shaving gel

3 March 2020

Review Alba Botanica Very Emollient Cream Shave
(I purchased this product)

Alba Botanica is a US brand and they have been established for some time, 1979 to be precise. Majority of their range is suitable for vegans aside from a handful of products that contain beeswax and honey. They are cruelty free and Leaping Bunny approved. Alba Botanica are passionate about ingredient formulations using natural and organic plant extracts.

I've had the Alba Botanica Very Emollient Cream Shave (coconut lime) since October and I realised the other day it might be nice to give it a little review. It caught my eye in TK Maxx as I love a bargain and Coconut and Lime spoke to me. I've always struggled with dry skin on my legs and when it comes to shaving I am prone to soreness, bleeding and stinging. I've tried all sorts of tips and tricks over the years so wasn't expecting much from this shave cream. I was very wrong and now I love it. It's a really interesting texture, a silky thick gel like consistency and soap free so it doesn't foam. The razor does glide across the skin and you get a close shave. It can clog the blade a little so you need to rinse off a couple of times but that's standard practise when shaving. I believe it's a unisex shave cream and suitable for the face as well. I don't have a huge amount to say about it other than it works for me and I will be buying again. The Very Emollient shave cream is also available in unscented and mango vanilla. The coconut lime doesn't contain linalool but limonene and perfume are listed ingredients (please double check suitability for yourself as formulations can change).

If you are looking for a UK stockists then check Google as I find I'm unable to rely on one particular retailer. I have purchased again from a variety of sources since discovering in TK Maxx

Sarah x

24 April 2018

Ere Perez Papaya SOS Marmalade, Ere Perez Quandong Green Booster Serum, Sukin For Men Shaving Gel
(Gifted)

Let's jump straight into this month's review for Love Lula as I'm sure you are all interested to hear my thoughts on these natural and organic skincare products.

Ere Perez Papaya SOS Marmalade
A fantastic product name that sounds so inviting. When choosing skincare I am quick to assess an ingredients list for suitability and with papaya I know we are off to a good start. The SOS marmalade is a multi-purpose balm to aid all those little skin care emergencies like dryness, irritation, bites, cuts and scars. Alongside papaya there is almond oil, coconut, hemp, mango, jojoba, shea butter, calendula, buriti and chia seed. You need to scoop the balm from the jar but once it hits the warmth of your skin it transforms into oil making it a delight to massage across your skin. The comfort factor is super important if you experience eczema because your skin is delicate and you don't want to drag a product across the surface as it can be painful. 

Ere Perez Papaya SOS Marmalade is formulated without essential oils so it has a natural, fairly neutral scent from the ingredients. I initially started testing on dry skin but then I had a rotten outbreak of dermatitis across my chest. I had even drawn blood from scratching. After patch testing I applied the Papaya SOS Marmalade overnight and it made a huge difference. Irritation had calmed by morning and my skin looked much better. I’ve continued applying as and when needed. It's worked fantastically at treating the condition and I'm super impressed with the results. I can’t promise everyone gets miracle results but definitely worth a shot if all else has failed. The Green Beauty market is full of amazing balms so I champion this one based on the ingredients. It is sometimes hard to find a balm that is suitable for Vegans but Ere Perez ticks that box. 

Ere Perez Quandong Green Booster Serum
It’s no secret that I love serums so again Ere Perez was an obvious choice. I was intrigued by the ingredients and vibrant green colour. The formulation is quandong (for vitamin C), chlorophyll, spinach, alfalfa, raspberry seed and Sodium hyaluronate (the salt of hyaluronic acid and it has lower molecular size). This serum feels like water and I find it works best mixed with other products. Curiosity may have got the better of me with this one. I’m appreciative of the formulation but I’m not completely sold on whether I need the extra step in my routine. The jury is out but if you are a skincare junkie then I think you’ll feel that pull to try it. I'm sitting on the fence with Ere Perez Quandong Green Booster Serum, it is a lovely product but it's not doing anything special for me to ditch everything else I'm using.

Sukin For Men Shaving Gel
You may remember last month I selected the Sukin body wash from the same line. Have you noticed how shaving products in the Green Beauty world are marketed to men? You’d have thought there could be unisex marketing and packaging. When shopping online I always have to hit up the Men’s section to find shaving products rare that you see them listed under women's beauty.

My husband and I usually opt for a solid shaving soap. Since we have only tried a couple of natural shaving gel/creams over the years I was curious about Sukin. As with the body wash this is free from linalool which makes it a great option for me. It contains baobab, Tasmanian pepper, sesame and chamomile. The fragrance isn’t overpowering and has a hint of citrus spice probably from the cinnamon, lime and mandarin. The pump dispenser is handy for in the shower, cuts down mess in comparison to a soap dish and I don’t need a shaving brush for application. The gel doesn’t generate a bubbly lather, it's creamy but easily softens skin and protects from the blade. I like how my legs feel during and after shaving. My husband has used on his face without any complaints. Overall I think it’s a good product to consider so don’t put off by the labelling.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them? If you missed my reviews for February then follow this link - The Handmade Soap Company, Santaverde, Organii

Sarah x

18 February 2013

Dr Bronner’s Magic Organic Lavender Shaving Gel
I was given the opportunity to select a product from Big Green Smile to review. It’s a website that I have not used myself but I am aware that it exists. The site stocks a wide variety of natural products ranging from personal care to household cleaners. Something which I can not recall seeing on other sites is the ability to search by Certifications such as Allergy UK Seal of Approval, Fairtrade and Vegan Society Approved. I chose to review Dr Bronner’s Organic Lavender Shaving Gel. I picked this because I love Dr Bronner’s products and have used them for many years. I cannot be without the liquid soaps. For anyone not familiar with the brand, products are completely free from synthetic ingredients, fair trade and certified organic. 

I have found that the gel needs to be worked into damp skin in order to create a nice creamy lather. It does require a bit of effort to create a good creamy layer. I do think it works better for me than the Bulldog Shaving Cream I reviewed last year. The scent is subtle lavender nothing offensive or overpowering but none the less soothing as you’d expect. I asked my boyfriend to help test the shaving gel since it is unisex. He doesn’t use natural products so he commented to the lack of lather. As we know that is due to Dr Bronner’s not containing sulphates. I had to encourage him to experiment with the amount of gel he was using. His first attempt resulted in a rather sore looking face which I think could be a direct result of not using the correct quantity. He tells me the next time he used more gel and the results were better. This was also visible to me. 

I like the shaving gel for my legs as I haven’t suffered any irritation. I do think it leaves my skin in a nice condition and I’m not noticing immediate dryness (I do always finish with a body lotion). As for the boyfriend, his face feels nice and smooth but he hesitates about making this a permanent part of his shaving routine. I on the other hand would happily swap with my other shaving gels. This is going to cost you more than the supermarket equivalent, £6.99 for 208ml but remember it does not contain PEG’s, parabens or propylene glycol. 

Dr. Bronner's Organic Lavender Shaving Gel Ingredients: Organic Sucrose*, Organic White Grape Juice, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Shikakai Powder, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Corn Starch, Organic Lavender Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol ** None remains after converting oils to fatty acids and glycerin 

If lavender is not your favourite scent then the shaving gel is also available in lemongrass lime, spearmint peppermint, tea tree and unscented. 

Sarah x

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