How To Make Your Own Shave Butter

When it comes to having a good shave, several products are available to assist you: shave cream, shave gel, and shave butter.

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What is the difference between shaving cream and shaving butter?

Shave butter is becoming increasingly popular. The main reasons are that it can give you a comfortable shaving experience and contains only natural ingredients.

For those of you with sensitive skin, both benefits are a reason to consider shave butter. We also include make-your-own shave butter recipes you can make easily from home.

But what exactly is shave butter? What ingredients make it so great? Are there any negatives to consider, and can you make your own shave butter?

Oh, so many questions. Read on and have that curiosity of yours satisfied.

What Is Shave Butter?

Shave butter is a product that can be substituted for shave cream. It is made of natural ingredients and typically consists of shea butter as the main component.

It doesn’t build up a lather as shaving cream does, so that allows you to get a cleaner shave.

You also are given better protection on the skin due to the thick layer created by shave butter. That leads to a lower chance of getting razor burn or irritated skin.

What Ingredients Are In Shave Butter?

When making shave butter, the components inside the product can vary from one manufacturer to another. So, it’s up to you to decide what you want in your shave butter.

For example, shave butter from Dollar Shave club contains:

Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Propanediol, Avena Sativus (Oat) Kernel Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Barley Protein, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Dimethiconol, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene.

Van Der Hagen shave butter is made from:

Henna guys offer a Sandalwood shave butter consisting of:

Organic aloe leaf juice, Sodium cocoy, Emulsifying wax, Organic alcohol, Extracts of calendula, papaya fruit, pineapple, papaya leaf, sugar cane, bilberry, sugar maple, orange, lemon, and cranberry, Organic jojoba oil, stearic acid, organic cocoa butter, organic shea butter, frankincense essential oil, ginger essential oil, coriander essential oil

So, there are various items you can use to create your shave butter.

If we were to lump the above ingredients into general groups, then it would be:

Enzymes
Butters (Shea, Mango, or Coconut)
Aloe juice

Oils

It’s good to know what’s in your shave butter, yet what purpose do these ingredients serve in your shaving?

Why does shave butter have enzymes?

Enzymes are living organisms that remove dead skin through exfoliation. They also help to keep your skin feeling soft and supple.

Another skin benefit of enzymes is that they protect against free radical damage, making you look amazing.

Why use butter in my shaving?

Butter contains a lot of goodness for your skin. It acts as a moisturizer by forming a protective layer on the skin’s surface to keep water within the skin.

Vitamins A and E are found in natural shave butters. Just like enzymes, these antioxidants keep your skin looking young.

Another great thing regarding these vitamins is that they soothe the skin, which helps in reducing irritation and inflammation when shaving.

What’s the benefit of aloe juice in shave butter?

The use of aloe on the skin isn’t something new. It’s been a go-to remedy for thousands of years. Cleopatra used it to maintain her beauty, so why not take a leaf out of her book?

Aloe aids in soothing the skin, so you minimize the risk of razor burn while shaving. Additionally, it lightens any skin blemishes and provides moisture.

We mentioned how natural butter aids in anti-aging. Well, aloe vera does the same, too. So, all the more reason to put some of this incredible plant into your shave butter.

Why are there oils in shave butter?

Without getting too scientific on you, oils are lipophilic. They can work their way deep into your skin to deliver goodness.

What goodness do oils provide in your shave butter? They create a barrier to keep water within the skin and toxins out.

Not all oils are good for you, though. If you truly love your skin and want the best oils in your shave butter, then use coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, or sunflower oil.

How Does Shave Butter Work?

Shave butter creates a thin layer on your face. This allows the antioxidants, antimicrobials, and moisturizing properties of the ingredients to enter your skin.

The oils also allow the razor to glide more smoothly while shaving. A feature that makes shave butter superior to shaving cream.

How Do I Use Shave Butter?

The way to shave with butter is similar to any other shaving method. The difference is that shave butter is thicker than shaving cream, and it doesn’t create a lather.

To apply shave butter, follow these steps:

Moisten your face and beard with warm water. This helps to open the skin pores to get a better shave. It also allows the antioxidants to penetrate deeper into the skin.

Scoop out a small amount of butter.

Allow the butter to melt by rubbing it in the palms of your hands.

Apply it to your face, ensuring you get an even layer.

Shave as normal.

Give your face and beard a thorough rinse to remove all traces of the butter.

Shave butter has a lot of pluses going for it, but it’s not completely perfect. The main issue is that because it is thicker than shaving cream, your razor can get blocked up with the butter. You can wash out your razor, but it can take a little longer than rinsing it off if you use shaving creams.

Talking about rinsing things off brings up another negative with shave butter. Washing it from your face and out of your whiskers requires time and patience. If those are two things that you lack, then maybe you need to reconsider using shave butter.

How To Make Your Own Shave Butter?

We have told you about all the amazing things shave butter can do for your skin, thanks to the vitamins and antioxidants it contains. Also, we showed you how to use shave butter properly.

It’s time for you to roll up your sleeves and get your hands a little mucky. Yep, here are a few of our favorite shave butter recipes to concoct your own.

There are plenty of shave butter recipes available, and the following is a small sampling.

1. DIY shave butter recipe.

Shave butter doesn’t need a huge range of ingredients like those listed earlier in this article. Here we give you a recipe that only uses four things. It can’t get much simpler than that.

Ingredients:

Aloe gel
Coconut oil
Shea butter

Essential oils

Instructions:

Bring a pot of water to a boil and then place it in a heat-proof bowl into the water.

