After-Class Back Rinse
A soft shower paste for a back you cannot easily reach: colloidal oatmeal makes it slip, honey holds it together, and a teaspoon of kaolin clay stops it sliding straight off.
You will need
- 2 tbsp colloidal oatmeal
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp kaolin clay
The ritual
- Mix the oatmeal, honey and kaolin with warm water into a loose paste.
- Take it into the shower in a lidded pot so it does not spill.
- Wet your back, then spread the paste on with a long-handled brush.
- Leave it five minutes while you wash everything else.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, checking along the bra line and shoulders.
Why these ingredients
- 2 tbsp colloidal oatmeal
- Finely ground oats turn water silky and make the paste glide, so you are not scrubbing at skin you cannot see.
- 1 tbsp honey
- Honey binds the powders into a paste that stays put on wet skin and rinses away without leaving residue.
- 1 tsp kaolin clay
- A little clay thickens the mixture and gives it enough body to cling while you wash everything else.
Easy swaps
- 2 tbsp colloidal oatmeal → rice flour, blended fine, for a similar silky slip.
- 1 tbsp honey → maple syrup or agave, if you would rather skip bee products.
- 1 tsp kaolin clay → cornflour, which thickens well though it feels less smooth.
Keep it clean
Mix with freshly washed hands and clean, dry bowls and spoons. If a recipe is stored, use a jar or bottle washed in hot soapy water and dried completely, and never dip wet fingers into the batch.
Storage & when to let go
Single use, so mix it fresh each time. Honey and water together will not keep, and a damp pot in a warm bathroom turns quickly.
What to expect — honestly
Skin feels clean and soft rather than squeaky, and the paste reaches places a flannel does not. It is a nicer wash, not a treatment. Anything on your back that keeps bothering you is a question for a pharmacist rather than for oats.
Common questions
Can I use porridge oats?
Blitz them very fine first, or they will sit on the skin and block the drain. Colloidal oatmeal is simply oats already ground to powder.
Does it need to be a brush?
It helps for the middle of your back, but a long strip of muslin held at both ends works just as well.
This recipe is shared for general cosmetic enjoyment, not medical advice — see how we research and write in our editorial policy and the full safety guide.
