Coconut Oil & Honey Face Wash
Something that I have been working on recently is trying out a few homemade face washes. I’ve always had so many issues with sensitive skin, ever since I was a kid, but I one thing I was fortunate to never have an issue with was acne. That is, until I became pregnant for the first time. When I developed acne during pregnancy I attributed it to hormones. But long after I gave birth I still had acne along with redness and uneven skin color! I’ve tried so many different face washes and creams, but there was always something that didn’t work 100% or irritated my sensitive skin.
Once I started trying out different ways to make other beauty products, I thought that I would try my hand at face wash. This journey started about 9 months ago and I have tried at least 5 different washes. This first one was a mixture of castile soap, olive oil and honey. This one made my face swell up all red and puffy! I think it was the castile soap, which I was surprised at since that is what my body wash was made up of. Then I tried one that had lemon juice in it, FAIL. That one burned. I also tried the oil cleansing method, which a lot of other people have had much success with. This one was probably the best out of them all up to this point but I still wasn’t 100% happy because my acne and the little bumps on my cheeks did not go away. Also, it felt like this method took FOREVER, I just want to wash and go! So about 6 weeks ago I decided to just make my own concoction. I took a few ingredients from the washes that I had tried and put them together.
Here is what I use for my face wash:
Coconut oil: It’s moisturizing and has a softening and soothing effect on the skin. It also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, which helps with acne by fighting bacteria on the skin.
Honey: Like coconut oil, honey has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It can be used to cleanse the skin as well as heal damage caused by acne and scarring. It can effectively remove dirt and oil as well as moisturize the skin!
Essential oils: There are several essential oils that can be used on the skin. Lavender is one of the most versatile oils, it reduces inflammation and aids in healing. Bergamot is another good oil that can be used to reduce oiliness and treat acne.
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How to make the face wash:
I mixed 1/4 cup of coconut oil with 2 tbsp honey and 5 drops of lavender essential oil in a bowl with a whisk, then poured it into an empty container using a funnel. To wash your face, first rinse with warm water. Shake the container a few times to make sure the ingredients are all mixed together, then put about a nickle sized amount of oil in your palm. Rub your hands together to warm up the oil, then massage into your skin in a circular motion using your finger tips.
I use this on my entire face, including my eyes to remove makeup and on my neck. After 30-45 seconds, rinse with warm water moving your fingers in a circular motion to help remove the oil. You can use a wash cloth to help with removal, it often makes it easier when you wash in the sink versus the shower. Once your face feel soft and no longer greasy you’re done.
NOTE: During warm weather the oil and honey may liquify during the day when it’s hot and then solidify at night, separated. I keep a cup in the shower, fill it with warm water and put the bottle of face wash in the water. The mix will warm up by the end of the shower making it easy to simply shake the bottle and mix the ingredients together again.
Toner & Moisturizer:
I follow this up with a toner made from 1/2 cup water and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Use just a few drops on a cotton balls all over your face and neck. The apple cider vinegar helps to balance and restore the natural PH in your skin, which will prevent breakouts. It also helps to fight bacteria growth and remove dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores. After the toner, I use a few drops of almond oil as moisturizer. It’s a nice light oil that is absorbed into my skin quickly without an overly greasy residue. You only need a few drops, rub your palms together to heat up the oil and it will thin out, then massage into your skin in a on upward circular motion.
Exfoliant:
If you want to use this wash as an exfoliant once or twice a week, you can add a little bit of large grain sugar or baking soda to it. I made a second batch of the oil mix and then added large grain sugar in equal amounts as coconut oil. I keep this in the shower and use it once a week.
I have been very happy with this skincare routine and have notice such a difference in the condition of my skin. My acne is under control, my skin feels soft and smooth and the best part is – it’s all natural. No chemicals here!
For more DIY beauty tips & tutorials, check out my Bath & Beauty page!
How long does the face wash keep?
This face wash lasts about 2 weeks for me. If you are concerned about it spoiling, you can add a few drops of vegetable glycerin or vitamin e oil – both will act as a preservative and are great for the skin! -Monika
Hi, thanks for the post! Does this face-wash remove makeup?
