Since I hadn't yet made any soap at that stage, I turned to the 'net for other alternatives. There are some delicious-looking recipes for homemade cleansers on the internet, made from common ingredients you might have in the kitchen, but most of them required refrigeration in lieu of using preservatives, or have a very short shelf-life. Being a busy mum-of-three littlies however, I barely have time to jump in the shower in the morning - I don't use the timer any more, 'cause I know my showers are way less than 4 minutes, LOL - so I knew I'd never remember to grab stuff out of the fridge first.
Then I came across the book Bodyworks by Murdoch Books, at the library, and it has a lovely, simple recipe for a homemade cleanser:
Homemade Honey Cleanser
60 ml (3 tbs) runny honey
125ml (1/2 cup) vegetable glycerine
40ml (2 tbs) liquid castile soap
The advantages of this recipe are that it is easy and quick to make, and that because there is nothing in it to go "off" I can make it up and just leave it in my shower. I cleaned and re-used the last bottle of my old cleanser to store it in.
The first time I used it, it left my skin feeling a bit "squeaky" clean, which worried me! My olive skin is generally very oily, and I was worried that the cleanser might strip the natural oils and make my skin even oilier. However, I've been using it for a couple of weeks now, with no such effect, possibly because of the glycerine content: glycerine is a natural emollient and is what make homemade soaps so lush. I'm really happy with it :-)
Now I can cross another petrochemical product off my grocery list, yay.
28 comments:
Wow, I'm so going to try this! Thanks!
I'm going to try it too. You really are very cool Julie, I am learning so much from you and Rhonda!
Hi Rachel,
I hope it works as well for you as it has for me :-)
Hey GF, you are so sweet! I hope you like the cleanser - I'm sure you could adjust the amount of castile soap down if it's too harsh on your skin? I know my skin dried out a lot when I was pg.
Cheers, Julie
Hi Julie! I just found your blog and I'm glad I did! I have a question and sorry if it is rather stupid, but where do you get Vegetable Glycerine? Thanks!
Hi Salihan!
I discovered your blog myself just the opther day and instantly added it to my blog roll, I was so enamoured of your knitting and photographs, but I have just realised I didn't leave a comment to that effect on your blog to let you know! Sorry! *blush*.
Anyway, vegetable glycerine is usually found at health food shops, or sometimes catering supplies shops, or if you are very lucky, your local supermarket might stock it. Because I use a lot in various things, I buy it in bulk online from Aussie Soap Supplies, which works out cheaper.
Cheers, Julie
Hey Julie! You've inspired me to go out and start my own vege patch today (see my latest blog post). I did find glycerine at Coles which is convenient. I've just read your latest blog post about farmer's market. I'm at Woy Woy and have been to the Avoca market and the one at Broadmeadow. Where do you go to? It sounds much better than those I've been to.
Hi Salihan :-)
I *love* that you've started a vegie garden! That's so great - and on so many levels. I think one of the simplest things we can do, both for ourselves and the envvironment - is to start growing our own food. Good on you :-)
Actually, Broadmeadow is my local market! I really like it, but then again it isn't as flashy as some of the upmarket Sydney ones I suppose, LOL. My favourite stall is Bill's Organic Sourdough bread, it's to die for. They bake it at Morpeth, yum.
Oh, and guess what? I just knitted one of your fave "Fourteen" kneck warmers for my daughter, after seeing it on your blog. I haven't got the buttons on yet, but it was so quick and easy (especially using leftover Panda Zoomy yarn), for a novice like me! Thanks :-)
Cheers, Julie
Ah cool - both on the garden comment and the Fourteen! It's a bit of a trip up to Broadmeadows but I go when I get the chance. I got a few of my native shrubs there. So cheap! I'm pretty sure I can get the Sourdough Morpeth bread at Erina Fair. Remind me again when it's on cos I always forget :P Heehee... Btw, add me on Ravelry. My username is Salihan.
I've just made the honey cleanser and I love it! Thanks!
I've just gone and checked my trusty commonsense cookbook, and it says that 1 tblspn is 20mls. So wouldn't that work out to 3 tbspn honey and 2 tbspn liquid castille soap?
Yes Melinda, you are exactly right! How embarrassing *blush*. I was following my measurements for making a half quantity I think, but it's a glaring error when you point it out, thanks! Glad you liked it though :-)
Cheers, Julie
LOL! I thought when I made it that there was something not quite right... then I woke up at about 5.00am and realised that the measurements didn't match! I did wait until I actually got up to check it though!
