DIY All-Natural Rich & Creamy Moisturizing Hand Soap
Body DIY DIY Skincare & Beauty Natural DIY
Want to know a super-crunchy secret? I bring my own hand soap to work.
I’m telling you this because I figure if there’s anyone out there who won’t judge me, it’ll be someone looking for a DIY all-natural hand soap recipe 🙂
Sup, sister?
Now, it’s not just about triclosan and body burden. I mean, yes, it’s 95% about those things. But the other 5% is all about vanity — harsh antibacterial soaps really dry my hands out! I like to look down at my hands and not momentarily panic that I’ve somehow Freaky-Fridayed with a 95-year-old, thank you very much.
I’m sure you agree that hand soap must be moisturizing.
If you’ve hung around these parts for awhile now, maybe you’ve happened by my DIY antibacterial & moisturizing all-natural foaming hand soap recipe. It’s a good one.
But not everyone is into the foaming action. Or maybe you have a lovely liquid hand soap dispenser that goes super well with your bathroom. So I figured it was time for another option. Because good interior design is not to be messed with.
This DIY all-natural moisturizing hand soap is sooooo rich and creamy.
Now for awhile, I was simply mixing castile soap with water and putting it in my regular soap dispenser. But it’s way too watery. This recipe has a nice thick consistency and seems more like a “normal” hand soap. Plus unlike my foaming DIY hand soap, the ingredients in this recipe will not separate.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup water (filtered or previously boiled and now cooled to room temperature)
- ¼ cup castile soap
- 2 tbs carrier oil of choice (I like almond oil as a body moisturizer, so that’s what I used and suggest)
- 1 LEVEL teaspoon guar gum (if you add too much, your soap will be too thick)
- 15 drops essential oil of choice
NOTE: I like to make and suggest making smallish batches like this in case there is any bacteria growth. Yes, the essential oils will help preserve the soap, but better to be safe than sorry!
Directions:
Measure your carrier oil and put it in a small bowl. Stir in the guar gum until it is an even consistency. This is an important step: guar gum mixes really well with oil, but not so much with water or castile soap. So if you simply mix everything together at once, you’ll end up with a chunky mess. I warned ya!
Mix the water, castile soap, and essential oils together. Add in the carrier oil with the guar gum and continue stirring. After a minute or so, you should notice the mixture thicken considerably into a gel. Congrats! You now have a DIY all-natural rich & creamy moisturizing hand soap — pat yourself on the back while saying “I’m so clever.”
Awesome!! That’s the best thing about DIYs – you can play around with them and experiment!
I just wanted to let you know how much I love this hand soap recipe. It’s amazing! This is my third time making it. I experimented with different scents of Castile soap, essential oils and different carrier oils. I also use xanthan gum as a thickener (its what I had on hand). I know it sounds like I’ve changed the entire recipe, but you gave me the foundation!
Thank you
Dana
Hi Nadia:
Interesting that you are using Castile Soap for this – Love it (even if it’s from amazon)!
I am so excited about this recipe!!! Ive had sooo much trouble with the castile soap/ water and olive oil combo becasue its sooo watery and buying a glass dispenser that foams is nearly IMPOSSIBLE unless you buy from etsy but then again… im worried that these things might not work and im left hanging. The recipe that I was using for body wash is the same as above but with aloe vera gel. Can I make it the same way????? (crossing my fingers that you say yes! haha) My husby needs a thick body wash and thick handsoap in order tobe converted! I am not up for the challenge to make my own dispenses, and all my bathrooms already have pretty bathroom sets. Which by the way, brings me to my other question…. can you store EO in ceramic containers? like the kind that they sell in Bed bath and beyond?
thank you so much and would really appreciate the advice!
I use the castile soap I link to in the post – it lists the ingredients on the label.
Which castile soap are you using? BRAND NAME. Do know if it is gluten free?
On the EO, how do I know which ones I can use on my skin?
I am a newly diagnosed celiac and need skin & hair products that are gluten free. I have severe skin issues at this point, but they are healing more everyday. I have only made soap once in my life and it was in Girl Scouts. I learned last week that castile soap was healthy for the skin. But, without the ingredient list I can not make sure that it is gluten free. Nothing listed on wrapper
It makes about 8 oz. Hmm I wouldn’t suggest coconut oil since it solidifies at 74°F so may mess with the consistency.
Enjoy!!
I’m excited to try this, as well. I have some purple Ball jars and pumps that I plan to make for Christmas gifts. Was looking for a recipe that wasn’t too watery. This looks amazing! Will try one for myself soon.
How much does this recipe make? Wondering how much I will need to increase for the amount I plan to make.
Also, Nadia, would coconut oil work for carrier oil?
Thanks so much!!
Let me know how you like it!
I can’t wait to try this. I have a recipe that I love and it absorbs quickly into my hands since they are so dry but it lingers on my body and stays greasy. I will try this one. Thanks you!
Ooh that sounds lovely!
Thanks for the kind words – so glad you’re here 🙂
Nadia, I just found your website today and I am thrilled to read all your recipes and suggestions. Your face cleanser is alot like the one I make for myself. I did today add a smidgen of castor oil, some hemp oil and a few extra essential oils to the original recipe. My recipe is honey, glycerin, liquid castile soap, vitamin E, few drops of tea tree oil along with my favorite essential oils, frankincense, rose, geranium, lavender, ylang ylang.
Love all the information I am learning from your web site…keep up the good work!
Well we just know better than to “follow the norm” 🙂
Awesome, hope you enjoy it! And YES – it makes such a good brush cleaner! And stain remover and face wash and…
Definitely! I usually just rely on EOs for preservation but that’s something good to look into.
Thank you so much 🙂 Hmmm I’m not sure but if you experiment and find something good, let us know!
Sure, but it wouldn’t thicken it nearly as much. If you do it, report back and let us know how it works!
what are your thoughts on adding vitamin E oil for additional preservation? Do you know any references for the correct amount of vitamin E oil to add to recipes to extend shelf-life? Thanks!
Could you use vegetable glycerin and/or aloe gel instead of the guar gum?
Thank you so much for this! I really appreciate when other people talk about doing things like bringing their own soap. It can be hard to always be fighting those battles (‘yes, I’m the difficult one’) all the time and even over the internet, having someone like you reaffirm that we don’t always have to follow the norm is reassuring. As for the matter of the soaps- Yes! Castile and water is insanely too liquidy in regular pumps. I stole my Mom’s old Bath and Body Works foaming ones and that’s what I’ve been using, but I’d much rather use a pretty one with moisturizing soap. Can’t wait to try this!
PS I have found that foaming castile/water is an amazing makeup brush cleanser though. My brushes come out like new!
Is there another thickening ingredient that I could use instead of guar gum? I’d love to make this, but I don’t have guar gum on hand. I absolutely LOVE your website! Just made your foaming hand soap last night; it’s awesome!