Title: DIY Foaming Facial Cleanser With Essential Oils and Honey
Meta: Make a gentle DIY foaming facial cleanser with honey, jojoba oil, castile soap, and essential oils. Learn the best oils by skin type, how to use it, and how to store a water-based homemade cleanser safely.
QUICK SUMMARY
This DIY Foaming Facial Cleanser With Essential Oils is a simple, low-tox face wash made with filtered water, castile soap, jojoba oil, raw honey, and essential oils chosen for your skin's needs.
The foaming pump creates the airy lather, while castile soap does the actual cleansing. Jojoba helps soften the skin and serves as the carrier that dilutes and disperses the essential oils. Honey adds humectant and soothing properties that make this recipe especially appealing for normal, dry, or sensitive-feeling skin.
Use the cleanser gently on damp skin, keep it out of the eyes, rinse well, and follow with toner and moisturizer as desired. Because this is a homemade water-based cleanser without a laboratory-tested preservative system, make it with clean tools, keep the pump and bottle clean, avoid introducing water into the container, and discard the batch if the smell, color, texture, or clarity changes.
If you're looking for a gentle homemade face wash that doubles as a makeup remover, I've got you covered! My all-natural DIY Foaming Facial Cleanser with Essential Oils will clean your skin and give you a healthy glow without the harsh feel of many conventional cleansers. This natural face wash with organic honey is a fantastic option for anyone who wants a simple, customizable skincare routine.
Many people prefer using a foaming cleanser because it lathers better than a lotion or cream. Foaming skin cleansers can contain strong surfactants, synthetic fragrance, and other ingredients that some families prefer to avoid, but this one has lots of bubbles and a short ingredient list you control. I know you're going to love it as much as I do!
The key is to remember that more foam does not necessarily mean more clean. Healthy facial cleansing is about removing dirt, sweat, excess oil, sunscreen, and makeup without leaving the skin feeling stripped, tight, or irritated.
Table of Contents
The Best Essential Oils for a Natural Face Wash
You'll notice that this gentle cleanser recipe uses essential oils to customize the experience for complexion challenges such as dry skin, oily skin, or blemish-prone skin. Essential oils are a great addition to all-natural ingredients, and many members of our Natural Living Family have seen wonderful results by incorporating them into skincare.
The research is strongest for some oils and uses than for others, so I like to distinguish between human clinical evidence, laboratory research, traditional use, and what we have learned through years of practical experience.
Using a carrier oil is vital in recipes because it helps essential oils dilute and disperse rather than landing on the skin in concentrated pockets. Carrier oils also slow evaporation, improve topical comfort, support penetration, and can amplify the overall therapeutic effect of an essential-oil blend.
In this DIY, we use jojoba oil, although if you are prone to dry skin, you may prefer olive oil or avocado oil.
Jojoba is one of my favorite carrier oils for facial care. A foundational review described anti-inflammatory and skin-conditioning properties, and a newer 2024 review continues to describe antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, and barrier-supportive potential. (1, 2)
Jojoba is technically a liquid wax rather than a triglyceride oil, which helps explain its unusual stability and silky feel on the face.
Essential Oils to Customize Your Face Wash
You can try any combination of essential oils to suit your personalized needs. Here are a few options.
- Tea Tree: Great for blemish-prone skin. Tea tree has the best direct acne evidence on this list, including human trials using topical tea tree preparations for mild-to-moderate acne. Those studies used leave-on products, not this rinse-off cleanser, so the evidence supports the ingredient rather than proving this exact recipe treats acne. (3)
- Geranium: A beautiful floral choice for mature or sensitive-feeling skin. Laboratory research supports antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, while clinical evidence for facial conditions is more limited.
- Helichrysum: One of our favorite restorative oils for skin that looks stressed or weathered. Much of the evidence is laboratory and traditional rather than large human facial-care trials.
- Neroli: An excellent aromatic addition for women in the menopause season of life and anyone who enjoys a gentle citrus-floral scent.
- Lavender: Soothing and one of the most versatile essential oils for everyday skin care. I especially like it when the skin feels stressed, dry, or uncomfortable.
- Rosemary: A fresh, cleansing oil with antimicrobial activity in laboratory research. Topical rosemary is generally well tolerated when diluted, although allergic dermatitis can occur in susceptible people. (4)
- Ylang Ylang: Very calming and wonderfully fragrant. Because ylang ylang is a common sensitization concern when overused, respect dermal limits and avoid the idea that stronger scent means better results.
