Wonderfully nourishing and great at removing debris and impurities, this face cleanser gel contains aloe vera, matcha, and rosemary extract, which will leave your skin smooth, clean, and healthy.
Do you ever find the dozens of face cleansers lining store shelves to be a bit overwhelming?
From face cleanser gel to a cream to a liquid and now even in powder form, it seems – there are options galore for cleansing the face.
I sometimes wonder what happened to a good old face cloth and water!
Nowadays, I know it’s hard to find which face cleanser is right for you. Or perhaps you’re even asking what is a gel cleanser.
If so, you’ll find this post today useful, as I’m sharing a wonderful recipe for homemade aloe vera face cleanser. Because why not make your own?! It’s easy and works great.
I’ve spent a lot of time myself trying out different face cleansers over the years only to find some work, but most are extremely drying and unsuitable for my skin.
Not to mention the cost!
Sharing this lovely aloe face cleanser recipe with you is something I’m eager to do as it’s transformed my cleansing routine.
It’s a DIY gel cleanser that uses only natural ingredients which won’t dry out your skin.
It’ll help nourish the skin and do a superb job at cleansing away makeup and any other built-up debris on the face.
What is a face cleanser?
A face cleanser does the exact job it says in the name. It’s a product that cleanses the face, meaning it cleans and conditions the skin, removing makeup and impurities.
It’s always best to use a natural skin cleanser because these are far kinder to the skin and the environment too.
They contain no toxic products and tend to add a touch of moisture to the skin rather than stripping it of its base oils.
You would normally use a face cleanser as part of your everyday beauty routine. I use this gel cleanser daily to remove dirt and grime from my skin, leaving it clean and refreshed.
It’s perfect to use to end the day, so you go to bed with clean skin – because good sleep is equally as important for healthy skin as a good cleanser (if you didn’t know that already!)
This face cleanser is gentle enough to use daily while saving the face scrubs for weekly or biweekly uses.
Are cleansers and face wash the same
You may wonder whether a cleanser is the same as a face wash – and the answer is no, in theory, though it can vary between products.
In my experience, a cleanser like this tends to be gentler than a face wash. I compare a cleanser to a soft wipe vs. a hard sponge for a face wash; if you were to compare it like that.
Conventional face washes can even be quite abrasive due to the chemicals they contain, whereby a cleanser is usually less agitating and kinder to the skin.
Certainly, in this case, with the recipe for homemade aloe vera face cleanser, it’s incredibly gentle, so it is great for sensitive skin types – and much nicer to use than a face wash if you ask me!
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How to make a gel cleanser
Follow along with this recipe, and you’ll have made your own homemade face cleanser with aloe vera.
You can enjoy using it that very same day!
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon of water
- 2 drops of preservative (I use Linatural broad spectrum)
- 3 drops of rosemary extract
- 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin
- 3 tablespoons of aloe vera gel
This fits into a 30mL squeeze bottle for easy application.
This cleanser is the perfect companion to my charcoal soap bars and works great to get rid of dirt and grime.
Instructions:
Combine the matcha powder and water to make a paste.
Add in your preservative, rosemary extract, and glycerin.
Stir in the aloe vera gel until well combined.
Transfer to an airtight squeeze bottle tube.
To apply, rub a tiny bit between your fingers and spread it onto the face.
Rinse clean with warm water, or wet a soft cloth with warm water and wipe it off.
why you will love this recipe
What’s not to love about this recipe?!
It’s packed full of beautiful, nourishing ingredients that will care for your skin while also cleansing it – leaving it clean, bright, and healthy looking.
It’s simple to make this DIY gel cleanser which is another reason to love it, needing only the ingredients to be purchased beforehand.
It’ll store well in an airtight tube which is great for traveling with – meaning it’ll easily fit into your hand luggage and is a ‘one-stop’ solution for skin cleansing.
And let’s not forget the powers of aloe vera gel and matcha powder for the skin. Check out my post on a matcha face mask or matcha body scrub to find out more about this fantastic ingredient.
How long does this cleanser last?
