Natural Body Wash Recipe

Create a safe, easy, moisturizing, and effective natural body wash for kids and adults! Trade out the toxic chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives that absorb into your body’s largest organ, the skin, for an all natural option!

Are you ever overwhelmed when trying to read the ingredients on the back of your bath products? I know I am. Fortunately, getting clean doesn’t require synthetic chemicals, preservatives, and fragrances. You can easy create a simple, natural, and effective body wash, safe for both children and adults.

The beauty about making your own products is the ability to control what you place on your families skin. This natural body wash recipe is formulated not just to avoid certain ingredients, but to add better ingredients than what companies are willing to pay to put in their products.

Benefit of These Natural Ingredients

1. Liquid Castile Soap

• Function: Natural cleanser and base
• Health Benefits:
  • Made from plant oils (usually olive, coconut, or hemp)
  • Gently removes dirt and oil without stripping skin
  • Biodegradable, non-toxic, and safe for sensitive skin
  • No synthetic detergents or foaming agents

2. Honey

• Function: Humectant and antimicrobial
• Health Benefits:
  • Naturally draws moisture into the skin (hydrating)
  • Rich in antioxidants and enzymes
  • Has antibacterial and antifungal properties—helps with acne or irritated skin
  • Supports wound healing and soothes inflammation

3. Jojoba Oil

• Function: Moisturizer and skin balancer
• Health Benefits:
  • Closely mimics skin’s natural sebum—great for all skin types
  • Non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)
  • Helps regulate oil production
  • Rich in vitamin E, B-complex vitamins, and minerals
  • Soothes eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin

4. Argan Oil

• Function: Nourishing emollient
• Health Benefits:
  • High in essential fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acid)
  • Contains vitamin E and antioxidants that fight aging and inflammation
  • Improves skin elasticity and softness
  • Helps heal dry, cracked, or irritated skin

5. Pumpkin Seed Oil

• Function: Skin-repairing and antioxidant-rich
• Health Benefits:
  • Rich in zinc, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids
  • Promotes skin renewal and barrier repair
  • High in antioxidants like vitamin E and selenium
  • Helps with skin tone and elasticity
  • May soothe inflammation or sensitivity

6. Vitamin E Oil

• Function: Natural preservative and skin protectant
• Health Benefits:
  • Powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals
  • Promotes healing of scars and damaged skin
  • Protects skin from oxidative stress and sun damage
  • Extends shelf life of oils in your body wash

7. Essential Oils (Optional)

Depending on your selection, these can provide:

• Lavender: calming, soothing, anti-inflammatory
• Tea Tree: antibacterial, antifungal, acne-fighting
• Peppermint: cooling, invigorating, antimicrobial
• Chamomile: gentle, calming for sensitive skin
• Sweet Orange: uplifting, anti-inflammatory, brightens skin

Tip: Use essential oils sparingly (especially for sensitive skin) and avoid known irritants like cinnamon or citrus if skin is reactive.

Summary of Benefits:

This natural body wash ingredients blend is:

• Gentle & non-toxic (no harsh detergents or preservatives)
• Deeply hydrating (honey + oils)
• Skin-barrier supportive (vitamin E + essential fatty acids)
• Customizable (based on essential oils)
• Suitable for all skin types, including dry, sensitive, or acne-prone

Conventional Body Wash Ingredients Raising Health Concerns

🚫 1. Sulfates (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / SLS, Sodium Laureth Sulfate / SLES)

• Concern: Skin irritation, eye irritation, dryness, disruption of the skin barrier.
• Why: These are harsh detergents used for foaming and cleansing. SLES can also be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a possible carcinogen.

🚫 2. Parabens (e.g., methylparaben, propylparaben)

• Concern: Hormone disruption, potential link to breast cancer.
• Why: Parabens are preservatives that mimic estrogen and may interfere with endocrine function.

🚫 3. Synthetic Fragrances / “Fragrance”

• Concern: Allergic reactions, asthma, hormone disruption.
• Why: “Fragrance” is a blanket term that can include dozens of undisclosed chemicals, including phthalates.

🚫 4. Phthalates

• Concern: Hormone disruption, reproductive toxicity.
• Why: Often hidden within “fragrance,” phthalates help scents last longer but can interfere with hormone signaling.

🚫 5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Diazolidinyl Urea)

• Concern: Cancer risk, skin sensitization, allergic reactions.
• Why: These slowly release formaldehyde to kill microbes, but formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen.

🚫 6. Triclosan

• Concern: Hormone disruption, antibiotic resistance, environmental toxicity.
• Why: Used as an antibacterial agent, it has been banned in many products due to safety concerns but still appears in some.

🚫 7. Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs)

• Concern: Skin irritation, potential contamination with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide (both carcinogenic).
• Why: Used as thickeners or softeners; contamination can occur during manufacturing.

🚫 8. Artificial Colorants (e.g., FD&C dyes)

• Concern: Allergic reactions, skin irritation, possible links to ADHD or behavioral issues in children.
• Why: These dyes are petroleum-derived and may be contaminated with heavy metals.

🚫 9. Ethanolamines (DEA, MEA, TEA)

• Concern: Organ toxicity, potential carcinogen (when combined with nitrates forming nitrosamines).
• Why: Used to adjust pH or create creamy textures.

🚫 10. Alcohol (denatured alcohol, SD alcohol)

• Concern: Skin drying, irritation, disruption of the skin barrier.
• Why: Used as a solvent or to preserve formula.

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Natural Body Wash Ingredients

• 1 cup (8 oz / 240 ml) liquid Castile soap
• 1/3 cup (2.7 oz / ~80 ml) organic Honey
• 2 tbsp (1 oz / 30 ml) organic Jojoba Oil
• 2 tbsp (1 oz / 30 ml) Argan Oil
• 2 tbsp (1 oz / 30 ml) organic Pumpkin Seed Oil
• 1 tsp (5 ml) organic Vitamin E Oil
• 20 drops Essential Oils (I used lavender – adjust amount for preference)
• 16-18 ounce bottle (standard pump, flip cap, or foam bottle)

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Instructions

1. In a small to medium sized bowl, mix together honey and oils. You can also add ingredients directly into the bottle, but you will get a more thorough mixing of ingredients by using a bowl.
   • 2 tablespoons: Jojoba, Argan, Pumpkin seed, 1 teaspoon Vitamin E
   • Note: Pumpkin seed oil is dark, causing a darker looking soap than what you would normally see in the store.
2. Add 15-25 drops of essential oil(s), if using.
   • I used 20 drops of lavender
3. Pour in the Castile soap last to reduce bubbles.
   • 1 cup Castile soap
4. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined. NOTE: The ingredients will separate when body wash is sitting. Be sure to shake before using.
5. Using a funnel, add body wash to a glass jar. I find the standard pump works best.
6. Label your bottle and store for 1-2 months.

• Shake gently before each use (natural separation is normal).
• Shelf life: 1–2 months without preservatives; longer if refrigerated.
• Safe for kids over 6 months if you use gentle essential oils (like lavender or chamomile) or skip them.