By Debra Maslowski
The Trouble With DIY Shaving Cream
Don’t get me wrong, I like shaving cream, but most DIY recipes are just different oils and butters whipped together. And yes, oil can cleanse your skin, but oil treats the hair on your legs, under your arms, and on your face differently than a water-based product would. The hair itself doesn’t soften as well when oils and butters are used, and softened hairs are what you really need in order to get a really close shave.
Shaving Soap for a Really Close Shave
Soap, along with water, provides the perfect combination to give you a really close shave. This is important so that you don’t end up with a “5 o’clock shadow.” The closer the shave, the longer it takes to grow back.
DIY Shaving Soap Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup liquid soap (learn how to make liquid soap or use one like this)
- ¼ cup grapeseed oil (find it here)
- 1 tablespoon raw honey (find it here)
- ¼ cup cocoa butter (find unrefined organic cocoa butter here)
- 2 tablespoons bentonite clay (find it here)
- a few drops pure essential oil like lavender or rose (find 100% pure essential oils here)
Instructions
- Melt the cocoa butter in a double boiler.
- Add the grapeseed oil, liquid soap, and honey. Mix well.
- Add in the clay slowly, constantly stirring. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Add the essential oil and whisk until creamy. As it cools, it will start to harden up. Whisking it will help keep the clay suspended.
- Pour or spoon into a bowl or container with a tight-fitting lid.
To Use
Apply a small amount to damp skin with your fingertips, working into a lather. Let sit for a few minutes to allow the hair shaft to absorb the soap. Shave and rinse thoroughly when done. This is safe for everyday use.
A Note on Ingredients
- If you are making this shaving soap for a man, consider using more masculine essential oils, either alone or in combination. Some good combinations (that can also be used individually) include vetiver/bergamot, patchouli/cedarwood/clary sage, or cedarwood/eucalyptus/juniper. (Find all of these essential oils here.)
- The bentonite clay is an important ingredient that will give the razor “slip” so it can glide across the skin rather than sticking to it.
Have you tried DIY shaving soap rather than DIY shaving cream? What are your thoughts?
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The ‘cream’ used ingredients I already have. The ‘soap’ uses products that I will have to purchase. (Bentonite clay at $7.00/lb plus shipping and only need 2 tablespoons?) No thanks.
You can get bentonite clay at almost any health food store, (no shipping and handling) it’s used for a variety of things including toothpaste, deodorant and facial masks…
Can I substitute coconut oil for the cocoa butter?
You can, Gail, although you may not get all the benefits that you would get from the cocoa butter.
I have been using superfatted natural soap as my shaving bar. Its really better then shaving creams or foams. It does not contain bentonite clay though.
The bentonite clay isn’t totally necessary, DrArvind, it’s just there to give you some “slip”. Some soaps can cause the blade to stick to the skin, rather than glide across it. The bentonite clay helps with this.