Katherine

How to Make Shower Gel Shower gels are cleaning body wash with slight differences from liquid soaps. However, they serve the same goals: keeping the body cleansed and moisturized during a bath or shower. DIY (Do It Yourself) recipes on how to prepare homemade shower gels are in trend these days for several reasons. People have different types of skins, and how they react to over-the-counter chemical-based products varies. Some types of skin are susceptible to these products. The result is usually harmful reactions. While other people enjoy being creative and moving with trends, these customized shower gels are completely natural and plant-based. You get to decide what goes into your products. Whatever your reason is, be assured that these DIY recipes are cheap and straightforward to make. Besides learning how to make shower gels, you will learn briefly about the products you are working with. Let's start with the basic shower gel recipes. What makes a shower gel is simply the presence of the following: Surfactant. It is responsible for the moist, moisturizing feel on the skin and well known to control skin irritation and dryness. Colorant usually in the form of water-based dye, emulsifiers, thickeners, and fragrances for scents. There are various ways of customizing shower gels. The homemade shower gel scrub, the luxurious creamy shower gel, and the basic shower gel. Recipes Required for Shower Gel Xanthan Gum This is a plant-based food additive used to emulsify and thicken foods. It is commonly used in ice creams, salads, and sauces. It serves as a stabilizing agent to assist oils from separating and bought in a baking shop. Liquid Castile Soap This is a natural multipurpose organic soap derived from vegetables and free of toxicity. It is the active agent for foam lathers in the shower gel. They come in pure unscented forms and scented forms like citrus or mild floral. Solid castile soap can also serve. Changing from solid to a liquid state is quite simple. All you need to do is grate solid castile soap and melt in small amounts of water. Distilled Water Distilled water, also known as purified water, is free of all impurities, metals, and colloidal particles. It is sterilized by boiling to a heated gaseous state and allowing it to condense. Using distilled water increases the product's quality assurance. That means your shower gel won't contain any harmful substances. Also, trace metals that may likely reduce its quality aren't present. Flower Water This is aromatic water gotten from flowering plants after been distilled. They have good benefits on the skin. For example, rose water is known for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties against eczema, acne, and other skin related challenges. It also maintains the skin's pH level and controls the glands from secreting excess oil. Essential Oils These are plant-based oils that are compressed out of plants using a hydraulic press. They still maintain the essence of the plants or herbs after compression. They have benefits that are beneficial to the skin. Examples of well-known oils and their benefits include: Ylang Ylang is good for oily and acne-prone skins. Rose Mary has healing and stimulating properties that heal the skin of eczema and acne. Lavender oil soothes sensitive skin types. It's good for acne, skin inflammation, and psoriasis. Carrier oils Carrier oils are natural, vegetable-based oils. They are used to dilute essential oils before direct application on the skin, as seen in massage therapy. You can make use of anyone suitable for your skin's demand. Examples of some and their benefits include: Grape seed oil Its anti-inflammatory properties fight off bacteria on the skin. As a moisturizer, it unclogs the pores, allowing the skin to stay hydrated. Jojoba oil This oil has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to reduce dryness, swelling, and redness of the skin. It is good for eczema-prone skin. Sea Salt Salt is important in making shower gels, especially shower gel scrubs. Salts are good exfoliating agents. They have the ability to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. They also contain antibacterial properties and serve as thickeners for the shower gel. Salts contain natural minerals. For example, potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, and bromine, which are absorbed through the skin's pores and helps in rejuvenating the skin. Aloe Vera Gel This is a gel extract from the flesh of aloe vera. It has healing powers beneficial to the skin, for acne, dry skin, and eczema. Vitamin E Oil This is an antioxidant with anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. It repairs