Natural Body Wash
A moisturizing liquid body wash made with castile soap, honey, and coconut oil
5 min beginner Yields 8 oz bottle
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Liquid castile soap
- 1 tbsp Raw honey
- 1 tsp Coconut oil (melted)
- 10 drops Lavender essential oil (optional)
- 1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil (optional, as a natural preservative)
Steps
- Melt the coconut oil until liquid but not hot.
- In a clean 8 oz squeeze bottle, combine the castile soap and honey.
- Add the melted coconut oil and vitamin E oil.
- Add lavender essential oil if desired.
- Cap and gently turn back and forth to combine. Avoid shaking hard.
- Squeeze a quarter-sized amount onto a wet washcloth or loofah, lather, and rinse.
Why It Works
Castile soap lifts dirt and oil without sulfates. Raw honey is a humectant that draws moisture from the air into skin, preventing post-wash tightness. Coconut oil replenishes the skin’s moisture barrier. Vitamin E conditions skin and slows rancidity, extending shelf life.
Alternative
- Replace honey with 1 tablespoon of pure aloe vera gel for a vegan version. Aloe provides similar humectant properties and adds soothing benefits for irritated skin.
- Swap lavender essential oil for peppermint (8 drops) for an invigorating morning body wash. Peppermint creates a mild cooling sensation on the skin.
- For very dry skin, increase coconut oil to 2 teaspoons. The body wash will be slightly thinner but more moisturizing.
Tips
- Shake gently before each use, as honey and oil may separate.
- In cold weather, run the bottle under warm water if the coconut oil solidifies.
- Use within 2-3 months (vitamin E extends shelf life to about 3 months).