- Frankincense: One of my favorite essential oils for normal or dry skin, and a beautiful choice when you want a warm, resinous skincare blend.
Note: Be sure to respect dermal recommendations. Facial skin is more delicate than the arms, legs, or feet, and some essential oils require very low concentrations to avoid irritation or sensitization. Follow the recipe as written, choose oils appropriate for your skin, and patch test the finished cleanser when you are trying a new blend.
If burning, swelling, hives, persistent redness, or itching develops, rinse the product away and stop using that blend.
Direct Answer: What are the best essential oils for a homemade face wash?
Tea tree is one of the strongest choices for blemish-prone skin because it has human acne research. Lavender and frankincense are versatile choices for normal or dry skin, while geranium, neroli, helichrysum, rosemary, and ylang ylang can be selected according to your skin needs and aroma preference.
The best oil is not automatically the strongest oil. For the face, proper dilution and skin tolerance matter as much as the oil you choose.
What to Know About SLS in Foaming Cleansers
There's something satisfying about using a product that suds. Kids and adults alike find it fun, and a rich lather feels amazing on the skin.
The original version of this article focused on sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, because it is a strong surfactant used in cleansing products and is widely used by researchers as a model skin irritant.
That concern is legitimate, but the old claim that SLS in face wash is linked to blindness was too strong.
SLS can irritate skin and eyes, particularly at higher concentrations, with longer contact, or in people with a more reactive skin barrier. Researchers use SLS specifically because it can increase transepidermal water loss, cause redness, and disrupt barrier function under controlled exposure conditions. (5)
That is different from saying that ordinary cosmetic exposure causes blindness.
Why Surfactants Can Make Skin Feel Tight
Surfactants are molecules that help water mix with oils and dirt so they can be rinsed away. That is what makes cleansing possible.
The tradeoff is that stronger surfactants can also interact with skin proteins and lipids. Reviews of cleansing science have found that harsher surfactants can contribute to after-wash tightness, dryness, irritation, and barrier disruption, while gentler formulations can clean with less damage. (6)
That is why I prefer a simple castile-soap cleanser that includes jojoba and honey rather than assuming the strongest degreasing product is the best facial cleanser.
What Actually Creates the Foam in This Recipe?
The castile soap provides the cleansing surfactants. The foaming pump pulls air into the diluted cleanser and turns it into the light foam you love.
Glycerine is a useful plant-derived humectant found in many DIYs, including our Kids Body Wash, but glycerine is not the main ingredient responsible for foam.
If you purchase a foaming soap container with a pump, the pump itself helps turn a properly diluted natural soap into foam.
No synthetic fragrance required.
Create an Amazing Skincare Routine in 3 Steps
Creating a great skincare routine doesn't take much money or even time. All you need is a few minutes and a consistent habit of using natural skin care products that support rather than overwhelm your skin.
Step One: Use a Natural, DIY Facial Cleanser
Cleaning the skin helps remove sweat, excess sebum, dirt, sunscreen, makeup, and environmental residue from your busy day.
This homemade cleanser lets you wash your face without intentionally stripping every bit of natural oil because it combines cleansing soap with raw honey and jojoba oil.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser, lukewarm water, and washing with fingertips rather than aggressive scrubbing. For most people, twice daily and after heavy sweating is plenty. People with very dry or sensitive skin may sometimes do better with less frequent cleansing. (7)
To use this cleanser as a makeup remover, massage it gently over damp skin and rinse well. Keep it out of the eyes. Heavy waterproof mascara, long-wear eye makeup, and stubborn mineral sunscreen may still need a separate eye-safe or oil-based removal step.
Step Two: Use a Toner
Using a toner can be a refreshing optional step after cleansing.
Many conventional toners include drying alcohol-based astringents, so I prefer simple options such as apple cider vinegar preparations or alcohol-free witch hazel when they agree with the person's skin.
One correction is worth making here: toner does not literally “close” pores. Pores do not open and shut like doors. Astringent products may temporarily change how visible or tight the skin feels, while acidic products can influence the skin-surface environment.
Sensitive skin can react to overly acidic or astringent products, so more is not better.
See our report on using essential oils for acne for a natural toner recipe you can add to your routine.
Step Three: Replenish Lost Moisture
The last step of your skincare routine is to replace lost hydration with moisturizing.
