Thread: Call the Fire Department

There is no doubt that my face has seen a fair share of them, especially creams but some soaps too. I started making my own soap because at the time, I was having trouble finding anything that would not make my skin, at least, dry, and tense as a freshly tuned drum. During this process is when I realized the awful truth...: a big part of the problem was due to my lathering skills. I have said this many times but I will say it again since you are asking ;-). The chemicals in shaving soaps/creams are meant to be diluted in the lather. If your lather is too dry (thick), the chemicals would be more concentrated than needed, and if your skin is sensitive, you may experience some burn and discomfort, or just plain dryness; not too mention other problems. It is essential that your lather has the proper consistency (just a bit past peak; the point where no more lather can be built). I would also like to stress that this is not a matter of personal preference; within certain limits, the density of the lather is set by the soaper, not the user. Trying to alter this, could lead to serious problems.

The other thing that is important is that it is very hard to decide a priori which product would have negative effects on your skin. Certain scents like sandalwood can cause a lot of allergies and some ingredients often found in shaving creams/soaps can clog pores (are comedogenic), which has been associated with acne. Obviously, there are certain guidelines that can be followed and you and your dermatologist could also help you with that. I have experienced negative effects with some products that are considered to be very good. This is in no way an indication that the formulation is bad just that my skin is different...

Al raz.