DIY Honey Face Wash

I have a love/hate relationship with soap. Even the purest natural soap makes my skin feel like it’s been attacked with a bristly scrub brush and then doused in lemon juice. Unless it’s hand soap, like this lemon thyme foaming soap, the rest of me doesn’t get along with soap too well. When I discovered DIY honey face wash I decided to give it a whirl.

So I stopped using soap on my face.

I’ve tried a lot of different face washes, but I wanted to create a homemade honey face wash recipe without any drying ingredients. Something that would be gentle, yet effective for clear skin.

Soap and I are Frenemies

In middle school my face was riddled with acne, so my dad insisted I try Ivory soap. It was pure. It was great for skin. What could happen?

My face was so red, blotchy, and inflamed afterward, that I looked like I’d been stung by an angry beehive. And it felt like it too. No more Ivory soap for this girl.

A few years ago I used a natural cleanser on my face whenever I’d remember to. It was still drying though. Soap may remove dirt, but it can irritate more sensitive skin, especially for those with acne or eczema.

DIY Face Wash Without Castile Soap

Castile soap is popular in the natural health world, but it can be harsh on the skin. Our skin’s pH is naturally acidic at about 4.5, while castile soap has a high pH closer to 9. A skincare routine that overuses soap cleansers can harm the skin’s protective acid mantle.

Recently I switched to a DIY honey face wash. Since there’s no soap in this, my skin feels soft, moisturized, and yes, even clean! Washing your face with a jar of sweetener may sound nuts, but raw honey has amazing properties. This makes it the perfect choice for delicate facial skin.

Honey Face Wash Benefits

There’s a long history of use when it comes to honey in skincare. Before Gen Z was even born and TikTok wasn’t even a sparkle in a web developer’s eye, Cleopatra and the ancients were slathering on the honey. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks used it on skin burns and wounds. Indigenous tribes used it to clean their skin. Honey helps the skin repair itself and modulates the skin’s immune system.

According to a 2013 review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, “Honey in dermatology and skincare”, raw honey is:

• clarifying to help give skin that dewy look
• full of anti-oxidants
• calming to skin
• nourishing
• softens skin
• antibacterial
• reduces acne and breakouts
• helps lock in moisture
• emollient and humectant
• anti-aging and reduces the appearance of wrinkles
• full of vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and amino acids
• restores damaged skin
• regulates skin pH
• anti-inflammatory

What is the Best Honey to Wash Your Face With?

Unfortunately, a lot of the cheapo grocery store honey is laced with corn syrup. I prefer supporting small businesses and getting raw honey from local farmers. Raw honey hasn’t been processed so it has more beneficial properties for smoother, healthier skin.

Manuka honey is even better, but it can be on the pricey side. This honey has all of the same benefits as raw honey but in a higher concentration. My top pick for face wash with honey is manuka, with raw honey (even better if it’s local), coming in at a close second.

DIY Face Wash with Essential Oils

I had to add essential oils to this recipe as well. Because different oils have different properties, certain ones work better with different skin types, though many are all-purpose.

The Best Essential Oils for Homemade Face Wash

• Lavender– soothing and calming to the skin, and supports healthy cellular regeneration.
• Lemon– reduces the appearance of spots and discoloration.
• Frankincense – reduces the appearance of scars and wrinkles, soothing and evens skin tone.
• Geranium – reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and promotes healthy circulation.
• Cedarwood – helps clarify skin, soothes red and irritated skin, good for oily skin.
• Tea Tree – helps regulate oil production and reduces the appearance of acne.

The Best Carrier Oils for a Homemade Honey Face Wash

There’s a lot to be said about what carrier oil to use for what skin type. Sweet almond oil works great with my normal skin type. My husband has irritated, acne-prone, and dry skin, so I used rosehip seed and evening primrose oil in his honey face wash. Avocado and olive oil are great for more mature or drier skin.