This is a fun step that can be as easy or complex as you like. Some people prefer using a little coconut oil, while others prefer whipping up a batch of my Anti-Aging and Skin Healing Serum.
Remember, as with anything, the key to glowing skin is consistency! Great skin happens over time, and you don't need a bathroom full of products to care for it.
Set your glass jar of foaming facial cleanser next to your bathroom sink to remind yourself to wash your face each morning and every night at bedtime when that schedule works well for your skin. Once a week, you can follow up your routine with my DIY Facial Mask.
Foaming DIY Facial Cleanser With Essential Oils
This recipe comes together in minutes! If you can make a pitcher of tea, you can make this DIY. It's perfect for even the newest natural living guru.
Foaming Facial Cleanser With Essential Oils and Honey
Quantity
Ingredients
- 1 cup purified OR distilled water
- ¼ cup organic unscented liquid castile soap
- 5 teaspoons jojoba oil
- 2 teaspoons manuka honey
- 25 drops tea tree essential oil
- 38 drops lavender essential oil
- 25 drops rosemary essential oil
Supplies
Instructions
- Add filtered water to the jar first to avoid suds from soap.
- Add the remaining ingredients.
- Slowly stir the facial cleanser, mixing everything.
- Replace the foaming soap dispenser pump.
- Shake slightly before use.
- Pump foaming facial cleanser into hand and rub on damp face.
- Rinse and enjoy your clean skin!
Step One: Add Water
First, add filtered water to the jar to avoid creating too many suds from the soap while you assemble the cleanser.
Step Two: Add Remaining Ingredients
Add castile soap, jojoba oil, raw honey, and essential oils. Slowly stir to mix. Put the lid on and shake slightly before using.
To use, pump your DIY foaming facial cleanser onto your hands and rub it gently over your damp face. Rinse well and enjoy your glowing skin!
How to Use and Store Homemade Facial Cleanser
This is the one part of a water-based DIY that deserves more attention than most recipes give it.
Water changes the preservation picture.
The FDA explains that cosmetics can become contaminated with harmful bacteria and fungi through water, raw materials, containers, storage conditions, and consumer use. Microbial contamination is a recurring reason for cosmetic recalls, and the agency specifically emphasizes clean containers and avoiding unnecessary introduction of water or microorganisms into cosmetics. (8)
Raw honey has antimicrobial properties in concentrated form, and essential oils can show antimicrobial activity, but neither one should be treated as a validated broad-spectrum preservative system for a diluted homemade water-based facial cleanser.
Keep the Bottle Clean
- Begin with a thoroughly cleaned bottle, pump, measuring tools, and mixing container.
- Wash your hands before making the cleanser.
- Keep the pump opening clean.
- Do not open the bottle in the shower where water can splash inside.
- Do not dilute an older batch with more water to make it last longer.
- Make modest batches rather than storing a large supply for months.
There is no scientifically validated universal shelf life for this homemade formula because shelf life depends on ingredient quality, microbial load, container sanitation, storage, temperature, and whether the finished formula has undergone preservative-efficacy testing.
Discard the cleanser if you notice an unusual odor, cloudiness, stringiness, gas, mold, unexpected color change, separation that looks abnormal, or irritation that did not happen when the batch was fresh.
Keep It Out of Your Eyes
Even natural soap and essential oils can sting the eyes.
Do not pump the cleanser directly around the lash line. If it gets into your eyes, rinse thoroughly with clean lukewarm water.
Patch Test When Your Skin Is Reactive
Sensitive skin is not one diagnosis. Someone with rosacea, eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, acne treatment irritation, or a damaged barrier may react differently from someone who simply describes their skin as “sensitive.”
The AAD recommends especially gentle cleansing for rosacea and other reactive skin conditions. (9)
If your skin is currently cracked, intensely inflamed, peeling from a retinoid or peel, or reacting to another product, simplify your routine until the barrier settles.
DIY Foaming Facial Cleanser FAQs
Is homemade face wash good for sensitive skin?
It can be, especially when the ingredients agree with your skin and the finished product is used gently. Sensitive skin varies widely, however. Patch test the cleanser, keep it away from the eyes, and stop if it causes persistent burning, redness, itching, or swelling.
Can this foaming cleanser remove makeup?
Yes, it can remove light everyday makeup, sunscreen, sweat, and surface oils. Long-wear or waterproof eye makeup may need a separate product designed specifically for the eye area.
