How to Make 5 All-Natural Facial Cleansers for Every Skin Type

Making your own natural facial cleansers is a simple, affordable way to care for your skin without unhealthy ingredients. These homemade facial cleanser recipes use gentle, natural ingredients to cleanse effectively while supporting healthy, balanced skin. Whether you have sensitive, dry, or oily skin, these DIY natural face wash recipes are easy to make and perfect for a simple, non-toxic skincare routine.

I’ve used natural facial cleansers in my own skincare routine for years, especially simple ingredients like honey, oils, and oats. These recipes are ones I’ve personally tested and rotated depending on the season and my skin’s needs.

What Are Natural Facial Cleansers?

A natural facial cleanser is a face wash made with natural, organic, and healthy ingredients that clean the skin without synthetic fragrances, sulfates, or harsh chemicals. Homemade facial cleansers are also customizable. Whether you have oily, combination, or dry skin, you can customize your cleanser recipe for your specific needs and know that you are using healthy ingredients.

Why Choose Natural Homemade Facial Cleansers?

There are a lot of facial cleansers out there with lots of dangerous ingredients like petroleum, artificial dyes and fragrances, and propylparaben (which mimics estrogen and messes up your hormone balance whether you are male or female).  Making sure you use natural cleansers, makes sure you know exactly what your skin is absorbing.

Benefits of Using Homemade Natural Facial Cleansers

1. Avoids harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances
2. Gentle on sensitive and acne-prone skin
3. Affordable and easy to make at home
4. Customizable for dry, oily, or combination skin
5. Supports a simple, natural skincare routine

5 DIY Natural Facial Cleansers

I sell 2 liquid facial cleansers in my shop: Anti-Aging & Acne Facial Cleansers. They are similar in ingredients, except vary by what essential oils I use in them. But if you would like to make your own, then you want to look for ingredients that will cleanse your skin without stripping it completely of its natural oils.  Here are a few recipes and methods to get you going.

Oil Cleansing Method for Dry Skin

Try oil based facial scrubs to exfoliate and cleanse your skin while deeply nourishing at the same time.  Oils are also great for removing makeup.

Using oil as a cleanser is an age old method that does not clog pores. Instead, it beautifully enters pores and pulls out all impurities. You can also try these 21 amazing beauty recipes with coconut oil.

Lemon and Rosemary Facial Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

• 1 cup organic sugar
• 1/2 cup apricot kernel oil
• 3 drops rosemary essential oil
• 10 drops of lemon or orange essential oil

Directions:

1. Mix the ingredients together and store in a glass jar.
2. To use, place 1 Tbsp in your hand and massage onto your face.
3. Rinse and pat dry.

Gentle Castile Soap Face Wash

I did not put the recipes for cold processing here, since it is a large process for those who have never made soap before. However, Castile soaps are often made from 90-100% Olive oils instead of a mixture of fats like other soaps.  This makes the soap softer, but very gentle on the skin.  A great soap to try as a beginner and wonderful for the skin.

Another Homemade Soap that is gentle on the skin is a shampoo bar, due to the great nourishing oils within the recipe and because it usually has more readily available oils that were not converted to soap by the lye.  I know many people who use shampoo bars as a shaving bar.

Also find these shampoo bars in my SHOP

Honey Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Raw Honey is very hydrating, kills bacteria, and nourishes skin, replenishing moisture and vitamins. That’s why you will often see it being used in natural beauty recipes. Here is a simple recipe using honey to help cleanse pores.

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp raw honey
• 1 Tbsp raw apple cider vinegar

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients and keep in a sterile container and use a clean utensil each time.
2. Wet face with warm water.
3. Rub 1 tsp. between fingers and massage into face to loosen dirt and makeup.
4. Rinse.

Oatmeal Facial Cleanser for Irritated Skin

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup yogurt
• 1/4 cup pulverized oats

Directions:

1. Pulverized oats in blender (optional).
2. Mix yogurt and oats together.
3. Keeps in fridge for one week, depending on how sterile you keep it.
4. To use: wet face with warm water.  Rub 1 Tbsp between fingers and massage into face to loosen dirt and makeup.  Rinse.

Clay Cleanser for Oily or Acne-Prone Skin

I really like this cleanser, but some people are sensitive to using baking soda directly on their skin.  I know of a few people who cannot use homemade deodorant because of this.  So, like with every recipe on my site, test on a small area and make sure you have no reaction. Use it with just bentonite clay if needed.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
• 1 tablespoon pure aloe vera
• 1 drop tea tree essential oil (anti-bacterial)

Directions:

1. Mix all three ingredients together and massage into face to remove dirt and makeup, staying away from eyes.
2. Rinse.

Always patch test new skincare products. If you have skin conditions or allergies, consult a qualified professional before trying new skincare products. Remember, you can become allergic to literally anything as your body changes over time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Facial Cleansers

• Are homemade facial cleansers effective?
  • Yes! They work just as well as store bought cleansers but can be even more tailored to your specific needs.
• Can natural facial cleansers work for acne?
  • Yes, frankincense is very anti-inflammatory, while other essential oils like rosemary, carrot, and tea tree can benefit the skin in powerful ways. Knowing your ingredients puts the power of homemade skincare in your own hands.
• How long do DIY facial cleansers last?
  • It’s important to use water-based cleansers within a few days. Bacteria will grow quickly. Oil based cleansers can last 2-3 months, depending on how sterile they are kept.
• Are homemade face washes safe for sensitive skin?
  • Yes, you can use gentle ingredients like honey, clays, aloe, and oils to cleanse pores. These are gentle, cleansing, and hydrating ingredients that are great for sensitive skin.

Follow up with one of 4 Herbal Skin Toners and Homemade Lotion and Anti-Wrinkle Serum. Click the links to get the recipes or go to my shop to try them before you make them.

For a full simplified skincare routine, see these Best Homemade Skincare Recipes for Healthy Skin.