Rational Body Gentle Wash Collection
A pH-balanced liquid wash system designed for the whole family.
Most soap bars — even natural ones — have a pH of 9–10, which disrupts the skin's natural acid mantle and can trigger dryness, irritation, and bacterial imbalance. This liquid wash system was built differently.
Formulated around coco and decyl glucoside — two of the gentlest surfactants available — and pH-adjusted to 5.3–5.6 to match the skin's natural range, this is a wash that cleans without compromising the barrier it's meant to protect.
A note on tallow soap bars:
Tallow soap has a long and legitimate history — and for good reason. Its fatty acid profile closely mirrors the skin's own sebum, making it genuinely nourishing and well tolerated by many people, including those with sensitive skin. The high superfat in a well-made tallow bar means unreacted oils coat the skin after rinsing, which is why it feels so soft and conditioning despite its high pH.
The limitation is chemistry, not quality. All true soap — regardless of how beautifully it's made or what oils go into it — saponifies at a pH of 9–10. The skin's natural acid mantle sits at 4.5–5.5. For most people on most body skin, that gap is manageable. For acne-prone skin, post-swim skin, or skin that's already compromised, the repeated pH disruption can contribute to bacterial imbalance and irritation — not because the soap is bad, but because the chemistry isn't ideal for those specific conditions.
Think of it this way: tallow bars are deeply nourishing. This liquid wash is pH-precise. They serve different purposes and both have a place in a thoughtful routine.
The liquid wash formula comes in two versions that share nearly identical bases. The Kids Wash doubles as a post-swim formula, for hair AND body- with sodium citrate and vitamin C working together to neutralize chlorine and hard water minerals, while matcha powder adds antioxidant support safe for young skin. The low pH gives it that “tear-free” quality that does not sting the eyes like normal soap does.
The Adult Wash keeps the same gentle foundation but adds higher niacinamide for oil regulation and green tea extract for antibacterial support — targeted at acne-prone and sensitive skin without any film-forming ingredients that could contribute to congestion.
Both washes pair naturally with the Post-Swim Detangling Spray — a leave-on conditioning spray that builds on our existing curl formula with the addition of hydrolyzed wheat protein to fill chlorine-damaged cuticle gaps and restore curl pattern. The system works as a complete pool-to-home routine: wash hair and body with the gentle rinse, step out, spray and scrunch the detangler into damp curls, and go.
Same philosophy as everything we make — purposeful ingredients, nothing extra, formulated for real life with kids.
Most ingredients are doing double or triple duty — panthenol for example repairs skin barrier, helps hair, and addresses chlorine damage all at once. That's good formulating — no ingredient is just sitting there.
Recipe Notes:
For the detangler the BTMS-50 must be fully melted and combined at the same temperature as your water phase before adding actives — this is the most critical step for a stable emulsion that won't separate in the bottle.
The pH targets are intentionally different
5.3–5.6 for both washes to protect the acid mantle
4.8–5.2 for the detangler to actively close the hair cuticle.
Don't accidentally use the same target across all three.
This is really well articulated and accurate. Here's a polished version:
Pairing This Wash With a Natural Blackhead Prevention Routine
Blackheads are not a hygiene problem — they are a structural one. When sebum and dead skin cells accumulate in a pore and oxidize, they darken. The goal is not just to remove them but to reduce the conditions that create them in the first place.
Trying to remove them at home causes pores to increase in size with repeated effort, and can risk scarring. Managing with professionals is expensive and not treating the root cause of its buildup- just removing it.
This wash supports that goal by maintaining the skin's acid mantle and regulating oil production through niacinamide — but the wash alone is not the whole answer. It works best as part of a complete natural routine.
The routine:
A kaolin or bentonite clay mask used up to twice weekly draws out sebum and congestion from pores — physically addressing the buildup that becomes blackheads before it has a chance to oxidize.
On alternating days, a raw manuka honey mask for up to 30 minutes does double duty: its natural enzymes gently dissolve dead skin cells while its antibacterial properties address the bacterial environment that makes breakouts worse.
Between mask days, tallow — ideally blended with jojoba and squalane — protects, heals, and deeply hydrates without clogging pores. Tallow's biomimetic fatty acids mirror the skin's own sebum, supporting barrier repair from the inside out rather than just coating the surface.
