Say Goodbye To Dry Hands With This Simple Foaming Hand Soap Recipe
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Vibrant colors, beautiful scents, fun packaging- these were the top things I looked for when picking out hand soaps in the past. I mean, if this was going to be something sitting on my counter then it should be decorative, right? I must admit that for myself, and likely many of you as well, convenience also was a big factor in purchasing soap off the shelves. Who has time to make their own soap, am I right? Well I am here to tell you I was wrong, not only can you make your own hand soaps quickly and for very little money, but they can be so much better for your body by eliminating unnecessary chemicals and toxins.
Between my work as a pediatric dentist and mom of two little ones, I am constantly washing my hands. My hands would usually be raw and cracking by the end of the day when I was using store bought soap, especially during the dry winter months. Since I have started making my own soap my hands are rarely dry and it truly is a small but life changing thing (if you have ever dealt with dry cracking hands before then you understand)! So if you are ready to give it a try, read on. I have included a simple recipe that can be adjusted to your liking as well as a list of necessary supplies. Do not be intimidated by the supply list. These are likely things you may not already own if you are new to the make it yourself world but I can assure you all of these products will last a loooong time and the initial startup cost will soon be offset by the number of bottles of soap and other products you will no longer need to buy at the store. You can purchase supplies from your local health food grocer or through the links provided via Amazon.
So before we get started let's talk about germs for a second. By nature I am a germophobe, however; what I am about to tell you is based in fact and not based on my fear of germs LOL. You must use distilled water or even boiled water in all of your DIY recipes. The fact of the matter is your tap water has many living organisms in it, ones that you can not see. Now this is not meant to scare you, your drinking water is monitored by your city and is safe to drink unless you are told otherwise (although if you have the opportunity to filter your water it is certainly beneficial). This is why products on store shelves are filled with yucky things like parabens to help preserve them for extended periods of time. Below are listed some natural preservatives that will certainly help extend the life of your products, of which Vitamin E is my go to. However distilled or boiled water should still be used in all cases.
Natural Preservatives
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Rosemary Extract
Sugar
Salt
Vitamin E Oil
Geranium Essential Oil
Citric or Ascorbic Acid
Rubbing Alcohol or Spirits
And finally, going back to germs, you will see that my recipes will contain more vague terms in the sense of measuring. This is because any measuring device such as measuring spoons or cups need to be squeaky clean or you run the risk of putting bacteria into your products from the beginning. It is for this reason I try and leave out any source of contamination when making the products. I squeeze or pour directly from the bottle itself rather than adding in the middle step of measuring. This is an acquired "skill" to get just the right amount of things you want, but once you get it figured out and in your rhythm, it actually cuts down so much time in the making process. I can now make a full jar of hand soap in about 1 minute including the time it takes to pull out all the ingredients from the cabinets and wash my hands. And of course, make sure to wash your hands before beginning any DIY! Happy making!
Ingredients and Supplies Needed
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil or Fractionated Coconut Oil
1 Tablespoon of Vegetable Glycerine
Distilled or Boiled Water
Foaming Hand Soap Glass Dispenser or Mason Jars With Foaming Pump Dispensers
Optional: 10-15 Drops of Essential Oils of Your Choice
Optional: Small Funnel
Foaming Hand Soap Recipe
First you will want to fill approximately 1/5 or 20% of your container with liquid Castile Soap. The next step is to add 1 tablespoon or approximately a three second pour of Olive Oil/Fractionated Coconut Oil as well as your Vegetable Glycerine. Next you will add about 1/2 a teaspoon or 1 second pour of Vitamin E oil. Lastly, add your drops of essential oils for your preferred scent combination, and then fill the remainder of the container with distilled or boiled water. Your container should be almost full but with a small amount of breathing room at the top this allows the foaming action to take place. Now simply screw on the lid tight, and shake gently to combine all ingredients. Voila, a simple yet luxurious foaming hand soap recipe!
Scent Combinations
Rosemary & Eucalyptus
7 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil
7 Drops Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil
3 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Ocean Breeze
7 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 Drops Lime Essential Oil
5 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
2 Drops Spearmint Essential Oil
Citrus Mint
7 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
7 Drops Citrus Fresh Essential Oil
3 Drops Orange Essential Oil
Sunny Days
6 Drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
6 Drops Orange Essential Oil
3 Drops Bergamont Essential Oil
3 Drops Lemon Essential Oil
Floral Dreams
5 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 Drops Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
3 Drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
3 Drops Geranium Essential Oil
Deep Woods
7 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil
5 Drops Black Spruce Essential Oil
4 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
Campfire Nights
6 Drops Balsam Fir Essential Oil
6 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
6 Drops Cypress Essential Oil
Calm & Happy
8 Drops Orange Essential Oil
6 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
4 Drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Spring Morning
9 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 Drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
3 Drops Geranium Essential Oil
Spa Day
7 drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 Drops Bergamont Essential Oil
2 Drops Geranium Essential Oil
2 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil
1 Drop Lemon Essential Oil
1 Drop Orange Essential Oil
Clean & Fresh
6 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
6 Drops Lemon Essential Oil
6 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil
Crisp & Cozy
6 Drops Balsam Fir Essential Oil
6 Drops Cypress Essential Oil
6 Drops Wintergreen Essential Oil
Check Out Some Of My Other Popular DIY Recipe Posts:
How To Clean Your Toilet Without Getting Your Hands Dirty
Put Your Essential Oils To Use With This Easy Body Spray Recipe