Review on LA Shaving Soaps

[Cacique]

I ordered a couple of soaps for my birthday on Oct. 31st and they arrived here on Nov. 2nd, 3 days before my birthday! Incredibly fast shipping, it was out on the same day. I got my tubs of Santa Monica Bay Rum and Topanga Fougere, and got a free sample!

The soaps were great. They lathered very easily, very slick, and smelled amazing. The Santa Monica Bay Rum was lighter than I was used to with my Clubman VIBR, but a great scent. The Topanga Fougere I would describe almost as slightly floral, somewhat of a damp mossy/rainy fresh cut grass kind of smell. (I have to cram it up my nose almost to smell it well because of sinuses.)

There was only one small problem; after using the soap every day, it seems like my face begins to have a mild reaction to it. After about a week, I would begin to feel my face tingling towards the end of my shave (4 passes). I tried swapping from Bay Rum to the Fougere, but it felt the same. It wasn't until I swapped to VDH that I stopped feeling the warm tingling.

It was definitely not a deal breaker, but it doesn't seem like I can have this as an every day soap, so that hunt will continue. I am still very pleased with the soaps and glad to have them in my rotation.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

I ordered a couple of soaps for my birthday on Oct. 31st and they arrived here on Nov. 2nd, 3 days before my birthday! Incredibly fast shipping, it was out on the same day. I got my tubs of Santa Monica Bay Rum and Topanga Fougere, and got a free sample!

The soaps were great. They lathered very easily, very slick, and smelled amazing. The Santa Monica Bay Rum was lighter than I was used to with my Clubman VIBR, but a great scent. The Topanga Fougere I would describe almost as slightly floral, somewhat of a damp mossy/rainy fresh cut grass kind of smell. (I have to cram it up my nose almost to smell it well because of sinuses.)

There was only one small problem; after using the soap every day, it seems like my face begins to have a mild reaction to it. After about a week, I would begin to feel my face tingling towards the end of my shave (4 passes). I tried swapping from Bay Rum to the Fougere, but it felt the same. It wasn't until I swapped to VDH that I stopped feeling the warm tingling.

It was definitely not a deal breaker, but it doesn't seem like I can have this as an every day soap, so that hunt will continue. I am still very pleased with the soaps and glad to have them in my rotation.

Sorry to hear that...you must be reacting to something in the soap...I've had that with a few soaps myself!

 

[driftwood]

I reacted to it too. It wasn't until I went in their web site and noted that they use vegetable glycerine as an ingriedant. Veggie glycerine kills my face for some reason. I tested my theory using an actual bottle of veggie glycerine and it did the same thing. Funny thing is I have no problem with pharmacy glycerine (non-veggie). It's kind of weird as glycerine is glycerine right? Oh well.

 

[Capslock]

I was planning on coming on today and singing the praises of LA Shaving soap. I used the lavender scent this morning, and had a fantastic shave. I only have a sample, so I just smeared a pea-sized bit on the bottom of my lather bowl. It made enough lather for a small town, and the shave was slick and irritation free. Honestly, this is a premier soap - among the best in my opinion, and it doesn't get enough mention. I didn't have any reaction to any ingredients - almost the opposite. I didn't even feel the need for aftershave. I strongly encourage everyone to give it a try.

 

[Cacique]

I definitely think that it's a soap to try too, Capslock. I don't think it was the vegetable glycerine for me, I've used vegetable glycerine soaps for full body washing for years with no issues at all, even for washing my face. I'm thinking it is either a combination, or perhaps just the essential oils. I'm not really sure, but I know that the reaction is so light that I can still enjoy the soaps quite a lot.

I started taking a short break before I stick them back into the rotation. I swapped to VDH and no issues, just not as a luxurious shave. I wanna crack and use the Topanga Fougere because it's such a great scent, but maybe I'll wait until tomorrow and then see if I get the same reaction. I'm hoping not so I can enjoy it more than every once in a while lol.

I never thought of my face as sensitive so I didn't really think anything would happen, and it took me a bit to figure out it was the soap and not reverting to sloppy technique. I wonder if anyone who's had a reaction has tried the unscented version?

I've been debating trying to make my own aftershave, maybe some soap in the future. So when/if I get some veggie glycerine I'm definitely going to see if I get a reaction. It could be the soaps I had were diluted enough to not cause a reaction. Or it could even be I had some irritation that I didn't noticed being exacerbated by shaving without healing, or the soap.

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

 

[Majestic]

Maybe LASS is going a little heavy on the fragrance? Are the scents strong?

 

[driftwood]

Just get some veggie glycerine and add some to a uber lather, that'll tell you if your sensitive to it or not. If you are you know it's not an addition you want to make to your home made soap.

 

[Cacique]

I think I would be the wrong candidate to tell if their scents are strong, my nose is stuffy almost all the time. I think I have sinus issues. I CAN smell them though, so that could mean that they're a bit strong scented.

 

[Evil4blue]

The stinks about your reaction to the soap...I heard really good things about his soaps and they're on my long list of must tries.

 

[Spartacus mills]

I had the same tingling reaction today when I used the Spring Street soap. The ingredients list on the side includes 5 or 6 essential oils and I have a feeling this is what is causing my slight reaction. As mentioned before, it's not a deal breaker and I really enjoy the scent and performance but it is worth noting.

 

[coryforsenate]

I'd say their scents are above average to strong. Your SO will know if you just shaved with Bespoke.

Me personally, I like a strong scent. And all of LASS's scents that I tried in my sampler are nice.