What makes this homemade cleanser foam?
Castile soap supplies the cleansing surfactants, and the foaming pump mixes the diluted cleanser with air. Glycerine is a humectant and is not required to create the foam.
Is sodium lauryl sulfate dangerous?
SLS is a strong surfactant that can irritate skin and eyes, and researchers frequently use it as a controlled model for irritant dermatitis. Irritation depends on concentration, formulation, contact time, and individual skin sensitivity. The evidence does not support the old blanket claim that SLS-containing face wash causes blindness.
Does tea tree oil help acne?
Tea tree oil has human clinical evidence for mild-to-moderate acne in topical products, including 5% gel preparations. This rinse-off cleanser is different from those study products, so tea tree is a research-supported ingredient choice rather than proof that this recipe treats acne. (3)
Is jojoba oil good for oily skin?
Many people with oily or combination skin like jojoba because it feels lighter than heavier fixed oils and is chemically stable. Research also describes anti-inflammatory and skin-conditioning activity. How any individual skin responds is still personal.
What does honey do in facial cleanser?
Honey functions as a humectant and skin-conditioning ingredient and has a long history in dermatology and cosmetic care. Its composition varies according to botanical source and processing. Medical-grade honey wound research should not be confused with putting kitchen honey on an infected wound. (10)
How often should I wash my face?
For many people, morning and night plus after heavy sweating works well. Dry or very sensitive skin may need less. Over-washing, aggressive scrubbing, and using too many irritating products can make the skin barrier worse rather than better. (7)
Does toner close pores?
No. Pores do not physically open and close. A toner can change how the skin feels and may help remove residue, but pore visibility is influenced by genetics, sebum, skin structure, congestion, and aging.
How long does homemade facial cleanser last?
There is no universal validated shelf life for a water-based homemade cleanser that has not undergone preservative testing. Use clean equipment, make modest batches, protect the bottle from contamination, and discard it at the first sign of spoilage or unexpected change.
Can I use this face wash around my eyes?
Keep soap and essential oils out of the eyes. Use the cleanser on the surrounding face, but use an eye-appropriate remover when you need to remove mascara or eyeliner close to the lash line.
Final Thoughts on Natural Facial Cleansing
One of my favorite things about DIY skincare is how simple it can be.
You do not need ten different products, aggressive exfoliation, or the strongest detergent you can find. A simple cleanser, an optional toner that agrees with your skin, and a good moisturizer can go a long way when you use them consistently.
This recipe also gives you something I value tremendously: control.
You choose the carrier oil. You choose the essential oils. You know what went into the bottle. And you can adjust your skincare philosophy around what your own skin is telling you instead of chasing every new beauty trend.
Keep the recipe clean. Keep the bottle clean. Use a gentle hand. Respect the power of essential oils on facial skin. Then give your skin time to respond.
That is the kind of natural beauty routine I can get behind.
References
- Meier L, Stange R, Michalsen A, Uehleke B. “Clay Jojoba Oil Facial Mask for Lesioned Skin and Mild Acne: Results of a Prospective, Observational Pilot Study.” Forschende Komplementärmedizin. 2012. Background review cited in original article: PubMed.
- Chakrabarty S, et al. “Bioactivities of Jojoba Oil Beyond Skincare.” 2024. PubMed.
- Enshaieh S, Jooya A, Siadat AH, Iraji F. “The Efficacy of 5% Topical Tea Tree Oil Gel in Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.” Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2007;73(1):22-25. PubMed.
- Rahbardar MG, Hosseinzadeh H. “Toxicity and Safety of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): A Comprehensive Review.” 2025. PubMed.
- Salomon G, et al. “Surfactant Irritations and Allergies.” Allergy. 2023. PubMed.
- Ananthapadmanabhan KP, Moore DJ, Subramanyan K, Misra M, Meyer F. “Cleansing Without Compromise: The Impact of Cleansers on the Skin Barrier and the Technology of Mild Cleansing.” Dermatologic Therapy. 2004;17 Suppl 1:16-25. PubMed.
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. “Face Washing 101.” Accessed August 2026. Source.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Microbiological Safety and Cosmetics.” Updated October 15, 2024. Source.
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. “7 Rosacea Skin Care Tips Dermatologists Recommend.” Updated April 3, 2024. Source.
- Burlando B, Cornara L. “Honey in Dermatology and Skin Care: A Review.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2013;12(4):306-313. PubMed.
