The inspiration of this post was two-fold. First of all, I really enjoyed the Aloe Vera face moisturizer I made last week. Secondly, my cousin posted a link to an awesome sounding face wash on my Facebook page and asked if I could make an imitation recipe. So I based this face wash off of the ingredients in the organic aloe face wash that she sent me.
When I started searching the properties of the ingredients in the face wash she sent me that I wasn’t familiar with, I came up with a great idea. I would make a soothing anti-inflammatory aloe face wash. All the ingredients in this face wash are meant to reduce irritation and redness and soothe the skin. And let me tell you, it worked out really well.
It cost me $7.67 to make the four ounce jar of this face wash, which should last at least 2 months. Most of the cost came from one expensive ingredient, the soapwort extract. If you want to do this face wash on the cheap you can replace the soapwort extract with liquid castile soap, which brings the cost down to $2.93. This could reduce the soothing and anti-inflammatory properties of the face wash, but that’s the tradeoff for the cost reduction.
Like I said, all the ingredients were chosen for their anti-inflammatory and soothing properties:
- Aloe Vera Gel: light non-greasy moisturizer, anti-inflammatory, stimulates growth of new cells, full of antioxidants, fights allergic reactions, reduces redness (you can find it online here or here)
- Sweet Almond Oil: full of vitamins, soothes irritation, reduces dark circles, anti-inflammatory, restores normal pH of the skin (you can find it online here)
- Rosewater: anti-inflammatory, rich in antioxidants, beneficial to people with sensitive skin, reduces redness, natural antiseptic and astringent, great at removing oil and dirt from pores (you can find it online here)
- Soapwort Extract: full of saponins that make it a gentle natural cleanser, anti-inflammatory (you can find it online here)
- Lavender Essential Oil: anti-bacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, soothing benefits (you can find it online here or here)
- Vitamin E Oil (optional): antioxidant, natural moisturizer, anti-inflammatory (you can find it online here)
All of these ingredients on their own can be used as natural remedies for skin conditions ranging from psoriasis to acne to eczema. And they are all great for sensitive skin.
Here is how you make the face wash:
Homemade Aloe Vera Face Wash
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
- 2 tablespoons almond oil
- 2 tablespoons rosewater
- 1 tablespoon soapwort extract
- 5-10 drops lavender essential oil
- 3-5 drops or 1 capsule vitamin E oil (optional)
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients together and store in container with tight fitting lid
- To use: wet face, apply in small circles and rub in for 30 seconds, wash off with warm water
- The water and oil may separate so shake well before use
If you’re used to always using oil-free products, it may feel a little weird at first, but you will get used to it. It is wonderfully light and cooling. I know it will feel great in the summer.
Definitely don’t skip shaking the jar before you wash, because you won’t get all of the ingredients and they all work well together.
The wash doesn’t lather a lot, but the soapwort extract does lather a small bit. Don’t expect it to be the same as store bought cleansers with lathering products in them, it will feel different. It goes so well with the homemade aloe moisturizer I posted last week. The two of them are a match made in heaven.
This face wash should be good for any number of skin conditions- let me know how it goes for you!
supplies used in this post
Don’t forget to check out my aloe vera moisturizer and toner! Together, they make an awesome skin care system.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above says
I am pinning and going to try this. Where did you buy the soapwort extract? I have not seen this before, and I am allergic to Dr. Bonners, so that is not an option for me. This is great. I can’t wait to try it. I’m heading to look at your aloe moisturizer. I made an eye moisturizer about a month ago with aloe and I love it.
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Susie says
Hi Debi! I think you might be able to buy soapwort extract in health food stores, but I’m not sure. I bought mine online. I added a link to the body of the post in the list of ingredients to the soapwort extract I got on amazon. I’m a huge fan of aloe, I’m so excited about this face wash.
nazma says
hi, i am from india and not able to get soapwort extract. is there any other option?
Susie says
You could use liquid castile soap. I also make my own soapwort extract by putting soapwort roots in vegetable glycerin, letting that sit for a few weeks, and then straining out the roots. The glycerin then becomes the soapwort extract.
Marla says
Great information. I love aloe vera and this recipes sounds extremely healthy. Will pin. Visiting from Oil Me Up Wednesdays!
