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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. 

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PIN IT FOR LATER 

NATURAL SHOWER GEL 

diy shower gel in white container with flowers

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 

shower gel on white marble with fresh flowers in background

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. Bronnerโ€™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

homemade shower gel in white container

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 

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. 

diy body wash in white container pouring into hand

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

Homemade Shower Gel | Natural and Moisturizing

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Yield: 17 oz
This shower gel recipe is simple to make and will leave the skin soft and silky smooth.

Equipment

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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Mix all the ingredients together in a medium-size mixing bowl. Stir until well combined; you can use an immersion blender for this to make it easier to get the gel to incorporate with the liquid soap.ย 
  • Transfer the mixture to an empty shower gel container or a mason jar.ย 

Notes

Store this shower gel in the fridge.
You can alternatively add a preservative to extend the shelf life. Be sure to follow the recommendations for the proper dilution ratio.
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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4.43 from 52 votes (51 ratings without comment)

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54 Comments

  1. Donna says:

    With this recipe can I use a plastic bottle are so you use glass?

    1. Laura says:

      Some plastic is safe to use with oils. Thicker the better!

      1. Linda Walendzak says:

        Linda
        I tried to make a lotion bar but it did not harden. Not sure how to fix it. It was my fault did not want to use my friends measuring spoons so I guessed on amounts of coconut oil and bees was. I could use your help.

        1. Laura says:

          You can put it in the fridge and see if it will harden but yes if the measurements are off that could be the issue.

  2. Lou says:

    Is there anything I can use in place of the glycerin please? Hoping something I may already have around the house ๐Ÿ˜‚ thank you!

    1. Laura says:

      You can leave it out. It won’t lather as well, but still work.

  3. Erin says:

    Hi, what brand Vitamin E and Glycerin do you use?

    1. Laura says:

      They are both linked in the description box. ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. brinda says:

    Does this lather well? I tried the other body wash recipe you have, and it wont lather on a sponge and once it hits the water on my body there is no lather. What am I doing wrong?

    1. Laura says:

      Homemade will not lather as well as store bought as they add a chemical to make it do that. However, if you had vegetable glycerin that will help it to lather more!

  5. Abbey says:

    Is the consistency of this soap supposed to be gel-like or water-like? Mine is a completely liquid texture.

    1. Laura says:

      Gel-like. Did you use an immersion blender and add the aloe slowly?

      1. Abbey says:

        Oh darn it!! I didnโ€™t have any immersion blender, so I used a hand mixer as you suggested! But I poured the aloe in all at one time!!

  6. Abbey says:

    Any thoughts or recommendations if I don’t have an immersion blender?

    1. Laura says:

      You can try a hand mixer!

      1. Abbey says:

        Awesome news!! Thanks!!

  7. Lumka Kemele says:

    Hi I am very interested in free classes on how to do essential oils etc.

    Regards
    Lumka