Retinols are often recommended, but they require strict adherence. It is said they help heal skin more deeply long term, but I have also heard it has to damage top skin cells first, and takes a warming up period to start, and gets worse once you stop taking it. It also makes you very sensitive to sun damage. I prefer not to be required to use something.
The deeper fix:
No topical routine fully compensates for what happens internally. Cortisol — the stress hormone — directly increases oil production. Poor sleep and dehydration both spike cortisol. Consistently better sleep and higher daily water intake are arguably the most impactful things you can do for chronically congested skin, and no product replaces them.
For bacterial breakouts specifically:
Blue light therapy at 415nm directly kills P. acnes bacteria responsible for inflammatory breakouts. When excited by blue light those porphyrins in that bacteria generate reactive oxygen species that destroy the bacterial cell from within. It's essentially the bacteria's own chemistry turned against it. A single 25-minute session at adequate fluence kills a significant percentage of active bacteria, and the anti-inflammatory effect on keratinocytes continues for days after. The recommended use for best results is max every 2 days.
When used periodically — ideally once monthly in a well-rested, well-hydrated state — it provides a meaningful bacterial knockdown that supports everything else in the routine. Note: those with a history of cold sores should use blue light therapy with caution, as light exposure can trigger HSV-1 reactivation. Limiting sessions to once monthly rather than every other day (as some suggest) significantly reduces this risk.
With light therapy, I’ve noticed my skin feels incredibly soft after a 25 minute session.i use the celuma light which is a combo of blue/red/infrared on skin. I’ve noticed my skin feels incredibly soft after a 25 minute session. The pores are not reducing in size (that is more structural), but it does reduce the inflammation and sebum congestion that makes pores appear larger. Reducing bacterial load and inflammation allows the surrounding tissue to relax, so pores appear smaller without actually changing their physical diameter. Red and infrared light contribute further by stimulating collagen production around pore walls over time, which provides structural support that makes them appear tighter.
The infrared and red light components are doing most of the softening work. Infrared penetrates deepest — it stimulates mitochondrial activity in skin cells, boosting ATP production which triggers increased collagen and elastin synthesis. Red light works similarly at a slightly shallower depth. Both wavelengths increase local circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the tissue. The result is an almost immediate improvement in skin tone, plumpness and texture that you feel as softness. It's real structural and metabolic change happening at the cellular level, not surface conditioning.
Everything we've built works with your skin and hair's own biology rather than overriding it or creating dependency:
Liquid wash formulas maintain the acid mantle your skin already tries to maintain on its own. They're not doing something artificial — they're just not getting in the way the way high-pH soap does. Over time skin that isn't repeatedly disrupted becomes more resilient on its own.
Tallow Soap Bars: Among all bar soap options, well-made tallow soap is genuinely one of the best for long term skin health. Tallow closely mirrors human sebum that skin recognizes it and responds accordingly. Over years of use, skin becomes more resilient, better moisturized, and less reactive — not more dependent. Compare that to most commercial bar soaps which are detergent-based, loaded with synthetic fragrance, and strip the acid mantle with every wash. Long term use of those contributes to chronic barrier disruption, sensitivity, and paradoxically more oil production as skin compensates.
What you don't want long term is olive oil heavy bars — too oleic for acne-prone skin — or coconut oil heavy bars above 30% which become stripping over time despite their initial lather appeal.
Tallow soap made properly and kept dry between uses lasts 1–2 years easily. But it's fundamentally different from a commercial bar loaded with synthetic preservatives engineered for 3–5 year retail shelf life. Tallow is closer to food than to a manufactured cosmetic — it comes from an animal, it nourishes like food, and yes, it will eventually go the way of all natural things. The industrial cosmetic model treats shelf life as the primary engineering goal. Everything else — skin compatibility, ingredient quality, biological appropriateness — becomes secondary to whether it survives two years in a warehouse. Tallow inverts that priority. You make it fresh, you use it, your skin benefits from it being alive and real. The fact that it goes bad is proof that it was real in the first place.