Preserving the Honey Facial Cleanser

Because this DIY face wash uses water, be sure to use clean, sterilized utensils and containers. Filtered, preferably distilled water, is another must. I use filtered water from our Berkey filter that I also boiled. You don’t want any bacteria enjoying your honey face wash!

The honey helps act as a natural preservative too. That being said, this will keep best in the fridge, or should be used within a few weeks.

Using Hydrosols in Your DIY Face Wash

Another option is floral hydrosols. These are the byproducts of essential oil distillation and are infused with the health benefits of the plant. Hydrosols come preserved and usually last about a year, depending on the brand. Rose hydrosol is my favorite because it smells amazing while it soothes and calms skin. You can find hydrosols from Plant Therapy here.

How To Make Honey Face Wash

If you don’t want to bother with either distilled water or hydrosols, you can nix them and just use the honey and oils. This version of homemade face wash with honey is a little thicker and will need to be stored in a jar. To apply the honey and oils to your face, simply scoop up a little and massage into damp skin.

Lately, I’ve been using pure, raw manuka honey on my face as a mask. When I wash it off my skin feel’s full, nourished, and moisturized. I’ll follow it up with a little skin cream with essential oils.

Are all of These Oils Necessary?

No, but you’ll likely see better results. You can customize the essential oils used to your preference and exact skin type. If you don’t have one called for in a recipe, then just add some more of what you do have. The nice thing about a homemade face wash is you can customize it!

Honey Face Wash For Mature or Dry Skin

• Avocado oil is very moisturizing and penetrates deep into the skin.
• Rosehip seed oil is great for wrinkles and blemishes but is too drying on its own.
• Sweet almond oil is less greasy than avocado and combines everything together nicely.
• If you want to keep it simple, just use 2 tsps olive or avocado oil and skip the other carrier oils.

Honey Face Wash Q&A

Can I leave Honey on My Face Overnight?

Probably, but it would be really sticky. I’m imagining hair stuck to my face and raw honey slathered on my pillowcase. A face wash with honey works just as well and doesn’t make sleeping uncomfortable.

Is Honey Good for Your Face Every Day?

Although I don’t use this face wash every day, I would imagine that it would be fine. It’s soothing and moisturizing so it’s not going to dry out or irritate skin with lots of use. You may find that your skin is so dewy and moisturized though, that you don’t need to use it every day.

Does Honey Make Skin Glow?

Define glow. If we’re talking about a dewy, vibrant look where the skin is plump and moisturized, then yes. This honey face wash is nourishing skin from the outside in because of all of its nutrients.

Can Honey Remove Dark Spots?

While a lot of people report using honey for dark spots, that’s not exactly how it works. Honey won’t lighten skin like a bleaching cream will, but it can improve it. Scars, acne marks, and damaged skin will all improve with a honey face wash. So if the darker discoloration is from skin blemishes, then honey can address those blemishes.

Is it Good to Wash Your Face With Honey?

Is honey good for your skin? Oh let me count the ways. It’s so much better than conventional face wash with toxic chemicals, but I’d argue it can even trump many natural face washes. It can be hard to find a soap based face wash that’s perfect for your skin type, which is why I love honey. It’s good for acne-prone skin, dry skin, oily skin, and mature skin.

Is Honey Safe to Use For Face Wash?

In general yes. However, if you’re allergic to bees or pollen you might want to do a small patch test on your skin or skip it altogether. If someone eats honey all of the time with no problem it probably won’t hurt their skin though.

Prefer to Buy Honey Face Wash?

If you don’t want to mess with making your own DIY honey face wash, then there are a few options. Use plain, raw manuka honey. Apply it to a wet face, massage it in, and then wash it off. Easy peasy.

If you want to purchase a ready-made product, here are some natural honey face washes that nourish the skin without harsh chemicals:

• Vitamin C and Manuka Honey Gel Cleanser – Now Solutions
• Clean Bee Gentle Facial Cleanser – Farmacy
• Honey Cleanse Face Calming Wash – Beloved Beauty

Have you ever used honey on your face? Are you up for trying it? Leave a comment and let me know!

