Natural Face Cleansers: 7 DIY Recipes for Every Skin Type

• Natural cleansers are free from synthetic chemicals, parabens and preservatives that may be harmful to skin.
• Clay, tea tree oil and fruit extracts are popular ingredients used within natural cleansers.
• DIY versions can be made using a combination of ingredients to suit your skin type.
• For sensitive or acne-prone skin, mild cleansers with minimal ingredients will help prevent irritation.

Cleansers are formulated to be less harsh on the skin and therefore leaves skin feeling more hydrated than do traditional soaps or face washes. 

However, some contain an unnecessary amount of ingredients and chemicals that may aggravate sensitive or acne-prone skin. If you are concerned about the ingredients in your cleanser, consider switching to one that is more natural.

What Is a Natural Cleanser?

Natural cleansers are free from synthetic chemicals, fragrances and preservatives. They contain naturally derived ingredients from sources such as clay, fruit and plants. They are often formulated to be gentle on the skin, making them an appropriate choice for dry and sensitive skin.

What are synthetic chemicals?

Synthetic chemicals are formulated in laboratories, as opposed to being extracted directly from natural sources. While synthetic ingredients are not always harmful to your skin, some are recognized as potential allergens.

Research has suggested that parabens, preservatives used in skin care products, are common allergens. Similarly, synthetic fragrances have also been identified as one of the major causes of skin allergies. 

Surfactants break down and clear away oils and impurities from the skin. Studies into the use of surfactants have shown they are a potential skin irritant due to their ability to penetrate deep into skin cells, damaging their structure.

Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is another chemical widely used in cosmetics as a surfactant ingredient. Research has found that SLS may cause contact dermatitis by weakening the skin’s natural protective barrier and causing inflammation and dryness—especially if you are prone to skin allergies.

Why use a natural cleanser?

Natural cleansers are a good option if you’d prefer to start using fewer synthetic and processed products in your skin care regime. It may also be beneficial to try a natural alternative if you are experiencing irritation from your current cleanser.

Standard products often have long ingredient lists, making it difficult to pinpoint the specific ones that might trigger reactions such as dryness and irritation. Typically, natural cleansers tend to contain fewer ingredients, especially preservatives and surfactants.

Popular Ingredients in Natural Cleansers

There are a wide range of ingredients used in natural cleansers that provide numerous benefits for your skin. By recognizing these ingredients, you’ll be able to find a product that works best with your skin type.

Fruit extracts

Pure fruit extracts are used in natural cleanser as they provide a variety of benefits through exfoliation and and protecting skin against environmental damage.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that provides ultraviolet (UV) protection from the sun when applied topically. It is also effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles by stimulating the body’s natural collagen production.

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are a group of chemicals that can be naturally sourced from fruits such as grapefruit, papaya and lemon. Applied topically, they exfoliate the skin and slough away dead skin cells, promoting the regeneration of new cells while brightening your complexion.

Research has shown that AHAs are effective in treating a wide range of skin conditions, including photoaging, acne and rosacea.

Fruit oils, such as jojoba seed, rosehip and grapeseed oil are also used to nourish and hydrate dry skin types. Due to its high contents of oleic acid, grape seed oil has been shown to protect the skin against potential irritants, including harmful microbes.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the tea tree, native to Australia. It is used to treat a variety of issues including acne, blemishes and oiliness. Research into the topical use of tea tree oil has shown it is effective in reducing the inflammation associated with acne, while also providing antimicrobial benefits.

Clay

Clay is a popular addition in skin care products for its detoxifying effects. Clay is absorbent, which means it attracts and draws out impurities from the skin. This helps to cleanse and unclog blocked pores, a common problem with oily skin.

Additionally, clay is valuable for its antibacterial benefits, making it especially useful for treating blemishes and acne-prone skin.

Manuka honey

Manuka honey is a powerful ingredient that nourishes and hydrates the skin, while acting as an antimicrobial. When applied to the skin, manuka honey helps to fight harmful microbes and speed up the healing process—which is beneficial when used to treat inflamed acne breakouts.

Manuka honey has also been found to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by hydrating and slowing down the process of wrinkle formation.

