
This soap free Homemade Facial Cleanser is a copycat of Lush’s Angels on Bare Skin. It’s a gentle but very efficient clay cleanser that will leave your skin with a natural healthy glow!
Homemade Facial Cleanser a Lush copycat
Lush’s Angels on Bare Skin used to be my hands down all time favourite facial cleanser. It’s what they call a fresh facial cleanser. There’s no preservatives, sulphates or any other yucky stuff so you can understand I was devastated when I had used up my little tub.
Unfortunately the nearest Lush store to me is in Valencia city and hour’s drive away. I don’t get there very often. Yes I could order it online but after taking a look at the ingredients the DIY diva in me decided to have a go at making my own version. The main and most important ingredients I already had at home and I’m pretty sure you do too.
Homemade Facial Cleanser Ingredients & Health Benefits
Ground almonds or ground oats – lightly exfoliates and moisturises.
Green Sun Dried Sea Clay – The high mineral content of clay helps to detoxify the skin. Clay exfoliates the skin removing dead skin cells and debris from the pores. It stimulates blood circulation to the skin leaving skin rejuvenated with a smooth healthy glow. Each clay has the ability to absorb toxins from the skin but they differ in their level of absorption. (see my guide below)
Vegetable Glycerin – moisturises and acts as a binder
Witch Hazel or Rosewater or Aloe Vera – toner
Dried Organic Lavender Buds – light exfoliation (optional)
Essential Oils are optional and can be adjusted to suit your skin type (see my guide below)
The best clay types for oily skin
Bentonite Clay – a combination of montmorillonite and volcanic ash. Bentonite Clay is a highly absorbent clay that pulls oils and toxins from the skin.
French Green Clay – It is highly efficient at drawing oils and toxins from the skin. French Green Clay is rich in important minerals and phyto-nutrients and is the most commonly used therapeutic clay.
Moroccan Rhassoul Clay (also called Ghassoul) – a super fine ancient clay that comes from deep below the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Although Moroccan Rhassoul Clay is difficult to obtain from the deep clay beds, it has been used for centuries by the ancient people of Rome and Egypt. Rhassoul Clay is rich in minerals such as Silica, Magnesium, Iron, Calcium, Potassium and Sodium. It helps detoxify the skin while it exfoliates gently.
The best clay types for dry /sensitive Skin
Kaolin Clay (pink, white, yellow) – a gentle clay, making it suitable for sensitive skin. It helps stimulate circulation to the skin while gently exfoliating and cleansing it. Pink Kaolin Clay does not draw oils from the skin.
The best clay types for all skin types
Green clay from Sicily (sun dried sea clay) – This is the clay that I use. Sea Clay has a high content of minerals and helps to draw oils while mineralizing the skin.
The best essential oils for acne prone skin
Tea tree – antibacterial and can help relieve any type of skin inflammation, including acne, eczema and for reducing psoriasis.
The best essential oils for oily skin
Lavender – balancing
Tea Tree – antibacterial
Rose – soothing
The best essential oils for dry skin
Lavender
The best essential oils for extremely sensitive skin
Omit EO’s completely or use EO’s which you know will not irritate
How long does this Homemade Facial Cleanser last?
This recipe yields enough cleanser for one to two weeks. It’s good for 3 months even without refrigeration. I prefer to use a little spoon or scoop to remove the cleanser from the bottle especially because there aren’t any preservatives.
There are quite a few products which I love from Lush and as I run out will have a go at making them.
Do you use Lush products? Which Lush recipe would you like to see on Natural Fit Foodie next?
Homemade Facial Cleanser
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons ground almonds sub ground oats if you have a nut allergy
- 1 tablespoon clay
- 1 tablespoon glycerine
- 1 tablespoon rose water or witch hazel
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
To Use: If you’re wearing makeup, remove it gently first. I use coconut oil for this.
- Pinch off a small pea sized piece of the cleanser with DRY clean hands or a stick so as to not contaminate the mixture. Put it in the palm of your hand, add a little water and mix to a paste.
- Apply to face, massage all over the face then rinse off with warm water.
This looks great! I may have a go with some bentonite clay. It does a really good job of helping clear up breakouts on my skin. I use it as a facial mask, but never thought of using it in a cleanser like this.
That’s great Tracy! Yes if you already know bentonite clay works for you definitely go with that!
When I see lavender in a facial product I am the happiest woman in the world. I make myself a balm cleanser, but I didn’t try a clay based one. This is next on my list. Thank you for the idea.
Can you male lush rose jam body wash?
Hi Lesley, I’m not familiar with that product but generally I’m not a big fan of their body washes as they normally contain SLS which is a skin irritant and suspected carcinogen. I’m always up for a challenge though so I’ll have a look and see what I can do 😀
How long does this last?
Hello Hope. This recipe yields enough cleanser for one to two weeks. It’s good for 3 months even without refrigeration. I prefer to use a little spoon or scoop to remove the cleanser from the bottle especially because there aren’t any preservatives.
I’m excited to make this! When looking for ground almond on amazon, I’m getting flour / meal results. Is that what we’re going for? Or another product? TIA!
Hey Tonya! Almond meal / flour will do. You can also finely ground raw almonds in a food processor if you have one.
I am SO pleased to have stumbled across this recipe; I used to work at Lush a few years ago and I have been soap obsessed ever since. Now that I’m more or less on my feet and able to buy some ingredients, I’m starting to look into making ALLLL my stuff. I never thought to even re-make the Lush stuff I already loved, so i really appreciate you and this recipe- VERY excited to try it out!!
That’s awesome Duke! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Hi Krystal,
I’ve made this product this morning – I was sick and tired of my dry winter skin, and first I wanted to buy a milder cleanser, but then thought to do it myself. I got your recipe, I had everything on hand – I used finely ground oats, kaolin clay, rose water and glycerin according to your instructions. I’ve followed your instructions, and I am SUPER happy with the final results. Thanks again for a great recipe!
Yippeeeeee !!! I love it so much as well 🙂