What is a good shaving soap or shaving cream?
We say it more often: "throw away that cheap supermarket or drugstore shaving soap or shaving foam and really start using good shaving soap or shaving cream!" A good shaving soap or shaving cream must do three things:
- it produces a full and stable shaving foam and remains moist for a long time, allowing the beard hairs time to become softer and softer;
- it produces a full fatty protective layer or glide film to protect the skin against the razor;
- and the various nourishing oils and fats nourish the skin, resulting in fewer shaving and skin irritations during or after shaving.
What is a poor shaving soap or shaving cream?
Poor shaving products are strongly alkaline and do not produce good shaving foam. The shaving foam dries quickly and does not feel greasy. These products have a strong dehydrating effect. They do not protect the skin sufficiently, they dry out the skin, damage and irritate the skin. The common supermarket and drugstore shaving products from well-known retail brands are very aggressive. Many men who use these products experience a dry, tight skin or a burning sensation after shaving. Many of these unaware people think: "this is normal, right?" Wrong! Do you recognize these complaints? Then immediately throw this worthless shaving product in the trash.
What are the ingredients of a shaving soap and shaving cream?
All soaps consist of (vegetable or animal) oils and fats and a lye, such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. When you combine these substances, a chemical reaction occurs: the saponification process. Potassium hydroxide produces creamy shaving creams and sodium hydroxide produces hard shaving soaps. A fun fact in between: lyes are also used as paint strippers and drain cleaners. Shaving soaps and shaving creams are so-called superfatted soaps. Less lye is used than needed to saponify all oils and fats. The various commonly used fats contain a high concentration of unsaponifiable components. As a result, after the saponification process, it remains superfatted in the shaving soap. This nourishes and cares for the skin.
Labels on shaving products always list the various ingredients of the respective product. The substances that are present in the largest quantities in the item are listed first. The ingredients that are least present are therefore listed last. The most commonly used ingredients are water, oils, fats, fat components, lye, and glycerine. Perfume or fragrance substances are usually listed at the very end. We do not intend to show a complete list here. The overview consists of the most common and important ingredients of shaving soap or shaving cream.
Almond oil
Almond oil provides a stable and creamy foam. It has a strong moisturizing and nourishing effect.
Castor oil
Castor oil or Ricinus oil comes from the legume of the Wonder tree. This oil has been used since ancient times for many medicinal and skincare applications. It provides a stable and long-lasting, soft and creamy foam. It attracts water and also retains it. This gives it a moisturizing and nourishing effect.
Glycerin
Glycerin is formed during the saponification process. It mainly consists of triglycerides (a combination of glycerin and three fatty acids). It provides extra "glide", attracts water and also retains it well. It ensures that your shaving soap or cream foams up nicely.
Jojoba oil
Jojoba oil is obtained from the seeds of the plant Simmondsia chinensis. Jojoba itself does not foam much but ensures that the foam of other oils remains more stable. It has a moisturizing effect, is easily absorbed by the skin, and promotes silky smooth skin. Its chemical composition closely resembles the sebum of our skin.
Potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide is a lye and forms a compound with oil or fat.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil provides a lot of abundant foam and makes the shaving soap foam faster. The foam also becomes softer and more compact due to this oil: soft and fine bubbles.
Sodium hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide is a lye and forms a compound with oil or fat.
Shea butter
Shea butter is a vegetable fat obtained from the fruit of the African tree Vitellaria paradoxa. It provides a stable, long-lasting and creamy foam. Shea butter has a high percentage of unsaponifiable parts. After saponification with lye, a lot of fat remains in the shaving soap. This allows it to nourish and care for the skin well.
Stearic acid
Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid. It comes from both animal and vegetable fats or oils. It provides a stable and long-lasting, creamy and compact foam.
Kaolin
Kaolin is a clay mineral. It provides extra glide during shaving.
Fragrance ingredients
Many shaving products have a scent. Many of these added fragrance ingredients are either synthetic or natural fragrance oils or a mix of various essential oils. Fragrance ingredients can irritate the skin. Are you sensitive to this or do you dislike scents? Fortunately, there are also neutral unscented shaving soaps and creams.
Here are some common fragrance ingredients:
Eugenol is a widely used fragrance and flavor ingredient. It is a natural component of various essential oils and smells like clove and cinnamon. It is extracted from clove oil or synthetically produced.
Geraniol is a widely used fragrance and flavor ingredient. It is a natural component of various essential oils and smells like roses.
Limonene is a widely used fragrance and flavor ingredient. It is a natural component of various essential oils and smells like citrus. It is extracted from orange peels.
Linalool is a widely used fragrance and flavor ingredient. It is a natural component of various essential oils and smells like roses.
