Chemical Free Shaving?

[lambo69]

Over the past year I have realised that DE shaving is not for me. The novelty wore off after a while and it became more of a pain than enjoyment.
I soon realised that with good prep, good shaving technique and a good post shave balm, I was achieving a almost BBS shave while using a Gillette Sensor and a can of shave gel.
A thing that has began to concern me however is the amount of chemicals found in shaving gel. Looking at my can of Gillette there is things like BHT which has been linked with cancer. Now I remember people saying on here that Nivea shave gels were very good. I was going to buy the white sensitive version but still noticed it had many chemicals although it does not contain BHT.
Can anyone else recommend a shaving gel or foam that has little to no chemicals or will I need to go back to my BodyShop for men cream?

 

[soapbox]

Over the past year I have realised that DE shaving is not for me. The novelty wore off after a while and it became more of a pain than enjoyment.
I soon realised that with good prep, good shaving technique and a good post shave balm, I was achieving a almost BBS shave while using a Gillette Sensor and a can of shave gel.
A thing that has began to concern me however is the amount of chemicals found in shaving gel. Looking at my can of Gillette there is things like BHT which has been linked with cancer. Now I remember people saying on here that Nivea shave gels were very good. I was going to buy the white sensitive version but still noticed it had many chemicals although it does not contain BHT.
Can anyone else recommend a shaving gel or foam that has little to no chemicals or will I need to go back to my BodyShop for men cream?

Non-pressurized creams and hard soaps will be less likely to contain synthetic or not-quite-all-natural substances.

 

[82R100]

I have use Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel in the past.

From the label, the ingredients are as follows:
Deionized Water
Palmitic Acid
Triethanolamine
Stearic Acid
Pentane
Sunflower Oil
Monogyclerides
Sorbitol
Oatmeal Flour
Allantoin
Triclosan
Glycerin
Cellulose Polymer
Phenylcarbinol
Benzaldehyde
1-Dodecanol
Isobutane

I'm not sure that this qualifies as "little to no chemicals" but it is what it is. This can is several years old, so it's vaguely possible that things have changed, but probably not for the simpler.

[Edit: Here's the UK site for them. It's not clear that the shave gel is available in the UK.]

- Chris

 

[bobbyd]

http://www.cremocream.com - gets pretty good reviews here.

Ingredients from their FAQ:
1. Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate is derived from Coconut Oil, its highly lubricating so that the blade glides over your skin, thus less nicks cuts and irritation
2. Stearic Acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid that acts as a surfactant, which increases surface tension. Similar to Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate it allows the blade to glide over the skin–not bite into it.
3. Glycol Distearate is a derivative of Stearic Acid that acts as a skin conditioner and emollient.
4. Cetearyl Alcohol is a straight chain alcohol that acts as an emulsifier. In other words, this ingredient stops the formula from separating into its oil and liquid components (like what happens to oil and vinegar in salad dressings).
5. Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil is more commonly known as Macadamia Nut Oil. A naturally occuring cold pressed oil that is known for its moisturizing, skin conditioning and anti-aging properties.
6. Polyether-1 is an alcohol that acts as a humectant (increases the water content of the top layers of the skin by drawing moisture from the surrounding air) and also increases viscosity.
7. Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride is derived from the pulverized seeds of a Guar tree which is indigenous to India. It has excellent skin smoothing and softening properties as well as acts as an emulsifier.
8. Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant and is a widely accepted emollient and skin conditioner.
9. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is derived from the plant commonly know as Aloe Vera which has been used for hundreds of years for its medicinal properties, namely wound-healing and skin inflammation.
10. Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract is also know as the common Marigold flower and has been know for centuries for its anti-inflammatory properties.
11. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar substitute found in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables. Xylitol (Finnish ksylitoli) was first derived from Birch trees in Finland in the 20th century and was first popularized in Europe as a safe sweetener for people with diabetes that would not impact insulin levels. In Cremo Cream xylitol is used as a an emulsyfier as well as a skin moisturizer (instead of the common used glycerin which can be sticky).
12. Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract is a fancy scientific name for cold pressed lemon oil. Known for generations in the homeopathic world for its many benefits, namely as a skin conditioner.
13. Carica Papaya Fruit Extract is derived from the fruit of the papaya tree. Just like what you find in the grocery store or on your trip to Hawaii! Papaya extract contains the enzyme papain which acts as a strong skin conditioner with great antibacterial and wound healing abilities.
14. Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract is a fancy scientific name for cold pressed olive oil. Used for thousands of years and even called “liquid gold” by Homer, Olive oil is used a skin conditioner, having moisturizing and healing effects.
15. Linalool & Limonene are citrus peel extracts that are used in aromatherapy and help give Cremo Cream its scent.
16. Perfluoromethylcyclopentane is an high tech skin conditioner that increases moisture levels by promoting skin respiration and hydration. It is an organic chemical compound made of carbon, fluorine and oxygen.
17. Phenoxyethanol is an organic chemical compound that prevents or retards microbial growth, and thus protects Cremo Cream from spoilage.
18. Ethylhexylglycerin is an organic chemical compound which prevents or retards microbial growth it also acts as a humectant and skin conidtioner.
19. Titanium Dioxide is derived from minerals and acts as a colorant. It is commonly used in sunscreens as it reflects and scatters UV radiation.
20. Citric Acid is an organic acid found in lemon juice. We use it as a natural preservative as well as for its lemon like fragrance.
21. Fragrance (Parfum), ours is bergamot or bitter orange.

 

[gollum83]

Can anyone else recommend a shaving gel or foam that has little to no chemicals or will I need to go back to my BodyShop for men cream?

Well I guess that depends on you mean by chemical free. Technically everything you encounter is a quite literally a chemical. So dry shaving would be the purest form of chemical free shaving, not that I'm recommending that to anyone.

 

[MOVIESTAR]

everything now a days has chemicals

 

[The Nid Hog]

How about Dr. Bronner's gels? I haven't used them myself, but their soap is excellent.

http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/SHAVING.htm

Kiss My Face is another option, as is Tom's of Maine. Unfortunately, it looks like Tom's no longer makes their shaving cream. However, it looks like it's still available on line:

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp38637_3..._conditioning_shave_cream_refreshing_mint.htm

Have you given up on applying cream with a brush too?

 

[keeptahoeblue]

TRY WELEDA!!!!!!! they have a cream and a balm that rocks!

 

[pmast]

Kiss My Face is another option, as is Tom's of Maine. Unfortunately, it looks like Tom's no longer makes their shaving cream. However, it looks like it's still available on line:

Nooooooooooooooooo!

 

[MikeLip]

Chemicals? Aren't we made up of chemicals? I know what you are getting at, but there are chemicals we need and chemicals we don't, and chemicals thta are harmless. I'm really pretty sure that unless you buy your shaving creams from the buy who put poison in Tylenol bottles way back when, you will never have any problems.

On the other hand there are people who have problems with naturally occurring ingredients, which is what you really mean. Real lime oil is noted for this, while the man made lime scent seems to bother no one.

 

[fsatsil]

If you want a cream with less toxic chemicals you probably want to check out your local natural/health food store and see what they sell. Brands like Kiss My Face, Alba, Jason, Weleda, Aubrey Organix.....etc all seem to be mostly made of natural ingredients.