You know that moment when you step out of the shower feeling refreshed, but then you catch a whiff of the synthetic smell from the body wash and you just think, "Ugh, what am I putting on my skin?" Yeah, that’s where I'm at! I can’t shake the feeling that those bright, flashy bottles aren’t doing my body any favors. I remember this one time at my grandma’s, she had this old book filled with herbal remedies and DIY recipes, and I thought, why can’t I make something like that? It makes me wonder, how satisfying would it be to whip up a natural body wash that smells like my favorite lavender field? Wouldn’t it feel good to know exactly what’s going on my skin? Let’s dive into this adventure together and create something that feels as good as it sounds!
Items You’ll Need
- Glass mixing bowls
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Soap mold or containers
- Spoon for stirring
- pH strips (to measure acidity/alkalinity)
- Labels for bottling
- Bottles for storing the body wash
- Funnel
- Scale (for precise measurements)
- Essential oils (for fragrance)
- Carrier oils (e.g., coconut oil, olive oil)
- Lye (if making soap from scratch)
- Double boiler or heat-safe container (for melting ingredients)
- Safety goggles and gloves (for handling lye)
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Gather Your Equipment
First, I gather all my equipment: my glass mixing bowls, measuring cups, measuring spoons, whisk, and of course, my soap mold. I make sure everything is clean and ready to go!
Step 2: Weigh Your Ingredients
Next, I put on my safety goggles and gloves, because we're going to be working with lye. I carefully measure out the lye and carrier oils using my scale. Precision is key!
Step 3: Mix the Lye and Water
In a well-ventilated area, I slowly add the lye to water (never the other way around!), stirring carefully with my spoon. The mixture gets really hot, so I keep my safety gear on!
Step 4: Heat the Oils
While my lye solution cools, I melt my carrier oils in a double boiler. I watch as they slowly turn into a beautiful liquid, making sure they don’t get too hot.
Step 5: Combine Lye and Oils
Once everything has cooled down to around 100°F, I pour the lye solution into my melted oils. I use my whisk to blend them well until it reaches 'trace' - that's when it starts to thicken and look like pudding!
Step 6: Add Essential Oils
This is the fun part! I choose some essential oils for fragrance and stir them into my mixture. Lavender for relaxation, maybe a bit of eucalyptus for freshness. The scent fills the air!
Step 7: Pour into Molds
Now I carefully pour my body wash mixture into the soap mold or containers. I make sure to tap them gently to remove any air bubbles!
Step 8: Cure the Soap
I cover my molds with a towel to insulate them and let the soap cure for 24-48 hours. I can't wait to see how it turns out!
Step 9: Test pH Levels
After curing, I take my soap out and use pH strips to ensure it's safe for my skin. It should be between 7 and 10. I feel like a scientist with all these tests!
Step 10: Cut and Label the Soap
Once the pH is good, I cut my soap into bars or pour it into bottles for my body wash. I label them with the date and scents for a lovely personal touch.
Step 11: Enjoy Your Creation!
Finally, it’s time to enjoy my homemade natural body wash! I can't wait to use it in the shower and share it with friends and family. Best DIY project ever!