Help me solve the Soap Mystery

[Kyle Hyde]

I've posted some threads in the past stating which soaps have given me trouble. I have two soaps I can use consistently without any irritation and no creams (with creams the irritation starts faster). I thought my irritation was because of coconut oil/acid or palm oil/acid, but I've been told that is impossible (though I'm not sure I buy that). Anyway, I'm hoping if I post all the ones I can't use and all the one's I can, I can find out what is causing this. Maybe someone has the same reactions, and can give me a hint as to a soap to get next. I'm getting bored with only two soaps .

Irritation casing products:
SOAPS: Cade, Provence Sante, Em's Place unscented, Kell's unscented (in all three formulas), MWF, DR Harris Arlington, Mama Bear's (unscented, frankincense, hydrogen, northwoods), Speick, Erasmic (non-tallow), Williams
CREAM: AOS unscented and lavender, Proraso, Arko commando, Tom's of Maine Mint, Kiss My Face unscented and patchouli, Taylor's Rose and Avocado, T&H comfort, em's place unscented, Musgo Real

Products I can use:
VDH deluxe, Prairie Creations Unscented (my favorite), sometimes Tabac

 

[Omnichron]

Have you tried Glycerin soaps?

 

[Eudjinn]

if you are having "irritation" that is in the form of an allergic reaction, i would say that the ingredient causing your trouble ends with "nut" or has a shellfish type quality to it (less likely because we're talking about shaving stuff here, not food)

i am a student physician so take my advice with a grain of salt. it is my knowledge that nuts and shellfish are often the culprit, but so can milk products, medications and so on. good luck

 

[gollum83]

Have you tried Glycerin soaps?

Melt-and-pours? Yeah, he has. Maybe you missed it but he listed Mama Bear and Kell's among the soap that cause him irritation, both fine examples of melt-and-pour or glycerin soaps.

Now for the cause of the irritation, I do not have a clue, Kyle. Are there any common ingredients between all of those soaps and creams? I almost want to say that maybe you're extremely sensitive to a particular scent or scents, but heck even the unscented products are causing issues for you. Anybody else have any ideas?

 

[Omnichron]

you should try witch hazel before shaving. that closes up the pores on the surface of the skin and less change of getting whatever is affecting your skin. or maybe try shaving with pure glycerin, not soap but the liquid sold at pharmacies.

 

[richmondesi]

Kyle, you might want to try the Gentlemen's Best Signature Series soap. There's a shave stick pass going on right now with GB...

 

[Dpflaum]

You could try to get your hands on some Irisch Moos if Tabac is okay sometimes...

On a more expensive note, you could try some Penhaligon's creams or soaps...

 

[pcb01]

Two questions:

Do you have allergies to anything else, like the nuts or shellfish previously mentioned?

Can you describe the "irritation"? Red? Itchy? Hives? Bumps? etc. If it is truly just irritation, it may not be an allegic reaction. Maybe the soaps you listed are just the best soaps for you (i.e., the most protective) and the irritation you feels with the others is simply due to the shaving process.

One way to tell would be to put a couple dabs of the "offending" soaps on your face and let them sit a while. If after a few minutes there is no irritation, I would guess you are not really allergic to them.

 

[Eudjinn]

yes a good observation. please describe your irritation. does it happen immediately upon application of the soap or does it happen 24 hours later? is the irritation razor burn/little red bumps or hives like you would get after a mosquito bite?

Two questions:

Do you have allergies to anything else, like the nuts or shellfish previously mentioned?

Can you describe the "irritation"? Red? Itchy? Hives? Bumps? etc. If it is truly just irritation, it may not be an allegic reaction. Maybe the soaps you listed are just the best soaps for you (i.e., the most protective) and the irritation you feels with the others is simply due to the shaving process.

One way to tell would be to put a couple dabs of the "offending" soaps on your face and let them sit a while. If after a few minutes there is no irritation, I would guess you are not really allergic to them.

 

[Kyle Hyde]

They cause a strange tingling sensation even without shaving, that results in really red, dry skin afterward. It makes part of my face even feel a little scaly or really smooth but in a dry way if that makes sense. I've tried them without shaving, so I know it's not because of the razor. I can tell if a product is going to irritate me before I even finish lathering. Afterward, I'm left with burny skin. It must be something because the soaps people say are the most moisturizing dry my skin out something fierce (Provence, Cade, etc.)