Sources:

• Burlando, B., & Cornara, L. (2013). Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 12(4), 306–313.
• McLoone P, Oluwadun A, Warnock M, Fyfe L. Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin. Cent Asian J Glob Health. 2016 Aug 4;5(1):241. doi: 10.5195/cajgh.2016.241. PMID: 29138732; PMCID: PMC5661189.
• Parker, S. (2015). Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Health & Beauty.

The post DIY Honey Face Wash for Blemish Free Skin appeared first on The Herbal Spoon.

I’ve been in love with everything rose lately. I’ve been drinking rose tea, inhaling rose essential oil and I just made a rose hydrosol. I decided to put that rose hydrosol to good use and make this rose lotion recipe.

I’ve been hesitant to make a lotion for the longest time since I was afraid of messing it up. One of the first lessons you learn in science class is that oil and water don’t mix, so getting them to combine in a lotion can be a bit tricky. With a good mixer or blender though and a little bit of patience it’s totally doable.

I’ve made mint chocolate whipped body butter before that I love, but sometimes I just need something a little lighter. And while mint chocolate smells divine, sometimes it’s the subtle scents that draw you in. There’s something just so delicate and uplifting about rose.

Unwind and relax with rose

I’ve been super stressed these past few weeks and I’ve really been drawn to rose lately. Dandelions are usually more my thing. I never really liked the prim and proper rose, a flower that was coddled and probably went to the country club for luncheon. Weeds and wildflowers appeal to my intrinsic free spirit, so I was surprised to find my attraction to rose.

Roses are used to balance and strengthen the heart and help reduce feelings of anxiousness and inadequacy.  They are an anti-depressant and a nervine to combat stressful situations. So it makes sense that I would be drawn to rose right now. (source)

“Not only does it enhanced moods, decrease depression, induce sleep, decrease anxiety, and provide some pain relief, but it has also shown anticonvulsant activity and stimulation of nerve growth in dementia patients as well!” – source

I’ve been enjoying using this rose lotion recipe as a full body lotion on my thirsty winter skin. As I rub it in, I think positive, affirming thoughts and inhale the relaxing aroma.

You can buy rose hydrosol for this or make your own. Here’s the tutorial I followed to make my hydrosol. You’ll want to store this in the fridge and use it up in a few days for best results. You can find the lings to where I get my ingredients in the recipe list below, including the scale that I love.

Preserving your lotion

Since this is a lotion, you’ll need something to help extend the shelf life. Even though it’s only for home use, I added vitamin E at .5% for its antioxidant properties that help keep the oils from going rancid. You could also use rosemary antioxidant, though I don’t personally have experience with it. Be sure to store your creation in a cool place!

Given the known toxicity of many broad spectrum preservatives, I’ve chosen not to use them in my homemade products. From what I’ve been told by skincare professionals, adding a preservative does not guarantee it’s in the correct amounts to prevent microbe growth. The only way to be sure is to send the product in for professional lab testing, which most of us don’t have the funds to do.

By using an already preserved hydrosol that typically has a shelf life of 12-18 months, storing this in the fridge, and/or using it up within 2-3 months there really isn’t a concern for microbial growth. If this is meant as a gift, then be sure the recipient knows this information as well.

If you’re just uncomfortable with this idea and prefer to use a preservative, then you can find one online and follow the manufacturers directions for that particular preservative. Keep in mind though that this doesn’t guarantee the product will be as immune to microbe growth as products on store shelves. These have to go through multiple rounds of stability testing.

