How To Make Foaming Hand Soap

How to make non-toxic DIY foaming hand soap at home. This 3-ingredient recipe couldn't be easier! It's so simple to make you will never use store-bought hand soap again.

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I have a confession to make. I haven't purchased hand soap in 4 years. I actually went to Amazon to see when I ordered my first foaming soap dispenser (I bought this glass one) and it was July of 2016!

Since I'm not big on DIY beauty products, that's a record for me of making my own. Needless to say I'm a huge fan of this DIY foaming hand soap recipe - it's inexpensive, super easy to make and it works better than any hand soap I've tried.

Bonus: I can change up the scent based on the season or my mood, or even go with unscented. And it doesn't dry out my hands with all the extra hand washing we're all doing this year.

Here's what you'll need to make it

This homemade foaming hand soap takes just three ingredients to make (and one is optional!). It's so simple it barely needs a recipe.

1. The secret is using liquid castile soap. I use an unscented one that's certified organic, non-GMO, and vegan. I've found this is the cheapest place to buy it.
2. Water is used to dilute the soap before adding to the foaming dispenser bottle.
3. Essential oils can be added if you prefer a scented soap.

The only other thing you'll need is a foaming dispenser pump to create the foam. You can buy the dispenser with a bottle, or buy a foaming pump to add to a mason jar, or reuse an empty foaming bottle you already have. You can even get a touchless soap dispenser.

Which essential oils to use

Which essential oils you use is really up to your preference. Lavender is a classic for hand soap. My favorites are rosemary or a spice-scented blend (if you're a fan of thieves, this defense blend is similar).

Just be sure to go slowly with adding drops of essential oil. Since they vary in strength, it's best to start with a few drops and add more as needed.

Many other uses

I love having a bottle of diluted castile soap next to the bathroom sink. I also use it to wash my makeup brushes and sponges. Or if I need to do a quick hand wash for delicate clothes.

If you have it in the kitchen it can also be used for dish soap (dilute it even more for a 1:10 ratio for dishes).