First we suggested our beard oil recipe to make your beard soft and shiny; now we’re suggesting you shave it all off! Of course it’s not our call, but if you’re ready to get back to baby-smooth skin, here’s a recipe for a shaving cream that will do the job, along with a recipe for a after-shave tonic.

Shaving cream

There are two parts to this recipe, so be sure to read both parts before you begin. You’ll start by making a thick cream and letting it cool (first part), then you’ll add the second part. The ingredients in the second part will help the razor glide smoothly over your skin. Remember that you don’t have to make both parts on the same day – you could divide it over two days, for example.

Ingredients for the first part

Oil phase

• 70 g (14.1%) sunflower seed oil
• 25 g (5%) Ecomulse

Aqueous phase

• 10 g (2%) GeoGard
• 175 g (35.3%) water

Ingredients for the second part

• 50 g (10.1%) witch hazel hydrosol
• 120 g (24.2%) aloe juice
• 5 g (1%) cellulose gum
• 5 g (1%) bentonite
• 10 g (2%) grapeseed oil
• 20 g (4%) jojoba oil
• 0.6 g (0.1%) bergamot essential oil – Citrus bergamia
• 0.6 g (0.1%) lemon essential oil – Citrus limonum (therapeutic grade)
• 2 g (0.4%) cypress essential oil – Cupressus sempervirens var. stricta
• 0.4 g (0.08%) litsea essential oil – Litsea citrata cubeba
• 0.4 g (0.08%) Atlas cedar essential oil – Cedrus atlantica
• 0.4 g (0.08%) true lavender essential oil – Lavandula angustifolia
• 1 g (0.2%) vetiver essential oil – Vetiveria zizanioides

Tools

• Two double boilers (or two small stainless-steel pots and bowls to make the double boilers). Click here to learn how to make a double boiler.
• 5 bowls (1 for each phase + 1 for the aloe + 1 for the witch hazel + 1 for the oils)
• 3 ramekins (1 for the essential oils, 1 for the clay/cellulose gum and 1 for the Geogard)
• Silicone spatula
• Spoons
• Whisk
• Immersion blender
• Thermometer
• A scale accurate to 1 gram and a scale accurate to 0.1 gram
• Isopropyl alcohol
• 4 120ml PETE plastic jars or 2 240ml plastic jars

An important reminder before you begin

The mixture of water and oil creates an environment favourable to bacterial growth, so it’s important to add a preservative and to take the necessary hygiene measures such as carefully cleaning all surfaces, wearing gloves, and sterilizing all tools and containers with boiling water. For plastic tools and other materials that can’t withstand boiling water, spray with 70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and air dry.

Steps to follow for part I

1. Weigh the ingredients for the oil phase (sunflower seed oil and ECOMulse) and place them in the first double boiler.

2. Weigh 175 g. of water, cover and place in the second double boiler.

3. Heat both phases over medium heat to 70˚C and keep at that temperature for 20 minutes.

4. Before removing the water from the heat, check to make sure you still have 175 g. If not, add some water and heat again to 70˚C.

5. Once the mixture has been removed from the heat, add the Geogard to the hot water and stir to dissolve the granules.

6. Remove the oil phase from the double boiler and add to the water phase while stirring with an immersion blender. Set aside and let cool to room temperature while stirring regularly.

Steps to follow for part II

1. Weigh the aloe juice and witch hazel hydrosol and heat over low heat in the double boiler.

2. Weigh the cellulose gum and clay. Blend.

3. Measure and blend the essential oils in a ramekin.

4. Gradually add the mixture of gum and clay to the mixture of aloe juice and witch hazel and whisk to avoid lumps. The mixture will thicken and become gelatinous.

5. Add the oils (jojoba and grape seed) and the mixture of essential oils. Stir.

6. Add this mixture to the cream made in part I. Thoroughly blend with the immersion blender.

7. Transfer the cream to the containers.

Use

For best results, moisten the skin with water or a hydrosol, apply a thick layer of shaving cream, and shave!

To extend the shelf life of the shaving cream, apply with a shaving brush. It will keep for 3 to 6 months. To keep fresh, store what you’re not using in the refrigerator.

After-shave tonic

Ingredients

• 30 g (30%) aloe juice
• 20 g (20%) witch hazel hydrosol
• 20 g (20%) chamomile hydrosol
• 25 g  (25 %) of 94% alcohol (available at your local liquor store)
• 1.5 g (1.5%) benzoin essential oil – Styrax benjoin
• 0.4 g (0.4%) bergamot essential oil – Citrus bergamia
• 0.4 g (0.4%) lemon essential oil – Citrus limonum
• 1.2 g (1.2%) cypress essential oil – Cupressus sempervirens
• 0.3 g (0.3%) litsea essential oil – Litsea citrata cubeba
• 0.3 g (0.3%) Atlas cedar essential oil – Cedrus atlantica
• 0.3 g (0.3%) true lavender essential oil – Lavandula angustifolia
• 0.6 g (0.6%) vetiver essential oil – Vetiveria zizanioides

Utensils

• Graduated cylinder
• Scale 0.1 gram precision
• Ramekin
• 1 100ml amber bottle with reducer

Steps to follow

1. Using the graduated cylinder, measure the aloe juice, the witch hazel hydrosol, the camomile hydrosol, and the alcohol.

2. Pour the liquids into the bottle.

3. Weigh the essential oils to make the blend and add to the bottle. Screw on the cap to seal the bottle and keep the reducer in place. Shake vigorously.

Your after-shave tonic is ready!