Anyone can make their own shower gel. You only need a few ingredients and a little time. I show you how you can make shower additive yourself.
A fragrant shower gel eases the start of the morning or makes you forget the stress of the day.
It's good for the body and mind. That cries out for a DIY wellness day at home, right? :)
At least you don't have to buy the shower gel for it. You can Make shower gel yourself. And that really pays off when you take a look at the ingredient list of purchased product.
Did you know that parabens are in many store-bought cosmetics, including shower gels? They make cosmetic products last for a long time. But they are also suspected of interfering with hormone balance.
Their chemical structure is similar to the female sex hormone. There is also debate as to whether parabens cause cancer.
This could not yet be determined with certainty. What is certain, however, is that parabens are deposited in the body.
So do-it-yourself has many advantages.
Today I'll show you how to make your own shower gel for sensitive skin.
Table of contents
Why should I make shower gel myself?
If you like to experiment like me and find natural cosmetics great, then you have probably already made one or the other cream itself. Maybe you have also already dared to DIY shower jellies or tried your hand at more difficult projects - like homemade hair soap.
I have very sensitive skin. On many purchased products I react to redness, itching or a few days later with very dry skin. This is totally annoying. But at the same time it is scary for me how much chemistry must be in the purchased products.
After all, my skin doesn't react this way for fun.
But if you look closer, it quickly becomes clear what she does not like. Very many shower gels from the trade contain fragrances and preservatives that irritate the skin. They dry it out unnecessarily, which is anything but caring.
Many products also contain microplastics that are carelessly dumped down the drain during showering. Microplastics are now found almost everywhere - in drinking water, milk, food and even in unborn babies.
More and more women are making a conscious decision to avoid products with microplastics. I count myself among them and therefore try to make as much as possible myself.
With every bottle of gel you buy, you create a lot of plastic waste. If you make your own shower gel, you can always use the same bottle. I use a glass bottle or an old jam jar. Both work great.
You may already have our guide for shaving gel with aloe vera, lavender Peeling for dry skin or colorful bath balls discovered. Today I want to show you how you can make shower gel yourself. It's much easier than you think!
This DIY cream helps against dry shins!
DIY shower cream at a glance
- You know exactly what is in the shower gel - only natural ingredients and what is really necessary. This reduces the risk of allergies.
- You decide what you want your shower gel to smell like.
- You'll save money with homemade shower gel.
- Homemade shower gel is well tolerated by the skin
- You save the environment because there is not so much waste.
- In no time you have a pretty gift for a dear friend.
By the way, the same advantages are also available for DIY bath bombs, Bath salts or Bath beads valid.
What ingredients do I need for homemade shower gel?
Let's quickly take a look at the ingredients list. So you can then decide what really ends up in your shower cream.
Important: This shower gel is not a bubble bath. It does not foam in the bath or in the shower. You can think of it as a thick cream.
Natural soap
It is the basis for our homemade shower gel. Natural soap consists of pure vegetable oils such as olive oil, Almond oil*, Avocado oil*, Coconut oil* or others. To turn them into a soap, they are "saponified" with a running soap.
In health food stores or online, you can find other ingredients that enhance the soap, such as herbs or essential oils. The classic solid soap that you know from the supermarket is often stretched with animal fats, which makes it cheaper to produce.
Natural soap has a refatting effect and is particularly suitable for body care.
Water or tea
We need tap water to boil the natural soap in it and make it melt. If you want, you can also use a light herbal tea. This brings fragrance and nourishing properties to the shower gel.
For sensitive skin, chamomile tea is suitable, and if you need a freshness kick, take peppermint tea. You can use pretty much any herbal tea. I like to use up old herbal teas that are no longer so good for drinking. But they are optimal for a shower gel.
Vegetable oil to make shower gel itself
Optionally, you can also stir vegetable oil into the shower cream. Oils have nourishing properties. Wet skin absorbs them particularly well. But please do not use too much, otherwise it will quickly become greasy.
Almond oil* contains many unsaturated fatty acids. They make the skin soft and supple. Almond oil* provides us with additional moisture and is effective against skin irritations.
Olive oil is particularly popular in skin care. Please use only a little, olive oil has its own smell. It works against wrinkles, moisturizes and supports the healthy cell function of the skin.
Argan oil* or Jojoba oil* are ideal for normal skin that is neither too dry nor too oily. They ensure that the skin absorbs moisture well.
Thickener
Depending on the amount of soap you use, the shower additive will either stay liquid or become solid. If you want to make a "real" shower gel yourself, then you should use a little thickener.
Suitable for this purpose Cornstarch* or guar gum are particularly good. There is a slight difference in handling: Cornstarch* is mixed in cold water to prevent it from clumping and then stirred into the recipe. Guar gum is added directly to the recipe.
Nothing else changes in the consistency. The shower cream becomes only a little firmer, but you do not notice any odor or even lumps in the gel.
Essential oils for the fragrance
If you've only used natural soap and water so far, now it's time to add a little fragrance to your shower gel. That's where essential oils come in handy.
But they can do much more than just smell, they make us tired, concentrated, cheerful or in a good mood. Essential oils unfold their effect in fragrance lamps, creams and shower gels particularly well.
And that's it. If you have provided these ingredients, you can make a shower gel yourself. I'll show you how to do it quickly. Let's start with a basic recipe that you can customize according to your mood.
