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?
I love using Dr. Bronner’s peppermint castile soap for my handmade soap. Sometimes I break open a capsule or two of vitamin e and add that to my soap instead of glycerin. It works just as well.
Hi I thought you might want to know that it is really easy and so much more cost effective to make your own liquid Castile soap from kirk’s Castile soap bars. Let me know if you want the recipe I use.
Thanks, Holly! I would LOVE it. You know, I just saw an advertisement for the Kirk’s on sale, but I can’t remember where! You can either leave a comment or email me at wholenewmom at gmail dot com.
Hello,
Could you please share the Kirk’s soap bar recipe? I use these soaps and would love to make liquid soap with these.
Thanks!
I found this site has simple instructions. Enjoy!!!
In case no one mentioned it, http://www.bubbleandbee.com have a wonderful foaming pump bottle, you get a 6oz 3 pack for $7.99
I do NOT make bar soap, but am adding a few fun items to our organic skin food line to sell alongside our organic veggies. It’s great to stumble upon your website with this recipe just when Elements Bath and Body has soap foamers half-price this week! While I cannot give a product review, the price is right and the company has been a good resource, quick to ship too. Of course, we have plenty of time for these to arrive – our Farmers’ Market season is a few months of snow away, but the kale, spinach and lettuce peeking out from under their ground covers act as if it can’t be so!
These are described as 6 oz Pearl Green Foaming Bottles (at 49 cents each when you buy 100 or maybe a buck when you b uy just one). When I called to ask for more info, i was told they are made of sturdy HDPE Recyclable #4 plastic & the pump is PP. Here is the website: (site deleted since it’s no longer active) Enjoy! Happy New You meantime…
Thanks Maryanne! Wow – 100 is a lot! Guess if someone likes them a lot they can go into business! 🙂 What else have you bought from them?
Oh, lots of treasures! Recently, boxes for lotion bars, lip balm tubes, body balm pushups and tiny 1/3 oz balm jars. They have a variety of materials for soap and lotion… and potion! – makers.
THANKS! I will check them out! Do they have good organic products as well? I am hoping to make my own lotion soon.
Does anybody know of a company that sells a good but affordable empty foaming soap bottle?
I did not have success with this. As I mentioned in the post, Pampered Chef ones broke regularly for me and an expensive one that I bought broke as well. I would maybe wait until you see a really good sale on a full bottle and use that – or go to the Dollar Store and see if they have them there. Maybe someone else has some ideas – you could post the question on my Facebook page or I could if you’d like :-).
I found this particular foaming soap dispenser at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and we loved using it when we were diluting Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap. I don’t know if the link will show up or if this comment will be flagged as spam: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/Foaming-Soap-Dispenser-in-Frost-Glass/1017982826?_requestid=628174
It is heavy duty, made of frosted glass and an all metal pumper. Unfortunately, Dr. Bronner’s liquid hand soap got too expensive for us, so we began making our own liquid castile hand soap by grating homemade bar soap we made with goat milk, olive oil, palm oil, and coconut oil (directions are on my website). We are doing great with the homemade liquid hand soap, but it doesn’t do well at all in the foaming soap dispensers, so they are sitting below the sink, unused. Maybe when the children are grown and out of the house, I’ll start using Dr. Bronner’s again and diluting that brand of liquid soap…when we’re not going through it so quickly!
You have some SERIOUSLY GOOD STUFF!!!
Thanks! I might be able to link up but I am trying to scale back a bit. I’ll see what I can do :-).
I just started doing this recently and love the glycerin tip with winter coming and dry hands along with it. Thank you! We use Dr. Bronner’s in a foamer bottle for hands, body wash, I shave with it, and now I’m going to try it on dishes – never thought about that!
If you are looking for empty foamer bottles, you can get a set of 3 for $7.99 from Bubble & Bee online. I use their shampoo and saw that they sell the foamer bottles so bought those as well and love them. I also put the shampoo in the foamer bottle. I’ve used maybe 2 oz shampoo in a month’s time and I wash daily. Awesome savings!
We’ve been doing this for years, and I’m a bit embarrassed to tell you that we’ve always put the soap first in and very very slowly trickled the water into the bottle to fill it up and avoid the bubbles. We’ve never even thought of putting the water in first! Ha. I actually have some glycerin sitting around, so thanks for that tip. Our soap is super dry, so I’ll add a touch and see what happens. Stopping by from Tip Junkie’s linky party. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Lauren,
No need to be embarrassed. This momma did the same thing for awhile before it dawned on me what the simple solution was. Sometimes it’s just ridiculous the things we don’t think of :-)!
Hooray! Just what I needed. I found an empty foaming soap container in the kids’ bathroom this morning and I was thinking about making my own. So timely.
Visiting from the Barn Hop!
I’m visiting from the barn hop. What a great idea. I’m going to try it next shopping day when I can look for the dispenser. Thanks for posting.