We all want a body wash that is easy to use but effective for our skin. If you have acne-prone skin, you want something that will help to minimize the pimples.
Acne isn’t caused by fat and grease. Blockages cause it in the pores, which are common in those with oily skin. The excess oil collects in the pores, creating an area that is perfect for bacteria growth. The skin then breaks out in both blackheads and whiteheads.
While there are plenty of products on the market that say they will help to reduce acne, they tend to be full of chemicals and toxins. You want something that will support the health of your skin and your overall health. It’s time to create your body washes.
Making Your Body Washes Isn’t Expensive
Contrary to popular belief, making your body washes don’t mean you will spend a fortune on specialist ingredients. In fact, the majority of washes can be made from items you already have in your cupboard.
At the same time, homemade body washes aren’t hard to create. Most will involve just one jar that you add all the ingredients to and give it a good shake. You will also find that the washes are cheaper to make in the long term than your shop bought options. The ingredients last for months without adding extra chemicals and unknown ingredients.
With homemade body washes, you will also know exactly what you’ve added to them. One of the biggest issues with store bought body washes is that you have no idea about some of the toxins added. The manufacturers will add “parfum” or “fragrance” to the ingredients list, but these can have hundreds of chemicals to create them. Because they’re “trade secrets” the companies get away with not releasing a full list of the toxins, chemicals, and ingredients used.
Wouldn’t it be better to have something that you know the full list of ingredients? Wouldn’t it be better to know just what you’re putting on your skin to soak into your body?
Of course, it would! When you want to control your acne, make sure you use one of these five homemade body washes. More info on antibacterial wash for folliculitis here.
Recipe #1: Create a Honey-Infused Body Wash
Honey is one of the best ingredients for acne-prone skin. It’s full of antioxidants and antibacterial elements. You’ll also get a tasty smell to your skin, leaving your friends wishing they could figure out how you do it.
This is one of the easiest body washes you will ever make from home. You’ll likely have the majority of ingredients at home. One of the only ones you may not have is liquid castile soap. While it says soap, it’s a natural creation and excellent for cleansing the skin and getting rid of the bacteria growing in the pores.
If you don’t have coconut oil or are allergic to coconuts, then consider olive oil instead. It’s not as good for antibacterial benefits, but it is good for various antioxidant nutrients.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of liquid castile soap
- ½ cup of coconut oil
- ½ cup of raw honey
- 20 drops of essential oil (scent of choice)
Method:
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, mixing slowly
- Add to a pump/squeeze bottle
Use as you would with any other body wash. You can apply by hand, with a wash cloth, or with a loafer.
If you want to create an exfoliating wash, you can add some sugar or salt to the mixture. Because of the lack of water, the sugar and salt won’t dissolve, so you’ll have a gritty texture to your body wash. Salt is the better option. While it dries out the skin, it also kills bacteria. Opt for sea salt, as this is less drying for the skin.
You don’t have to add essential oils if you don’t want. Lemon or orange essential oil tends to work better with the honey. However, you can add multiple oils (just reduce the amount of drops of each that you add) to get the perfect soothing, and supportive body washes for your skin.
Recipe #2: Create a Coconut and Milk Wash
Rather than using honey, add some milk to your liquid castile soap. Milk is hydrating and will add extra proteins to your skin. Acne prone skin needs proteins to help support the production of collagen. This will help to improve the flexibility of your skin.
Coconut milk is better than plain milk. It will add the antibacterial elements of coconut oil to your skin, helping to kill off the bacteria and get rid of the reason for your acne growth.
Opt for full-fat coconut milk. While this may not be excellent for your diet, it is the best for your skin. You get more proteins to add to your skin and create a softer complexion.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup of liquid castile soap
- ¼ cup of coconut milk
- 15 drops of essential oil (scent of choice)
Method:
- Mix it all together in a bowl
- Pour into a bottle and use twice a day
You’ll likely need to give your mixture a shake before use. The milk and soap will separate when it stands for some time. Don’t worry about this, as it is normal and is still good to use.
Lavender essential oil is one of the best for this recipe, especially if you use the soothing wash at the end of the day. The scent will help you unwind and relax further. Try using it after a long soak in the bath.
Recipe #3: Rejuvenate with an Orange Body Wash
Why not help to rejuvenate your skin? Not only will this body wash wake you up, but it will also help to reactive the skin cells. They repair quicker and are less likely to be damaged. They won’t block the pores, helping to reduce the number of blocked pores.
If you don’t have access to orange essential oil, look for lemon or lime. Any citrus essential oil will give you the same benefits.