Corey @ TinySidekick says
I’ve never made homemade skin care but this one looks like it would be great. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing at The Makers! We are so glad to have you join the party!
Andrea @ This Pug Life says
Pinning this to try out. I’ve been getting hormonal breakouts lately but it’s not just acne. My skin just gets so ugly for about a week each month. Bleh! Hope this helps!
Susie says
I feel your pain! I get hormonal break outs on my chin. I am loving this face wash so far for my skin, I hope it works for you!
Sarah says
I’m going to have to try this! Thanks for linking up at Tips and Tricks. Pinning!
Natural face wash says
As we know that Aloe Vera has lots of beneficial ingredients for skin care that’s why your product sounds good, thanks for sharing the post.
gthang says
hi susie! Great post about this face wash. I am just curious how long can this last before it “expires”?
Thank you :)
Susie says
It should last at least a month, if not more. My last batch lasted about 4 months until I ran out and it didn’t expire. You just need to store it in a proper container with a tight lid.
Amanda LoveTheFragrance says
This is a very good recipe for sensitive skin. I think I will try it out for sensitive armpits. Have you tried it like this before, Susie? What should I expect?
Susie says
I have only tried washing my face with it, but it is a gentle cleanser so you should be able to wash your body as well, especially areas that tend to get irritated. Let me know how it goes for you.
Joanna says
This sounds great! I am 32 years old and have been suffering from almost relentless hormonal acne for all of my adult life – it’s brutal. But I try to stay positive and recently have been looking into DIY all-natural remedies. I haven’t come across any recipe with aloe vera until now – it makes so much sense! This sounds like a great recipe! Have you been using this consistently for a while now? And if so, how has your skin been reacting to it? Thanks!
Susie says
I’ve been using it regularly for about 5 months now. I notice that if I go a few days without it my skin looks a little worse. Hormonal acne is notoriously difficult to treat- however, so I can’t guarantee it will help. This helps me with forehead break outs, but the chin pimples I get before and during my period don’t budge to anything I’ve tried so far- they are totally hormonal. So, it’s still worth a try, and it is a good natural face wash to use that is healthy for your skin. I love it and I don’t want to even try making other face wash recipes because that would mean not using this one.
Amy says
I’d like to try this recipe but can not obtain soapwort extract. Amazon will not ship it outside the US. Do you have any substitutions for the soapwort?
Susie says
Oh no! That’s a bummer. You could substitute castile soap. I would definitely dilute it a little. I haven’t tried it myself in this recipe, but my honey facial cleanser uses castile soap and I really like that one as well. Let me know if it works out.
Amy says
Thanks for the substitution. I really do like the properties of soapwort that you mentioned so I may try to see if I can get soapwort root to make into an extract. Otherwise, castille is very easy for me to obtain. I’ll let you know the outcome.
One other question: how much does this recipe yield? I am all out of empty jars and need to purchase a few but was unsure of the size.
Susie says
It is about 4 ounces. If you can’t buy soapwort extract, you can buy soapwort root and make your own. I am planning to try that eventually because it’s more cost effective, but I haven’t tried it myself yet.
Dana says
This stuff is amazing! Seriously! I saw the difference on my skin from single use. My skin is constantly irritated, I have no idea why. But now with this wash it seems to change. Today made your scrub and moisturizer. Will see tomorrow how it will affect my skin. Going to try other recipes too, love this blog! Everything is so easy to make! My mom and mother in law will get some gifts too.
Susie says
Yay! You made my day! So glad you like the wash. I love it too, it’s been great for me!
Ozy says
I wonder if starch would do the trick in thickening the mixture, any thoughts?
Susie says
I don’t see why you would need or want to thicken it. It’s the same consistency as any other face wash I’ve used. If you want to thicken it to use it as a leave-on face mask, I would lean towards shea butter or honey because they are actually beneficial for skin.
Annie says
Hi, thank you for sharing your recipie. I can’t wait to try it out. I just wanted to find out though, can I store it in a pumping plastic bottle in my washroom? Does it have to be in an air tight jar?
Please advice.