Homemade Rose Lotion Recipe

• 75 grams sweet almond oil – get it here
• 31 grams coconut oil – get it here
• 8 grams beeswax – get it here
• 4 grams vitamin e oil – get it here
• 10 drops  pure rose absolute – get it here OR 40 drops diluted rose absolute – get it here
• 1/2 cup distilled water or rose hydrosol – get it here
• 1 tsp glycerin – get it here
• Scale – the one I use

1. In a small saucepan combine the coconut oil, sweet almond oil and beeswax. I place the saucepan on my scale and hit the tare button then add my ingredients, hitting tare after each one for easy measuring.
2. Heat the oils and beeswax over super low heat, as low as it will go. Once it’s completely melted pour the oils into your blender or stand mixer bowl. I used my stand mixer.
3. Add the vitamin E and essential oils at this point, don’t worry about stirring it in. Pop this in the fridge for about 15 minutes, or until it’s thickened and creamy looking. Don’t let it get solid though.
4. In a glass measuring cup with a spout, combine the glycerin and water or hydrosol.
5. If you’re using a mixer, use the whisk attachment and begin to whip the oil mixture on the highest speed. Slooooowly drizzle in the water mixture. You want a very thin stream so you don’t break the emulsion. Continue whipping until it’s thoroughly combined, about 1 minute after adding the water. You’ll want to scrape down the sides with a spatula a few times and mix some more.
6. If you’re using a blender, turn it on high and then slowly drizzle the water mixture into the middle of the vortex. Blend for 30 more seconds after you’ve added all the water.
7. Store at room temperature or in the fridge in clean glass jars.

The post Homemade Rose Lotion Recipe appeared first on The Herbal Spoon.

My other half struggles with an irritated scalp. I had been applying coconut oil mixed with some herbs, but that was incredibly messy and it took awhile to apply. I’ve since come up with this soothing scalp spray for irritated skin and we’ve seen such a huge improvement.

The beauty of apple cider vinegar

Since apple cider vinegar is antibacterial and antifungal, this makes it the perfect candidate for an itchy, irritated scalp spray. Unlike man made toxic antibiotics, vinegar doesn’t kill off all the good bacteria in the body, just pathogenic ones.  It not only eliminated the dandruff, but it also balanced the scalp’s ph for a healthier scalp and hair.

Its natural acidity discourages build-up on the scalp and adjusts skin pH when applied topically. The acidity of apple cider vinegar changes the pH of your scalp, so it’s not an ideal environment for yeast, fungus or bacteria to grow. (source)

Our skin naturally has an acidic ph of about 4.0-5.5, so we want to use something that has an acidic ph like vinegar on it. I’ve been using it in my 1 minute clear skin toner as a quick way to get better skin.

Essential oils

This past year I’ve discovered and really fallen in love with my essential oils. I concocted a moisturizing and skin clearing honey facewash that features essential oils, but I really wanted to add them to a scalp spray. I happened to find a recipe from this website, but I knew I wanted to change it up a bit.

These essential oils combine beautifully to create a blend that’s soothing, calming and really really works!

Scalp Spray For Irritated Skin

Ingredients:

• 4 drops patchouli
• 10 drops frankincense
• 10 drops geranium
• 1 drop clary sage
• 11 drops lavender
• 1 drop ylang ylang
• 9 drops bergamot
• 3 drops melaleuca
• 6Tbsps apple cider vinegar (preferably raw)
• 3 Tbsps filtered or distilled water
• Spray bottle

Directions:

1. 1. Combine all of the ingredients together and shake well to combine. I like to shake the bottle a little before each time I spray.
   2. Use a comb to part a section of hair close to the ear and spray the scalp with the vinegar blend. Move 1/4 inch over, part another section and spray the scalp there. Continue working in sections until the entire scalp has been covered.

1. This may sting a bit at first, but if it’s very uncomfortable, dilute with some water and try again.

P.S. Want to know all the nitty gritty details of how to make your own natural skincare products? Check out the Herbal Academy’s botanical skin care course here.

The post Scalp Spray For Irritated Skin appeared first on The Herbal Spoon.