DIY Aloe Vera Face Wash
I used to dread washing my face. Every cleanser I tried either dried me out, made me red and itchy, or felt like it stripped away every bit of moisture my skin had left. And don’t get me started on the long ingredient lists I couldn’t pronounce!
That all changed when I made this DIY aloe vera face wash. It’s soothing, simple, and just the right amount of sudsy without being harsh.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a gentle, natural cleanser you can actually feel good about using every day, this is a great option for you!
This homemade aloe vera wash recipe is especially great for sensitive or dry skin, but works beautifully for most skin types with a few tweaks.
Herbal Benefits of Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of those plants that I will always have at my house. Here’s why:
- Hydration without heaviness: Aloe is packed with polysaccharides, which help bind moisture to the skin. It hydrates without leaving a greasy residue, making it ideal for oily, dry, or combination skin.
- Soothes irritation: With its natural anti-inflammatory and cooling properties, aloe calms redness, sunburns, and flare-ups from conditions like rosacea or eczema. That’s why it’s perfect for my face care routine!
- Supports healing: Aloe contains compounds that help speed up skin repair. It’s often used on small wounds, acne spots, and damaged skin to encourage quicker healing.
- Naturally antibacterial: While it’s super gentle, aloe also has mild antimicrobial properties that help keep breakouts at bay, perfect for daily use on acne-prone skin.
- Rich in skin-loving nutrients: Aloe vera is a source of vitamins C and E, enzymes, amino acids, and minerals, all of which nourish the skin and support a healthy barrier.
My advice: Always look for pure, high-quality aloe vera gel with no added colorants or alcohol, especially when using it on your face.
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DIY Aloe Vera Face Wash Recipe
Makes about 12 ounces, perfect for a pump bottle by your sink!
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons carrier oil (I used lavender infused oil)
- 4-5 tablespoons liquid castile soap
- ¼ cup aloe vera gel
- 9 drops lavender essential oil
- 6 drops tea tree essential oil
- Soap bottle
Instructions
If using essential oils, stir them into your carrier oil first.
In a small bowl, mix the aloe vera gel and water until they’re fully combined. It’ll look a little bubbly and slimy, that’s totally normal!
Add in the castile soap and your oil mixture. Stir gently to combine.
Pour the mixture into a clean pump or foaming bottle, and you’re all set!
Notes:
- Jojoba is great for most skin types. Oily skin? Try grapeseed. Dry skin? Sweet almond is lovely.
- Because this recipe contains water and aloe, it’s best kept in the fridge and used within 2-3 weeks unless you add a preservative.
- If you use a foaming bottle, you’ll get a lighter, more luxurious lather. If not, just pump and lather in your hands!
- A little goes a long way, and you don’t want to over-wash your skin, especially in drier weather.
- I added some matcha powder to give it a green color, yours will be white.
How I Use It
I’ve been using this aloe face wash every morning, and my skin has honestly never felt calmer.
One friend told me she made a batch for her teenage daughter who was dealing with both breakouts and sensitivity. With tea tree and lavender added, it’s been helping calm redness without aggravating her skin, huge win!
Aloe Vera Face Wash
Materials
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons carrier oil (I used lavender infused oil)
- 4-5 tablespoons liquid castile soap
- ¼ cup aloe vera gel
- 9 drops lavender essential oil
- 6 drops tea tree essential oil
- Soap bottle
Instructions
- If using essential oils, stir them into your carrier oil first.
- In a small bowl, mix the aloe vera gel and water until they’re fully combined. It’ll look a little bubbly and slimy, that’s totally normal!
- Add in the castile soap and your oil mixture. Stir gently to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a clean pump or foaming bottle, and you’re all set!
Notes
- Jojoba is great for most skin types. Oily skin? Try grapeseed. Dry skin? Sweet almond is lovely.
- Because this recipe contains water and aloe, it’s best kept in the fridge and used within 2-3 weeks unless you add a preservative.
- If you use a foaming bottle, you'll get a lighter, more luxurious lather. If not, just pump and lather in your hands!
- A little goes a long way, and you don’t want to over-wash your skin, especially in drier weather.
- I added some matcha powder to give it a green color, yours will be white.
Final Thoughts
Swapping out your face wash might not seem like a big change, but it’s one of those small shifts that can have a big effect in the long run.
You’re choosing ingredients that are kind to your skin, kind to your budget, and kind to the planet. That’s worth celebrating!
Let me know if you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it works for you!
Is fresh aloe vera taken from the plant leaves suitable for this recipe?
Great question! Yes, fresh aloe straight from the plant can work in this recipe, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
Fresh aloe tends to be more watery and fibrous than commercial gel, so you’ll want to scoop out the gel, remove any of the yellow latex layer just under the skin (it can irritate skin!), and blend it smooth before using.
The biggest thing to be aware of is shelf life. This recipe already has a short shelf life because of the water content, but fresh aloe has no stabilizers, so it will spoil even faster. I’d recommend using it within 1–2 weeks, keeping it refrigerated, or adding a preservative like Geogard ECT.
On the bright side, fresh aloe actually retains more of its natural enzymes and nutrients, so it can be wonderful for your skin! Just prep it well and use it up quickly. 😊