This recipe has won me over. Or rather, it has won my skin over. Taking us off the more commercial versions of certain body products has been very hard. It’s really hard when you miss the lather of a good bottle of brand name body wash….what I don’t miss is the dry, tight and very itchy skin. I am just not a bar soap user in the shower. I’ve tried making my own before, but hadn’t gotten the right proportions. Or ingredients. The key in the body wash is the added glycerin. It gives it that lather that so many natural or homemade products is missing.
Citrus Body Wash
Ingredients:
- 8-ounce squeeze or pump bottle
- ½ cup liquid Castile soap, preferably unscented*
- ¼ cup vegetable glycerin
- 3 Tbsp fractionated coconut oil
- 10 drops orange essential oil*
- 10 drops lemon essential oil*
Directions:
Using a small funnel, add the ingredients. Seal the bottle, and shake gently to combine.
In shower, use a shower pouf and add a quarter size amount, lather up and scrub up!
Gently shake bottle each time before use, as it will separate. Shelf life? No different from other body washes.
I’ve tried a number of liquid Castile soaps, not all are equal. Some are really thick and leave an unpleasant scum on the skin, others have many oils added in, so read carefully (such as Dr. Bronners). The Desert Essence unscented I used in this recipe has a very short ingredient list, and the oils in it are safe on our youngest son, with his allergies. (Castile Soap (Water (Aqua), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Tall Oil (Pine Oil), Potassium Hydroxide), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil) The soap is thinner, and washes off easily. It does have a faint scent of the tea tree oil, but I don’t mind that, it plays well with citrus.
Don’t worry about adding the coconut oil, it really leaves your skin soft – and not greasy.
The amount of essential oils is up to you, you might want more. Add, shake, and smell. The smell is more potent when it is under warm water.
Disclaimer:
No claims are made as to any medicinal value of this oil. The information presented here is for educational purposes of traditional uses and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. Information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for medical or professional advice. Keep essential oils out of reach of children. Should you have a pre-existing medical condition, please consult your trusted health-care practitioner before using these products. Pregnant women should exercise caution when using essential oils. By using this site, you agree to indemnify administrators and owners for any and all responsibility regarding your wellbeing.