobes and splash our faces, talk on the phone, or whisper secrets that would make us roll on the floor laughing – all while upbeat music played in the background. (What were they always laughing about???)
I was a serious sucker for advertising.
Making Homemade Face Wash
Maybe those commercial beauties were laughing about the ingredients! And the suckers like myself who would be buying the product.
Now that I have more knowledge about the ingredients used by multinational corporations, I’m more selective about the personal care products I use, and usually, prefer to make my own.
Focus on Ingredients
Want to know about some of the ingredients that may be lurking in your innocent little bottle of store-bought face wash? How does DMDM hydantoin, a formaldehyde-releasing ingredient, sound? Or maybe you want synthetic colorants in your face wash? Like the D&C or FD&C varieties that are continuously tested on animals due to their carcinogenic properties. No? Well, maybe you’ll want a synthetic fragrance in your facial wash, which has been linked to allergies, dermatitis, respiratory problems, or possible effects on the reproductive system.
Ummmm… I’m pretty certain there would not be such glamorous commercials on TV for certain skin care products if the truth about ingredients was advertised!
I’m no longer willing to spend even a few dollars on ingredients like these. On the other hand, purchasing a quality organic or natural facial cleanser can almost break the bank; when I checked the natural facial cleansers at my local health food store prices ranged from $8-$26! (And I know other products can cost much more.)
Homemade Face Wash
I’m no longer convinced that even the expensive natural products contain magical ingredients to solve all of my skin problems (or friendship problems). Some of them appeared to be the consistency of castile soap, very runny and yellow-tinted. And what do you know, the first ingredient in most of them was castile soap, followed by ingredients such as aloe vera gel, essential oils, Vitamin E, vegetable glycerin, etc. Not such an intimidating list of ingredients.
You can make your own DIY face wash!
Even though I keep all the aforementioned items on hand in my house these days, I decided to I keep it very simple and mixed up the following recipe for my combination skin. The chamomile tea and other simple, gentle ingredients make it perfect for sensitive skin, but this DIY face wash can be tailored to meet the needs of your exact skin type – I’ll show you how in a bit.
Homemade Face Wash: A Natural DIY Face Wash Recipe
Yield 4 ounces
Ingredients
- ¼ cup liquid castile soap (where to buy organic liquid castile soap)
- ¼ cup brewed organic chamomile tea (for its anti-inflammatory properties)
- ¾ teaspoon grapeseed, sweet almond, hazelnut, avocado, or olive oil (where to buy these carrier oils)
- 8 drops essential oils (where to buy 100% pure essential oils)
- several drops of Vitamin E oil - optional, but recommended (where to buy Vitamin E oil)
Instructions
- Brew a cup of strong chamomile tea and set aside ¼ cup to cool. (Enjoy the rest of the tea while you're mixing together this recipe!)
- Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and add tea when completely cooled.
- Mix ingredients well and pour into a small squirt bottle or pump bottle. Be sure to label your container. This recipe makes about 4 ounces of homemade face wash.
Using Your Homemade Face Wash:
Squirt DIY face wash into hands or washcloth and gently wash face. Rinse well. Follow with your typical toner and/or moisturizing routine.
Notes
Variations
- Use your favorite essential oil (EO) to benefit your particular skin type.
- For OILY skin use an astringent or antiseptic EO like tea tree, bergamot, geranium, or lemongrass.
- If you have DRY skin, choose a more mild EO like sandalwood, chamomile, lavender, or rose.
- For MATURE skin, use an oil that is known for stimulating new cell growth such as lavender, neroli, jasmine, or geranium. Adding several drops of Vitamin E oil to the mixture will also nourish mature skin.
- Substitute rose water, distilled water, or pure aloe vera gel for the chamomile tea.
- If using chamomile EO feel free to use plain distilled water instead of chamomile tea.
- Scented liquid Castile soaps will also work great in this recipe. Feel free to omit essential oils if using a scented soap.
(Find 100% pure essential oils here.)
Homemade Face Wash Video
Other Uses for Homemade Face Wash
This facial cleanser also makes a great makeup remover! Avoid getting in your eyes.
You can mix up similar versions of this, diluting it more if you like, and use as a body wash. Keep some in a repurposed sports bottle with a squirt top in the shower. (Be sure to label it well so family members don’t quench their thirst with it during a hot shower!)
Additional DIY Face Wash Notes
Castile soap can be purchased online or at most health food stores but is also becoming widely available at chains like Target, Kroger, or WalMart. I prefer to purchase mine at local health food stores where I can bring my own container and refill for about half the price of purchasing a brand new bottle.
