Learn how to make a skin hydrating natural shaving soap for a smooth, eco-friendly shave — even if you have sensitive skin! A wonderful addition to your natural skin care routine, this homemade shaving soap recipe is made with skin conditioning shea butter and lanolin, a humectant, to help lock in moisture and aid in glide. Keep reading to learn how to craft your own lanolin shaving soap recipe, plus discover more ways to get a green friendly shave!
Many modern day shaving creams don’t deliver a close shave like traditional shaving soaps. Even worse, their aerosol based packaging is bad for the environment. Making the switch to a homemade shaving soap is a more environmentally friendly choice. My natural shaving soap recipe is not only a great green alternative, but it’s also budget conscience so you save money in the long run over purchasing a commercial product.
Shaving soaps have been around since the 1800’s and, of course, were exclusively used by men. However, as conventions changed and women began shaving as well, we were eventually introduced to shaving creams.
Why Use a Natural Shaving Soap with Lanolin?
While traditional shaving soaps are still used by a smaller part of the population, they are making a comeback. And with good reason. Not only do shaving soaps allow for increased hydration and a closer shave, they are also more environmentally friendly than shaving cream. So if you’re ready to start making greener changes to your lifestyle, homemade shaving soaps are an easy adjustment and a great way to make a small, but cumulative difference.
In addition to reducing packaging and aerosols, my natural shaving soap recipe is eco-friendly in another way. Because this natural shaving soap recipe is palm free, it doesn’t contribute to the deforestation of the rainforests.In addition to the environmental effects this has on the earth, it also threatens the habitats of endangered animals like orangutans and Sumatran tigers.
Learn more about the use of palm oil in soapmaking.
Ingredients that I do include in my homemade shaving soap recipe are lanolin and neem oil. I use lanolin for its moisturizing properties. Not only does lanolin prevent skin from drying out with repeated shavings, it also lends to a rich, creamy lather that helps prevent knicks and razor burn.
Learn more about the benefits of lanolin in skin care.
Neem oil on the other hand helps to promote skin health and speed up healing times should irritation or knicks occur.
Learn about the skin care benefits of neem oil.
Ready to give my natural shaving soap a try to see the difference it can make for your skin? Find my cold process soap recipe and instructions below!
Natural Lanolin Shaving Soap Recipe
Ingredients:
.8 oz. castor oil (5%)
4.8 oz. refined coconut oil (30%)
.8 oz. lanolin (5%)
6.4 oz. pomace olive oil (40%)
1.6 oz. shea butter (10%)
1.6 oz. neem oil (10%)
4.8 fl. oz. distilled water
2.15 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide
1 oz. patchouli essential oil
.5 oz. lavender essential oil
Instructions:
You’ll need to take safety precautions when making my natural shaving soap recipe. This includes wearing proper eye protection and gloves as well as long sleeves. Additionally, you should use only heat safe containers. None of your containers or your utensils used for soapmaking should be aluminum as when aluminum comes into contact with lye it produces a toxic gas.
My natural shaving soap recipe is made using the cold process soapmaking method. If you’ve never made cold process soap, be sure to check out mytutorial on how to make cold process soap. If this recipe then seems a little daunting to you, then I encourage you to start with a beginner’s cold process soap recipe.
Begin by preparing your lye solution. To do this, measure out the distilled water in fluid ounces into a heat safe, non-aluminum container. Then, in a separate container, use a digital scale to weigh out the lye. Pour the lye into the container of water then mix until all of the lye has dissolved. Set aside.
Next, weigh out the carrier oils, lanolin and shea butter and combine in a separate heat safe container or stainless steel pot. Heat either in the microwave (for non-metal containers) at 50% power or over medium-low to medium heat on the stove top. Alternately you may also use a crockpot. Once melted remove the soapmaking oils from heat and set aside to cool.
While you are waiting for the lye-water and the soapmaking oils for this natural shaving soap recipe to cool, weigh out the (optional) essential oilsand set aside.
When both the aloe-lye mixture and the soapmaking oils have cooled to around90°-95°F, you’re ready to make soap!
Pour the lye-water into the soapmaking oils then mix with animmersion blenderuntil the soap reaches a light trace. Add the essential oils, then continue mixing until the essential oils are fully incorporated into the soap batter.
Then, once the soap has again reached a light to medium trace, pour the soap into a round silicone soap mold of your choice.Cover the mold with plastic cling wrap or parchment paper if desired, then set aside in a safe location where it won’t be disturbed.
Your natural shaving soap should be ready to unmold 24-48 hours later. Once removed from the mold, allow your shaving soaps to cure for 4-6 weeks prior to use.
More Natural Soap Recipes
If you like my natural shaving soap recipe, then be sure to try some of my other natural soap recipes.
More Shaving Soap Recipes
- Natural Lanolin Shaving Soap Recipe
- Cold Process Glycerin Shaving Soap Recipe
Palm Free Cold Process Soap Recipes
You may also enjoy some of my other natural – and palm free! – cold process soap recipes that focus on promoting skin health. Here are some of my favorites.
- Aloe Vera Soap Recipe with Neem Oil
- Natural Calendula Soap Recipe
- Natural Strawberry Banana Soap Recipe
- Lavender Bergamot Salt Bar Recipe
- Basic Bastille Soap Recipe with Essential Oils
- Blood Orange Soap Recipe
- Ultimate Detox Salt Bar Recipe with Activated Charcoal
Natural Shaving Cream Recipe with Aloe Vera
Alternately, you may also want try my DIY shaving cream with skin soothing aloe vera. This easy recipe for homemade shaving cream is also made with other natural ingredients like vegetable glycerin, grapeseed oil and shea butter to hydrate skin and lock in moisture. It’s perfect for sensitive skin too. You can learn how to make this moisturizing homemade shaving cream recipe here.
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