Susie says
I actually store mine in a pump bottle. It will last longer in an air tight jar, but I go through it quickly enough that I don’t worry so much about it expiring. It’s really a judgement call for you on whether you worry about it expiring before you finish it.
Leah says
Hi, I was wanting to know if I can make this without the soapwort? my local herb shop did not carry it. Thanks.
Susie says
Hi Leah,
The soapwort is what makes it cleansing. It might work without it but you won’t get any foaming or lather. You could replace it with an equal amount of liquid castile soap, but it isn’t as anti inflammatory. I can’t guarantee it will work but if you try it let me know how it goes. I have to buy my soapwort online, I’ve never seen it in a store. Hope this helps!
mary says
Is there anything I can use in place of the soapwort?
Susie says
You can use a liquid castile soap instead, but I don’t know if it will have the same feel and effect. The soapwort is the ingredient that makes this face wash good at cleansing your skin. I now make my own soapwort extract and I hope to have a post sharing how in the future.
Mary says
the only reason I am concerned about the soapwort is when I looked it up they say the plant is poisonous ok to use in cosmetics but I am concerned if I drop it for some reason or spill some I am afraid of my animals ingesting it or if little children are around and some how end up with the soap in their mouth. If you have any information I would appreciate what you have to say Thank You
Susie says
I can only tell you what I found in a quick google search- which is that it is toxic in high amounts. The toxicity was mentioned when referencing taking it as an herbal supplement for a long period of time. My guess is a little bit in the mouth will not be damaging, but I am not qualified to make that official judgement in any way so this is my completely non-professional best guess of an answer. Go with your gut if you are afraid to use it. I will continue to use the ingredient and have never had any problems, but I’ve also never ingested any.
mary says
Thank you that is helpful info.
Tiare says
I just went to your etsy shop and it says the face wash is not available. Do you still sell it?
Susie says
I just forgot to update the listing when it sold out! It is back up now.
Amy says
Sorry to blow up your comments sections today!
Does Soapwortp have a strong scent or any scent? I’ve used castile soap and I’m a fan of the smell.
Susie says
It smells kind of nutty. I think it’s a nice smell, not too strong.
Amy again says
I finally got around to making this though I substituted half of the sweet almond oil with jojoba oil (1 tbsp each).
I’m not sure if it’s the substitution I made, if I’m using too much or something went wrong but the oil is so strong it repels the water. I have very oily skin (even after only using another homemade cleanser of Castile soap, aloe Vera gel and essential oils for the last 3 weeks).
Is this as expected? It doesn’t leave my face super oily but I definitely don’t need to use my beloved aloe Vera moisturizer if I continue using it. I’m wondering if I should add more soapworts?
Susie says
You can adjust amounts for however your skin likes it. It does leave a bit of moisturizing oil on my skin, which I like and I don’t need as much moisturizer. If you have very oily skin, you can reduce amounts of oil and increase amounts of soapwort extract so that it feels to your liking.
Tonya says
I have acne prone skin. Anyone use this for more than three weeks and still get good results?
Susie says
Hi Tonya! Hopefully others will respond as well, but I’ll just let you know that I used this face wash for more than 6 months and I’ve had good results with it (I’m also acne prone). I just recently switched to test out a new recipe for my blog, but I love the aloe face wash.
Tonya says
I was wondering because other websites say that aloe vera clogs pores and can make you break out with painful acne.
Susie says
Interesting. I’ve only ever read that it is a great treatment for acne and acne scars, and a healthy natural moisturizer. It has a comedogenic rating of 0.
Here’s a good link: http://www.clearskinforever.net/aloe-acne-does-aloe-really-help-acne/
Stephanie says
I’ve heard quite a lot about aloe vera and its wonderful properties, but your blog sealed the deal for me. I found this blog post shared at #Affimity, and I am definitely pinning it for later! Right now, the nearest Whole Foods (unfortunately the only store around that sells the majority of these oils) is 30 minutes off so I will have to save it for later. But I love that you included a wash, a toner, and a moisturizer. I have been using witch hazel but am not completely satisfied with it, alone, as a toner. I’ll definitely have to give your recipes a shot. Thank you!
