This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Homemade shower gel is made with natural ingredients and is very moisturizing for the skin. This shower gel recipe is simple to make and will leave your skin feeling smooth, silky and cleansed.

hand pouring shower gel into other hand

Making your own bath and beauty products can seem pretty overwhelming. That is what I thought until I made my first DIY, but in actuality, it can really be quite simple. This homemade shower gel recipe is no different, and it has hydrating and moisturizing properties that will leave your skin feeling rejuvenated.

By making your own, you know what ingredients are in them and you have the freedom to customize it as you please. Once you get started on making your own bath and beauty products, you will always have gift ideas for any occasion too! Homemade melt and pour soap bars, DIY body butter, and DIY lip balms can make the best gifts!

This homemade shower gel is perfect for someone with sensitive skin or dry skin. It is extremely moisturizing and made with gentle ingredients that can even help with skin irritations.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.

PIN IT FOR LATER

NATURAL SHOWER GEL

Shower gel is thicker and can be more moisturizing than a traditional homemade body wash. Although they are both liquid cleansers for the body, shower gel does have a thicker “gel-like” consistency.

Body wash can sometimes lather up more than shower gel. Because I love a soap that lathers, I am using castile soap and vegetable glycerin in this recipe, and the two of those can really make a soap lather.

I will also be adding pure aloe vera gel to this soap to make it extra moisturizing and to give it that gel-like consistency.

SHOWER GEL BENEFITS

Shower gel is loaded with benefits and can especially help someone that has very dry or sensitive skin. It is made with gentle ingredients that can make it safe for someone with sensitive skin and children.

Moisturizing
Reduce itchy skin
Anti-aging properties
Reduce scars and other skin irritations
Help with eczema and psoriasis
Repair cracked dry skin

HOMEMADE SHOWER GEL INGREDIENTS

PURE ALOE VERA GEL

Aloe vera gel has so many wonderful benefits for the skin. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties, making it great for cleansing and protecting the skin.

Studies have shown that aloe can help heal damaged skin and wounds because it improves blood circulation. Aloe can improve collagen production and prevent cell death around a wound. Using aloe will keep the skin moist, which will keep it protected.

It is best to use aloe vera gel, rather than aloe vera liquid. The liquid is more intended for internal use. Whereas, the gel is known to be better for skin and will allow the shower gel to have a thicker consistency.

LIQUID CASTILE SOAP

If you have been hanging around my blog long, you know my love for castile soap. I use if for cleaning, body wash, making shampoo, and even in homemade powder laundry soap!

Castile soap is gentle, safe, and leaves the skin purified and clean. Castile soap is highly concentrated, making it cost-effective because you only need a little bit each time you clean. I like to buy the unscented castile soap and use my essential oils to add scent to my DIY’s so I can customize it the way I want. However, you can get different scents of castile soap if you’d rather go that route.

The environmental working group gives Dr. Bronner’s castile soap an A. This means that it is proven to be safe and made with ingredients that have low concern for skin irritation, cancer, skin allergies, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and the environment. I feel confident in using it on my skin and even on my babies’ skin.

VITAMIN E OIL

Vitamin E oil is known for its benefits for the skin and can even help with anti-aging. It is very moisturizing and can help to heal skin irritations. Using vitamin E oil in your shower gel will help to heal dry, cracked skin, and reduce skin itching.

Vitamin E oil can be very helpful for someone that suffers from eczema, psoriasis, or other skin conditions. If you use vitamin E oil on a scar, it can lessen the appearance over time!

Vitamin E oil is also known to be effective for anti-aging and can reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

LAVENDER AND WILD ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL

You can use any essential oils you want in this recipe, but wild orange and lavender are some of my favorite combinations. I love the fresh, yet calming scent these two give off, and they have many benefits for the skin.

Lavender is great for soothing skin irritations, skin imperfections, burns, bumps, and rashes.

Wild orange is a powerful cleansing and purifying agent and works well in body wash or shower gel.

OTHER ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS TO TRY

CITRUS

5 drops lemon

5 drops grapefruit

5 drops lime

FLORAL

5 drops lavender

5 drops patchouli

5 drops chamomile

FRESH

5 drops lemon

5 drops rosemary

5 drops cypress

MINTY

5 drops spearmint (or peppermint)

5 drops eucalyptus

5 drops wintergreen

SHOWER GEL RECIPE

This recipe can easily be adjusted for the amount that you want to make. It will last up to six months at room temperature.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup castile soap
1 cup pure aloe vera gel
10 drops vitamin E oil
2 tablespoon vegetable glycerin
15-30 drops essential oils (see my favorite blends above)

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all the ingredients together in a medium-size mixing bowl. Stir until well combined; use an immersion blender to make it easier to get the gel to incorporate with the liquid soap.

Transfer the mixture to an empty shower gel container or a mason jar.

HOW TO USE HOMEMADE SHOWER GEL?

Get your body wet with warm water. Message the shower gel into the skin, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then rinse off.

HOW LONG WILL DIY SHOWER GEL LAST?

This recipe will last for up to 1 month when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

4.43 from 52 votes