Yes it does! It removes all of my makeup, even mascara! Thank for stopping by, Monika
is this good for all skin types, including oily skin? thanks
Yes! I have oily skin and it works great for me. You just need to make sure that you remove all of the coconut oil from your skin when you rinse it off. I use a washcloth to make sure that I get it all. -Monika
ciao bella…I have very samilar routine, i have oily skin too – facewash – honey, coconut oil, few drops of lemon juice(really helps in oil balancing and reduces spots and blemishes); toner – acv, rosewater (makes the toner smell better); moisurizer – almond oil; it works for me in all kind of weather and territory; I grew up in india but have lived in usa, france, italy….and it works like a charm. Have u tried food grade activated charcoal as deep pore cleaning mask? It is little messy but effective. cheers!
Hi, what are the proportions for the toner? It says 1/2 water, and 1 tbsp vinegar? Is that a half cup? Thanks!
Oops! Yes, it’s 1/2 cup of water to 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Thanks for stopping by! -Monika
Hi…did you melt the coconut oil before mixing? I moisturize with plain coconut oil and it’s solid at room temperature. I’m trying to figure out how you shake up your face wash to mix it if it’s solid. Or do the other ingredients keep it from solidifying at room temperature? Thanks!
I keep a cup in the shower and fill it with warm water once I get in, then I just drop the face wash bottle into the cup. Within just a few minutes the coconut oil is liquid again and I can shake it up! Hope that helps, Monika
Wonder if using a wide screw top jar as a container would also do the trick? One would then have to mix the ingredients if solid with their fingers.
Hi Monika.
To be sure the mix of coocnut oil and honey as a face cleanser does not spoil can it be mixed in a smaller amount and would this need to be keep in th fridge?
Thanks,
Thelma
I have not needed to keep this facewash in the fridge to prevent spoiling. If you do place it in the fridge, you would have to wait for it to soften before use because the coconut oil would be very hard. If you are concerned about it spoiling you can add a few drops of vitamin e oil or vegetable glycerin, both would act as a preservative and are good for your skin. I hope that helps! -Monika
Hi Monika…Which moisturizer oil would you recommend for normal/dry antiaging skin? Thanks!
Good choices for dry skin with anti-aging benefits are argan oil or rosehip seed oil (carrier oil, not essential oil). Adding carrot seed essential oil to either also has great benefits for rejuvenating your skin! -Monika
Great post Monika! I have been using the same recipe, which I concocted myself after reading piles of stories on other sites about oil cleansing, honey wash, toners, etc…THE absolute best mixture I came up with is exactly like your facial wash.
For anyone with dry skin out there, this works wonders! I have very dry skin with patches of eczema around my eyes and this cleanser does not irritate me at all. I do also have a separate glass jar that I keep with the same mix only adding turbinado sugar for exfoliation, which I use 1-2x week. Both mixes keep for several weeks at room temperature. Neither coconut oil nor honey needs refrigeration. This works so much better than any store bought cleanser, is cheaper, and is completely natural. I am going to try using manuka honey for even more antibacterial benefits.
For toner I use rosewater/ veg glycerin/ witch hazel, with a few drops of orange essential oil. This is kept in a glass spray bottle and is so so refreshing. And I use Sweet almond oil, like you, for moisturizer. Sometimes I have to use additional moisturizer, esp in winter.
Now, for my absolute favorite recipe: yogurt mask! Take a tablespoon of greek yogurt (plain, Fage brand) mix with a tsp honey, and put on your face. I put it on pretty thick. Let it sit for 1/2 hr and then rinse. It is so refreshing, moisturizing, and exfoliating. It is so gentle, and it makes my skin just glow.
That face mask sounds great, I can’t wait to try it! -Monika
This snowy weather has made it possible for me to go on a diy beauty product binge! I’m excited to try this out! Can raw honey work?
Absolutely! I have used raw honey before with no problems. -Monika
I also have sensitive skin and never washed my face because store bought washes always irritated my skin, but it gets pretty dry in the winter. Funny that I also came up with the same concoction myself to wash my skin. I don’t always add an extract, just coconut oil and honey, but I do use a little baking soda in my everyday wash. I love it, and it does wonders for my sensitive, combination skin. I have only been doing this in the winter months so far, does it work well in the summer? I wonder if it would be too greasy when my skin no longer has the cold weather dryness.