 

[Son]

I can tell if a product is going to irritate me before I even finish lathering.

So, this means that you face lather?

I would first stop with that and do mug or scuttle lather.

You may even try massaging the lather into your skin, instead of applying it with a brush. It is not impossible that your problem is not only related to soaps you use but your brush as well. Or just the fact that you irritate your sensitive skin by face lathering with anything other than the gentlest of brushes.

I have noticed is that some of the soaps react with skin much milder when applied to face already lathered.

Finally, I would try some of products for extra sensitive skin with aloe vera.

If that will still result in the end result being dry and irritated skin, I would rethink the complete skin care regime (morning, daytime and evening , cleansing, peeling, nutrition and hydration), alongside each stage of the prep, shaving and post shave ritual.

My final guess is that your tap water also may be contributing this situation. Traveling a lot, I sometimes get my skin reaction just to different waters.

If none of this help, or make sense, I'd consult a dermatologist.

Good luck!

 

[Mama Bear]

Boy, I truly wish I had the answer for you.. the first culprit is usually the fragrance... with my soaps 2nd and 3rd allergins would be wheat and soy... obviously it's not the fragrance with you as you seem to have tried every unscented soap out there.

Never try and use a soap that causes a reaction.. some folks try and use them anyway but I strongly recommend that you do not... on the upside of this, all of these soaps you have accumulated can be used as bath soaps.. it is probably only your face that will have a reaction.. but at worst case, they can be used as hand soaps also or sold on the BST forum.

I can understand your frustration not knowing what is causing the issue.. here are the ingredients for my soaps.. maybe you can find a trend, I sure hope so.. my heart goes out to you!

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Castor Oil, Safflower , Glycerine (kosher, of vegetable origin), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent), Sorbitol (moisturizer), Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soybean protein (conditioner), Wheat protein, Shea Oil, Natural Vit. E, Aloe Vera Gel and fragrance either natural or synthetic.

We can rule out the fragrance, so you will probably have to rule each of the others out in some fashion.. but even then you may not find an answer..

Best of luck on this...... my sympathies for sure! Sue

 

[gollum83]

So, this means that you face lather?

Excellent question. Are you face lathering? Better yet, what are you using as a brush?

 

[Nana June]

They cause a strange tingling sensation even without shaving, that results in really red, dry skin afterward. It makes part of my face even feel a little scaly or really smooth but in a dry way if that makes sense. I've tried them without shaving, so I know it's not because of the razor. I can tell if a product is going to irritate me before I even finish lathering. Afterward, I'm left with burny skin. It must be something because the soaps people say are the most moisturizing dry my skin out something fierce (Provence, Cade, etc.)

I would suggest you try something with organic oils to start. I have very sensitive skin, and I use only organic based products on my face. I still get some drying and redness occasionally, but not nearly as bad. Tea tree oil (in VERY slight amounts) actually helps the tingling and dryness, believe it or not. And I add grape seed oil and apricot kernel oils to my face soaps for extra moisture, especially in the winter months when my face is extra dry.

 

[Kyle Hyde]

Yes, I face lather. But I have tried bowl lathering too. I know it's not the brush. I've been at this for over a year now. VDH and Prairie Creations are fine. I use either a 22mm golden nib badger, or my Omega 49, or my Semogue 1305. I've also tried applying the creams without a brush. It's some common ingredient or resulting product. I don't mind if I don't find out which, as I'm fine with my VDH and PC. Just wanted to see if I could pinpoint it.

 

[Eudjinn]

sounds like you could be having a contact dermatitis. are you allergic to anything or do you have allergies running in your family?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_dermatitis

if this is truly the case, you really have no better option than avoiding the offending agents

 

[ChrisS86]

sounds like you could be having a contact dermatitis. are you allergic to anything or do you have allergies running in your family?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_dermatitis

if this is truly the case, you really have no better option than avoiding the offending agents

His skin description definitely sounds like contact dermatitis.

If I had to guess, I'd say the allergen could be coconut oil. It doesn't appear that the two soaps he uses (VDH and PC) contain them, whereas other shaving software like Mama Bear's soaps, Proraso, and Art of Shaving soap contain various amounts of it. This might be a stretch, given that skin sensitivity induced by coconut oil is rare, but this is the only thing I can think of.