How To Make Your Own Cleansers & Makeup Removers

Different types of cleansers are available to suit all needs and preferences. While some people prefer to wash their face with a soapy cleanser and water, those with more sensitive skin might choose a soap-free formula. Milky cleansers are always a favorite of people with dry skin, because their creaminess counteracts the drying effects of soap. Oily cleansers are highly appreciated when waterproof makeup needs removal; just make sure to follow with a toner to wash away oily residue.

A cleanser can be a scrub, as well. Just add some beads to the formulation to get a two-in-one cleanser and scrub. The beads could be ground oats, almond meal, semolina, clay, or other slightly coarse components.

Multiple formulas are offered in this chapter; choose your favorites according to your preferences and your skin type.

Customizable Foaming Cleanser

Some people love the cleaning effect of soap. Castile soap, which originated from the Castile region in Spain, is a concentrated vegetable soap traditionally made with olive oil. It can be diluted with water or hydrosol in various proportions, depending on its intended use. And because all kinds of soaps, even natural ones, are still harsh, as they wash away surface oils, this formula incorporates aloe vera juice and glycerin to counteract the drying effect. Using a hydrosol will produce a fragrant cleanser: Go for a rose or geranium scent, which blends well with lavender, if lavender castile soap is being used.

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin.
1 ounce (30 ml) hydrosol of your choice (such as geranium or rose).
1 ounce (30 ml) aloe vera juice.
1 ounce (30 ml) liquid soap such as castile soap.

INSTRUCTIONS

Add the glycerin to the hydrosol and aloe vera juice, and stir well. Add the mixture to the soap, in a very thin stream, while whisking continuously and gently to avoid excessive foaming. Do not use a stick blender.
Allow the product to settle before transferring it to a pump bottle.
Shake briefly and abruptly before pumping. Wet your face; then pump once or twice into your hands and rub over the face and neck until the cleanser is nice and foamy.
Rinse off with warm or cold water; then pat your face dry with a towel.

Honey Sweet Cleanser

Castile soap is an excellent natural soap, but it can be harsh on sensitive skin. If you are a strict soap and water lover, you do not need to sacrifice that part of your daily routine, because the honey and glycerin in this formula will yield a softer cleanser that will not strip your skin of moisture or irritate it. This is a concentrated soap formula with a generous amount of glycerin to ensure that skin moisture is retained.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon honey
1 ounce (30 ml) vegetable glycerin
2 ounces (60 ml) castile soap
5 drops lavender essential oil or other essential oil of your choice

INSTRUCTIONS

Place a small bowl in a pot filled with hot water. Add the honey, then glycerin, and whisk together. Remove the bowl from the water and place another one containing the castile soap. Pour the honey-glycerin mix into the soap while whisking.
Allow to cool to room temperature before transferring it to a pump bottle.
Wet your face and neck. Pump a small amount of soap (1“2 pumps at most) into your hands; rub your wet hands together to dilute the soap prior to massaging your face and neck.
Wipe off with a cotton ball, then rinse off with plenty of water, and pat your face dry with a towel. Follow with a moisturizer.

Light Cleansing Oil

This formula is for dry skin. It's a cleansing oil that will not leave behind a bothersome thick oily residue. It will nourish and soften skin while powerfully removing all makeup and impurities. Rosehip oil is very rich in antioxidants, and adding it to your oil will make a wonderful, light anti-aging oil.

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces (60 ml) almond or sunflower oil
2 teaspoons rosehip oil
5 drops geranium essential oil or other essential oil of your choice

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix the almond and rosehip oils well and transfer to an amber glass bottle with a dropper. Add the essential oil, place the dropper on, and shake well.
Moisten your face and then spread one drop on the forehead, one drop on each cheek, and one drop on the chin and neck. Massage gently, then wipe off with a cotton disk. Rinse off with water if desired or follow with a toner.
Use every night at bedtime.
To store, make sure the bottle is tightly closed and kept in a cool place away from heat, light, and moisture. This mixture can be stored through the shelf life of each individual ingredient.

Exfoliating Cleansing Gel

A cleansing gel is always refreshing because of its high water content. In the following formula, xanthan gum will thicken the water phase and hold suspended particles in place. This cleanser is soap free and is a very good choice for sensitive, soap-intolerant skin. The efficacy of this gel is made complete with the addition of vitamin B5, which helps moisturize and nurture the skin.

