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Posted in Personal Care by Rocky Mountain Oils

Essential Oils for Shaving

Shaving—whether it's on your face, legs, etc.—can be rough on your skin. Therefore, you want a shaving cream made to suit only you and your skin.

Commercial shaving creams all have pretty much the same basic ingredients. The main one is water, which is good. Some of the more questionable ingredients used are the following:

  • Propolene glycol: Frequently found in antifreeze and brake fluid.
  • Triethanolamine (TEA): Can be a skin irritant. Often contaminated with nitrosamines, which are linked to cancer.
  • Lauryl: Mimics estrogen

It's time to take complete charge of your skin care regimen and create your own shaving cream designed specifically for you. One that, after you are done with your short morning ritual, makes you feel refreshed, energized, and ready to tackle your day.

Points of Interest

  • Shaving is actually helpful in exfoliating your skin.
  • If you have stiff, curly, or thick hair and you shave regularly, you likely get ingrown hairs easily. Ways to help avoid those are to warm up the skin with a hot shower or heated towel before shaving. This opens the pores and helps soften the hair. You can also apply one of the pre-shave recipes below.
  • When shaving, always shave in the direction of hair growth. Shaving against the growth can cause ingrown hairs.
  • Rinse razor blades well after every use and then allow to air dry. It's best to not keep them in the shower because if they stay wet, it often encourages them to rust.
  • Don't shave the same area over and over during a shaving session as it can damage new skin growth.
  • You don't have to use the exact oils in the recipe. If there is a certain scent or oil you prefer to use on your face, replace the oils in the recipe with that specific oil or oils. These are here as a guide if you want new ideas.
  • If there is a specific carrier oil you would rather use, you can replace the one in the recipe with that particular oil.

Best oils

  • Essential Oils: Bay Rum, Cucumber Seed, Carrot Seed, Roman Chamomile, German Chamomile, Sandalwood, Elemi, Frankincense, Lavender, Melaleuca, Tagetes, Tea Tree, Vetiver, Patchouli, Palmarosa, Yarrow, Red Mandarin
  • Carrier oils: Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, Jojoba, Almond, Olive, Flaxseed

Recipes

Always test on a small part of your skin first before using all over your face. Please be sure your skin can handle the blend before being covered in it.

Electric Pre-Shave

  • 1/2 cup Witch Hazel
  • 2 tablespoons Distilled Water
  • 1 tablespoon Glycerin
  • 6 - 10 drops Ravintsara oil

Mix together all ingredients and pour into a clean container with a lid. After washing face, rub a small amount on face and beard before shaving. Yields 6 ounces.

Pre-Shave 1

  • 2 drops Rosewood
  • 1 drop Allspice
  • 20 drops Flaxseed oil

Mix together and apply to the area before shaving.

Pre-Shave 2

  • 2 drops Lavender
  • 1 drop German Chamomile
  • 20 drops Flaxseed oil

Mix together and apply to area before shaving.

Basic Shaving Cream

  • 1/3 cup Shea Butter
  • 1/3 cup Coconut Oil
  • 1/4 cup Jojoba Oil (or another carrier oil of your choice)
  • 5 drops Tea Tree, Lavender, Peppermint, or Roman Chamomile oil

Melt Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Coconut Oil over the stove on low heat, just until melted. Pour into a mixing bowl, add essential oils, and place in the fridge to cool. Once hardened, whip the mixture until fluffy and light. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Discard after 1-2 months.

Basic Shaving Cream #2

  • 1/4 cup Stearic Acid powder
  • 1 cup hot Water
  • 1 teaspoon Borax
  • 2 tablespoons grated Soap
  • 5 drops Tea Tree, Lavender, Peppermint, or Roman Chamomile oil

In a double boiler, melt the stearic acid powder until it is a clear liquid. Mix together the hot water, borax, and soap, and stir until the borax and soap are completely dissolved. Pour the soap solution into a blender and turn on for about 1 minute, blending on low speed. Slowly pour the melted stearic acid into the soap solution. Add essential oil. Blend on high until a smooth cream has formed. Pour into a clean, open container and allow to cool completely. When cool, stir the cream and put into a container with a tight-fitting lid or cover with plastic wrap. To use, soften beard with warm water and then smooth shaving cream over face. May need to give cream a good stirring from time to time before use. Yields 8 ounces.

Olive Oil Shaving Cream

  • 1/4 cup Stearic Acid powder
  • 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive oil
  • 1 cup Hot Water
  • 1 teaspoon Borax
  • 2 tablespoons Grated Soap
  • 1 drop Bay Rum
  • 2 drops Cedarwood
  • 2 drops Lavender

In a double boiler, melt the stearic acid and oil until a clear liquid forms. Mix together the hot water, borax, and soap. Stir until completely dissolved. Pour the soap solution into a blender and blend well for about 1 minute. Slowly pour oil and stearic acid mixture into soap solution. Add essential oils and blend on high until a smooth cream forms. Pour into a clean container and allow to cool completely. Yields 8 ounces. Can also use Almond oil instead of Olive. Will help soften skin.

Calm Skin

  • 10 drops Lavender
  • 10 drops German Chamomile
  • 3 drops Tagetes
  • 1 tablespoons Evening Primrose oil

Store formula in a dark colored glass bottle. Spread a small amount over the skin after shaving. Leave on for a few moments and then wipe off excess with a tissue.

JC's Skin Care Shaving Soap

  • 2 teaspoons Cucumber Seed
  • 1 teaspoon Carrot Seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Mandarin
  • 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
  • 1 pound Olive Oil Melt-and-Pour Suspension Soap

Melt soap base in a double boiler on low heat. Keep soap under 160 degrees. Once soap is melted, remove pot from heat and stir in vitamin E oil, stirring gently to incorporate. Pour into measuring cup and stir in essential oils. Pour soap into cups. Leave at least 1 inch of space between top of cup and soap. Spray tops of soap with rubbing alcohol to eliminate bubbles. Allow soap to cool and fully harden before using.

A Last Thought

What ways do you like to make your own shaving supplies? Which recipe do you want to try from here first? Please tell us in the comment section at the bottom of this page. We'd all like to know!