Tallow with jojoba and squalane replenishes lipids your skin already produces. As you age squalane production drops naturally — you're supplementing what was already there, not introducing something foreign. Stop using it and your skin returns to its baseline, no crash.
Hemp seed oil — highly beneficial for acne-prone skin specifically but least stable, use fresh and refrigerate
you have two options for applicatiom:
Option 1 — Mix in hands (easiest): Scoop a pea-size amount of tallow into your palm, add 1–2 drops of hemp seed oil, warm and blend between both palms for a few seconds, apply to face while still slightly damp after cleansing. The warmth emulsifies them slightly and they spread evenly together.
Option 2 — Small pre-blended batch: Mix roughly 80% tallow to 20% hemp seed oil in a small jar, store in the fridge alongside your hemp seed oil. Grab from that jar daily. Convenient but use within 4–6 weeks while hemp seed is still fresh.
For your back and shoulders: Apply after your adult body wash while skin is still damp.
Storage reminder: Hemp seed oil goes rancid faster than almost any oil you'll work with — refrigerate from the day you open it, and smell it periodically. Fresh hemp seed has a mild slightly nutty green smell. Rancid hemp seed smells distinctly off and almost fishy. Rancid oil is pro-inflammatory so if it smells wrong discard it — it would be counterproductive on acne-prone skin specifically.
Frequency: Daily on your face after cleansing is fine. The linoleic acid benefit builds gradually over several weeks of consistent use, so daily application is where you'll see the sebum-balancing effect over time.
Once opened and refrigerated: 3–6 months before rancidity risk increases significantly. Some bottles last closer to 6 months refrigerated,
Calendula infused oil — deeply healing, anti-inflammatory, particularly good for damaged or stressed skin
Anhydrous formulas like tallow balm need no preservation because bacteria require water to grow. This is one of tallow's great practical advantages over commercial lotions which are water-heavy and require aggressive preservation to be shelf stable. Commercial lotions are predominantly water — often 70–80%. The actual skin-beneficial ingredients are often present at 1–5%. You're paying mostly for water, preservatives, and packaging. My tallow balm is essentially 100% skin-beneficial ingredients.
Clay and manuka honey are mechanical and enzymatic — they assist processes your skin does naturally (shedding dead cells, managing bacteria) just more efficiently than skin can manage alone when congested. No dependency, no rebound.
Niacinamide trains oil glands to regulate better over time — unlike some actives that create a crutch, consistent niacinamide use actually improves the underlying sebum regulation mechanism itself.
Blue light therapy periodically resets bacterial load and stimulates collagen production. Collagen built is collagen kept — the structural improvement persists long after treatment. You're not suppressing a symptom, you're building actual tissue.
Better sleep and hydration are the foundation everything else rests on — they strengthen your immune system, regulate cortisol, and support every cellular repair process simultaneously. No product replaces them and nothing creates dependency on them.
The detangler and conditioner bar seal and fill the hair cuticle after chlorine damage — supporting the hair shaft's own structure rather than coating it with silicones that mask damage while preventing real recovery.
The through line across all of it is the same philosophy we apply to everything else — support the body's own intelligence rather than overriding it. No single product is load-bearing. If you stopped any one thing your skin and hair wouldn't fall apart — they'd just lose a supporting tool.
That's genuinely rare in skincare. Most product systems are built on dependency by design. This isn't.
Ingredient Guide
Why each ingredient is in your formulas and what it does
🌿 Core Ingredients — Both Formulas
Distilled Water
Pure water free of minerals and contaminants. Used as the base. Tap water introduces minerals that interact unpredictably with ingredients and feed microbial growth — distilled is essential in any preserved formula.
Aloe Vera Juice
Soothing, anti-inflammatory, and mildly hydrating. Particularly good for irritated or sensitive skin post-swim or post-sun. Supports skin barrier without clogging pores. Safe and beneficial for all ages.
Sodium Citrate
A chelating agent — it binds to hard water minerals (calcium, magnesium) and chlorine byproducts that would otherwise sit on skin and hair after rinsing. Danville has hard water, so this is doing real work every wash. Also helps stabilize the formula's pH.
Betaine
A natural humectant derived from sugar beet. Adds slip and a silky skin feel during cleansing. Helps skin retain moisture and reduces the stripping sensation some surfactants can cause. Gentle enough for all ages, non-comedogenic, no downsides.