Add ¼ cup of shea butter and an equal measure of coconut oil into the bowl. Mix until the butter and oil melt.

Remove everything from the heat and stir a tablespoon of aloe gel into the concoction.

Let the solution cool down for a couple of minutes.

Add 10 drops of essential oil and mix thoroughly.

Transfer into a container and let the mixture cool down.

Place the container into the fridge so your shave butter can set.

Once it has formed up nicely, take the shave butter out of the fridge and let it reach room temperature.

2. Natural shave butter recipe with cocoa butter.

Want your skin nourished and maintaining its innate balance? Then cocoa butter is a must for you. It provides your skin with all that, plus it traps the skin’s moisture.

Follow this shave butter recipe to give your skin the love it deserves when you shave.

Ingredients:

Cocoa butter
Olive oil

Coconut oil
Castile soap
Essential oil

Instructions:

Place ¼ of a cup of cocoa butter and an ¼ of a cup of coconut oil into a pot on low heat.

Melt these two ingredients and then transfer the mix into a bowl. Add ¼ of a cup of olive.

Place the bowl into the refrigerator and let the mix become semi-hard.

Take it out of the refrigerator and then whisk it so it becomes feathery.

Blend in 3 tablespoons of castile soap.

Add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil.

Transfer the butter to a storage jar.

3. Simple homemade shaving butter.

If your skin tends to become drier than the Sahara Desert, then this shave butter recipe could be just what you need. With the blend of oils and Vitamin E, you are supplying your face and beard with moisture protection.

Ingredients:

Coconut oil
Shea butter

Olive oil
Vitamin E oil
Essential oil

Instructions:

Melt ⅓ of a cup of Shea butter and ⅓ of a cup of coconut oil in a pot.

Remove your pot from the heat. Stir in ½ a cup of olive oil and 15-20 drops of your essential oil.

Transfer the mix into a bowl and then allow it to solidify in the fridge.

Take the shave butter out of the fridge and allow it to soften.

Add one teaspoon of Vitamin E oil and then whisk until light and fluffy.

Scoop the shave butter into a container.

4. Natural shave butter recipe

Shaving butter can leave your face and whiskers feeling soft and smooth. A satisfying sensation after a shave. This shave butter recipe delivers that experience and varies from the other recipes in that you use two types of butter.

Ingredients:

Mango butter
Shea butter
Avocado oil / Sunflower oil

Vitamin E oil
Calendula extract OS
Essential oil

Instructions:

Place a heat-proof bowl into a pot of boiling water. Add one tablespoon of Shea butter, 1 ½ tablespoons of mango butter, and two oz of Avocado oil (you can swap this out with Sunflower oil) to the pot and melt, stirring slowly.

Remove the bowl from the heat and let your melted ingredients reach room temperature.

Stir one teaspoon of Calendula extract, ½ a teaspoon of Vitamin E oil, and 20-30 drops of essential oil.

Transfer your butter to a container.

5. Shave butter recipe for a smooth shave.

An uneven shave is one of life’s frustrations. It feels patchy, and your skin can feel worse for wear. You can put that nightmare behind you with this shave butter recipe. It allows the razor to glide smoothly over your skin, giving you a great shave every time. Oh, and this recipe only is created with only three items.

Ingredients:

Coconut oil (solid and fractionated versions)
Essential oil

Instructions:

In a bowl, stir ½ a cup of solid coconut oil until soft.

Stir one tablespoon of fractionated coconut oil and 15 to 20 drops of essential oil.

Mix until everything turns velvety.

Place into a jar.

Is It Safe To Use Shea Butter In Shaving Butter Recipes?

Shea butter can cause allergic reactions, but it is generally considered safe. However, if you suffer from a latex or nut allergy, consider swapping out shea butter with an alternative.

Mango butter in shaving butter.

This is a great option if you have a latex allergy. Mango butter maintains the softness of your skin and facial hair. It also aids in strengthening your whiskers.

Shaving butter with Cupuacu butter.

If you want more moisturizing in your shaving regimen, then cupuacu butter is for you. It traps the water within your hair, so your beard doesn’t dry out. Also, it forms a seal on your skin to stop moisture loss.

Why is Avocado oil used in shave butter?

Because shea butter is created from shea nuts, there is a nutty scent to this type of butter. As we mentioned, anyone with a nut allergy may react to shea butter.

With avocado oil, you are still getting a moisturizer with the added benefit of supplying nourishment to the hairs of your beard. Avocado oil has little to no scent, which can be an advantage if you want shave butter that is fragrance-free.

How long does shave butter last?

You can expect your DIY shave butter to have a shelf life of around two months. There are some things you can do to reduce the chances of your natural shave butter from expiring too quickly:

Store it in an air-tight container.

Keep it away from light.
Don’t allow it to become excessively wet. Because bacteria thrive in wet environments, and these critters can contaminate your shave butter.

How do you know if your shave butter has gone bad? The typical signs are that the color has faded in the butter and it smells funky.

When you spot these indicators that your shave butter has turned, ditch it and create a new batch.

Best Way To Make Your Own Shaving Butter

You love your skin and beard; both deserve the best shaving butter. Therefore, by making your own natural shaving butter, you are blessing your skin and facial hair. Because the ingredients you use contain antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients packed full of goodness.

The oils within your homemade shave butter form a protective barrier that retains moisture where it counts: on your skin and within the follicles of your hair.

After your shave, run your hand slowly over your face and through your beard. Revel in the softness that you feel.

You have your DIY shave butter to thank for that.