This face cleanser gel should last at least one month in its container. If you notice a change in color, texture, or smell, discard it and make a new batch.
tips
The quantities in this recipe should be enough to fill a standard 30ml squeeze tube though you can also store it in a glass container with a screw top lid if you wish.
You can easily double the quantity and fill a larger tube, too, depending on how often you use it as a cleanser.
It will last roughly 1 month as it is (not in double quantity). If used twice daily, it’ll last for less time, of course.
This gel is great to use on oily skin, too, due to the rosemary extract, which is an astringent, meaning it mops up excess oil while helping balance the skin’s natural sebum levels.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. If you have any questions or comments, please post them below!
If you tried this recipe and enjoyed it, give it a 5-star rating!
And for more DIY inspiration, read one of these next.
Gel Face Cleanser
Enjoy making and using this nourishing gel face cleanser. It takes a bit of prep beforehand but is well worth it!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Combine the matcha powder and water to make a paste.
- Add in your preservative, rosemary extract, and glycerin.
- Stir in the aloe vera gel until well combined.
- Transfer to an airtight squeeze bottle tube.
Notes
Apply to skin morning and night to cleanse, remove makeup and wipe away impurities.
I use Linatural broad spectrum preservative for this recipe. Depending on the preservative you choose, you may need to adjust the amounts accordingly.
This recipe should last at least one month.
Jessica says
Can you reuse these 30ml containers or should they be thrown away due to EO breaking down the plastic?
Laura says
There are no essential oils in this recipe. But yes, essential oils should not be stored in plastic.
Nadine says
Lovely recipe Laura, thanks for sharing! I happen to have aloë vera plant with harvest able leaves that would be perfect for this recipe! But as I’m a newbie at DYI, I tend to get across ingredients I do not (yet) own.
Like matcha powder. Can I just leave the the powder out, or can it be replaces by something else, like clay, honey…? And can you substitute the used preservative for Vit E oil?
Laura says
Hi Nadie, the matcha plays a role in cleansing the face, but this recipe will still work without it.
You will really need a preservative for this recipe in order to store it outside of the fridge.
Of course, if you use aloe vera plant, you’ll want to keep it in the fridge anyway so the preservative won’t matter. Just keep an eye on it, and if it looks at all like it’s spoiling, throw it out.
Nina says
Can you replace the matcha powder with other herbal teas?
Laura says
Yes, but matcha is a powder, so it mixes well. I am afraid a leafy herb wouldn’t work as well.
Jackie Senatore says
Hi Laura, I just started making DIY cleansers, moisturizers and serums and love all your DIY Skincare Recipes. For this Gel Cleanser I didn’t have a squeeze tube so I used glass pump bottle. Thank you so much and please keep sharing your recipes!!!!
Gabrielle says
Hi Laura, I love your recipes and use many of them every day! Your link to Linatural™, is out of stock, do you have another suggestion for this product. Thank you so much!
Laura says
Hi Gabrielle, I am working on an alternative option.
Clare maguire says
Good morning
This cleanser is GREAT…I’m making my 3 rd batch today…I have perioral dermatitis and have been suffering with it for 5 yrs…there’s not much info on it as to what exactly triggers it or cures it …it seems like everything triggers it…I’m dealing with breakouts daily some days worse than others and I’m in my 60’s ..ridiculous…anyway this gel works GREAT on my skin …I am so grateful…I no longer have daily issues…it’s rare a have a breakout since I’ve been using this…thanks Laura..you are a wise woman:)
PS- the blush is also wonderful
Laura says
I am so glad you love it! Thanks for sharing!
Liz says
If you’re adding in a preservative, won’t this last monger than 4 weeks?
Laura says
You can add a broad spectrum natural preservative or antioxidant like vitamin E antioxidant or rosemary antioxidant to help stabilize the shelf life of the product if desired.
Kathy Holmes says
THE FEEL OF THIS CLEANSER IS AMAZING. THE ONLY THING I WAS WONDERING IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE IT A LITTLE THICKER? I FOLLOWED IT EXACTLY AS YOU SAY BUT STILL FOUND IT A TAD RUNNY.
Laura says
Yes, you can add a touch more aloe gel!
Beverly says
What do you use to transfer the gel into the squeeze bottle tube? Thanks! Love your potions and lotions!