Glycerin
A classic humectant that draws moisture into the skin. Works alongside betaine to keep the wash feeling conditioning rather than stripping. Very safe, well tolerated by all skin types including babies.
Xanthan Gum
A natural thickener that gives the formula body so it doesn't run straight off skin in the shower. No skin benefit on its own — purely functional for texture and usability.
Colloidal Oatmeal
Finely milled oats that have genuine anti-inflammatory and skin barrier supporting properties. Particularly good for sensitive, irritated, or eczema-prone skin. Also mildly soothing post-chlorine. Swap for oat extract at 3–5% when your powder runs out for a cleaner texture.
Coco Glucoside + Decyl Glucoside
Your surfactant pair — these are what actually cleanse. Both are derived from coconut and sugar, among the gentlest surfactants available, and importantly they are pH-adjustable unlike traditional soap. Using both together gives you a more complete cleansing profile than either alone. Non-irritating, non-stripping, safe for all ages.
Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5)
Penetrates skin and hair shaft and converts to pantothenic acid, which supports cell regeneration and moisture retention. Particularly valuable post-chlorine as chlorine strips moisture from both skin and hair. Helps repair the hair cuticle and keeps skin feeling soft after washing. Safe for all ages.
Geogard ECT
Your preservative. Any water-based formula needs preservation to prevent mold and bacterial growth. Geogard ECT is ECOCERT certified, broad spectrum, and one of the cleaner preservation options available. Non-negotiable in any leave-on or rinse-off water-based product.
Citric Acid Solution
Used purely for pH adjustment. Added drop by drop at the end to bring formula to your target pH. Not a functional ingredient beyond pH control.
🌸 Adult Wash — Additional Ingredients
Niacinamide (2.5% vs 1.5% in kids)
Vitamin B3. One of the most well-researched ingredients for acne-prone skin. Regulates sebum production, reduces inflammation, strengthens the skin barrier, and gradually fades post-breakout dark spots. At 2.5% it is meaningfully more active for oil regulation than the 1.5% in the kids formula. Safe for all ages but higher concentration is specifically targeted at your adult skin concerns. In the kids formula at 1.5% it supports barrier function without being targeted at acne.
Green Tea Extract (adult only)
Contains high concentrations of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) — a potent antioxidant and antimicrobial compound. Directly inhibits P. acnes bacterial growth, reduces inflammation, and protects skin from oxidative stress. Specifically beneficial for bacterial breakouts on your face, cheeks, chin and back. Not in the kids formula because the Mountain Rose Herbs extract contains alcohol, which is not appropriate for young children's skin.
No Polyquaternium-10 (removed for you)
Polyquaternium-10 is a film-forming conditioning agent — excellent for hair detangling and left in the kids formula for that reason. For acne-prone skin however any film-former has potential to contribute to congestion over time by creating a subtle barrier that can trap sebum. Removed from your formula as a precaution given your sensitivity history.
Sodium Ascorbate (0.5%)
Vitamin C in its stable salt form. Neutralizes chlorine through direct chemical reaction — even brief contact during washing makes a difference. Also an antioxidant that protects skin from oxidative damage. Slightly lower percentage in your adult formula than the kids swim formula since you're not necessarily in chlorinated water daily, but still beneficial for Danville's hard water and general antioxidant support.
🧒 Kids Formula — Why Some Adult Ingredients Are Included
Niacinamide at 1.5%
While primarily targeted at acne in adults, niacinamide at lower concentrations supports the skin barrier for all ages. Post-chlorine skin barrier disruption is real even in kids — niacinamide helps repair and strengthen it. Safe for toddlers and above at this percentage.
Betaine
Natural, gentle, no known concerns for any age. The slip and moisture benefit applies to kids skin just as much as adults. No reason to leave it out.
Sodium Ascorbate at 0.8%
Higher in the kids swim formula specifically because chlorine neutralization is the primary purpose here. Kids in the pool absorb more chlorine relative to their body surface area, and their skin barrier is still developing and more vulnerable to disruption. The higher percentage makes meaningful difference post-swim.
