Homemade Moisturizing Foaming Hand Soap
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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. SUPER EASY.


Why Is Glycerin in this Soap?
Glycerine adds a number of benefits to this homemade foaming soap.
Moisture
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.
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.
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 seems to have been redone.
One reader commented that she loves the dispenser from this product and simply removes the label off of the bottle after emptying it out. I would think you'd need to clean the pump out really well to get the residual scent out of it because artificial fragrances can be hard to get out.

This dispenser is a great option if you'd 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.

Homemade Moisturizing Foaming Hand Soap
Ingredients
- foaming soap dispenser (this brand has worked very well for us over the years)
- water
- natural liquid soap of your choice (the brand that I linked to is one good option)
- 1/2 tablespoon vegetable glycerine (for extra moisturizing) (optional)
- a few drops of your choice of essential oils (optional) (read my post on Which Essential Oils are Best? – Part One to see why I recommend this company)
- few drop olive oil (optional for better foaming and to extend the life of the soap pump)
- Optiphen Preservative (strongly recommended–use .5-1.5% or 1/4 teaspoon for an 8 ounce container)
Instructions
- Fill empty foaming soap dispenser with water, approximately 4/5 full.
- Fill remaining space with a liquid soap of your choice (and glycerine, essential oils, olive oil and preservative, if using) being careful not to get too close to the top.
- Shake gently to mix and use. Note: you definitely do not want to add the soap first. If you do, the soap will foam up as you are adding the water to fill the container and you will end up with a foaming, half-filled container.
Notes
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?






Ohhh this is great – thank you for sharing!!
I teach and I use Dr. Bronner’s diluted. I have a few bath and body works foam hand soap dispensers that have been given to me over the years. They have held up extremely well. They even the the lock when you turn the head of the pump.
My family is loving Dr. Bronner’s in a foamer! We recently got a handsome, durable foamer as a gift, but we’ve been successful for about 6 months with one that originally contained Method brand soap from Target–it’s supposed to be natural, but I didn’t like the fragrance (called something like Clear Water but didn’t smell anything like it!) so I was glad when we used it up.
Another option is to dilute soap in a trigger spray bottle. The downside is that guests may not recognize it as hand soap unless you label it.
What a great idea!!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Would love it if you could share this post at Serenity Saturday over at serenityyou.blogspot.com
xxx
I make my own foaming soap and mix lavender and frankincense for healthy skin. I also use it instead of shaving cream – SO much more cost effective and SO much better for my skin!
Thanks for the tip! My husband’s beard is quite tough, however. Do you think it would work for him? I already use the foaming soap for shaving my legs, but they’re nothing like his face :-).
Try conditioner. My shave cream says it can be used as conditioner why not the other way around. A little goes a long way.
You mean for shaving cream – nice idea. I just use a little foaming soap since the hair on my legs isn’t that thick anymore and it works just fine :-).
Great minds! I just figured this out this week when I tried to fill a foam dispenser with liquid soap and got a big clogged mess.
After I emptied out the container I was left with just enough soap residue and discovered that those soap companies are basically selling us 90% water. Just a a little soap in the water makes it foam. We are brilliant! I like the tip about adding the water first the next time I refill.
Thanks!
I never thought to add essential oils. 😉 Great idea!
Featuring you tonight over on my blog. You were one of the most viewed links at my {wow me} wednesday link party last week. Feel free to come grab a button & link up again this week. 🙂 Have a wonderful evening.
Ginger
Just wanted to let you know that we tried it today and it worked very well. Thank u!
You are welcome!
what a great idea! I wanted to go today to buy a new foaming soap. Now I do not have to. Thank you for sharing.