This week’s DIY is an awesome, simple, deliciously scented, moisturizing body wash.
What does self-care mean to you?
Is it a bubble bath and a glass of wine after a hard day? Maybe dark chocolate and a good book? Or a trip to the spa? (Yes, please!)
My pre-dawn shower is one of the rare times I get to be alone during my day, and it is one of my biggest opportunities for self-care and yet another place to practice mindfulness. I’ve even been known to meditate during my shower!
When I get up in the morning, it’s usually really early and I’m usually really tired. (Life of a working mommy, right???)
Honestly though, I do my best thinking/planning/designing in the shower…it is a brainstorm session with me, myself and I! In our last house, I kept a bag of dry erase markers on a hook in the shower to take notes and write motivational statements on the walls. I’m probably going to need to install a dry erase board at the end of the shower in the new house (tile vs. fiberglass and all), but that will be a future project!
Just having a body wash that smells good may seem obvious when you’re trying to get clean, but it actually goes much deeper. Those good smells are aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a fantastic form of alternative medicine that can promote positive changes in your physical and mental well-being.
It makes you feel good!
Aromatherapy is awesome for mindfulness and is incredibly easy to incorporate into a self-care routine.
I love a delicious smelling, moisturizing body wash that I can use on a daily basis…nothing too heavy, nothing too drying, and nothing too chemical-y. Having rosacea also means that my skin is extra sensitive to the additives in mainstream body washes on most big box store shelves. Specifically, SLS’s. Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate. Check most any product in your home that gets foamy, and you’re likely to have SLS’s listed. They make my face flare. I’m not a fan.
I needed something better, and the best place to start is to make it myself with known ingredients that I can pronounce!
What started as a generic recipe “just to try” has become my go-to body wash — as in “I haven’t purchased a pre-made, store bought body wash in well over a year”!
What’s in it?
DIY Body Wash Ingredients
- Castile soap
- Coconut oil
- Honey
- Vitamin E oil
- Essential oils
Those are just the basics, and you can customize as much as you desire. I love the almond scented castile soap, and I really love that blast of peppermint essential oil early in the morning! There are so many options that you’re sure to find the one you like best.
Honey Almond Mint Moisturizing Body Wash
1 cup good quality coconut oil
2 cups almond castile soap
1/2 cup honey (I like to use local)
20 Vitamin E oil capsules (Found these on a crazy clearance sale at the grocery store and bought a couple bottles!!!)
15 drops peppermint essential oil
- Add the coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 20 second increments until the coconut oil is liquefied.
- Stir in castile soap and mix well. Your mixture will become cloudy at this point.
- Add the honey and continue to mix well.
- Use scissors to snip the end of the Vitamin E oil capsules and squeeze the oil into your mixture. This part is a little messier than the others, but it really does help your skin feel great. Continue to mix well. (Note: You can also purchase Vitamin E oil, but the capsules were much less expensive for me.)
- Add your essential oil and combine all ingredients well.
- Pour into your designated body wash container (mine is from the last mainstream body wash that I actually purchased…recycle those bottles!!!).
Bottled Honey Almond Mint
I do make sure to give my body wash a little shake right before I use it in case there is any separation. I’ve personally had no problems with separation, but the little shake ensures thorough mixing.
So, there you have it! An awesome, simple, delicious body wash that you can feel good about! This recipe does not cause my rosacea to flare, and it makes my morning extra sweet smelling and my skin extra soft. And you just can’t beat that zing of peppermint to perk you up when you’re dragging. Plus, it is super sudsy!!!
Grab your shower puff, this yummy DIY body wash, and hop into a hot shower for an aromatherapy self-care session!
You’ll thank me for this!!!
What are some of your favorite aromatherapy combos?
This stuff can get your shower floor pretty slick, so be cautious and don’t slip!!!
Stay tuned for more DIY projects to come!
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