Matcha Powder (kids only)
Used instead of green tea extract because the MRH extract contains alcohol. Matcha provides the same antioxidant and mild antimicrobial benefit from green tea in an alcohol-free form safe for children. At 0.1% it contributes antioxidant support without being a primary active ingredient.
Polyquaternium-10 (kids only)
Kept in the kids formula specifically for hair — it helps with detangling and reduces post-swim tangles, particularly valuable for curly hair. Not a concern for kids skin in a rinse-off formula at 0.2%.
Quick Reference — What Each Ingredient Targets
Rational Body — Complete Formula & Instructions
Kids Wash | Adult Face/Body Wash | Detangler Spray
🧒 Kids Wash (Summer Swim Formula)
500g batch | Hair + body for kids | Safe for adults too | pH 5.3–5.6
Ingredients
Ingredient Grams % Distilled Water 224g 44.8% Aloe Vera Juice 100g 20% Sodium Citrate 6g 1.2% Betaine 10g 2% Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C) 4g 0.8% Glycerin 15g 3% Xanthan Gum 2g 0.4% Colloidal Oatmeal 10g 2% Coco Glucoside 50g 10% Decyl Glucoside 40g 8% Polyquaternium-10 1g 0.2% Panthenol 5g 1% Niacinamide 7.5g 1.5% Matcha Powder 0.5g 0.1% Geogard ECT 4.5g 0.9% Citric Acid Solution to pH — Total ~500g 100%
To adjust to non-swim use: it is pretty simple, just adust the following that were specifically there for chlorine:
Sodium ascorbate — chlorine neutralizer, not needed daily
Sodium citrate at 1.2% — slightly higher than needed just for hard water, could drop to 0.8%
Since sodium ascorbate and sodium citrate at those levels are completely harmless for daily use, you could honestly just make one kids formula and use it for both swim and non-swim days. The chlorine-specific ingredients don't cause any issues on non-swim days — they're just unnecessary rather than harmful. Simplifies your life considerably with little kids to just have it.
Instructions
Equipment needed: Digital scale, two beakers or heat-safe containers, stick blender or whisk, pH strips or meter, spray or pump bottle
Step 1 — Water phase: Weigh distilled water into your main beaker. Add sodium citrate and stir until fully dissolved. Add betaine and sodium ascorbate and stir until dissolved. Add aloe vera juice and stir to combine.
Step 2 — Thickener: Sprinkle xanthan gum slowly into the water phase while stirring constantly to avoid clumping. Stir vigorously until fully hydrated and no lumps remain. Let sit 5 minutes then stir again. Formula will thicken slightly.
Step 3 — Oatmeal: Add colloidal oatmeal and stir until evenly dispersed. It will make formula slightly cloudy — this is normal.
Step 4 — Surfactants: Add coco glucoside and decyl glucoside. Stir gently — avoid whipping air into the formula. Stir until fully incorporated and uniform.
Step 5 — Actives: Add in this order, stirring between each:
Glycerin
Polyquaternium-10 (dissolve in small amount of warm water first if clumping)
Panthenol
Niacinamide
Matcha powder
Stir until fully uniform.
Step 6 — Preservative: Add Geogard ECT and stir thoroughly to distribute evenly.
Step 7 — pH adjustment: Test pH with strips or meter. Add citric acid solution drop by drop, stirring between additions, until pH reads 5.3–5.6. This may take several additions — go slowly.
Step 8 — Final check: Stir one final time. Check consistency and pH. Bottle and label with date and formula name.
Usage: Lather on hair and body, leave 30–60 seconds especially post-swim, rinse thoroughly. Shake before each use as oatmeal may settle.
Shelf life: 4–6 months. Store away from direct sunlight.