If you can’t find rose oil or grape seed oil, you can use coconut oil and olive oil respectively. However, do try to look out for the specialist oils. They are available in most health stores and will offer various nutritious benefits for the skin.
When using coconut oil, you’ll need to melt it first.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of castile soap
- ¼ cup of honey
- 20 drops of citrus essential oil
- 10 drops of rose oil
- 2tbsp grape seed/jojoba oil
Method:
- Put all the ingredients into a bottle and shake vigorously
Use with a loafer or with a wet wash cloth for best results. The oils will help to hydrate your skin, so your body won’t feel the need to release as many natural oils as it once did.
Recipe #4: Create a Honey and Vitamin E Gel Instead
When you want a gel-like substance in the shower, you want to make this homemade body wash instead. It uses vegetable glycerin, which is healthy and natural. You may have to go to a specialist health store to find this.
This recipe uses vitamin E oil. You could use almond oil or aloe vera instead, as both have large amounts of vitamin E. If using vitamin E, make sure it is pure. There are too many brands that have added toxins to help ensure the life of the oil.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of castile oil
- 1tbsp honey
- 2tsp vegetable glycerin
- 1tsp vitamin E oil
- 1tsp olive oil
- 10 drops of essential oil (scent of choice)
Method:
- Mix everything together in a bowl
- Pour into a pump bottle
Ylang-ylang oil is one of the best essential oils to create a floral smell for this shower gel. However, you could also use rosemary essential oil. If you would prefer a more tropical smell, look out for orange, lemon, or even coconut essential oil.
Mint essential oil is good for creating a cooling gel. This will help to rejuvenate your skin and reduce some inflammation felt during the day.
Recipe #5: Create a Year-Long Living Body Wash
What if you could create a body wash that will last for the full year? This will cut down on the money you spend on products. This is the perfect body wash for your financial needs.
The recipe includes the majority of ingredients you’ve already seen in the above recipes. However, this one specifically calls for tea tree essential oil. This is an excellent essential oil for improving the health of the skin. It helps to reduce inflammation, which often leads to blocked pores. It also helps to reduce the sight of acne and can reduce acne scars if you have them. Those with dry skin will want to reduce the amount they use, as it can be drying.
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup of liquid castile soap
- ¼ cup of honey
- 2tsp sesame or sweet almond oil
- 1tsp vitamin E oil or aloe vera
- 50-60 drops of tea tree oil (or less if you have dry skin)
Method:
- Combine all the ingredients in a bottle and shake rigorously
You can use this with a wash cloth or bath pouf. It can also be used directly on your skin. This isn’t just good for the body but can also work as a face wash for acne prone skin.
Which Essential Oils Should You Use?
There are so many essential oils out there. When it comes to acne prone skin, you want to think about the way that the oils will work. After all, you don’t want to add something that will boost the production of natural oil and make your oily skin worse.
Tea tree oil (as we’ve said) is one of the best options. It’s relatively drying, making it the perfect option for naturally oily skin. You will reduce inflammation, and it can help to reduce skin rashes and other irritations. It’s commonly applied to eczema and other skin conditions.
If your skin is chapped or dry, you’ll want to consider sandalwood essential oil. This has a woody scent but will help to repair damage, clean out the cracked areas, and reduce the feeling of irritation. The oil will also help to add more moisture to prevent more irritating cracked sections of your skin.
Those with dermatitis or eczema will want to consider rosemary oil. It’s a restorative essential oil, repairing damaging and supporting the skin cells naturally. The downside is that there are some possible problems in pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you’ll want to look at another essential oil to help to manage your skin condition.
For soothing skin and reducing inflammation, peppermint oil is the essential oil to consider. It’s naturally cooling and will also help to reduce stress levels just from the scent. If you are pregnant, avoid it in the first four months due to potential threats to your unborn baby.
Citrus essential oils, including orange, lemon, and grapefruit, are perfect for those with oily skin. The oils are full of antioxidants and vitamin C. They get right into the pores and cleanse them fully. You’ll be able to get rid of all the reasons for your acne forming while creating smoother and healthier skin.
Create Your Body Washes to Control Acne
The above body washes aren’t miracle workers. They’re not instantly going to clear up your acne and prevent it forever. There are many reasons for acne to form. If you have cystic acne, you may find that the cleansers take longer to work and you may need something targeted for cystic acne—speak to your doctor about this.
However, the cleaners will help to control your acne effectively. You will see fewer breakouts with the natural ingredients. They work on attacking and killing the bacteria that cause whiteheads and blackouts. Some of the recipes will also work on reducing inflammation and repairing the collagen production. Not only are you controlling acne, but you’re supporting the full health and appearance of your skin.
