Thread: Adding things to a soap?

I hope this isn't too stupid of a question. I can't really buy anything off of the internet right now. I want to but for now my really only option is Van Der Hagen deluxe. I can't even find Williams mug soap anymore. I was just wondering since VDH melts in the microwave so well, is there anything I can add to it to make it a little better? It is ok for me, but it leaves my skin a little dry and just seems like it isn't the slickest later either.

You can try adding glycerine to the lather. No need to melt the soap. Just load your brush and start building your lather. Add about 5 drops of glycerine and finish building the lather. You should be able to get it in just about any pharmacy.

Glycerine is about the only thing you want to add, but I find if you select quality creams and soaps then it is not really required.

Depending on where you live you should be able to find other products in your area as well. The Real Shave Co is carried near me by RiteAid and Kiss My Face is carried by Fred Meyer/Kroger in the natural products section, if you have a Bath and Body they carry CO Bigelow. All offer a change and an opportunity to uberlather your soap.

Originally Posted by shaver0011

It is ok for me, but it leaves my skin a little dry and just seems like it isn't the slickest later either.

I can't understand how people can say it dries their skin. I have the VDH Deluxe, too, and the shea in it leaves my skin very well moisturized. Are you sure you're rinsing the soap off completely? Slickness: don't use too much water in making the lather and it should provide adequate slickness. Seriously, VDH Deluxe is a good soap, performance-wise. I don't like the "scent" (more like hand soap odor) but it sure works nice, has good skin conditioning properties and is easy to lather.

Originally Posted by AxelH

I can't understand how people can say it dries their skin. I have the VDH Deluxe, too, and the shea in it leaves my skin very well moisturized. Are you sure you're rinsing the soap off completely? Slickness: don't use too much water in making the lather and it should provide adequate slickness. Seriously, VDH Deluxe is a good soap, performance-wise. I don't like the "scent" (more like hand soap odor) but it sure works nice, has good skin conditioning properties and is easy to lather.

I have used other things before, and it does seem to leave my face dry afterwards around my chin and mouth. The other products, Kiss My Face and Williams never seemed to do that. VDH sometimes leaves my face feeling "tight" in a bad way. Since the product says it is 40% moisturizer (sorbitol with the tiniest amout of shea butter and aloe) by weight I wonder why it dries out my skin but it does seem to.

Either way, my only real problem with it is leaving my skin dry. I will just add a moisturizer and humectant to the later, probably just glycerin and maybe some more pure aloe vera leaf gel. I hope that fixes it. I will see if just adding less water will fix the slickness problem, too. I guess I can't add anything for that. Thanks everyone for all the answers.

Thanks. I should have thought of adding where I live in my post. I live in Las Vegas. There are no Rite Aids here as far as I know. They announced they were closing all there stores down in Las Vegas in 2008. Maybe one has reopened since then? There was one right down the street from me back then. I have never hear of Fred Meyer or Kroger. I think we have a Bath and Body here. But with other skin products I have had bad experiences with menthol (mildly sensitive skin).

If anyone knows of any stores that care wet shaving supplies here, apart from the really expensive luxury stores on the strip, I would appreciate you letting me know. Thanks.

Any CVS or Wal Greens should have Kiss my face, or some unscented shave cream in a pump dispenser or tube, and Glycerin. Here in Jacksonville, Kiss my face is carried in Winn Dixie....Build your shave soap lather in a bowl, or mug, any vessel seperate from the one the VDH lives in. Once you have some type of lather going, Add a dab or pump of the shave cream, and 5 drops of glycerin and water as needed....

It will improve your lather and moisturization. situation greatly. I know we have members in Vegas...They may know of a store or two....