Essential oils can also be purchased (and smelled before purchasing!) at most health food stores. You can find good quality, reasonably priced essential oils online here.
This homemade face wash can be stored for at least a few weeks. Natural preservatives can be added to extend the shelf life. Try a few drops of Vitamin E oil as a preservative. Refrigerating the homemade face wash will also extend its shelf life.
My skin loves this DIY face wash, and I hope you’ll give it a shot if you’ve been looking for a good natural alternative!
Note: Find more homemade beauty recipes here.
Warning about essential oils: Always use caution and care when handling these pure plant extracts. If you’re using a particular essential oil for the first time, always perform a patch test to check for an allergic reaction. If pregnant or nursing, consult your health care practitioner before using essential oils.
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References:
- EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, from the Environmental Working Group
- The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, by Julia Lawless
Thank you for this recipe! I live the eco-friendly lifestyle and I have a question. If my skin is very dry, can I use orange essential oil?
Now this is what I call fine material. This lets you know that there are still good subject material publishers on the web.
Thanks for this recipe. I know it is an older post, but it was just in an email I got so I just made it. I used Rosehip seed oil for the oil, and added 2 drops each of Helichrysum, geranium, frankincense and carrot seed. These are all great for the skin, especially the face. I bought a great little foaming pump bottle on Amazon, which I absolutely LOVE! It is plastic, but it has the proper ratios for a foaming pump for soap. (I have several of them!)
Here is the link.
Thanks for this recipe. I usually just use my facial oil to clean my face, but sometimes wish I had a regular facial wash, and this is it!!!
I have only just noticed the number 54 at the top, it is not very visible, maybe they should have written it using miniature orangesnow jackets or even just send up a flare.
Real nice design and style and good written content , nothing at all else we need : D.
It has been over a year since using this face wash recipe. I use the chamomile tea, castile soap, 3/4 tsp hemp seed oil and a little rose hip oil. When I first saw this post I thought it was crazy to wash your face with a recipe that had oils in it. But I tried it and it made a huge difference right away. I struggle with hormonal cystic acne. Along with balancing my hormones with diet and exercise, I’ve noticed a huge difference using this face wash. When I have been traveling or unexpectedly don’t have my diy face wash with me and use store bought versions, it dries out my skin, kicks up my oil production, and causes new breakouts/clogs in my pores. Even store bought moisturizers that I thought were labeled non-comedogenic, react to my skin. I’m not sure what ingredients in them cause this, but I’m so thankful for stumbling upon this website and recipe. Thank you so much for sharing!! If there is anyone out there reading these comments thinking of trying this recipe out, I highly suggest it! I chose oils and essential oils that had 0-1 comedogenic rating. For my acne prone skin, the hemp seed oil and argan oil has a 0 rating. Using them on my skin has never made me break out. Make sure to use quality ingredients and you have nothing to worry about.
This does interest me
I am a migrainuer using the facial cleanser for IT Cosmetics for $38 a jar. It is the only “soap” that I have been able to clean my face with – I am anxious to round up the items and make your recipe!
Onto my next problem. I live close to Las Vegas and have really dry skin on my body. I have NEVER been able to use a body moisturizer that won’t give me a migraine. Do you have any recipes for moisturizers?
+Betsy Jabs, thanks! And thanks for sharing your great posts every week!
Did I miss the toner recipe?
No, I don’t actually have a toner recipe on the website yet. However, my favorite is to mix witch hazel with things that are good for the complexion, like pure aloe vera gel, a little lemon juice, rosewater, etc. Hope this helps!
I use applesider vinegar ( the one with the Mother ) and Rooibos tea. I sometimes infuse the Rooibos tea with fresh mint/Bulbine Frutescens/ fresh Lavender ,and I add a view drops of essential oils. Go slow on the Apple sider vinegar in the beginning, it takes time to get used to the smell –but it is excellent for skin care and takes only a few seconds to evaporate
I have Castile bar soap available and didn’t want to go out for more, is there a way to use this in your recipe? I’m excited to try it but the only way I can get the liquid is to order online…I don’t want to wait!
Sure Tami! You can grate a tablespoon of your bar soap, and cover it with 1/2 cup hot tea (or hot water). Stir it until the grated soap is melted, then allow it to set up overnight. It will thicken by morning, and if it’s too thick just add a little more water until it’s the thickness you like. Then you can add the remaining ingredients and mix well.