DIY Natural Cleanser Recipes to Match Your Skin Type

Combine natural ingredients to make DIY cleansers. They can provide the same benefits as commercial products and are useful if you are on a budget.

As with any new product, it is advised to perform a patch test to check for any potential irritation. To do this, apply a small amount of the product on a discreet area of skin and wait to see if a reaction occurs.

Oily skin: clay-based cleanser

As previously mentioned, clay is effective in clearing excess oils and impurities from your skin. Bentonite clay is often used in cleansers and can be purchased in a powdered form. When combined with water, it becomes a paste that can be applied to your face.

Ingredients

• 4 tbsps. of bentonite clay
• 3-4 tbsps. of water

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients until it forms a paste.
2. Discard after one use.

Dry skin: honey and glycerin cleanser

Derived from vegetables, glycerin is widely used in moisturizers and cosmetics to moisturize and soften the skin. If you have dry skin, combining glycerin with manuka honey is said to provide skin with a boost of moisture.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp of manuka honey
• 1 tbsp of glycerin
• 1 cup of water

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients; stir well.
2. Pour mixture into a container.
3. Keep refrigerated and discard within 1 week.

Combination skin: green tea and honey cleanser

Combination skin has both dry and oily areas on the face. Research into the effects of green tea have shown that it may be beneficial in reducing oiliness. Combined  with honey, this cleanser may help to nourish the drier areas of your face.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp of manuka honey
• 1 green tea bag

Directions

1. Steep 1 green tea bag in 1 cup hot water for ten minutes; cool.
2. Add the manuka honey; stir well.
3. Discard within 1 week.

Normal skin: Vitamin C cleanser

Vitamin C may help to keep your skin looking bright, while potentially offering protection from environmental damage.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp of vitamin C powder
• 1 cup of water

Directions

1. Mix ingredients; stir well until dissolved.
2. Pour mixture into a dark storage bottle to prevent oxidation.
3. Keep refrigerated and discard after 2 weeks.

Sensitive skin: Manuka honey and chamomile cleanser

Chamomile may provide soothing and anti-inflammatory effects when applied directly on the skin, making it a suitable choice if you are prone to sensitivity.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp of manuka honey
• 1 chamomile tea bag

Directions

1. Steep 1 chamomile tea bag in 1 cup hot water for 10 minutes; cool.
2. Add  manuka honey; stir well.
3. Discard within 1 week.

Acne-prone skin: lemon juice and honey cleanser

Lemon juice contains citric acid, which is a natural AHA. Combining with honey may soothe your skin and help reduce any inflammation caused by breakouts.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp of honey
• 1 cup of water

Directions

1. Mix the ingredients together, stir well.
2. Pour mixture into a container.
3. Keep refrigerated and discard within 1 week.

Rosacea: colloidal oatmeal and honey cleanser

If your skin appears persistently red and inflamed, you may have a condition known as rosacea. Colloidal oatmeal is a natural ingredient that has been found to provide anti-inflammatory effects when applied topically.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp of colloidal oatmeal
• 1 tbsp of honey
• 2 tbsps. of water

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients to form a paste.
2. Discard within 1 week.

Alternatives to Natural Cleansers

Micellar water is a skin care product that is applied using a cotton ball or pad. It contains very low concentrations of surfactant ingredients to gently cleanse and remove impurities, and can be used as an alternative to cleansers. Face wipes are also effective in cleansing your skin, with some brands containing natural ingredients.

Additionally, some natural ingredients  such as pure coconut oil can be applied directly to the skin to remove make-up and impurities. This method is best suited to dry and sensitive skin types, as it may exacerbate the symptoms of oily skin.

Takeaway

Natural cleansers are a good choice if you are concerned about synthetic ingredients in your skin care products. Containing a variety of naturally sourced ingredients, they help to cleanse and nourish the skin while limiting the risk of irritation.

Vitamin C, tea tree oil, clay and manuka honey are popular ingredients due to the many benefits they offer skin, including antioxidative, antibacterial and hydrating properties.

DIY cleansers are also an option and can be made using a simple combination of natural ingredients. Alternatively, switching to cleansers with fewer synthetic chemicals and fragrances may also be more beneficial for your skin than soaps or face washes.