Shaving soap for sensitive skin-advice needed.

Greetings, this is my first post on SRP, though I have been browsing the site(and finding great tips and advice) for some time. I am sorely in need of help in choosing a soap for my ultra sensitive skin. Based on reviews and threads on SRP and elsewhere I decided on Mitchell's Wool Fat for my first shaving soap. Though it did have a lovely nostalgic aroma and lathered well, it left my skin unbearably dry and I was forced to look elsewhere for a gentle soap. After seeing some threads about Momma Bear's glycerin soaps on the forum I decided to give them a try. I purchased the 100% natural unscented version which was described as the best soap to use for sensitive skin. I just tried it today and I can honestly say it was the most agonizing shaving experience I have ever had. When I doused my face with cold water post shave it felt more like hot grease and it left a fiery red raised rash on my neck and cheek(fortunately I only tested it on one side of my face). I have no idea what could have caused it, all the reviews I had read about the soap were positive and I am not allergic to glycerin. Ironically, the best shaving soap I have yet tried is the cheapest: a $2 puck of Van Der Hagen from Walmart, although even it left a lot to be desired in terms of post shave comfort. If I can't find a soap that my skin will tolerate, I'm afraid I might have to give up wet shaving altogether(given my distaste for electric razors and facial hair, I really hope to avoid that eventuallity). Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Proraso white , is the sensitive skin version, might work for you. Also using the white pre shave might help.

Another option you can try is a bar of neutrogena glycerin soap.

I know one guy was using cetaphil soap

http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...le-boiler.html

My suggestion, given that I am in the same boat as you, is to go for any of these:

- GF Trumper's Rose or Violets soap
- Castle Forbes Lavender
- Palmolive Shave Stick (European version)

I started with Trumper's Rose and after a few weeks of regular use my face rewarded me with a glowing look. No more blotches or dry areas with flaky skin. I am not sure if these soaps are still made to the good old quality they were before, but I thought I should mention it. I still have a puck from 2009 approx and it lathers and performs very well.

The Castle Forbes cream is one that I recently discovered and is very mild as is the Palmolive shave stick. I think you can't go wrong with either.

There is also Martin de Candre which is the best soap out there in my opinion, although I am not recommending it to a newbie owing to the high cost of obtaining it at first. It will last you for years though.

I would also suggest you get into a good routine of using a face wash followed by a good moisturiser on days that you don't shave and evenings. That together will help your face overcome it's issues with dryness and sensitivity.

Good luck and do let us know how you get on!!

You can always try Dove shower and hand soap. It is not meant for shaving, but it works wonderfully and is very mild.

Take a look at Nancy Boy Replenishing Shaving Cream. I have use their Signature shaving cream, which is excellent, and you will find good reviews of Nancy Boy products on this site and elsewhere. The Replenishing Shaving Cream is for sensitive skin, and, again, their stuff is top notch. The travel size tub is $7, so it may be worth a try.

Shave Cream

I use proraso white and Taylor of old bond street jerymn(sp) as well, both are good ones to try.
Hope it helps.
Anthony

I use Trumper's Rose and have had good luck with Kiss My Face for sensitive skin. Available at Whole Foods. Well priced. Have you tried a pre shave oil. Art of Shaving has an unscented sensitive skin oil and a companion shave cream. I've used both. Also, be sure you are using NO pressure. Lots of variables.

I'm new to straight razor shaving as well and I have very sensitive skin. I also have Mama Bear's soap as well, Ye old Barbershop and Aged Spice. I thought my skin was sensitive to these soaps as well. But, after giving my face a day break from straight shaving and letting a few nicks and patches of razor burn heal up I found that it wasn't my skin that was the culprit but the fact that I had unhealed irritation and nicks causing the burning. My advice to you is give your face a break and sometime before you shave, and after all irritation has cleared up, apply the soap and see if it burns. If it still burns and leaves your face red then you do have some sensitivity to the soap.

Hope this helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ace

You can always try Dove shower and hand soap. It is not meant for shaving, but it works wonderfully and is very mild.

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Somehow my skin cannot tolerate anything from Dove. It caused the skin on my hands to break out and start bleeding shortly afterwards. It's a no go for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skullz

I'm new to straight razor shaving as well and I have very sensitive skin. I also have Mama Bear's soap as well, Ye old Barbershop and Aged Spice. I thought my skin was sensitive to these soaps as well. But, after giving my face a day break from straight shaving and letting a few nicks and patches of razor burn heal up I found that it wasn't my skin that was the culprit but the fact that I had unhealed irritation and nicks causing the burning. My advice to you is give your face a break and sometime before you shave, and after all irritation has cleared up, apply the soap and see if it burns. If it still burns and leaves your face red then you do have some sensitivity to the soap.

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This is actually sound advice too. I can't shave every day and settle for every other day, with a slightly longer gap for the Sunday shave. It's always rewarding the later you leave it :)

My friend mhorn/Michael turned me onto this soap and creme at one of the Meets, it is some of the most mild shave lather that I have ever used,,

I use the soap and the cream together in a Überlather but either works well

http://store.escentialonline.com/shave-c1018.aspx

The Himalaya Soap
The Shea & White Tea cream


(I have NOT tried their other products)

+1 on the Himalayan soap. They recently came out w/ the same soap in a lavender scent. 'Bought one, but haven't tried yet. Its also VERY reasonably priced.

The other soap w/ great skin protection - cushion and glide is the Provence Sante - also carried now by Essentiaonline (after I bugged them for a year to start carrying it).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skullz

I'm new to straight razor shaving as well and I have very sensitive skin. I also have Mama Bear's soap as well, Ye old Barbershop and Aged Spice. I thought my skin was sensitive to these soaps as well. But, after giving my face a day break from straight shaving and letting a few nicks and patches of razor burn heal up I found that it wasn't my skin that was the culprit but the fact that I had unhealed irritation and nicks causing the burning. My advice to you is give your face a break and sometime before you shave, and after all irritation has cleared up, apply the soap and see if it burns. If it still burns and leaves your face red then you do have some sensitivity to the soap.

Hope this helps.

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This is great advice that I think you may want to make your first step in trying a new soap from here on out. Also, if you're a beginner, I think we all end up thinking we have sensitive skin due in large part to our subpar technique. My face sensitivity issues went way down once I picked up a silvertip brush. Larry at Whipped Dog has them for a song.

Thanks to all for the help, I think I will start by purchasing some of the less expensive soaps/creams recommended such as Trumper's and Proraso. And ofcourse I will need to work on technique and give my face time to recover from the trauma as suggested. Cheers-james.

I have really sensitive skin. When I started my straight razor adventure, I did TONS of research first and determined Proraso soap would be a good one to try. I did and it hasn't let me down. I also got VDH soap from Walmart and a small puck of some soap from WhippedDog to try, but haven't yet due to how well the Proraso works. I'm glad I bought two tubs!