Samantha says
Hi Susie,
I have tried many variations of natural cleansing—especially oil cleansing. I haven’t found a method that doesn’t clog my pores. I don’t have a history of acne but my pores have been more clogged the before. Lately I have been using the jojoba/teatree/lavender and castor oil oil cleansing method, which made my skin better but still not great. Will this wash clog my pores?
Susie says
Hi Samantha. If you leave out the almond oil, you should be good. Almond oil is mildly comedogenic. My acne-prone skin is okay with it but it will cause acne for some. You can use jojoba instead- it is non-comedogenic and one of my favorite oils.
Sierra says
Lavender is a skin irritant. Maybe replace with rose water?
Mary says
Do you know if the product St. Johns Wort is the same as soap wort?
Susie says
They are not, they are different plants.
Mary says
One other Question on amazon there are two choices of soap wort the one that is shown in the link you provide in a dark bottle by Hawaii Pharm and they have another one there from a company called making cosmetics do you know if there is a difference between the two one is cheaper than the other but I want to be sure that I purchase the right one. thank you :)
Susie says
The making cosmetics one looks good to me!
Mary says
Thank You
Sierra says
Hi there, lavender is a skin irritant.
Here’s a link: http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/lavender-extract-and-oil
Debra says
Hi, I would like to know how long you can keep the aloe cleanser as it has rose water and oils. Do I need to add an organic preservative to make it last.
Thank you
Susie says
It should keep for a few months if it is stored properly. Use an airtight container, store in a cool, dry, place, and use clean fingers in it.
Ang says
Hello,
I was wondering how do you personally use the face wash? Is it everyday, in the morning or at night?
Thanks,
Ang
Susie says
I only use it every few days or so. I don’t wash my face daily.
Sandi says
The cleaner I made, I replaced the soapwort with soapnuts liquid. The mixture is so runny. Anything I can add to thicken it or foam it so its more easily applied rather than letting some of it run down my arm.
Susie says
Since this recipe isn’t heated, it’s just mixed, it limits what kinds of things you can add to it. You could try adding some vegetable glycerin- that should thicken it more. You could also try adding some natural powder thickeners, I really like acacia gum, but I haven’t tried it myself in this recipe so I have no idea if it would help. Glycerin is a good bet for your first try.
Ruby says
Hey, so I was wondering if I could replace soapwort extract with soap nut juice, but I now that goes bad within a couple days, if not refrigerated. I know that if kept with an antibacterial, it’ll last longer. Do you think it would be okay?
Susie says
I have no idea. I would just use your best judgement when storing it and keep it in the fridge. It sounds like it will shorten the shelf life a lot.
Jenny says
Hi, can you use real aloe vera gel from a plant instead of a bottled version? If so, do you have any idea if it will still last several months without going bad or would that reduce its shelf-life?
Thanks!
Susie says
My guess is that it would reduce shelf life significantly, since most bottled aloe vera gel has at least some tiny amount of natural preservatives added. You could probably keep it in the fridge for a few weeks if you use fresh aloe vera, but use common sense and toss it if it smells or looks off.
gail PAXSON says
Hi, I just made this. Sooo easy. Wondering if it was ok to put this in a silicone tube type container for ease of use.
Susie says
Of course!
Indira Grullon says
My face wash was very watery, I left out the essential oils and the almond oil. Would you be able to comment as to why perhaps this happened? Or is that how the consistency should be? I commented about this on the moisturizer blog post so you can respond to either or both comments Ive posted. Just figured maybe someone would benefit from the answer. :)
Susie says
The almond oil definitely gives it a more substantial consistency, and texture can vary based on the aloe vera gel you use. Watery is not necessarily a problem with the consistency unless it bothers you. You could reduce the amount of rosewater and see if it feels better for you.
Jab Coleman says
What is the shelf life?
Susie says
I’ve kept it for up to 2 months, but use common sense and if it looks or smells off do not continue to use it. It will keep longer in the fridge.
Ravyn says
Hi!
Could I use rose witch hazel in this instead of just rose water?
Susie says
Sure. Be careful with witch hazel extracts that have alcohol in them, they can be quite drying.
Kelly says
After I started using Maple Holistics I liked using natural products on my skin.