Homemade Honey Face Wash

I have always had oily skin, and although I hear that I’ll be grateful for it one day because it might stave off wrinkles, my shiny forehead has always been a nuisance.  I don’t like caking on foundation or powder, which can create blocked pores and lead to more problems, so I always used oil-blotting sheets.  These temporarily fixed the problem, but didn’t actually address it.

I’ve experimented for years with products geared toward oily skin, spent more money than I care to mention, and am left with a collection of expensive plastic bottles and tubes with finely-printed lists of chemical constituents that are beyond my comprehension.  Our skin is our largest organ, and what we feed it matters.  So I decided to grab the wheel and get back to basics.  

I’ve been using this homemade face wash for a few months now, and I must tell you about the very first application.  I have always had enlarged pores on my cheeks and nose that are an open invitation to blackheads.  The very first time I washed my face with this mixture, I looked in the mirror and saw an instant difference in the appearance of these pores.  They were noticeably smaller.  I honestly couldn’t believe it.  This wash leaves my skin soft and clean while keeping excess oil at bay.  I’ll never go back.

Here’s what’s in it and why it works:

Castile soap is a plant-based soap (originally made from olives from the Castile region of Spain, hence its name) that creates a non-toxic, biodegradable, foamy lather that contains no synthetic ingredients.  If you don’t have a bottle of this stuff hanging around your house, I highly suggest you pick one up.  You can use it for anything from DIY skin and hair care, to laundry detergent, to natural pesticide for your garden. 

Nourishing oil such as jojoba, sweet almond, avocado, olive, or grapeseed helps to moisturize skin and remove excess oil without overdrying.  I know.  The first time I read about applying oil to my already oily skin I was skeptical, but I’ve discovered the importance of this regiment.  I also use a homemade oil-based serum daily to keep my shine under control and combat aging.

Raw honey has natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which means it is great for acne-prone skin and can even help with psoriasis and eczema.  It helps to balance the bacteria on your skin and speed up your cells’ healing processes.  Be sure to buy raw, unpasteurized honey for this, and I also always make sure I buy local honey.  I swear by its power to offset my seasonal allergies, which coincidentally always affect my skin.  For years the skin around my eyes would get orangey and puffy when the seasons changed, but since I’ve started using local honey this symptom has vanished.  I figure it can’t hurt to work in another dosage.

Essential oils may be trendy, but for good reason.  They are as powerful now as they were centuries ago when they were among the only medicinal means.  For this face wash, I like to add lavender and tea tree oil.  The lavender soothes inflammation, reduces discoloration, and contains proven antibacterial properties.  The tea tree oil is a healing powerhouse that disinfects and promotes cell recovery.  

This homemade face wash is easy to make, easy on your wallet, and easy on your conscience.  You can buy an inexpensive glass pump bottle for mixing, and once you have the ingredients, they will make quite a few batches.  

Note: This mixture does have a shelf life because of the addition of the honey, so I recommend you use the amounts listed below and do not mix in bulk.  A little goes a long way.  I find that this recipe lasts 2-3 weeks with 2 daily washes.  

Homemade Honey Face Wash

5 tbsp unscented castile soap

6 tbsp raw honey

3 tbsp water (distilled is best)

2 tbsp nourishing oil (sweet almond, jojoba, olive, grapeseed, avocado)

5 drops lavender essential oil

5 drops tea tree essential oil

Add all ingredients to a glass bottle with a pump.  Tip: add the water, soap and oils to the measuring spoon first, and then the honey will slide right off.  Shake until the honey is dissolved, and remember to shake again before each use.  Use within 3 weeks.  

We lived for honey.  We swallowed a spoonful in the morning to wake us up and one at night to put us to sleep. We took it with every meal to calm the mind, give us stamina, and prevent fatal disease. We swabbed ourselves in it to disinfect cuts or heal chapped lips. It went in our baths, our skin cream, our raspberry tea and biscuits. Nothing was safe from honey...honey was the ambrosia of the gods and the shampoo of the goddesses.

-Sue Monk Kidd

The Secret Life of Bees