the skin. Its antioxidizing properties combat radicals and improve the life span of products. This makes it an important additive to shower gel makes. Honey Honey moisturizes and keeps the skin radiating. Its healing and antibacterial properties fight off skin infections that cause acne and prevent them. Its antioxidant properties slow down the aging process, thereby reducing the visibility of wrinkles and smile lines. Glycerine This is a popular ingredient found in soaps and shower gels. It serves as a skin moisturizer that helps lock down moisture in the skin, leaving it hydrated. It is best for dry skins. Shea Butter This a multipurpose cosmetic ingredient. High in vitamin A and other fatty acids, it is a natural moisturizer. Its healing and anti-inflammatory properties help to revive damaged skin. It also helps to even out patches on the skin caused by tone discoloration. Tools and Equipment Needed for Making Shower Gel i. ii. iii. iv. Wooden spatula or spoon A mixing bowl Bottle with an airtight lid Blender DIY (Do It Yourself) Steps to Prepare a Basic Shower Gel Recipe Using Liquid Castile Soap. Ingredients ½ cup pure honey 3 Tablespoons any carrier oil of choice (Extra virgin olive oil) 8 Drops of any essential oils of choice. ⅔ Liquid castile soap. Any brand and fragrance of choice. Instructions for Preparation       Measure out pure raw honey and set on low heat. This is to liquefy it and to reduce the thick consistency, thereby allowing for a thorough mixture with other ingredients. Pour the liquefied honey into a clean bottle. Measure the liquid castile soap and pour it into the bottle of honey. Measure and add the carrier oils. Measure and add the oils. Shake vigorously before use, to allow for proper distribution of all ingredients. How to Use Apply on wet hands, wash clothes or shower sponges, then directly on the body to lather. Rinse off after use. Life Span When stored under room temperature, olive oils retain its potency for up to two years. DIY (Do It Yourself) Steps to Prepare a Basic Shower Gel Using Bar Castile Soap Ingredients 5 cups of distilled or flower water 3 Bars of castile soap Instructions for Preparation      Measure and pour water into a stainless bowl and set to boil Grate the Castile bar soap and pour into the boiling water Stir until all the fragments of the soap have melted and dissolved in the water Pour the combination into a bottle. Store under room temperature. How to Make the Homemade Shower Gel Scrub Ingredients ½ Cup of Castile Liquid Soap ¼ Cup of Distilled or Flower Water 2 Teaspoons Sea Salt 3 Tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel 1 Table Spoon Extra Virgin Olive Carrier Oil. Replace with any of your choices. 10 Drops ylang ylang essential oil 10 drops Lavender essential oil Instructions for Preparation        Measure the flower water or distilled water into a mixing bowl Measure and pour the sea salt into the bowl of water. Allow sitting for 10 minutes for proper dissolving. Measure and add the aloe vera, the carrier, and essential oils of choice. For a coarser and thicker consistency. Add more salt. Salt also serves as a thickener. Add any Castile liquid soap of choice. Gently add it into the bowl of ingredients to emulsify. Mix all ingredients and pour into a clean bottle. Store in a cool, dry place. How to Prepare a Luxurious Creamy Shower Gel Ingredients 2 Tablespoon Shea Butter 1 Teaspoon Glycerin 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive carrier oil or any of choice 1 Tablespoon xanthan gum ⅓ cup of Castile liquid soap ⅓ cup of distilled water 10 drops of lavender oil or any essential oil of choice. Instructions on How to Prepare        Melt the Shea butter. Shea butter usually comes in a clumpy solid form. To liquefy, measure, and place into a mixing bowl. Place over hot boiling water until it melts. Measure and add the vegetable glycerine, followed by the desired oils. Using a wooden spatula, mix up all ingredients to allow for even distribution. Sprinkle in the xanthan powder gum over the mixture. Allow sitting for a minute so the thickening process can start. To emulsify the mixture, insert an immersion blender into the bowl and whiz the bowl's contents for a minute. Take out the immersion blender from the bowl Pour in the liquid castile soap, the distilled water, and other desired essential oils.   To get a creamy consistency, blend the mixture again in the blender. This time, pulsing at intervals until a thick and creamy consistency is formed. Pour into a clean bottle. Life Span When stored under room temperature, products containing olive oil can last up to 2 years. But for the most efficiency, use within a year.