Homemade shaving gel recipe
Making homemade shaving gel was was one of the most interesting and difficult tasks so far I had.
Soap was not an option, since my fiancee doesn’t like it for shaving and I was supposed to formulate something that would compete with the typical shaving gels which are foaming once applied.
I tried multiple recipes, however, only this one made it to a regular usage and has been used for 3 months already. I am not 100% satisfied with its consistency (it could be thicker), however, because of this we keep it in the fridge, which gives it a very unique cooling effect!
Recipe (adjusted recipe from Aroma-zone)
74% mineral water (I put distilled water with blue food coloring)
10% SCS (sodium coco sulphate) – for foaming
10% SCI (sodium cocoyl isethionate) – for foaming
0.5% pollen – for antibacterial purposes
1% xanthan gum – to make gel of it
1% provitamine B5 – repairing
2% apricot kernel oil
10 drops peppermint EO, 0.5g EO santal wood (for 100g)
0.1% lactic acid (cca 3 drops for 100g to adjust Ph)
0.6% Cosgard – preservative
Instructions
1. On a low heat melt SCI, SCS and pollen in mineral water
2. Then add xanthan gum, slowly, adding small amount at time while continuously stirring
3. Finally, stir in all the other ingredients, one after another
4. Keep in the fridge, top keep the consistency (I might want to put more xanthan gum or less mineral water next time)
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This is how it looks like once out of fridge |
This entry was posted by evik on May 11, 2013 at 23:58, and is filed under cosmetics making, face, shaving. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.
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#2 written by evik 7 years ago
Hi Livinus, well, the truth is that you can make a shaving gel much less complicated. In meantime I did more experimenting and actually, the easiest and best recipe is this one: 48% glycerine, 36% water, 10% SCS, 4% Xanthan gum, 1% preservative, 1% fragrance. If you do not have SCS, simply substitute liquid soap for water + SCS portion of the recipe (e.g. 46% liquid soap).
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#3 written by Agnes 6 years ago
Hi Evik, pls tell me what happens if I leave out SCS and SCI? I am not sure about how natural they are and I am sure you know it better, but as I only use natural ingredients, leaves me some doubt. Could you help to clarify as well as give me your opinion what happens if I make this at home without those ingredients? Thanks in advance
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#4 written by evik 6 years ago
Hi Agnes, it won’t foam. SCI and SCS are surfactants. You can try to use liquid soap instead the water+SCI+SLS, but I am not sure if xanthan gum will succeed in making it gel. Can you tell me, how do you define a natural ingredient (everyone has different definition)? I could help you to find a natural shaving gel/… etc recipe.
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#5 written by Agnes 6 years ago
Hi Evik,
thanks for your reply. Natural ingredients? Good question. When it comes to soap, it is easy. No colouring, like food colour, only essential oils and the regular oils for the base. So nothing synthetic. As it is for creams and the rest, I try to look for ingredients which are accepted by Eu regulations like preservatives etc. If you could tell me about this SCI and SLS. Is this the same sodium laurate sulphate?
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#6 written by Paul 6 years ago
Hi Evik,
You have such an informative web site! Thank you.
I have glycerine and started making soaps then it was pointed out that one of my soaps was actualy better as a shave gel, I have been useing it for shaving since. It is roughly 2/3 glycerine, liquid soap and oil, it works great but needs thickening. My question is what is the best natural product to use to thicken a glycerine based shave gel?
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#8 written by D. K. 2 years ago
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Didn't find any related posts :(
I’m very much interested in trying out some of these recipes but my challenge is the inability to get some of these ingredients. Also, some terms are used which people like myself find difficult to understand its meaning.
The site is very interesting and good too.