Surfactants P4: DIY Body Wash

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:

1. Blend the glycerine and xanthan gum together in a beaker to hydrate.
2. Slowly blend in the water to form a gel.
3. Blend the two glucosides together to form a paste (lauryl glucoside is a very sturdy paste already)
4. Add then to the xanthan gum gel.
5. Add in the OliveM 300 and rosewater and blend.
6. Drizzle in the grapeseed oil and blend.
7. Add in the coco betaine and add in your essential oils.
8. Adjust the pH with a citric acid solution.
9. Add your preservative and blend everything with your blender.
10. Test with your pH test strips to make sure the body wash is around 5 to 6. 5.5 is ideal.
11. Pour into a pump bottle or a generic wide mouth bottle and enjoy.

To use, pump out a small amount onto your shower scrunchie or loofah and lather all over.