My husband and i are in the process of phasing out processed foods, and over packaged household goods from kitchen to bathroom and beyond. By buying in bulk, making things from scratch, and choosing natural alternatives to housekeeping and toiletry products, we’ve made a big dent. Sometimes, however the most over packaged and chemical ridden things are hiding in plain sight. In this case, shaving gel was the culprit.
For over a year, my husband has been using shaving soap with a shaving brush. He’s still using disposable razors, though – something i will be remedying for his birthday thanks to the recommendation of a fellow blogger friend, Susy Morris of Chiot’s Run. Check out this super great safety razor. A bit spendy for the initial investment, but anything could be better than the chinsy disposables he’s been using and filling the waste bin with.
I must admit, he had a hard time making the switch from shaving foam to natural shaving soap. Shaving soap doesn’t have quite the same lather as its chemical and fragrance laced counterpart, but the shave is just as smooth. Natural kaolin clay creates a smooth slip for a close shave. So, although he misses the Santa Clause like foam, the health of his face makes up for it. Our shaving soap contains natural ingredients chosen for their soothing properties, key for maintaining skin health through daily shaving.
- Neem oil: excellent for soothing dry and itchy skin as well as dermatitis and other skin problems
- Sweet Almond oil: gentle for even baby skin, sweet almond oil is wonderful for use on the face
- Chamomile: i infuse distilled water with a generous portion of chamomile to help calm stressed skin after a close shave
- Clay: helpful in creating the slip needed for a good shave, kaolin clay also helps draw out impurities from dirty pores
- Lemongrass essential oil: may help reduce pores
- Lavender essential oil: the all around cure all, lavender has soothing and healing properties
Are you interested in making the switch (for yourself or the man in your household) from packaged/processed/definitely not natural shaving gells and foams to all natural shaving soap? Making the switch includes an initial investment: but your health and the capacity of the land fill will benefit for years to come. Shaving brushes can be found at estate sales or at Amazon (and plenty of other places, i’m sure). We picked a budget brush, and also inherited our grandfather’s full shaving kit. You want to choose a brush with real badger hair for bristles and try to find one that comes with a little drying stand when you’re not using it: the hair needs to dry between uses. This is the razor i’ll be buying soon, again from Amazon. The last thing you’ll need is a dish to keep your soap in. You can use a mug, small bowl or any receptacle you choose.
Convinced? Great! Head over to the shop and pick up a bar of shaving soap and enjoy getting that face, leg, armpit or bikini line silky smooth: naturally!