I really like this cleanser, and think I'll end up getting the Bodyworks book for the other recipes. :-)
Can I use Dr. Bronner's in place of the castile soap and glycerin? And if I were to buy the castile soap, where would I find it?
Hi Bee,
As far as I am aware, Dr. Bronner's *is* castile soap, so yes, you can definitely use it. You would still need to add glycerin though I think, although you could try it without and see how you go? Have fun.
Cheers, Julie
I appreciate you sharing this =) I also have oily skin, and so the search for a facial cleanser is sometimes tricky. Thanks!
I found your blog today and love it. Thanks for all the recipes! Once I'm done using all the products I have, I will definitely make everything I can at home.
A question I have is, I currently use castile soap as handsoap and facial cleanser and mix is with a lot of water and put it in a foaming bottle, but it's too foamy. Do you know what proportion I should use the castile soap to water? Also, should I be using distilled water? Thanks!
-Sarah
Hi Teesha,
Hope you like it!
Hi Sarah,
I dilute my liquid castile soap about 50/50 with water for my foamy bottle and it seems to work out quite well. I was buying another brand of liquid castile soap which was thicker and needed more diluting, but generally 1 part soap to 1 part water works well for me. I don't bother using distilled water, but then my tap water isn't too bad compared to some I've seen. If yours is quite hard I'd try using distilled or rainwater. Hope that helps :-)
Cheers, Julie
Thanks so much. I use Dr Bronner's and the instructions said use 2 squirts and a gallon of water, but that was way too diluted so I used a lot more, but definitely much less than 1:1 so no wonder it was too weak...I will add more and see how that works. Do you have any moisturizer recipes as well? By the way, you're like a super-mom! Keep up the great work!
-Sarah
LOL, thanks Sarah. Check my sidebar - I have a link to a recipe for a simple aloe vera gel moisturiser there.
Cheers, Julie
Thank you, I shall go whip this up now, since I have all the ingredients on hand. Thank you very much.
thanks for sharing. i'm wondering if you know of any alternatives to using glycerin? glycerin is a derivative of palm oil and with all the landclearing and habitat destruction associated with palm oil, we choose not to use it or purchase products with palm oil in them. is it essential that the glycerin is included in your recipe?
Hi guildmaker,
No, I don't know of any alternatives to the glycerine at this stage - I am aware of the palm oil issues and I chose to buy certified organic glycerine derived from both coconut oil & palm oil, which is the best alternative I have at the moment.
My friend and fellow blogger Tricia, at Little Eco Footprints, uses plain, pure honey to cleanse her face. I have oily skin and it doesn't suit me at all, but it is something you may like to try, as is just leaving out the glycerine in the recipe (though I found that a little harsh on my skin)?
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Julie
Can't wait to try this recipe! I recently tried making my own lotion and love it! Was wondering if you thought adding essential oils would be a problem? I ordered several medicinal grade organic oils from mountain rose that I would like to use in my body wash. Thanks for your help! I appreciate it.
I will try your homemade honey cleanser you posted here 'cause I already used honey for cleansing and for facial mask to my face. I combined honey and oatmeal and paste it to my face and wait for 10mins before I wash them. Somehow it works for me.
My god, such a nice vegetable garden. Do you know what would be a great start to having one? I'm currently planting more on herbs to start my own "healthy options". After herbs, what would you suggest would be a great plant?
love this idea. im currently using a mixture of 1 T honey and 1 t baking soda. the only thing i dont like is that i have to mix it up every time i need it. its kind of a pain... i might have to give this a try.
I use raw honey & Extra Virgin olive oil in about a 1:1 ratio. Basically, I just add the oil until it stays mixed nicely with the honey and I keep it in a jar in my bathroom with it's own little spoon that I use to stir it before use and to scoop out enough to apply. I make up a fairly large batch in my blender (the honey is a natural preservative).
I have tried other oils, I'm currently using a Walnut oil/raw honey mix, but I prefer the olive oil. It is good for oily as well as dry skin.
i want to do some facials for fun with my sister, ones that have everyday ingredients from the kitchen...i was thinking honey and some other ingredients could work...any advice? plus i didn't want to have to buy anything new from the store...and ur awesome!
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