Most people probably never thought about using a bar of soap to shave. Well maybe women because I know I have pretty much exclusively used bar soap to shave my legs (even before I started making soap). But the go-to has always been a can of aerosolized shaving cream. I get it. That’s just the way it’s always been done. But that doesn’t mean there’s not a better way.

So let’s talk about our shaving soap. This handmade soap is made with just nine ingredients: olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, castor oil, sodium hydroxide, distilled water, an essential oil blend of cedarwood and tea tree essential oils and bentonite clay.

For comparison, here is a list of the 30 (!) ingredients used in a commercially-available shaving foam:

Aqua, Triethanolamine, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Isobutane,Laureth-23, Dimethicone, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Propane, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Stearyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Dimethicone PEG/ PPG-20/ 23 Benzoate, DMDM Hydantoin, Myristyl Alcohol, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, BHT, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

(I’m not going to get into the specifics of this list but you get the idea.)

Beyond the length of the ingredient list there are several important differences to consider when using an all-natural bar of shaving soap as opposed to shaving cream or foam.

First, all-natural handmade soap contains high levels of natural glycerin. When the triglycerides (oils) combine with the sodium hydroxide (lye) a chemical reaction (saponification) takes place that creates soap and glycerin. According to Healthline “glycerin is the most effective humectant available to increase hydration on the top layer of your skin.” Humectants are ingredients that attract and bind water to the skin, helping to keep it hydrated and prevent dryness.

Secondly, unlike shaving cream, a fully-cured bar of our handmade soap will last several months especially if kept dry between uses. And there is no metal can to throw away!

Another benefit of our all-natural shaving soap comes from the addition of bentonite clay. Bentonite clay adds a silkiness to the feel of the soap. This allows for a smooth shaving experience which can also help prevent razor burn. Bentonite clay is also beneficial in pulling toxins from your skin. 

And lastly, let’s talk about the oils. As I mentioned, our shaving soap is made using olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil and castor oil.

• Olive oil is rich in antioxidants as well as vitamins A and E. It also aides in your skin’s moisture absorption and keeps your skin’s natural oils in balance, making it great for oily skin. It is also anti-inflammatory.

• Coconut oil has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in antioxidants and healthy saturated fats and vitamins. It also creates a rich lather. Coconut oil is a very cleansing oil and has moisturizing properties also making it great for oily skin.

• Avocado oil adds a creamy texture to handmade soap and is also rich in vitamins A and E.

• Castor oil adds even more moisturizing properties to this soap and contributes to a creamy lather (which is perfect for a shaving soap!).

One last benefit of using a bar of shaving soap (or any of our soap) is if you travel. Aerosolized cans are not allowed on planes but guess what is? Bars of soap. They are small, easy to pack and no more nasty, weird-smelling hotel soaps that leave your skin feeling dry and itchy!

I hope you enjoyed learning more about the many benefits of handmade shaving soap. Click here to try some for yourself and make the switch from commercially-made shaving cream. And I hope you’ll watch for my next blog post on ‘Soap Shavings.’ 🧼💛

Subscribe to my blog’s RSS feed using https://cedarwoodsoap.com/blogs/soap-shavings.atom

(Disclaimer: Regulations set forth by the FDA prohibit bath and body companies from making health-related claims about beauty products. I am not a medical or healthcare professional and do not claim that the use of my products may have a positive effect on pre-existing physical and/or mental health conditions. The information in my listings pertains to the properties of specific ingredients used in the product.)