Body washes are immensely enjoyable to craft, not only because they are relatively simple to make and flop proof, but because you know exactly what's going onto your skin, you can customise them to a degree, as well as pick any fragrance you want!
In my recent testing sessions, I've discovered there are two primary ways to make a body wash. First you can make up the liquid body wash and then add in a small amount of xanthan gum to thicken it, or, you can make a xanthan gum gel and then add the surfactants to the gel. Both work equally well and I've tried and tested them in the shower. You need only a small amount of body wash on a shower scrunchie for an amazingly lathery wash.
The below recipes can be doubled or tripled to make larger batches. And as always with surfactant formulas, if you want to add in some additional carrier oil, aloe vera or even honey for sensitive or dry skin types, it won't break the recipe. You can also add in additional xanthan gum or xanthan gel if you want a thicker shower gel type of consistency.
Below you can see both ways to make the body wash and decide which you find easier. I used pretty much the same ingredients in both recipes for simplicity's sake. Grapeseed oil is what I had on hand and it is a nice versatile oil, but you can use any carrier oil, or even a blend of two oils if you are feeling fancy or want to craft a luxury body wash. Vegetable glycerine is important for its moisture-giving properties. Try playing around with different essential oils to suit your scent and skin needs too.
1st Method - Basic DIY Body Wash
Ingredients:
- 3% lauryl glucoside
- 5% coco glucoside
- 6% OliveM 300
- 13% rosewater or another hydrosol
- 55% distilled or boiled and cooled water - can sub some water out for aloe vera to make more an even gentler wash
- 6% vegetable glycerine
- 1% xanthan gum
- 6% grapeseed oil or another oil of your choice
- Essential oils of your choice. I'm currently enjoying a sweet, warming blend of rose, geranium and vanilla, and thinking some spicy cinnamon would be really nice too!
- 4% coco betaine
- Citric acid solution to adjust the pH
- pH test strips
- 1% preservative such as Geogard 221
Method:
- Blend the glycerine and xanthan gum together in a beaker to hydrate.
- Slowly blend in the water to form a gel.
- Blend the two glucosides together to form a paste (lauryl glucoside is a very sturdy paste already)
- Add then to the xanthan gum gel.
- Add in the OliveM 300 and rosewater and blend.
- Drizzle in the grapeseed oil and blend.
- Add in the coco betaine and add in your essential oils.
- Adjust the pH with a citric acid solution.
- Add your preservative and blend everything with your blender.
- Test with your pH test strips to make sure the body wash is around 5 to 6. 5.5 is ideal.
- Pour into a pump bottle or a generic wide mouth bottle and enjoy.
12 comments
Hi Seema
You are correct and quite an intelligent observation you had there!
The ASM (Active Surfactant Matter) is considerably low compared to recommended percentages for body washes – being, like you said, between 15% – 20%
As general formulators we try to stick to the safest side of formulations as reasonably possible, because I’m sure you know that:
1. Increasing the Surfactant Content could potentially be more stripping of your natural oils (though we do try to counter this is humectant and oils being included in the formulation)
2. More foam does not necessarily mean more functional as a cleanser. It’s about the balance between effective cleansing and maintaining skin moisture.
This being said – a formula more aligned to the recommended ASM could be:
10% Coco Glucoside
That should be nice and bubbly, but also slightly more harsh on sensitive skin – so keep that in mind!10% Coco Betaine
50% Water (Can substitute some with aloe vera gel or hydrosol)
2% Vegetable Glycerine
5% Grapeseed Oil
8% OliveM 300
12% Xanthan Gum Gel
1% Geogard 221
Citric Acid Solution
Essential Oils of your choice
Thank You!
Aiden
Hey in the second method where u use 5% of coco glucoside and Coco betaine the asm considering the surfactant matter of coco glycoside as 55 and that of covo betaine as 30 is about 4.5.
Will this bodywash foam ? Since active surfactant matter for body washes r recommended to be between 15-20
Hi Thando, yes you certainly can add lactic acid as a chemical exfoliant. You could also add a physical exfoliant such as jojoba scrub beads. Have fun!
I want a body wash with exfoliating properties can I add lactic acid ?
Hi Melanie, the gel consistency will vary with how much water is used. Feel free to add more or less water according to your desired consistency :)
Unfortunately you won’t be able to achieve a clear body wash with these recipes. Try the 2nd recipe in here rather: https://essentiallynatural.co.za/blogs/surfactants-1/exfoliating-body-wash