Thread: Sadistic Suds (Soaps to Avoid for Those with Sensitive Skin)

While those of us who suffer from a "Hollywood Face" make up only a limited percentage of the membership here at SRP, our shaving experience can be greatly influenced by factors that the rest of our brethren can freely ignore. Brushes, water temperature and soap, even those that we would love to use, can become a source of pain and discomfort that lasts throughout the day. While the first two variables are generally easy to figure out and correct for each individual it is the soaps that can cause us the most surprise and frustration. The point of this thread is to attempt to alleviate some of that.

My own journey from chemical-laden goop and cartridges to traditional wetshaving with vintage straight razors started because of my sensitive skin. I suffered my entire shaving life with uncomfortable shaves and skin issues, part of the reason why I've sported either a Van Dyke or a full beard for over twenty years. Relief came by chance, during our honeymoon my wife and I wandered past an Art of Shaving (they didn't exist in my neck of the woods at the time) and she urged me to go in, talk to the salesman and try their products. So my wetshaving journey began but it was another ten years before I found this fine community and fulfilled a desire that began when I first built lather in a bowl, the desire to learn to use a straight razor (I went directly from cartridges to a straight razor). On the rare occasions that I now suffer from an uncomfortable shave the only person I can blame is myself because I didn't get the edge on a razor that it deserved...that is unless I stumble across a soap that leaves me feeling as if I've given my face an acid bath.

At this point I'd like to express a huge thanks to Obie and his First Tier Soaps and Creams thread. Not only has Obie given us a fantastic resource for finding fantastic soaps and creams but his personal list is Hollywood Face Friendly as he suffers from his own sensitive skin issues. Also hidden within the pages of replies and updates are a number of posts that contain warnings for those that have stumbled across soaps that are problematic for those of us with sensitivity issues. The problem is that these can be hard to find in a thread dedicated to top soaps and only serve as a warning for that particular soap from that particular member.

What I'm attempting here is not only a listing of those soaps that have caused some of us pain and discomfort but an accounting of their ingredients. My hope is this clearinghouse of soaps and their components can not only serve as a warning to other members, both current and future, but as a resource for each of us to attempt to identify the ingredients that seem to cause the most problems. As always, any tips, tricks and products that have helped you tame your Hollywood face over the years are welcome!