Homemade Moisturizing Foaming Hand Soap

This Homemade Foaming Hand Soap is one of the easiest ways to create a greener and healthier you. It’s simple to make, inexpensive, and it works really well–and is, of course, fun for kids (of all ages) to use!

Why make your own homemade foaming hand soap?

Well, if you are:

• tired of refilling your soap pump containers over and over again thinking of the amount of money you are literally tossing down the sink?
• spending a lot of money purchasing foaming soap containers over and over again?
• frustrated with the goopy mess that standard soap pump soap leaves on your hands that sometimes isn’t gone even after washing?
• wondering about all the extra ingredients in your hand soap that are probably not good for you (and please don’t tell me that you are using anti-bacterial soap.  Well, I take that back.  You can tell me and then I’ll recommend that you stop :-).)

Then I highly recommend that you consider making this soap now.

I am always motivated to save money while avoiding synthetics and toxins as much as possible, as long as I don’t have to spend too much time doing it.

This motivation has led me to make my own Homemade Shower Cleaner, DIY Lip Scrub, Homemade Hairspray, DIY Chest Rub, and more.

Now, in addition to those things, you can even make your own foaming soap at home and:

• save a lot of money by refilling and not purchasing new pumps
• save money by making your own refill foaming soap
• save money over regular soap pumps by using less soap
• avoid toxic chemicals and fragrances by using only healthy ingredients in your soap

And you will be happy to know that it is EASY.

As in SUPER EASY.

Why Is Glycerin in this Soap?

Glycerine adds a number of benefits to this homemade foaming soap.

Moisture

First of all, glycerin is a humectant. As such, it moisturizes the skin by bringing moisture from the air into the skin’s outer layer and also forms a protective layer to prevent moisture loss. Adding glycerin to your soap can help to lock in this moisture, leaving your hands (or other parts of your body, for that matter) more soft. (source)

Glycerin mimics skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF), so it’s great for all skin types. It’s important to do this since your NMF is depleted as you age and that is accelerated if you use irritating substances on your skin. (source)

Better Texture

The glycerin makes for a smoother, thicker soap which is much nicer to pump and use than thin, runny foaming soaps.

Preservative

Actually you would need 50% glycerine for this soap to truly be preserved, but it’s good to know that glycerine does add some preservative properties to this homemade foaming hand soap.

Don’t Eat the Soap, but…..

One thing you might not know, is that vegetable glycerine is not only great for adding moisturizing qualities to this homemade foaming soap, but it’s also a great sweetener alternative for those trying to consume fewer carbs. In most cases, you can use whatever glycerine you like for sweetening as well as for use in personal care products, but you might want to ask the manufacturer.

Actually, the ingredients in this foaming soap are so non toxic, you really don’t have to worry if some gets in your mouth, but still I wouldn’t go around making it a habit of eating it.

Where to Buy Vegetable Glycerine

There are many places that you can buy vegetable glycerine. You should be able to find it in a drugstore or nutrition store, but almost definitely in a health food store.

If you’d prefer to buy it online, you can find it on Amazon and also at Starwest Botanicals.

What Foaming Soap Container Is Best?

I have had multiple quality issues with some soap pumps and tried about 4 different kinds.   One brand that kept breaking was the Pampered Chef version and the other was a Cuisipro.  The Pampered Chef design appears to be unchanged, but the Cuisipro is certainly new. Those who would like a pump without a label on your soap dispenser may wish to try those.

The ones that we currently have are holding up great.  Some I purchased at Williams-Sonoma (on clearance, but no longer available) and the others are by Deep Steep.  The Deep Steep Dispensers originally had organic foaming wash in them, so we used up and then cleaned well and refilled with my homemade soap. In my opinion, this is a much better option than buying a chemical-laden foaming soap and either using it or dumping it :-).)

A reader commented that she loves the dispenser from this product and she simply removes the label off of the bottle after emptying it out. I would think that one would have to clean the bottle and pump out really well to get the residual scent out of it but otherwise it looks like a great option!

This dispenser is a great option if you would prefer to avoid plastic and use a glass bottle.

Another idea is using a mason jar with a foaming pump that fits on a mason jar. Yes, there’s such a thing and here it is.

Do You Need a Preservative For Homemade Foaming Soap?

In the recipe card, you can see Optiphen Preservative as a recommendation for this soap.

Preserving anything with a water base is crucial due to the potential for bacterial growth.

The essential oils in the recipe, if being used, should help some, but you would for sure need more than that for adequate preservation.

Optiphen is great since it has no formaldehyde, no phthalates, and no formaldehyde releasers as well.

So there you have it–simple, isn’t it?

Very little work for a lot of money saved and better health for your family.   You can easily reduce the toxic exposure in your home and you have a bit more of your financial resources available to address your family’s needs and to bless others.

Have you made your own foaming soap before?
If not, will you try it?