I found a couple of recipes for body wash. One uses water, the other doesn't. However, both use castile bar soap. So do I need to add a preservative?
If so, could I use witch hazel in place of the water, and would it serve as a preservative?
Also, unfortunately the measurements are in volume, not weight. Can somebody please convert the measurements to weight?
2 TB shea butter melted
2 TB jojoba oil or grapeseed, and extra virgin olive oil with good success.
1 TB vegetable glycerin
2 tsp xanthan gum or guar gum -If you're using guar gum try 1/4for starters since some readers have reported the gel is too thick with 2guar gum., sold in health food stores or online-look for Bob's Red Mill brand
1/3 cup castile soap I like to use Baby Mild.
1/3 cup warm water Distilled water for long-term use. The water doesn't need to be hot
10 drops lavender essential oil optional
Special Equipment:
Add the melted shea butter, jojoba oil, and glycerin to a medium-size bowl. Sprinkle the xanthan gum over the top. Allow the gum to rest for 1 minute. During this time the powder should sink into the liquid. After 1 minute, use the immersion blender to dissolve the gum into the oil mixture--pulse the immersion blender for 1 minute. Add the castile soap and warm water to the bowl. Place the immersion blender at the bottom of the bowl. Blend the mixture with the immersion blender for 1-2 more minutes, pulsing up and down. The mixture should turn into a creamy lotion-like consistency during this time.
Pour the shower gel into a soap dispenser. I found my container (pictured) at Target.
While the mixture won't separate, I recommend giving the container a gentle shake before each use. When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.
If so, could I use witch hazel in place of the water, and would it serve as a preservative?
Also, unfortunately the measurements are in volume, not weight. Can somebody please convert the measurements to weight?
2 TB shea butter melted
2 TB jojoba oil or grapeseed, and extra virgin olive oil with good success.
1 TB vegetable glycerin
2 tsp xanthan gum or guar gum -If you're using guar gum try 1/4for starters since some readers have reported the gel is too thick with 2guar gum., sold in health food stores or online-look for Bob's Red Mill brand
1/3 cup castile soap I like to use Baby Mild.
1/3 cup warm water Distilled water for long-term use. The water doesn't need to be hot
10 drops lavender essential oil optional
Special Equipment:
Add the melted shea butter, jojoba oil, and glycerin to a medium-size bowl. Sprinkle the xanthan gum over the top. Allow the gum to rest for 1 minute. During this time the powder should sink into the liquid. After 1 minute, use the immersion blender to dissolve the gum into the oil mixture--pulse the immersion blender for 1 minute. Add the castile soap and warm water to the bowl. Place the immersion blender at the bottom of the bowl. Blend the mixture with the immersion blender for 1-2 more minutes, pulsing up and down. The mixture should turn into a creamy lotion-like consistency during this time.
Pour the shower gel into a soap dispenser. I found my container (pictured) at Target.
While the mixture won't separate, I recommend giving the container a gentle shake before each use. When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.