🌿 Adult Face & Body Wash
500g batch | Victoria's face, back, shoulders | pH 5.3–5.6
Ingredients
Ingredient Grams % Distilled Water 196g 39.2% Aloe Vera Juice 100g 20% Sodium Citrate 6g 1.2% Betaine 10g 2% Sodium Ascorbate 2.5g 0.5% Green Tea Extract (MRH) 10g 2% Glycerin 15g 3% Xanthan Gum 2g 0.4% Colloidal Oatmeal 10g 2% Coco Glucoside 50g 10% Decyl Glucoside 40g 8% Panthenol 5g 1% Niacinamide 12.5g 2.5% Geogard ECT 4.5g 0.9% Citric Acid Solution to pH — Total ~500g 100%
No polyquaternium-10 — removed for acne-prone skin No matcha — replaced with green tea extract for stronger adult antibacterial benefit
Instructions
Equipment needed: Same as kids wash
Step 1 — Water phase: Weigh distilled water into main beaker. Add sodium citrate, betaine, and sodium ascorbate. Stir until fully dissolved. Add aloe vera juice and stir to combine.
Step 2 — Green tea extract: Add green tea extract and stir to incorporate. Formula may tint very slightly — normal.
Step 3 — Thickener: Sprinkle xanthan gum slowly while stirring constantly. Stir vigorously until fully hydrated. Let sit 5 minutes then stir again.
Step 4 — Oatmeal: Add colloidal oatmeal and stir until evenly dispersed.
Step 5 — Surfactants: Add coco glucoside then decyl glucoside. Stir gently to avoid foaming. Mix until fully uniform.
Step 6 — Actives: Add in this order, stirring between each:
Glycerin
Panthenol
Niacinamide (stir well — ensure fully dissolved)
Step 7 — Preservative: Add Geogard ECT and stir thoroughly.
Step 8 — pH adjustment: Test pH. Add citric acid solution slowly until pH reads 5.3–5.6. Stir between each addition.
Step 9 — Final check: Stir, check pH and consistency, bottle and label.
Usage:
Face: Use morning and/or evening, normal cleanse time, follow immediately with tallow and hemp seed oil on slightly damp skin
Back/shoulders: Lather, leave 30–60 seconds, rinse
Shelf life: 4–6 months. Store away from direct sunlight.
💦 Post-Swim Detangler Spray
250g batch | Leave-on | Curly hair ages 5+ | pH 4.8–5.2
Ingredients
Ingredient Grams % Distilled Water 191.5g 76.6% Aloe Vera Juice 25g 10% BTMS-50 1.25g 0.5% Argan Oil 3.75g 1.5% Fractionated Coconut Oil 1.25g 0.5% Glycerin 3.75g 1.5% Panthenol 5g 2% Silk Amino Acids 1.25g 0.5% Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein 2.5g 1% Polyquaternium-10 0.75g 0.3% Geogard ECT 2.5g 1% Citric Acid Solution to pH — Total ~250g 100%
Instructions
Equipment needed: Digital scale, two heat-safe beakers, small whisk or stick blender, thermometer, pH strips or meter, fine mist spray bottle
Step 1 — Heat water phase: Weigh distilled water and aloe vera juice into main beaker. Heat gently to 160–170°F.
Step 2 — Melt oil phase: In a separate small beaker weigh BTMS-50, argan oil, and fractionated coconut oil. Heat to 160–170°F until BTMS-50 is fully melted and mixture is clear.
Step 3 — Combine: Pour oil phase slowly into water phase while mixing continuously. The BTMS-50 will emulsify the oils into the water. Mix with stick blender for 30–60 seconds until fully emulsified and uniform. No separation should remain.
Step 4 — Cool down: Allow mixture to cool to approximately 104°F (40°C) stirring occasionally. Do not add actives while too hot or you will degrade them.
Step 5 — Add actives (cool down phase): Once at 104°F or below add in this order stirring between each:
Glycerin
Panthenol
Silk amino acids
Hydrolyzed wheat protein
Polyquaternium-10
Stir gently until each is fully incorporated.
Step 6 — Preservative: Add Geogard ECT and stir thoroughly.
Step 7 — pH adjustment: Test pH. Add citric acid solution slowly until pH reads 4.8–5.2. This acidic pH is intentional — it closes the hair cuticle that chlorine lifts open and enhances conditioning effect.
Step 8 — Bottle: Pour into fine mist spray bottle while still slightly warm and fluid. It will thicken slightly as it cools completely.
Usage: After washing hair at pool, spray generously onto damp hair. Scrunch into curls. Do not rinse. Style as usual. Can also be used as a daily curl refresher spray on dry or damp hair between washes.
Shelf life: 4–6 months. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight.
