Soap-Free Hand Wash Putty

A gentle and moisturizing hand cleansing putty

I was inspired to create this recipe by Lush's Putty for Your Hands Soap. I took a look at their listed ingredients on their website and got busy whipping up my own recipe using the same all-natural ingredients.  I really LOVE this recipe and I have switched from my regular hand soap to this super moisturizing cleanser.  My hands are always super dry in the cold months and this is such a wonderful way to wash my sensitive hands! I know you will LOVE this recipe so much!!!

this is Marshmallow Root from Mountain Rose Herbs.  

You will need 1 heaping tablespoon of ground dried Marshmallow Root from Mountain Rose Herbs. Marshmallow is a perennial herb native throughout damp areas of northern Europe and western Asia. It is now naturalized to the Atlantic coast of the United States and used as an ornamental for its pointed foliage and purple flowers.

References to marshmallow root as a healing herb are found in Homer’s Iliad, written over 2,800 years ago. Its genus name Althaea comes from the Greek altho, to cure, and its order name, Malvaceae, is derived from the Greek malake, soft Marshmallow root was widely used in traditional Greek medicine.

The use of the herb spread from Greece to Arabia and India, where it became an important herb in the Ayurvedic and Unani healing traditions.

It is used in this recipe because it is very soothing to the skin and gives it the putty-like texture. I use a coffee grinder to grind the root into a fine powder. 

If you don't want to grind it yourself, Mountain Rose Herbs does offer it already powdered. You can find it HERE.

Add the ground Marshmallow root and 1/4 cup of boiling water into a small bowl.  Mix well and allow to cool to room temperature. You will have a thick paste. 

Stir in two tablespoons of Mountain Rose Herbs Vegetable Glycerine. This pure, certified organic, soy derived vegetable glycerine (glycerin) is used in cosmetics and body care products to assist in retaining moisture and is helpful in pulling oxygen into the skin. Vegetable glycerine is a natural emollient that adds a cooling effect on the skin and has become a predominant ingredient in most skin care products and soaps. You can purchase it HERE. 

Measure out 1/4 cup of corn flour and 3 tablespoons of corn starch. 

You will also need 1 tablespoon of ground oat flour.  

Stir the corn flour, corn starch, and oat flour into the liquid mixture until a smooth and thick paste forms.  Set aside. 

Measure out 2 tablespoons of Mountain Rose Herbs Shea butter into a small heat-safe glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup into a simmering water bath and melt the Shea butter.  

Add in the following Mountain Rose Herbs Essential oils to the melted Shea butter: 30 drops tea tree essential oil, 30 drops lavender essential oil, and 15 drops blue chamomile. Stir well. 

Pour the essential oils and Shea butter over the mixture and stir well to combine. 

I placed the putty into small round silicone baking molds and allowed them to set up.  Once the Shea butter cools, it will firm up and you can push the discs out of the mold. 

My recipe does not include any preservatives so I put a day's worth into a small metal tin and I freeze the rest.  It chills to the consistency of ice cream and is easy to scoop out a little bit each day.  I take a heaping teaspoon sized amount and rub it gently over my dry hands for about ten seconds.  I then add a little bit of warm water and continue to massage the wash putty over my hands and then rinse away and gently pat dry.  Your hands will be so soft by from the Shea butter and the other ingredients work to purify your hands. 

This information is for educational purposes only, it is not intended to treat, cure, prevent or, diagnose any disease or condition. Nor is it intended to prescribe in any way. This information is for educational purposes only and may not be complete, nor may its data be accurate. As with all herbs, do not take internally unless working with a qualified and expert practitioner. Keep away from children.  I am an affiliate with Mountain Rose Herbs, please review my disclosure page for details. Shannon Buck and Fresh-Picked Beauty strongly recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented on this website and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming any type product. Anything you find on this website still needs more research to establish the potential effectiveness and safety of any ingredient and/or suggestion.  Before you consider using anything you find on this website, you need to consult with a medical professional to help you weigh the pros and cons of using natural ingredients.  You also need to review all the available safety data for each ingredient before you use it.  Herbs and natural ingredients have been used successfully for many years, but as a precaution, I suggest that you consult a naturopathic doctor, licensed herbalist, or holistic health practitioner who is qualified to guide you in the safe use of herbs and natural ingredients. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am not  Affiliated with Lush  in any way nor do I know their actual recipe for any of their products, I am simply using a list of ingredients and creating my own version.