I started using it in the summer, and since I live in Southern California the weather here is typically dry and warm. I haven’t had any issues with how the face wash works with my skin. However during the very warm days of summer, the coconut oil does melt to liquid form so I usually switch from storing it in a jar to a bottle for easy dispensing. Hope that helps! -Monika
Do you moisturize after the toner? If so what do you use?
Yes, I use almond oil as my moisturizer! -monika
Hey, is lavender oil optional?
Also… Honey cannot go bad, and oil takes a looooong period of time to get rancid especially if it’s kept in a concealed container. So I don’t see how it going bad would be a problem! (:
Yes, the lavender oil is optional. You can replace it with another essential oil, or leave them out all together. I like that added benefits they give my skin but it doesn’t change the effectiveness of the wash. -Monika
A GREAT recipe, have all the ingredients in my pantry. Going to try this weekend. THANK YOU!!!
x
Sada
Hey, Monika! Excited to try the facewash this weekend! Do you think it would be a “coconut oil overload” if I used a coconut oil/vitamin E moisturizer after the toner? Don’t have almond oil on hand. Thanks!!
I think it would be okay! I’ve used coconut oil, grapeseed oil – whatever I have on hand if I’m out of almond oil. -Monika
How do you know this product is not spoiling?
Is there some kind of reliable test you do? If not, how can you be confident?
I don’t know for sure if it’s spoiling or not, I’ve never done any testing on it. I do make the wash in small batches so that it doesn’t sit for long. I also keep it in a small squirt bottle as opposed to a jar so that I can dispense the amount I need without touching the rest. If you’re concerned, you can add vegetable glycerin or vitamin E oil to the wash, both are natural preservatives and are also beneficial to your skin. I hope that helps! -Monika
Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate it. I do feel I should mention that in clinical studies vitamin e really has only been proven to prevent oxidation of oils. It won’t preserve the rose water or prevent bacterial growth. And glycerin must be used in very high concentrations to preserve (like, around 50%).
I think I would likely just infuse my coconut oil with rose or rosehips, and omit the water if I chose to make this. Mixing oil and water gets risky, imo. But thank you again for your answer. :)
Lol. I think I may have gotten this post mixed up with another, similar, post with a similar recipe. My mistake as I don’t see rose water in the recipe now..
sorry about that.
I have been trying to look into whether oil and honey, when mixed, still have a good shelf life. It has been hard to find actual info on just those two ingredients with out water added. I am glad to hear you feel your recipe has a good shelf life. Sorry again for the mix up. I ask a lot of questions on a lot of skin care blogs.
Hi, do you still using this formula (any updated formula)? morning and evening? Hope to hear from you, I have very sensitive and acne prone skin.
Yes, I use it morning and evening. I’m still very happy with it, but I do switch up the oil I use to moisturize. Lately I’ve been using Grapeseed Oil because it’s lighter than the almond oil and seems to work better for my skin. -Monika
Honey does not spoil. Honey lasts forever unrefriderated….. my friend is a bee keeper and said that it was literally found in ancient egyptian tombs! And coconut oil doesn’t spoil for over a year.
Hello,
Could I use tea tree oil instead? My acne is having some kind of ridiculous midlife crisis and it is ruining my skin. Also, Do you do anything to prevent this from getting in your hair? I have very long hair and my stylist is encouraging me to only wash it once a week and so far I haven’t been able to get past two days with out it becoming nasty and oily. Worried that the oils from this wash is going to oil up my hair…..
thanks
I wouldn’t add tea tree oil to the wash because I would be afraid it would get in my eyes. When I get acne I use a Q-Tip to dab tea tree oil to the affected areas. As far as the wash getting in your hair, you could wear a headband when you wash your face but I honestly think it would still get in your hair. You could use a bit of cornstarch around your hair line to absorb the excess oil. I use it as a dry shampoo when I don’t have time to wash my hair. -monika
I haven’t tried adding honey to the oil! and excited to try it!! Would you think using coconut oil as moisturizer would be too much if used as a cleanser? My skin is dry atm but also breaks out easily ;)
I have tried coconut oil as a moisturizer and didn’t like it. I use grapeseed oil, it’s very light but moisturizing. -monika
Would this work using a liquid coconut oil as opposed to the solid?
