Toolbox Aid

May 11th, 2023 7:16 AM Mr. Q Categories: Beauty

There are several benefits to making your own DIY shaving cream, including:

1. Control over ingredients: When you make your own shaving cream, you have control over the ingredients that go into it. You can choose natural, organic, or hypoallergenic ingredients that work best for your skin type and avoid harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances that can cause irritation or allergic reactions.
2. Cost-effective: DIY shaving cream can be much more cost-effective than buying store-bought options. You can often make a batch for a fraction of the cost of a single jar or tube of commercial shaving cream.
3. Customizable: Making your own shaving cream allows you to customize the scent and texture to your liking. You can experiment with different essential oils to create a personalized scent, and adjust the amount of ingredients to create a thicker or thinner consistency.
4. Moisturizing: Homemade shaving creams can be more moisturizing and nourishing for your skin than commercial options. Many DIY shaving cream recipes contain natural oils and butters that can help soothe and hydrate the skin, leaving it soft and smooth after shaving.

Overall, DIY shaving cream can be a great way to pamper your skin and save money at the same time.

Essential Oil Options

Here are some examples of essential oils that are commonly used in grooming and shaving products (you can mix and match any of these to your liking):

• Sandalwood is a fragrant wood that is commonly used in perfumes and aromatherapy for its calming and grounding properties.
• Peppermint oil: Has a refreshing and invigorating scent, and is known for its cooling and soothing properties. Can help reduce redness and inflammation on the skin.
• Eucalyptus oil: Has a fresh, minty scent, and is commonly used in shaving products for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Can help soothe razor burn and prevent ingrown hairs.
• Tea tree oil: Has a herbal, medicinal scent, and is known for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Can help prevent infection and reduce inflammation in the skin.
• Lavender oil: Has a floral, calming scent, and is often used in skincare products for its soothing and healing properties. Can help reduce irritation and redness on the skin.
• Cedarwood oil: Has a woody, earthy scent, and is commonly used in men’s grooming products for its calming and grounding properties. Can help reduce stress and promote relaxation.
• Jasmine oil: has a sweet and floral-scented essential oil that is often used for its relaxing and mood-boosting properties.
• Frankincense oil: has a resin with a woody, earthy, and slightly sweet aroma, commonly used in aromatherapy for its relaxing and grounding properties.
• Wintergreen is a minty, sweet-smelling essential oil often used for its cooling and pain-relieving properties.
• Myrrh is an aromatic resin with a warm, earthy scent that has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries.

These are just a few examples of the many essential oils available, and each one has its own unique scent and set of benefits. When using essential oils in DIY grooming products, it’s important to do your research and choose oils that are safe for use on the skin and appropriate for your skin type and needs.

Pre-Shave Oil

Make your own pre-shave oil at home using simple ingredients. Here’s a recipe for a basic DIY pre-shave oil:

Ingredients (2 fl oz):

• carrier oil (2 fl oz or 59 ml ) (such as grapeseed, almond, or jojoba oil)
• essential oil (8-10 drops) (such as peppermint, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil)

Smaller batch (1 fl oz):

• carrier oil (0.5 fl oz or 29 ml) (such as grapeseed, almond, or jojoba oil)
• essential oil (4-6 drops) (such as peppermint, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil)

Instructions:

1. Mix the carrier oil and essential oil together in a small glass bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Shake well to combine the oils.
3. Store the pre-shave oil in a cool, dark place until ready to use.
4. Before shaving, dampen your face with warm water and massage a small amount of the pre-shave oil onto your skin, focusing on areas where you will be shaving.

The carrier oil in this recipe helps to moisturize and protect the skin, while the essential oil provides a refreshing and invigorating scent. You can adjust the amount of essential oil to suit your personal preference.

Important to note: not all essential oils are safe for use on the skin, so be sure to do your research and choose oils that are appropriate for your skin type and needs.

Shave Gel

Simple and effective DIY shave gel that you can make at home:

Ingredients (8 oz):

• aloe vera gel (4 fl oz or 118 ml)
• liquid castile soap (2 fl oz or 59 ml)
• olive oil or coconut oil (2 fl oz or 59 ml)
• 10-15 drops of essential oil (optional)

Smaller Batch (2 oz)

• aloe vera gel (0.8 fl oz or 23.6 ml)
• liquid castile soap (0.4 fl oz or 11.8 ml)
• olive oil or coconut oil (0.4 fl oz or 11.8 ml)
• 3-5 drops of essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix the aloe vera gel, liquid castile soap, and olive oil or coconut oil until well combined.
2. If you want to add a scent to your shave gel, add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil and stir to combine.
3. Pour the mixture into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid, such as a jar or bottle.
4. Before using, wet your skin with warm water and apply a small amount of the shave gel to the area you want to shave. Shave as usual, then rinse off the remaining gel with warm water.

The aloe vera gel in this recipe helps to soothe and moisturize the skin, while the castile soap provides a gentle lather to help the razor glide smoothly over the skin. The oil helps to lubricate the skin and prevent irritation. The essential oil is optional but can add a pleasant scent to the shave gel.

Note: Be sure to store your DIY shave gel in a cool, dry place and use it within a few weeks.

Post-Shave lotion

Simple and soothing DIY post-shave lotion that you can make at home:

Ingredients (6 oz):

• shea butter (2 oz or 59.15 ml)
• coconut oil (2 oz or 59.15 ml)
• sweet almond oil or jojoba oil (2 oz or 59.15 ml)
• essential oil – optional – (10-15 drops)

Smaller Batch (2 oz)

• shea butter (0.5 oz or 14.79 ml)
• coconut oil (0.5 oz or 14.79 ml)
• sweet almond oil or jojoba oil (0.5 oz or 14.79 ml)
• essential oil – optional (5-7 drops)

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, melt the shea butter and coconut oil over low heat until completely melted and combined.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the sweet almond oil or jojoba oil.
3. If you want to add a scent to your post-shave lotion, add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil and stir to combine.
4. Pour the mixture into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid, such as a jar or bottle.
5. Allow the lotion to cool and solidify at room temperature, then apply a small amount to the area you shaved after shaving.

The shea butter and coconut oil in this recipe help to moisturize and nourish the skin, while the sweet almond oil or jojoba oil helps to soothe and reduce inflammation. The essential oil is optional but can add a pleasant scent and additional skin benefits.

Be sure to store your DIY post-shave lotion in a cool, dry place and use it within a few weeks.

Why a few week’s shelf life

The DIY skincare products, like pre-shave oil, shave gel, and post-shave lotion, do not contain synthetic preservatives like store-bought skincare products. These preservatives help to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms that can cause spoilage and make the product unsafe to use. Without these preservatives, the natural ingredients in DIY products can break down more quickly and may be more prone to contamination. That’s why it’s recommended to use the product within a few weeks to ensure its freshness and safety.

I will be using Sandalwood

Sandalwood is a type of fragrant wood that comes from the sandalwood tree (Santalum album), which is native to India and Southeast Asia. Sandalwood has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, religious ceremonies, and perfumery.

Sandalwood has a sweet, woody, and warm scent that is highly valued in the fragrance industry. It is often used as a base note in perfumes and colognes and is also used in aromatherapy for its calming and grounding properties.

Sandalwood essential oil is extracted from the wood of the sandalwood tree and is used in a variety of personal care products, including shaving creams, aftershaves, and soaps. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, which can help soothe and protect the skin during shaving.