Whenever I wear makeup, I love to oil cleanse my face. It’s the best way to gently remove all the grime and pollution accumulated during the day.
But on the makeup-free days, I don’t feel the need to oil cleanse. So, I decided to mix up a super gentle and slightly foaming Aloe Vera face wash. And let me tell you, it’s divine!
Why Aloe Vera?
I love Aloe Vera for skin care (and for gut health as well!). It is just so soothing and hydrating.
I use Aloe Vera for face masks.
Sometimes I will just slather the gel straight from the plant all over my face for a few minutes. It feels like heaven.
Other times I use Aloe Vera Juice to mix any type of dry mask I might be using. Just imagine the feel of a powder mask made with rose powder, aloe powder, and French clay mixed into a paste with fresh Aloe Vera Juice. It’s like a triply hydrating treat for the skin.
Aloe Vera’s benefits for skin are numerous. It has enzymes, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C. It is very anti-inflammatory and can help speed up wound healing.
Considering the properties of Aloe vera and its compounds, it can be used to retain skin moisture and integrity and to prevent ulcers.
It seems that the application of Aloe vera, as a complementary treatment along with current methods, can improve wound healing and promote the health of society.
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
With so many benefits for the skin, how could I not use it?
Also, I have this humongous aloe plant growing just by my porch. And it seems, the more leaves I cut, the better it grows?
Making the Aloe Vera Face Wash
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Aloe by itself would probably not do the job of cleansing. So I add a few other high-performing ingredients.


Raw Honey
Speaking of anti-inflammatory properties, raw honey is an unsurpassed champion in that area! It can even help wound healing when placed directly onto a cut or burn. It also has pain-relieving qualities.
Honey has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used as a wound dressing to promote rapid and improved healing.
Evidence for Clinical Use of Honey in Wound Healing as an Anti-bacterial, Anti-inflammatory Anti-oxidant and Anti-viral Agent: A Review
Washing your face with honey will bring all these benefits to the simple act of cleansing.
I was afraid that adding honey would make the cleanser feel sticky, but it does not. Instead, it makes it super hydrating and gentle on the skin.
Hemp Seed Oil
To make this wash into an ultra-gentle hydrating cleanser, I added a bit of oil.
If you read my post on oil cleansing, you’ll see the reasons for not being afraid of using oil in washes and cleansers.
Having suffered from acne for many years as a teenager and in my young adulthood, I was always wary of putting any oil on my face. What a mistake this was!
Why specifically hemp seed oil? It is a great option for all skin types. Here are some of its benefits:
- moisturizing
- plumping
- won’t clog pores
- aids in reducing signs of aging
- balances sebum production
- helps even out scars and discolorations
This is a pretty impressive list. And, there is no need to worry that the oil will make you “high”. It is pressed from the same plant as marijuana, but it has very little of the THC which could make one “high.”
Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant, one that has a very low concentration of psychoactive compounds.
You can use it for culinary purposes as well. It has a wonderfully nutty flavor and makes for a great salad dressing.
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Plant Therapy’s Hemp Seed Oil is a natural, non-GMO, whole food product that can be use… [More]
Castille Soap
Castille soap is a non-toxic, biodegradable soap usually crafted from olive oil, but it can also be made with hemp, avocado, or coconut oil.
A pure Castille soap will usually have a mix of organic oils like this one from Plant Therapy: including coconut, jojoba, and olive oils and a touch of aloe vera.
Pure Castille soap is superior to regular soap because it has no sulfates, parabens, or any other nasties.
It is also cruelty-free and creates a pure, vegan face cleanser.

Castile soap is a natural detergent alternative made from premium ingredients. Plant Th… [More]
Essential Oils
When making a DIY aloe vera and honey face wash, why not up the ante with some skin-loving essential oils? Depending on your skin needs, you could add whatever oil will give you the most benefit.
Dry/mature skin:
Lavender is always a great option for all kinds of needs for maturing skin.
Rose, though expensive, has such a concentrated aroma that you would literally need 2-4 drops to make a fragrant cleanser.
If not Rose, Geranium also has amazing anti-aging benefits.
So does Neroli and of course the “King of Oils” – Frankincense.

Lavender Fine is steam distilled from a high-altitude plant variety with a short growin… [More]
Normal/Oily/Blemished Skin:
Tea Tree is the go-to when it comes to anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Another option is Turmeric thanks to its amazing antioxidant and calming qualities. Any type of Chamomile would work great as well. Ylang Ylang is great for controlling oil production.

Organic Tea Tree is one of the world’s best known and beloved essential oils. Native … [More]


DIY Aloe Vera Face Wash Recipe
Now that we have all the ingredients, it’s time to mix the wash. Grab a 2 oz bottle (easily available online or reuse an old cleanser bottle). Pour into it:
- 1 oz Aloe Vera Juice
- 1 TBS Raw Honey
- 1.5 tsp Hemp Seed Oil
- 1.5 tsp Pure Castille Soap
- 20-25 drops of essential oils of choice (optional)
Now you have to shake it like crazy so that all the ingredients mix up nicely.
To Use:
Pour a dime size of the cleanser into the palm of your hand. Mix it up between your hands and massage it onto the face. Rinse off with warm or tepid water.
Follow with a toner and other steps of your skincare regimen.
This cleanser is so gentle. As you can see it barely foams. It has enough soap to foam a little and cleanse, but it won’t strip the good sebum off the face. It’s super creamy and calming to the skin, and it smells delicious.
Because it is so pure and without any preservatives, I would suggest using it within 2-3 weeks. That’s the reason for using a smaller bottle. If you’d rather double up, I would add some kind of organic preservative, like Leucidal Liquid or Germall Plus. I get mine at Lotioncrafter.
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do! Happy washing!
My dad has over sixteen aloes in his garden right now! Looking forward to trying your recipe.
Yay! Use them! The gel is so versatile, you can also drink it with water to soothe the tummy. It’s great for sunburns too. It’s a miracle plant in my view:)
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This is such a great idea! I love the dewy finish Aloe leaves my skin when used as a moisturizer. I hope the castile soap in this plays nicely with hard water. I’ve always had major issues using Dr. Bronners since it really only does well with soft water.
Nathalia | NathaliaFit – Fitness & Wellness Blog
http://www.nathaliafit.com
Good question! I’m not sure how my water is, hard or soft, but the small amount of the soap here really barely foams. Just enough to make it feel like a wash rather than a lotion. And the skin is really dewy afterward indeed!
I love anything with aloe vera and honey.
Aloe vera is such a great healer – we used to smear it on cuts when we were kids in the Caribbean, it was faster and cheaper than getting a bandaid! I can see how the honey and oil added would make this a really great cleanser for your skin.
I agree 100%! It should come with a big red cross sign on it as it is indeed better than a bandaid for some things:)
I need to try and make this face wash! I never would have thought of putting honey in it. I’m so intrigued.
Honey is such a great humectant. I love it even by itself especially on the lips when they are chapped.
Useful information and I have so many aloe vera plants in my garden it is nice to know what to do with them other than replanting them when they overgrow.
It’s a fast grower I agree. You can also drink the gel. Doesn’t taste so great but if mixed with something sweet it goes down without any issue. Great for tummy troubles.
this is amazing, never thought I could make my own face wash. I use aloe vera in the evening and for the morning routine its great.
Isn’t aloe just an amazing plant? I love it as a moisturizer, cleanser, mask, and for my hair. And of course, nothing comes close to it when it comes to sunburn.
This sounds delightful for a day wash and I have all the ingredients in the house… thank you for sharing…
Enjoy! It feels really luxurious with that honey giving it a nice slip!