Homemade Shaving Soap Recipe

Katie Wells Avatar

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Homemade natural shave soap recipes
Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » Homemade Shaving Soap Recipe

At my house, we make almost all of our own toiletries, including deodorant and toothpaste. I’d read plenty to convince me that conventional shaving soaps were relatively toxic, but for a long time, I just used natural bar soap instead. Over time, I developed my own shaving soap recipes that work better than soap and leave skin soft without the chemicals.

If shaving is your chosen method of hair removal, read on!

Foaming Shave Soap Recipe

This is the shave soap I use most often in the shower because it is easy, inexpensive and works great. Some men may find it harsh on the face due to the high liquid castile content.

Foaming Shave Soap Ingredients

how to make homemade shaving soap

  • 1/4 cup Natural Aloe Vera Gel (not juice!)
  • 1/4 cup Liquid castile Soap
  • 1 TBSP Olive or Almond Oil
  • 1/4 cup warm Distilled Water (or lavender infused)
  • 1/2 tsp Vitamin E or Grapefruit Seed Extract (to preserve)
  • Essential Oils for Fragrance (optional) – I use lavender
  • 8 ounce or larger Foaming Soap Bottle

Foaming Shave Soap Instructions

  1. Mix ingredients in foamer bottle and shake gently until mixed.
  2. Shake well before each use.

This recipe will last a couple of months (I use up within about 2 months, so I don’t know beyond that). I don’t recommend citrus oils if you are going to be in the sun, since they increase sun sensitivity.

Shave Cream Recipe

I don’t use this recipe as often, and more in the winter for extra moisturizing, but it makes a rich, creamy lather and works really well. This one is also better for men’s faces, as it is more gentle than the above recipe.

Shave Cream Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive, almond or coconut oil
  • 2-3 TBSP Shea or Cocoa Butter
  • 1/4 cup Aloe Gel or Honey
  • 1 TBSP Kaolin clay or white cosmetic clay (optional)
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 cup Liquid castile Soap
  • 1/2 tsp Vitamin E or GSE (to preserve)

Shave Cream Instructions

  1. Melt the oil and shea/cocoa butter in a double boiler until just melted
  2. Remove from heat and add other ingredients
  3. Whisk or blend well for several minutes
  4. Transfer to jar or container to store
  5. Check while it is cooling to make sure it doesn’t start to separate. If it does, shake or mix well to re-incorporate.
  6. Lasts up to two months (not sure about longer)

how to make your own shaving soap naturlaly

Natural Bar Shave Soap Recipe

If you don’t happen to have all these extra ingredients on hand, this is any easy way to modify a regular bar soap to make it more shave-friendly. It is a little time consuming, but these bar soaps last a long time and are great for making shave mugs if the men in your life happen to use shave mugs and brushes.

Shaving Soap Ingredients

  • 1 bar of natural, handcrafted soap (store bought regular soaps don’t work!)
  • 1 TBSP olive or almond oil or aloe vera gel
  • 1-2 TBSP white clay, french clay, kaolin, or cosmetic clay

Shaving Soap Instructions

  1. Grate soap and on low heat, melt soap down with oil or aloe vera. It will take a while, so be patient and stir often.
  2. Once melted, stir in the cosmetic clay (this makes a richer lather and is great for the skin).
  3. Pour into molds (I use cardboard) or old mugs and let set for several days until it re-hardens. Will last months and will cure more over time, making it longer lasting.

homemade shaving soap

If you like this recipe, check out these other homemade beauty recipes:

Ever made your own shave soap? Still use the toxic aerosol stuff? Share below!

This simple shaving soap recipe is a natural alternative to chemical laden store bought brands and leaves skin soft and smooth

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

133 responses to “Homemade Shaving Soap Recipe”

  1. gina Avatar

    I am curious if the foaming shave soap could work for women who wet shave? Do you perhaps wet shave? I am interesting in saving a few steps if possible by trying out your foaming soap, instead of mixing the soap with a brush, etc.

    Thanks,

    G

  2. Rebecca Petereit Avatar
    Rebecca Petereit

    I just thought to share, that while vitamin E and grapefruit seed extract are great antioxidants that can delay rancidity in oils, they are not preservatives, and are not suitable for water-oil emulsions. They do not prevent or significantly reduce microbial activity in a way that will protect your product. I only bring it up because I know how dangerous it can be to apply cosmetics loaded with bacteria and fungi without realizing, and while shaving nicks often happen providing easy intro’s for microbes.

    I’ve read a few bloggers saying there are no effective natural preservatives, but I use one based on silver sulfide and citric acid called Tinosan for lotions. Apparently they use it to clean hospitals, and it actively kills microbes but it has to be kept dark. I dont work for them or anything, I’d just hate to think someone develops a staph. infection which can be very very painful and require IV antibiotics, because their personal care product wasn’t preserved. Happy crafting!

  3. mic Avatar

    Hi everybody,
    even i dislike the gentleman’s tone and his aggression bringing his point across, i have to agree on some points he makes.
    1. Clay shouldn’t be in a shaving product
    2. baking soda adds another level of discomfort

    Shaving the face is a very tricky thing. And sure I agree on, that natural ingredients make this experience nicer, since it must be smoother for the skin than chemicals, a sharp blade is essential for the men’s hair. (it is in fact a bit thicker and harder than the hairs on a females leg) (and it’s the face! not a leg) with a blunt blade we hurt ourselves and in my case it didn’t even take a quarter of the face and it was the case.

