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.
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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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.
Homemade Shower Gel | Natural and Moisturizing
Equipment
- Squeeze top bottle (HDPE Plastic)
Ingredients
- 1 cup castile soap (liquid)
- 1 cup pure aloe vera gel
- 2 tbsp vegetable glycerin
- 10 drops vitamin E oil
- 15-30 drops essential oils optional
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.
- Transfer the mixture to an empty shower gel container or a mason jar.
Abigail says
Hi. I tried making it with fresh aloe vera and it turned brown after a day. I read that coconut oil & vitamin E oil acts as a preservative too. So is it still safe to use? I really like the feel on my skin.
Laura says
Did you store it in the fridge?
Brian says
Do
You really need an immersion blender?
Jodi says
What do you add to it if it seperates.
Elna Thomas says
My husband likes more suds. Do I add more Castile?
Anca says
Hi Laura,
Can I use aloe vera plant instead of aloe vera gel, I have aloe vera plant in the house.
Many thanks.
Laura says
Yes, you can!
Franco says
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Anitha Achutha says
Hi,lara thank you for wonderful recipes of natural cosmetics you post , i am your follower, i had a question to ask you the body butter i did this time is curdled please help me how i can set it right what should I do?? Thank you in advance for your reply
Laura says
After the body butter is cooled, whip it with a hand mixer to get the fluffy light texture!
Crystal says
Hi do you need a preservative for aloe vera gel if added it to castile soap base?
Micki says
Is the shower gel safe to use on your yoni/ vulva area?
Joann Rush says
I would like to make this recipe in a large batch to pour into 4 oz. bottles for baby shower favors. How many ounces of shower gel will this recipe yield?
Laura says
That is a great idea!
Konny says
I did use an immersion blender and it lathered really well but it’s far from being gel like. Any suggestions? Did I do something wrong?
Mary Catone says
Hi Konny,
I made this last week, I didn’t mix the aloe vera gel in slowly so it was very watery. So, I am trying again today. I added more aloe vera gel to the recipe slowly. Still, I could not get it to stop from separating. I decided to sprinkle some salt in it and mix it up with the immersion blender. I believe that I may have figured out how to get this batch better than it was… praise the Lord!
Laura says
Yay, I am so glad! Thanks for sharing!