Soapwort Root - A Natural Cleanser
This article contains affiliate links from my favorite brand Mountain Rose Herbs. I love their high quality organic/fair trade products, and am blown away by their commitment to zero waste.
My most recent Mountain Rose Herbs purchase included a bunch of herbs that I wanted to get acquainted with for medicinal and beauty purposes. One of those herbs was soapwort root. I was very interested in this herb because of its gentle cleansing abilities. Soapwort root has a very high concentration of saponins which gives a slightly sudsy gentle cleanse that can be used as an all purpose beauty wash. Soapwort is also called Bouncing Bet, Latherswort, Fuller's Herb, Crow Soap, and Sweet Betty.
There are many different ways to create a soapwort root cleanser and various recipes online. I believe that the best way to get as much saponins from the soapwort root is to soak it overnight. This simple recipe is one to love.
What you will need…
Distilled water
Essential oils (optional)
Simply steep 4-6 tablespoons of dried soapwort root in 2 cups of distilled boiling water overnight. Let it cool completely and strain the liquid in a clean container preferably with a pump. Finally add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Lavender essential oil is perfect to compliment all skin and hair types. I suggest adding a natural preservative such as rosemary extract or grapefruit seed extract. Neither of these are full spectrum preservatives but they will help extend the life of the product, yet still must be refrigerated. This DIY hair cleanser will last for well over a week.
Soapwort root cleanser is good for all skin and hair types and will leave both feeling very soft and refreshed. Although this gentle cleanser does not provide abundant suds like soap, you will see small suds. What is so great about this cleanser is that it is pH balanced for both skin and hair.
I was surprised that soapwort root cleanser will remove light makeup very well. I only use natural chemical-free makeup unless I have to wear other makeup for a job. I still remove my eye makeup with a light oil, and this cleanser will remove the rest. I also really like mixing it with rhassoul clay for an exfoliating face wash.
When I tried soapwort root as a shampoo, I found that it was most effective if I had been light on applying leave-in products to my hair. Otherwise rhassoul clay was better if I was heavy handed with products. For those who are light on the leave-in hair products this may be the perfect natural shampoo for you.
I've enjoyed having another DIY cleanser option that is easy to make and reformulate with different herbs and essential oils. There are endless options for this one cleansing herb and very easy to personalize for your own specific needs. This cleanser is gentle enough for daily use yet do a patch test to ensure you have no sensitivities. (General Note: Please research new herbs to ensure there is no conflict with pregnancy or medical conditions before using.)
Soapwort root cleanser is another great option for simple green beauty from head to toe.
Image by Mountain Rose Herbs