For most of us, washing and cleaning our face is a crucial step of our daily beauty routine. Normally we clean our skin twice a day, to eliminate dust and toxins in the morning and makeup in the evening. Cleansing is one of the important step for the skin to better receive a subsequent toner, moisturizer, or night cream.
a) Sweet Honey Cleanser
This recipe is a good choice for sensitive skin, the honey and glycerin in this formula will yield a softer cleanser that will not strip your skin of moisture or irritate it. This is a concentrated soap formula with a generous amount of glycerin to ensure that skin moisture is retained.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 ounce (30 ml) vegetable glycerin
- 2 ounces (60 ml) castile soap
- 5 drops lavender essential oil or other essential oil of your choice
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add the honey and glycerin into a small bowl and place it in a pot filled with hot water, and whisk.
- Remove the bowl from hot water and place another one containing the castile soap. Then pour the honey-glycerin mix into the soap while whisking.
- Set to cool to room temperature before transferring it to a pump bottle.
- Wet your face and neck. Pump a small amount of soap (1–2 pumps at most) into your hands; rub your wet hands together to dilute the soap prior to massaging your face and neck.
- Wipe off with a cotton ball, then rinse off with plenty of water, and pat your face dry with a towel. Follow with a moisturizer.
b) Light Cleansing Oil
You must try this recipe if you have dry skin problem. It’s a cleansing oil that will not leave behind a bothersome thick oily residue. It will nourish and soften skin while powerfully removing all makeup and impurities. Rosehip oil is very rich in antioxidants, and adding it to your oil will make a wonderful, light anti-aging oil.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ounces (60 ml) of almond oil (or sunflower oil)
- 2 teaspoons of rosehip oil
- 5 drops geranium essential oil (or other essential oil of your choice)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare a bowl and mix the almond and rosehip oils well. Transfer the mixed oils to an amber glass bottle with a dropper. Add the essential oil into the bottle and close with the dropper, and shake well.
- Wet your face and then spread one drop of cleansing oil on the forehead, one drop on each cheek, and one drop on the chin and neck. Massage gently, then wipe off with a cotton disk. Rinse off with water if desired or follow with a toner.
- You can use every night at bedtime before applying serum or night cream.
- To store, make sure the bottle is tightly closed and kept in a cool place away from heat, light, and moisture. This mixture can be stored through the shelf life of each individual ingredient.
c) Exfoliating Cleansing Gel
A cleansing gel is always refreshing because of its high water content. In this recipe, xanthan gum will thicken the water phase and hold suspended particles in place. This cleanser is soap free and is a very good choice for sensitive, soap-intolerant skin. The efficacy of this gel is made complete with the addition of vitamin B5, which helps moisturize and nurture the skin.
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup rose water
- 1 teaspoon exfoliating agent of your choice (for example, semolina, ground oats, almond meal)
- 10 drops (0.5 ml) vitamin B5
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
- 5 drops of your favorite essential oil (such as gardenia or geranium)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place your rose water in a double boiler and heat over low heat, until it reaches 100°F and turn off the heat.
- Slowly sprinkle in the exfoliating agent while whisking. Add the vitamin B5, then sprinkle the xanthan gum in tiny amounts as you watch your mixture thicken. Keep in mind that too much xanthan gum can ruin the texture. Expect further spontaneous thickening, as well.
- Add the essential oil and gently whisk to until the gel is evenly mixed.
- Transfer the mixture to a bottle and refrigerate it for about 50 minutes for further thickening.
- It is not necessary to wet your face and neck before applying the gel. Just massage a quarter-size amount onto your face and neck, then scrub gently and wipe away with a cotton disk.
- Rinse well and pat your face dry with a towel.
d) Creamy Cleanser
In this formula, the addition of a moisturizing cream counteracts the drying effect of soap. The result is a smooth and creamy formula, perfect if you have dry skin and do not want to give up on soap.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ounces (60 ml) of moisturizing cream
- ½ cup of liquid castile soap
- 1 ounce (30 ml) rose water or lavender hydrosols
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the moisturizing cream in a double boiler and warm it over low heat, then add liquid soap in a thin stream, stirring gently.
- Turn off the heat and slowly add the rose water and stir to mix.
- Transfer the cleanser to a jar or pump bottle and set aside to cool completely.
- Massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your wet face and neck. Wipe off with a makeup sponge or cotton disk to remove makeup and grime. Rinse with plenty of water and pat your face dry with a towel. Follow with a moisturizer.