    I tried today both recipes and tried them both. And well, razor masters might tell me my razor was not properly sharp (yesterday it was), and some experienced cosmetic home brewers might tell me i made something wrong. Both might change some percent my experience.
    But: this is nothing for a man’s face. And nothing for a razor. My face is burning, my razor is blunt.
    And i regret that i didn’t use my brain too much before trying it out.
    I could have seen point 1 and 2 by myself.

    But nevertheless: Wellnessmama, great work here! My lady tried several recipes and they are mostly great.
    This recipes here on this side need a makeover.

  4. michael hajek Avatar
    michael hajek

    Unfortunately none of those shaving soap/creme recipes will work anywhere near as well as a good hot process bar of shaving soap. Castor, coconut, palm oil and stearic acid, with either potassium, sodium, or a blend of the two lyes, a little high quality glycerin, a few oils, and some clay.

  5. Siusan Avatar

    Is it possible to substitute Bentonite Clay for the Kaolin/Cosmetic clay? I am having to build up my stock of natural items slowly and have Bentonite but not the others …

  6. Gretchen Avatar

    I am interested in making your foaming shave cream but cannot use castile soap. What can be substituted for this? Thanks!

  7. Lacey Avatar

    Can you use the shave cream recipe WITHOUT oil? I have tried apricot (burning, hard to breathe reaction), grapeseed (tons of pimples), almond (similar reaction to apricot but less intense), jojoba (itching and pimples) coconut oil (hard cyst like pimples, itching) so, oils have not been my friend at all..

  8. Matthew Avatar

    Wellness MAMA! I’m hoping you check this often as I’m planning on making the shave cream this weekend and I’m wondering if I could substitute the honey/aloe with light agave nectar. If you don’t respond before Saturday I’ll make sure to update my post and let everyone know how it turns out. Thanks so much for the website, it’s a world of help!

      1. Matthew Avatar

        Hah, it’s ironic because now that I think about it a Google search about what exactly agave nectar is after buying some for a recipe was what lead me to your website in the first place. So I used a slightly modified version of the shave cream recipe: agave nectar, EVOO, shea butter, castile soap, and bentonite clay in place of the kaolin clay. I left out the baking soda because I have sensitive skin. It certainly works as a shave cream but by the third day all the air that had been whipped into the cream bubbled out. As I said it works but I think I get a better shave and more protection just using EVOO alone. I’m going to be using the rest of what I’ve made as a face wash instead of a shave cream. Since I have a shaving brush now, I’m going to try making this again with 2 parts shea butter to 1 part oil in hopes of a thicker lather. Thanks again for your website and recipes, it’s provided me with a great jumping off point!

  9. Kristin Avatar

    I made the Shave cream in foaming bottle for my husband but it is very runny and doesn’t foam. Any suggestions on how to get it to foam/thicken?

  10. Karma Avatar

    Can the shaving creme work in a pump bottle in the shower? I am looking for something I can put into a liquid soap type bottle so there is no scooping. Thanks! Love your recipes!

  11. Jennifer Netzley Avatar
    Jennifer Netzley

    Could I use bentonite clay, and can you use a brush to apply the shaving cream?

  12. Stevie Driscoll Avatar
    Stevie Driscoll

    Thanks for the recipes. I made the shaving cream with the substitution of French pink clay with good results.

  13. Paula Avatar

    How much lavender essential oil for fragrance do you put in your Foaming Shave Soap Recipe? I’ve been making it for over a year now and I just love it!! 🙂

  14. Monica Avatar
    Monica

    Hi! Where can I find vitamin e extract or grapefruit seed extract? Or does anyone recommend a certain kind and if so where do I find it? I searched Amazon & looked at some of the affiliate links but no luck. I really want to try this. I use Aveeno & it’s better than some of the other brands but my legs still sting a little after shaving. Thank you!!!

    1. Basia Avatar

      I bought mine in my local pharmacy. It costs about 3$, I’d say but I don’t live in the US so I’m not sure how much it is there.

  15. Zoe Avatar

    Are you able to share what kind/brand of bar soap you used for the shaving bar recipe? Mine would not melt, no matter what I tried. I grated it and initially attempted to melt it over a double boiler, then gave up and put it right in the pot which just turned the bottom layer of flakes brown. Not a hint of melting.

    Then I boiled a cup of water and mixed it with the flakes in a blender. This worked, I guess. But since I added water, I doubt this is going to harden into anything now.

    The ingredients on my bar are: saponified coconut oil, olive and palm oils, essential oils (patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, clary sage and clover, organic pine and juniper).

    Thank you for your help.

  16. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    What brand of Aloe Gel do you use/ Where to buy? All the ones I find that say “natural” and 100% aloe vera: have so many other ingredients listed that I don’t know how it counts as natural and 100%. Thanks for this great article and all of your articles.

  17. John Zeh Avatar
    John Zeh

    Thanks for the censorship on my comment, you have only proven my point. Go on, keep on rashing and burning people’s faces. Now it’s not negligence, you are doing it deliberately with knowledge. Shame on you!

    PS – I’ve saved my other comment and I’ve posted it with your nickname and website on shaving forums, and people aren’t happy. You’ve shot yourself on the foot…

    1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar

      Wow… some people have no patience. I’m glad you have the time to peruse shaving forums all day. I have five children and a busy life and don’t spend my entire day waiting for your comments to come through so I can approve them. My filter flagged your commend and I wasn’t able to approve or respond until today. I appreciate that you spent the time commenting, but I don’t appreciate the rude tone or vindictive behavior… Again, if you have something constructive that contributes to the conversation and would like to share an all natural shaving soap recipe, I”d be happy to read it.

  18. jennifer Avatar
    jennifer

    wow, have learned so much. Where do you purchase the foam bottles? Thanks

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