Shaving Cream - whipped homemade for a close shave!

Reasons for making your own Shaving Cream:

1. It leave your face, legs, or armpits soft.
2. You'll get a closer shave than just lathered soap.
3. Avoid all the HARMFUL chemicals that are in store-bought versions.
4. It makes a Great Gift for friends and family. 

As it turns out, there are thousands of homemade shaving cream recipes!  Most include many of the same ingredients. Cool, right? I made each of the main variations and changed them to improve them the way it worked for me and my family.  However, there is one little problem... 

The most prevalent recipe you will find includes shea butter. My shea butter whipped shaving cream recipe makes a fluffy cream to spread over your legs and makes for a silky shave.  The problem is that this puts a BUNCH of solid oils straight down the drain. Not fun for a homeowner!  Whether at the sink or in the shower, the solid oils flow down the drain.  Not even hot water is going to be able to flush it through, and it can clog...  You sure don't want to have to go looking to find where that clog is in your plumbing.

So, if you still want to use the fluffy lotion method, here’s the recipe. A super-dooper smooth shave, but for the sake of your pipes, don't let it down the drain. 

Natural lubricants and essential oils, this shaving cream improves razor glide for a close, comfortable shave. Great for men and women, this shaving cream will leave skin smooth, healthy, and moisturized. 

• 2/3 cup Virgin Coconut Oil  
• 2/3 cup Shea Butter
• 1/4 cup Olive Oil (you could also use almond, grapeseed or jojoba oil)
• 2 teaspoons Baking Soda

Essential oils are optional, however they add a great scent and some essential oils can be healing for the skin.  When it comes to Essential Oils, you have many choices to create a uniquely special blend - just the way you LOVE it! Here are a couple recommendations for blends. 

Blend #1

• Lavender EO - 10 drops 
• Peppermint EO - 5 drops 

Blend #2

• Sandalwood EO - 5 drops

• Peppermint EO - 5 drops

• Melaleuca/Tea Tree EO - 5 drops

A few other examples of great essential oil (EO) combinations: 

• Tangerine and Sweet Orange are hydrating 
• Geranium and Jasmine are typically used on normal skin 
• Eucalyptus and Rosemary for scarred skin or skin that is prone to infection
• Roman Chamomile and Lavender EO's are moisturizing and used for dry skin or skin with issues such as eczema. 

For this recipe, aim for a total of 15 drops of essential oils!

Instructions

1. First, soften Shea Butter (it is very hard in natural form) 
2. Add Shea Butter and Coconut Oil to large mixing bowl. 
3. Add Jojoba and Bergamot oils to bowl. 
4. Using a hand mixer, mix all ingredients for 10 minutes. (This will create a light, whipped texture). 
5. Store in an air tight container. 

The key to getting a light, whipped texture is by letting the Shea butter soften. You can also whip Shea butter with a hand mixer in it’s natural form, but it will result in a thicker, creamier texture that is a little harder to spread evenly over skin. 

1) Lotion Shave Cream
 Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shea butter
• 1/3 cup sweet almond oil
• 10 drops essential oils of choice

 Directions:

1. Whip shea butter in a bowl
2. Slowly add melted coconut and sweet almond oil while whipping.
3. Add essential oils and whip.

2) Simple and Lovely - I love this recipe because I always have these ingredients on hand, I can make a bunch, and the coconut oil adds that extra moisture and smoothness for my legs. If you do not have fractionated coconut oil (used so you don’t get a hard clump of coconut oil in your container), you can substitute another oil like olive, sweet almond, apricot, or grapeseed.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz homemade soap (non-castile will make it thicker)
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp fractionated coconut oil
• 10 drops essential oils of choice

 Directions:

1. Shave 1 oz soap into a saucepan with water and heat over low until melted.
2. Remove from heat and add fractionated coconut oil and essential oils.
3. Add to your Foam Pump

3) Shampoo/Conditioner Combo - This one makes a great shaving cream, just make sure your are using healthy shampoos.  Check EWG database or my post on best to worst non-organic shampoos.

 Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup conditioner
• 1/4 cup shampoo
• 4 Tbsp sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil
• 10 drops essential oils of choice

 Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients and pour into a foam pump.

4) Oil and Honey Combo - Oooh, cocoa butter, honey, and sweet almond oil! A Great combo! I really liked the feel of this one.  

 Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
• 1/4 cup cocoa butter (melted)
• 1/4 cup castile soap
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• 3/4 cups warm water (or enough to fill a 16 oz container after other ingredients are added)
• 10 drops essential oils of choice

 Directions:

1. In a glass measuring cup, add cocoa butter and place in a sauce pan of water as a type of double broiler.
2. Add soap, sweet almond oil, and honey.
3. Pour into 16 oz foam container and add enough water to fill.
4. Shake to combine well.

5) Aloe and Soap - Aloe is very soothing, inside and out. Using an aloe gel and soap combo makes this a great foaming gel for shaving.

 Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup aloe vera gel (We use this brand internally, very good stuff)
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap (or melt 1oz in 1 cup water)
• 2 Tbsp sweet almond oil
• 1/2 cup filtered water
• 10 drops essential oils of choice

 Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients and pour into a foam pump.

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