Tip: A DIY book
I have linked one of my favorite books on DIY cosmetics made from natural ingredients here:
It has over 300 reviews. You'll find over 250 instructions from the tips of your hair to your toes. For DIY masks, make-up, creams, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shaving cream and much more.
A really great piece that all DIY fans will love.
Making shower gel yourself: the basic recipe
The basic recipe for the shower gel is very easy to implement and always remains the same in proportion. What you mix your shower gel with later is up to you. Keep the ratio if you want to be sure that it will work.
Ingredients
- 50-60 gram Natural soap
- 400 ml liquid (water or herbal tea)
- Optional: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil such as olive oil or Almond oil*
- Optional: 1 tsp thickener like Cornstarch*
- Optional: 5-10 drops of essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, orange.
The basic recipe can be upgraded with many different additives. From fragrances to teas and vegetable oils.
Now you can read how to prepare it.
Have you memorized the basic recipe? Then let's make a shower gel that works well for sensitive skin. Here you will find instructions with chamomile and Almond oil*. This prevents skin irritation. My skin loves it, I'm sure yours will too.
Important products that you need for this tutorial, you can order at Amazon
- Almond oil
- Cornstarch*
- essential oils
Make your own shower gel - chamomile & almond oil
Du benötigst
- 20 g Natural soap
- 300 ml Water
- 2 Bag Chamomile tea
- 1 EL Almond oil
- ½ TL Cornstarch
Anleitung
- Grate the soap as small as possible with a kitchen grater or a sharp knife. If the soap is very hard, it's easier with a kitchen grater.
- Fill the water in a pot and bring it to a boil with the tea bags. Let the tea brew for 5 minutes.
- Add the soap shavings and boil the water again.
- Stir the lye with a whisk until the soap is melted.
- Stir in the vegetable oil. If you wish, you can mix essential oil into the shower gel at this point.
- Now add the cornstarch. Stir it in a small cup of cold water. This way no lumps are formed. Mix the lye and the starch mixture.
Attention: Rather too little Cornstarch* and help again later if it's too runny. In our first attempt, the shower gel is as solid as Showerjellys become. However, that has also not disturbed. Was just a little unusual :)
So easy to make lavender soap yourself!
Let the homemade shower gel cool briefly and then pour into a bottle or jar. The gel will solidify later when it is cold - similar to pudding.
If you choose a bottle, make sure it has a large opening so you can remove the shower gel with a spoon if necessary.
What can I do if the DIY shower gel is too runny?
Caution: The shower gel must cool down. Only then can you tell if it's really too runny. I left mine in the kitchen overnight and lo and behold, it was solid in the morning.
However, this does not always have to be the case. The consistency of homemade shower gel depends on the soap you use. Each soap gels a little differently.
Do you already know the secret of these 5 DIY hair treatments?
So if you want to make shower gel yourself, you'll have to experiment a little. It's best to write down the formula once you've found it and then don't change soap brands.
If your shower gel becomes too runny, you can help it along with more soap. Or you can use a natural thickener such as Cornstarch*.
It works especially well with cornstarch. If the shower gel becomes too solid, simply add a little more water and warm it up again briefly.
After time, the ingredients of the shower gel will separate from each other again. They settled down.
This is completely normal, because the artificial additives that bind the contents are missing. Simply shake vigorously and the problem is solved.
If this bothers you a lot, you can get lecithin at the pharmacy. This is an emulsifier that binds substances together.
Never buy hair shampoo again! Hair soap very easy to make yourself!
The best additives for making shower gel yourself
So that it doesn't get boring, there are a large number of different additives that you can use.
Essential oils for the bath additive
If you want to give your shower gel a scent, reach for essential oils. Already a few drops and the shower gel smells wonderful.
For a relaxing shower gel or for a headache, reach for Lavender oil*.
You get a freshness kick with mint or citrus oils like lemon, orange, tangerine or grapefruit.
But beware: essential oils can irritate the skin! Use only natural oils and not too much of them. 10 drops in 400 ml of water are more than enough.
It is best to test the shower gel on your hand beforehand. If the skin does not react to it, you can take a shower with it.
Herbs for homemade shower gel
If you are very sensitive or don't have any oils at home, just raid your tea stash. Herbal tea works best. However, fresh herbs are even better.
Whatever you decide to do when making your own shower gel, both must be added to the water before the soap is added. Simply boil the water, add the herbs and let it steep.
Try rosemary, chamomile, nettle or mint.
Mix honey into shower gel
Honey has an antibacterial effect, protects the skin and moisturizes. Mix a teaspoon of honey in the shower gel for the extra portion of care.
The honey is added to the shower gel only when it is lukewarm, otherwise it loses its effect.
What is the shelf life of homemade shower gel?
Since we completely do without preservatives, the shelf life when making shower gel yourself is of course not as long as with store-bought creams.
You should use up the shower gel within 14 days.
If you've made too much, you can just put the rest in the freezer. Worked great for me.
Your shower gel will last longer if you disinfect the bottle or jar. And if you keep skin contact as low as possible.
Our conclusion
See: Make shower gel yourself is not complicated. It helps you save money and especially avoid artificial additives. Maybe this is also a great gift idea for a dear friend or your family?
But please: Be careful with essential fragrances! They can cause really bad skin irritations.
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