Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Natural Shaving Cream-is it worth it?

Still using that inexpensive foamy stuff in the can? It's hard to break away from that rich thick foam, I know. However, in an effort to avoid sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance, and contents I can't pronounce I did have to search for an alternative.

Burt's Bees Natural Skin Care for Men Shave Cream
. 100% natural with no parabens, phthalates, or sodium lauryl sulfate. Easily purchased wherever the Burt's Bees line is sold, however, will it be worth $7 a tube? Yes, I realize that's $6 more than the can but let's at least give it a try.

This is marketed as a men's product but do remember I tried it on my legs.

Does it foam? No, but it is thick and creamy
Can you access it with one hand? No and though we aren't purchasing it for packaging, if it's frustrating to use, it won't help you feel good about spending $7.
Good Shave? Yes, legs were silky smooth
Sting after? Same as any other shave. Not bad but my legs wanted moisturizing.
Efficiency? Washes off easy so if you leave the water running while you're shaving, don't lather up your whole leg at once b/c some of it will wash off before you get to it. Then you just have to reapply.

You can't get around the fact that it's 100% natural and paraben, phthalate, and sodium lauryl sulfate free but in all honesty it doesn't stand alone as a product worth $7. It still leaves you wanting an alternative.

My solution? A bar of unscented vegetable glycerin soap. That's what I use on my face and body and now for shaving as well. It doesn't lather up like a shaving cream so I'm a little more careful with the razor but for less than $2 a bar, you can't beat it. Though I use 365 brand sold in the whole body section at Whole Foods, vegetable glycerin soaps can be purchased at most health or natural food stores. Be sure to check ingredients for any unwelcome "extras". You're looking for a bar made with vegetable glycerin and water.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Please don't leave the water running! You have to be conscious about this too! Remember the water shortage we experienced not to long ago?