I believe that it would. If it cold & my coconut oil has solidified, I put the jar in warm water to make it a liquid again. It’s easier to apply that way. -Monika
Funny Monika, I was putzing around on Pinterest looking for honey facewash stuffs and I stumble on this, my sister-in-law’s post! Wonderful, thanks!
How funny! Good to hear from you, Anna. Hope you like the face wash recipe! :)
Which brand of almond oil do you use? I am looking for an almond oil to replace my moisturiser ,please reply, thanks!!
I use the NOW brand of Almond oil. You can get it on Amazon, or most health food stores. -monika
Thanks for sharing! This is exactly what I was looking for. I already have the raw honey and I have almond oil as well (NOW brand). I am thinking about using grapeseed instead as it’s even lighter and well tolerated by most.
I’ve been using this for a little over 2 months now and wow…I would have never believed that I could wash my face with coconut oil! I’ve ALWAYS had acne, and as I got older it evolved into cystic acne (lucky me). I’ve been on Proactiv for probably the last 8 years. It did okay but I would still get cysts and my skin was horribly oily but at the same time dry and flaky. I just turned 40 and was looking for something more anti-aging that wouldn’t break me out worse. A friend of mine started washing her face with coconut oil and loved it so I hit Google to see if it would do okay with my acne and that’s when I found your site. I mixed up a batch fully expecting to throw it away after a few days. The first day I noticed that my face was less oily by lunchtime. After a few days my skin felt better and was still way less oily. Now, after two months I still get little breakouts but they go away faster, my cysts are actually decreasing in size, and my skin texture is amazing. I followed your recipe exactly with the baking soda, moisturize at night with grapeseed oil (BB Cream during the day), and treat breakouts with tea tree oil. No more expensive Proactiv for me! Thanks so much!!
That’s great news! With my sensitive acne prone skin, it was such a struggle to find an effective but gentle face wash. I’m so happy that this recipe is working for you too! -Monika
I am so excited to try this! I seem to be having issues lately with the cleanser I use (Olay “Bead me up”) and I’m wanting to go more natural with everything I can! Question though, when you remove your makeup with the cleanser, do you just wash right over it or remove some first with a makeup remover?
I use the wash to remove my makeup, the oil helps to remove it well! If there is any additional mascara left behind, I use a drop of oil and a cotton round to wipe my eye clean.
First night cleansing with your recipes… soo in love! My face is free of pain from pimples for the first time in a long time! Thank you sooo much
This sounds amazing. I’m going through basically the same thing, trying all the natural diy face washes (tried oil cleansing for about a month) and still not too happy with my skin so I can’t wait to try this out! Thanks so much.
I don’t have a vitamin e oil , can i use the pill vitamin e ?
Yes you can!
When you find the same basic recipe several places with positive results, something in it must be working. The recipe I use it from another site only difference it includes ACV in same proportion as coconut oil. I used to have dry patches and black spots on my face, until I started using this concoction a few months ago. Additional validation came, when I returned from my vacation; I was away for 2 weeks and took my face wash with me. When I returned, my 16 year old son said, “mom, I’m mad at you for taking the face wash, now my pimples are coming back.” He has become like a barometer for the skin care products I use. After years of using store bought stuff to get rid of acne without much success and encouraging him to use what I use, he finally started using it without prompting and found it to work. Now his older brother and my husband has started washing their face with it, and I’m loving the cost savings and the fact that it’s one less set of chemicals removed from my families routine.
Do you have to use the essential oils
No, you don’t have to but they do have added benefits for the skin.
Hi, have just bought the stuff for facewash, can’t wait to try it. For the toner I have apple cider vinegar to mix with water, could tea tree oil be added to this and in what quantity? Thanks
I would avoid adding tea tree oil to the recipe. It’s a strong oil, if it gets in your eyes it can be dangerous! I would recommend using tea tree as a spot treatment instead.