Treat yourself to the ultimate in-shower experience! Explore my DIY shower oil recipe for pampered skin that is soft, smooth, and irresistibly velvety.
I never knew stepping out of the shower with moisturized skin was a thing. Aren’t we all so used to slapping on moisturizer post-towel dry?
But no more! Now, I’m officially a DIY shower oil convert.
There’s just something about it, believe me.
It must be that gorgeous silky feeling on your skin as you pour the oil onto wet hands and smooth it on your body while standing under the warm shower water. Or perhaps it’s how it transforms dry skin into hydrated skin in one application?
Shower oil works great on all skin types, but is most effective on naturally dry skin. Additionally, this homemade version is free of harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients and is fully customizable with a wide range of carrier oils as alternative options.
Go ahead and discover the joys of shower oil by making it in the comfort of your home. There’s nothing better!
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DIY Shower oil recipe
You will need:
- 1/4 cup (2 oz) of sweet almond oil
- 1/8 cup (1 oz) of avocado oil
- 1/8 cup (1 oz) of jojoba oil
- 15 drops of your favorite essential oils (optional)
Instructions:
- Combine the oils in a bowl or measuring cup and mix well.
- Add essential oils to the mixture if you’re using them for fragrance. Note: While this step is optional, adding essential oils can benefit your skin. Just be sure to research what oils are best to use for your skin type.
- Transfer the mixture into a clean, airtight container (such as a glass bottle or HDPE plastic bottle) that you can keep in the shower or bathroom closet.
- When you’re ready to use the shower oil, simply apply a small amount to your body while in the shower or bath. Gently massage the oil onto your skin under running water, paying attention to dry or rough areas.
- Rinse with warm water, and pat dry your skin with a towel. Your skin will feel soft, smooth, and nicely hydrated.
What is a shower oil?
A shower oil is simply an oil used like you would a homemade shower gel. This means you use it in the shower to wash and cleanse your entire body, leaving it feeling soft and smooth.
A shower oil is designed to be used on wet skin underneath the water flow, or you can use it as a relaxing DIY bath oil, too, depending on what mood you’re in.
The great thing about shower oil is it sinks into your skin better than anything, as the shower’s hot water encourages the skin’s pores to open up and absorb all that moisture goodness.
I love using it in the winter months as a great way to moisturize my skin!
I honestly feel that the moisturization factor of shower oil is way better than things like body moisturizers or butter; plus, my skin feels moisturized all day after using shower oil in the morning!
Top tips
I am all about saving money, and a great way to do that is to use a reusable container to store this shower oil in! I am using an old lotion bottle, but a non-foaming soap dispenser will also work well!
On the topic of saving money, If you don’t have all of the oils listed above, feel free to substitute any with a similar oil.
Avoid trapping water in the shower oil bottle! We decided to make this recipe as simple as possible and, as a result, did not include a preservative since it will last several months without one.
If you do add essential oils to this recipe, I suggest consulting with a professional to see that the oils you chose are right for your skin.
Can I use different oils in the recipe?
You absolutely can, yes! Here are some other oils you could try, depending on what you’ve got in your cabinet right now. Any of these would work well too.
- Olive oil
- Castor oil
- Argan oil
- Sunflower oil
- Vitamin E oil
- Grapeseed oil
Can I use shower oil instead of soap?
So, yes and no. The shower oil is naturally cleansing, but you will still want to use soap at least every other shower or as your skin feels it’s necessary.
Shower oil is a great way to prevent moisture loss in dehydrated skin or flaky skin irritations that need a soothing boost.
Shower oil also doubles up as an excellent shaving oil, but if you prefer a foamy texture for this purpose, use this recipe.
Can I shower after shower oil?
Of course, you can if you like, but the idea with shower oil is to apply it in the shower and then pat your skin dry afterward so the moisturizing oils stay on your skin, leaving it feeling hydrated and well looked after.
Don’t worry – the oil doesn’t feel oily once you leave the shower and dry off if that’s what you’re thinking. Your skin will simply feel silky soft and look utterly gorgeous!
Is shower oil the same as body wash?
It’s not quite the same, but you do use it to wash your body, so there are similarities in that sense.
A shower oil is an oil-based product, whereas a homemade body wash can be a liquid soap, foamy texture, or cleansing gel.
It is a personal choice which you’d prefer to use in the shower. Why not have both shower oil and body wash on the shelf and mix it up day by day?!
Do you rinse off shower oil?
Yes, you will want to rinse off any excess oil.
But do note, the skin absorbs it quickly when you apply it in the shower. And if you pat yourself dry afterward, you’ll find minimal residue left over, even if you don’t rinse off.
Does shower oil have other uses?
It sure does! You can use it as a luxurious bath oil by pouring a generous dose under running water.
You could also use it as a shaving oil too. Or why not try it as a massage oil?
Fragrance options
You can add any essential oils you like to your shower oil, but here are a few of my favorites.
- Lavender essential oil
- Cedarwood essential oil
- Chamomile essential oil
- Ylang Ylang essential oil
Storage suggestions
The two things to know about storage of your shower oil are to close the lid tight and keep it out of direct sunlight.
This recipe is best if used within six months.
Just be sure to keep any water out of the bottle. Water in this product will become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.
If you’re unsure whether to make a new batch or not due to the smell of your shower oil after a few months, read this post; it’ll help clarify a few things.
Summary
I hope you love making and using this gorgeous DIY shower oil. Remember, it can used as a bath oil, too, and for shaving, so it really is an excellent self-care product to have on hand.
Not to mention how much money we save by making our own!
If you tried out this shower oil and loved it, please leave a review below!
And for more great recipes, check out some of these favorites!
- How to make a hydrating lip oil
- How to make a shower vapor disk
- How to make moisturizing bath truffles
DIY Shower Oil
Equipment
- Storage bottle
Ingredients
- ¼ cup 2 oz of sweet almond oil
- ⅛ cup 1 oz of avocado oil
- ⅛ cup 1 oz of jojoba oil
- 15 drops of your favorite essential oils optional
Instructions
- Combine all of the oils in a bowl or measuring cup and mix well.
- If you're using essential oils, add them to the mixture. Note: While this step is optional, adding essential oils can provide additional benefits for the skin.
- Transfer the mixture into a clean, airtight container (such as a glass bottle or HDPE plastic bottle) that you can keep in the shower.
- When you're ready to use the shower oil, simply apply a small amount to your body while in the shower or bath. Gently massage the oil onto your skin under water, paying extra attention to dry or rough areas.
- Rinse with warm water, and pat dry your skin with a towel. Your skin should feel soft, smooth, and hydrated.
Sarah says
Will this harden and clog your drain?