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 π
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 β 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:
- Β½Β cup water (filtered or previously boiled and now cooled to room temperature)
- ΒΌ 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 β pat yourself on the back while saying “I’m so clever.”
Can you suggest an amount for using liquid castle soap? Or does it have to be the solid bar and water?
-Thank you BTW! Your blog is still the one I always come back to since you were the first one to inspire me to go chemical free, and I am so thankful you put the time and effort into these homemade recipes that would cause me a headache to figure out.
Yes, you will just need to melt it into hot water. I am unsure of the amounts, but I’m sure someone has it somewhere!
Hi can i replace castile liquid with castile bar? please advise.
Hey there! I am absolutely loving your website and all of your DIY recipes. I have about half a dozen saved to mix when my amazon order finally gets here. (:
I’m hoping you might have a recipe or suggestions for me: My mother has very dry, sensitive skin. Even in the summertime, she has dry, cracked hands, and her sensitive skin doesn’t even tan very well. She usually ends up with sun poisoning and then it fades back to a pearly, freckly white. Every night, I watch her grab a giant bottle of store-bought lotion (chock full of nasties) and wish I could find a more natural substitute for her. She’s big into eating clean and green, and I’ve even managed to talk her into using coconut oil on a daily basis for face wash and other little things. My problem is that she’s so particular about her lotions. She doesn’t like the greasy feel of most lotions, and since she has a habit of touching her eyes/face, it needs to be safe for that as well. Even with her favorite lotion, her eyes get irritated if she rubs them at night.
I saw your recipe for antibacterial and moisturizing hand sanitizer that I plan to make her for Christmas, but I was wondering if you had a recipe just for lotion. A super hydrating, non-greasy, not super oily hand lotion.
As I said, I love your site and look forward to using a lot of the recipes you have available. And I look forward to hearing back from you!
Thanks!
Megan
I have no clue what that is but you can do whatever your heart desires.
I know the purpose is to be an all natural soap….. But, could a preservative such as germaben2 be used to extend the shelf life????
No clue! If you try it, please let us know.
Can I use agar agar instead of guar gum?
Ohh no. You always have to be VERY careful with DIYs that contain water. I’d make them right before you intend to give them as gifts and instruct whoever you’re giving them to to you them within a couple months.
Am making your hand soap to give as Christmas gifts. What is the shelf life? If I make them in October/November will they still be good at Christmas time?
Awesome, so glad to hear it!! Enjoy π
I have been looking for something that was as similar feeling to “normal” hand soap and THIS. IS. IT! Fantastic recipe and one I will definitely be using it again in the future. Thank you! π
Yes, it could if you need it for body acne. I’d change the EOs if that’s not an issue for you!
Me again! Another question: Can your clarifying foaming face wash be used as a body wash as well? I’m trying to minimize the number of products I have to make π
Thanks!!
Yes, it totally would! And thank YOU!!
Ooh that sounds like a good one! I need to look into that shea castile soap. Glad you’re enjoying it… this is one of my favorites too π
Hand soap, face soap, shave soap… Awesome. Thank you, Nadia.
I used shea butter castle soap (Dr. Wood’s). My essential oils were 12 drops lavender, 3 tea tree.
Hey Nadia!
Just wondering if this would work as a body wash, or if you have another recipe for a body wash? Love your site, thanks!!
Yes, I do and have been wanting to try it! My only concern is that it could leave some sort of residue on the dishes. If you try it, will you let us know? π
So excited to find this recipe, and your idea of thickening with guar gum! Do you think this might work to thicken dishwashing liquid?