If you're struggling with dry skin, this creamy green tea body wash with hydrating ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and honey will soothe itchy skin and lock in moisture. Plus, infusing it with green tea heals chapped skin and packs an antioxidant punch to calm inflammation and give your skin some relief. Read on for the recipe!
Hydrating Coconut Oil + Green Tea Body Wash
To make the winter months a little more bearable for my dry, itchy skin, I have recently started making my own moisturizing body products. It all started with this rich honey hand balm and these relaxing herbal mini soaps, but with temperatures continuing to plummet, I've been on the lookout for more more soothing options.
Homemade body wash was my next step! I love using coconut oil, especially when it's infused with green tea.
Why green tea? Well, it's chock full of antioxidants, flavonoids and catechins, plus it can help skin look smoother and counteract the effects of free radical damage from sun exposure and environmental toxins. Studies even show that green tea may help soothe inflammation and protect skin from cancer caused by sunlight.
I combined coconut oil with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter for a body wash that sinks into parched skin and creates a protective barrier against the elements. And because it uses Castile soap as its base, it lathers like a dream without stripping skin of its natural oils—thus leaving your skin even softer than before.
Adding Essential Oils for Dry Skin
For even more healing power, try adding some skin-soothing essential oils. I used a mixture of lemongrass and eucalyptus oils because they smell fantastic and they're nourishing for dry skin.
Just a word of warning—citrus oils like orange and grapefruit have a phototoxic effect, meaning they can make skin more sensitive to the sun. So while they smell fantastic, you might want to avoid putting them in your body wash if you plan on spending any time outdoors.
Lighter Green Tea Body Wash For Summer (No Coconut Oil)
Not everyone loves coconut oil—or at least their skin doesn't as it can clog pores and cause acne. So here's a lighter body wash recipe that still uses green tea but leaves out the heavier ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter.
—½ cup liquid Castile soap
—½ cup brewed green tea, cooled
—2 tablespoons almond oil or olive oil
—10-15 drops of essential oil for your skin type
1. Brew a cup of green tea and let it cool completely.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the liquid Castile soap, brewed green tea, and almond oil (or olive oil).
3. If desired, add 10-15 drops of your preferred essential oil.
4. Stir the mixture gently to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
5. Transfer the body wash to a clean, empty bottle or container with a pump or flip-top cap.
Using Green Tea Body Wash
To use the body wash, simply apply a small amount to a loofah or washcloth, lather it up, and gently cleanse your body. Rinse off with water afterward.
Even though Castile soap is oil-based, you might notice your body wash starting to separate after sitting for a few hours. Simply give it a gentle shake to mix everything together before using.
And rest assured that even if you don't shake it every time, you can still use it, you may just see less suds than you're used to.
Super Moisturizing Green Tea Body Wash
Equipment
- Liquid pump dispenser
Materials
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons green tea leaves
- 2 tablespoons shea butter
- ½ cup liquid castile soap
- ¼ cup raw honey
- 15 drops essential oil
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil and stir in the tea leaves. Let simmer on low for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the shea butter and stir until just melted. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
- When the mixture has cooled slightly, add in the remaining ingredients and whisk everything together.
- Pour into a soap dispenser or lidded jar. Shake before each use.