INGREDIENTS

½ cup rose water
1 teaspoon exfoliating agent of your choice (for example, semolina, ground oats, almond meal)
10 drops (0.5 ml) vitamin B5
¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
5 drops of your favorite essential oil (such as gardenia or geranium)

INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by warming the rose water in a double boiler, until it reaches 100آ°F. Test this with a candy thermometer, then turn off the heat.
Sprinkle in the exfoliating agent gradually while whisking, add the B5, then sprinkle the xanthan gum in tiny amounts as you watch your mixture thicken. Keep in mind that too much xanthan gum can ruin the texture. Expect further spontaneous thickening, as well.
Add the essential oil and whisk vigorously to make sure your gel is evenly mixed.
Finish by transferring the mixture to a bottle and refrigerate it for 45 minutes to an hour for further thickening.
It is not necessary to wet your face and neck before applying the gel. Just massage a quarter-size amount onto your face and neck, then scrub gently and wipe away with a cotton disk.
Rinse well and pat your face dry with a towel.

Skin-Brightening Soapy Cleanser

This combination of exfoliating beads and lemon juice will take your usual morning cleanser to a new level. This formula is recommended for soap-tolerant skin, when a brightening effect is needed, especially after a sunny summer, to unify skin tone.

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons fresh, pulp-free lemon juice
1 ounce (30 ml) distilled water
1 ounce (30 ml) liquid castile soap
1 teaspoon ground oats
5 drops flowery essential oil of your choice, such as grapefruit essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Dilute the lemon juice with the indicated amount of distilled water. Slowly pour the diluted juice in a thin stream into the liquid soap, stirring gently and continuously.
Sprinkle the ground oats gradually into the mixture, whisking gently, until completely dispersed within the liquid. Last, add your essential oil, stir, and transfer the mixture to a pump bottle.
In the evening, shake the mixture well and generously wet your face before rubbing a dab between your wet palms and then over your face and neck. Always avoid the eyes.
Rinse with plenty of water.
Follow with a moisturizer and do not forget your sunscreen in the morning.

Creamy Cleanser

In this formula, the addition of a moisturizing cream counteracts the drying effect of soap. The result is a smooth and creamy formula, perfect if you have dry skin and do not want to give up on soap.

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces (60 ml) moisturizing cream
½ cup liquid castile soap
1 ounce (30 ml) rose water or lavender hydrosols

INSTRUCTIONS

In a double boiler, warm the cream, then add liquid soap in a thin stream, stirring gently and continuously. Turn off the heat and add the rose water in the same manner. Transfer to a jar or pump bottle and set aside to cool completely.
Massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your wet face and neck. Wipe off with a makeup sponge or cotton disk to remove makeup and grime. Rinse with plenty of water and pat your face dry with a towel. Follow with a moisturizer.

Waterproof Makeup Remover

This formula is for heavy makeup days only, when stubborn makeup is hard to remove and a powerful, oily cleanser is needed.

This formula is thick because it incorporates coconut oil and shea butter. Even though it is a rather greasy makeup remover, its rich texture will deeply nourish mature, dry skin with essential fatty acids and vitamins.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon shea butter
1 ounce (30 ml) extra virgin coconut oil
1 tablespoon almond oil
10 drops (0.5 ml) vitamin E oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Melt the shea butter in a double boiler. Then add the remaining ingredients one at a time, finishing with the vitamin E.
Pour the mixture slowly into a small glass jar and allow it to cool to room temperature before putting on the lid.
Moistening your face before application helps decrease the greasy feel of this mixture. Spread a pea-size amount on each cheek and on the forehead. Then wipe off with a makeup sponge. Rinse well with warm water and finish with a toner that will take away any residual oily feeling.

Anti-Aging Makeup Remover

This formulation calls for a unique blend of oils that will remove heavy makeup, including foundation, eye shadow, and waterproof mascara, while leaving behind very little oily residue. It is also a rich mix that will nourish the skin with essential fatty acids, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and other antioxidants that prevent skin aging and wrinkle formation.

INGREDIENTS

1 softgel coenzyme Q10
2 ounces (60 ml) almond oil
1 ounce (30 ml) jojoba oil
1 ounce (30 ml) macadamia oil
1 teaspoon cranberry seed oil
20 drops (1 ml) vitamin E

INSTRUCTIONS

Start by puncturing the Q10 softgel with a heated needle and squeezing the contents into a small bowl. Mix with the remaining oils and vitamin E; then transfer to a pump bottle.
Wet your face with your fingertips, rub the makeup remover on your face, and then remove your makeup with a cotton disk. Feel free to repeat the process if your face is not satisfactorily clean.
Wetting your face with the fingertips will make the oil slip on the skin's surface and spread more easily, requiring a smaller amount of remover and leaving only traces of oily residue.
Do not rinse if you want to preserve some of the great anti-aging properties of this formula.