For many men, shaving means a lot of irritation, redness and frustration. Often this has to do with sensitive skin that suffers from the wrong technique, blunt blades, little preparation, haste and very often using the wrong products.
Fortunately, there is wet shaving using a safety razor. Especially for men with sensitive skin, this way of shaving makes a huge difference. Then you have the world of choice between shaving soap and shaving cream. That choice can be crucial. Even at The Alpha Men, we have very many choices in this area, and not every soap or cream is suitable for sensitive skin.
The irritation that occurs after using a particular shaving soap or shaving cream can have different types of causes such as:
- The shaving soap or shaving cream does not provide enough protection
There is a huge difference in the quality of shaving soaps and creams. One of the functions of these products is to put a smooth protective layer on the skin. This allows the blade to glide smoothly over the skin without stressing the skin. Soaps and creams are all made with certain ingredients, techniques and compositions. A good shaving soap or cream creates a very thick and smooth lather on the skin. Also, there are often nourishing ingredients added to a good shaving soap or cream that soothe and nourish the skin so that it does not irritate and dry out from shaving.
- Hypersensitivity or allergy to certain ingredients
Always check the ingredient list. Especially the cheaper shaving soaps (not all) often contain many artificial ingredients that can be aggressive to the skin. Think parabens, too much menthol or lots of artificial perfume. A good shaving soap or cream is made from natural ingredients as much as possible. Many good products today contain fragrance ingredients that are gentle on the skin.
- Incorrect whipping of the shaving soap or cream
Incorrectly whipping your shaving product will cause it to not do what it is meant to do, provide optimal smoothness and protection. Some shaving products are very difficult to whip up. Sometimes too little water is used, sometimes too much or too little soap or cream is used. With the products we recommend you can hardly go wrong with whipping.
Our favorite shaving products for sensitive skin
So which shaving soap or cream is best for your sensitive skin? For that, you better look at the manufacturer of the soap or cream. Choosing the product itself is often personal preference. This is often about the scent. We often deal with customers looking for something for sensitive skin and have a colleague with sensitive skin ourselves. We always end up with a number of brands that produce unparalleled soaps and creams. So with these brands you can go for any soap or cream. Below we list them.
Extro Cosmesi
One of the tastiest and smoothest shaves you will get with the products from Italian Extro Cosmesi. Donato Ciniello, founder of Extro Cosmesi was active in the cosmetics industry for 30 years and knows everything about the skin. He decided to turn his attention to shaving and created shaving creams and aftershaves specifically for the skin.
Free of parabens and harsh alcohol, the shaving soaps are enriched with Q10, Royal Jelly, Calendula Oil and other natural ingredients all designed to nourish, protect and care for your skin. 100% plant-based and great for sensitive skin.
Extro Cosmesi soaps are soft and the texture is similar to putty. This soft texture makes them easy to whip up into a thick, rich and creamy lather.
Saponificio varesino
Another legend in the world of wet shaving. Since 1945, Saponificio Varesino has been making the most refined shaving soaps on the market. Dante Bardelli sought a way to support his family after World War II and found his passion in crafting traditional shaving soaps.
What makes this shaving soap special is that it is still made according to the traditional Marseille method and the "triple-milled" production process. This ensures that the soap is extra concentrated so you need much less of it and produces a very rich lather. All soaps are triple-milled which removes all the moisture and leaves a very concentrated shaving soap. If you want a special shaving experience, then you must have tried a soap from this manufacturer.
Officina Artigiana Milano
A new brand and also only just available in our shop, but as far as we are concerned already one of the finest shaving soaps in our range. We were stunned when we first tested this soap. The soap is gentle and consists of 40% of the essential jojoba, argan, almond, grapeseed and castor oils that provide skin care for hours after shaving.
It is made in five different stages of production, complete with vegetable ingredients. The scent of this soap is very masculine. Think warm top notes of birch, black pepper and fresh orchid, middle notes of whiskey, honey, tobacco and saffron with a leathery hint, and its base notes of wood, amber, guaiac and barley
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