Don't have a certain surfactant?
I've made a table detailing all the different surfactants I work with so you can compare their attributes and choose one that works for you!
Why do you no longer recommend high pH cleansers?
Eucalyptus Mint Cleansing Oil
This silky smooth Eucalyptus Mint Cleansing Oil is really quite lovely; freshly herbal and minty, with a touch of a cooling tingle that definitely helps perk one up first thing in the morning. I tried a new solubilizer and I really like it—the cleansing oil rinses off...
Ginger Oak Moss Solid Facial Cleanser
This Ginger Oak Moss Solid Facial Cleanser is the sister to my Ginger Oak Moss Cleansing Balm Stick; the two accompanied me all around New Zealand last December, and did brilliantly. The inspiration for this came from a product I stumbled across while perusing...
Ginger Oak Moss Cleansing Balm Stick
I love this fragrant, creamy stick of cleansing goodness. I took the first version with my to New Zealand, where I spent much of my time on the road, camping somewhere new each night, and this stick was brilliant. I was so happy to have something I could use quickly...
Forest Cleansing Balm
I'm happy to report that Danny has been loving the Forest Facial Cleanser I made him (I'm loving it, too!), so I thought I'd extend the collection. And guys—this is the best cleansing balm I've ever made. It has the most amazing creamy consistency, beautiful rinse...
Coconut Clay Facial Cleanser
Last year, the first thing I ever made with Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) was a Gentle Foaming Clay Scrub that I really, really liked—I polished it off in a matter of weeks! For some reason or another I got to thinking about it again, and then I got to missing it,...
Forest Facial Cleanser
I dreamt up this cleanser for my friend and super-awesome yoga instructor Danny. He's pretty much the sole reason I've been able to start running again, so when he mentioned he'd be interested in trying some of the things I make, I was on it (I definitely prefer to...
Gentle Calendula Cleansing Oil
Something about the string of hot summer days we've been having has been making me think about herbs. It's probably all the lush, overflowing gardens Lottie and I walk past on our walks, and the way the now-golden prairie grass ripples in the wind. It could also be...
Lime in the Coconut Facial Cleansing Oil
When was the last time you listened to the entirety of the Lime in the Coconut song? Technically it's "Coconut" by Harry Nilsson, first released in 1971, but to me it's just "the Lime in the Coconut" song. The song is definitely a bit ridiculous and the music video is...
Green Tea and Roses Facial Cleanser
My green tea kick continues with this Green Tea and Roses Facial Cleanser, which pairs beautifully with my Green Tea Cleansing Oil and Green Tea Face Cream. This rose scented cleanser has a beautiful, creamy, low lather that won't leave your skin feeling dry or...
Green Tea Cleansing Oil
I might as well own up to it and declare my solemn love for cleansing oils. We have moved past the crush stage and into a stable, long-term relationship. I love how gentle (yet effective!) they are—they leave my skin feeling delightfully clean without feeling hardcore...
Cleansing Mud Mousse
Have you ever stumbled across a for-sale skin care project that was so simple, yet so expensive, that it made you downright mad? That was my initial reaction to the product that inspired this DIY. $70 for mostly clay, some salt, some inexpensive herbs, and some spices...
Mint Julep Cleansing Oil
This creamy Mint Julep Cleansing Oil came about as a bit of an accident. I had "Julep oil cleanser" on my to-do list as a recipe request, and without referring back to the original request, I got all excited about an oil cleanser that smelled like a mint julep....
Grapefruit Deep Cleansing Oil
I've lost track of the number of requests for a cleansing oil I've received over the last little while. Danielle, Christine, and Shelley all sent some in, and then there's been a bunch in the comments on various posts and videos, so I figured I should pull this one...
Gentle Chamomile Facial Cleanser
I have fallen hard and fast for this Gentle Aloe Facial Cleanser. So much so that I made a video of it because I was using it up so rapidly that I needed more, so I figured I might as well film the making of batch #2. If you make anywhere close to as many things as I...
White Willow Micellar Water
I've been playing around with my skincare routine lately, and one of the things I'm toying with is the notion of gentler cleaners. I've been using African Black Soap a lot for the last three months (or so), and that was working brilliantly for a few months, but now...
Fizzy Foaming Face Scrub
Today's rather fun Fizzy Foaming Face Scrub comes from a recipe request Kaylee sent in. She'd found a facial scrub that fizzed up like a bath bomb when it got wet, as well as lathered up into a lovely foaming scrub that left your skin feeling wonderfully clean and...
Morning Glory Foaming Facial Cleanser
Getting out of bed at this time of year is hard. I have an amazing electric bed warmer (seriously, if you live somewhere cold, getting one is a must) that I use to pre-heat my bed before climbing between the sheets each night, and I run it on low all night so I'm...
Orange Wax Cleansing Balm
I have to admit I'm pretty taken with orange wax these days. Its name is a bit deceiving—it isn't waxy in the slightest. In fact, it feels a lot like water on the skin despite being oil soluble. Orange wax is the wax pressed from orange peels, and it smells utterly...
Cranberry Clay Facial Scrub
As the days get drier, I am loving this soft, silky cranberry clay facial scrub that's lightly studded with wee bits of bashed-up cranberry seeds for a touch of exfoliation. It has a low, creamy lather that leaves your skin glowing, gently buffing away any dead, dry...
Brown Rice Cleansing Grains
After I shared my RODIN inspired Luxury Facial Serum back in June, I took a look at the rest of their product line, and their cleansing powder caught my eye. Their marketing brags about rice bran and "asea algae" (carrageenan), but the reviews mentioned lather, so...
Meadowfoam Mango Creamy Facial Cleanser
Today's recipe is born from a request from Kimann, who loves a cleanser from a British skincare brand called Pai. I did some poking around, and it looks like a lovely brand that uses some great ingredients—but the price points! $50USD for 100mL/3.3fl oz of facial...
Twilight Foaming Clay Scrub
This Twilight Foaming Clay Scrub looks a bit dark, and it gets darker when it gets wet... so dark that you might be wondering how it could actually make your face cleaner. So dark that you're probably thinking you should hide your white towels (you aren't wrong...
Creamy Lavender Cardamom Cleansing Lotion
I am loving this gentle (yet super effective) creamy lavender cardamom cleansing lotion these days. It got its first hardcore test late one night (ok, early one morning) when I returned from a sparkle themed party with a good half of my face completely coated in neon...
Creamy Clay Cleansing Balm
This rich, gentle creamy clay cleansing balm is a hybrid between a cleansing balm and a clay bar. It pairs the cleansing powers of emulsifying wax and clay with nourishing oils to leave your skin gently cleansed and lightly hydrated. It also smells a bit like a...
