Rid yourself of skin
irritations, ingrown hairs, breakouts and shaving rashes by using clean,
chemical-free products and tried-and-tested shaving techniques. In this blog we
reveal the ingredients in our beard and facial tissue oil, shaving soap, aftershave
balm and charcoal scrub. Find out why our men’s product range will change your
skin, body and hair in unimaginable ways. We also share a forgotten shaving
technique and some other interesting facts about shaving.
This month we take an in-depth look at our men’s product range. Although this range is small, as always, the focus is on nourishing, protecting and healing the skin. The best part of it all is that the shaving soap and aftershave balm can be used by women as well. In fact, most of our products are unisex.
The men’s range was inspired by memories of the beautiful skins of the older men in our family. They used simple old-school techniques and products – lathered soap applied with a brush to the face, shaving with a simple razor, and, as you may have guessed, followed by Old Spice or Brut aftershave applications. I have fond memories of watching my father perform this daily shaving ritual and loved the softness of his skin. I formulated my men’s range to replicate this experience for my customers – a smooth shave on nourished skin with no stripping or rashes. Along the way, I discovered many interesting facts about shaving too.
Here I share the ingredients of our men’s product range and explain why I have combined the clay, butters and oils in the different products:
Old School Shaving Soap
To create Skintopia’s Old School shaving soap, I combine clay and vegetable glycerine soap with olive and castor oils to create a non-abrasive, creamy lather. This soap works best with a shaving brush, and a little goes a long way. It is perfumed with bergamot and sandalwood for a clean, masculine smell. This shaving soap works well for ladies’ underarms and legs too.
Cannabis Shea Butter Aftershave Balm
It is important to apply a soothing aftershave balm. Skintopia’s Aftershave Balm closes the pores to prevent bacteria, chemicals and dirt from entering the skin while at the same time reducing razor burn, breakouts and razor bumps. It also reduces the occurrence of itching, swelling and ingrown hairs and helps the skin to heal quickly.
Our aftershave balm does not contain alcohol and is formulated to heal and moisturise. It is highly concentrated so only a small amount is needed to cover the face and neck area. It is ideal for post-shaving skin.
Skintopia’s Aftershave Balm contains shea butter and cannabis, castor and marula oils. All these oils have their own magical benefits including being super skin healers and moisturisers.
Shea butter treats skin disorders, moisturises skin, reduces wrinkles, fights inflammation and is filled with triterpene, a compound which reduces inflammation. It is a superfood for the skin.
Marula oil is high in antioxidants, amino and fatty acids. It is beneficial for acne-prone, oily and dry and ageing skin.
Cannabis oil balances out oily skin, moisturises without clogging pores, hydrates and is packed with anti-inflammatory properties.
Castor oil fights acne, soothes sunburn, reduces puffiness, and prompts overall skin health.
This balm originates from a wax-oil base after which an organic cream is incorporated into the mixture. This provides a highly concentrated, smooth and thick creamy balm. This aftershave balm works wonders for dry skin on any part of the body, including elbows, feet and heels.
Cannabis Wheatgerm Coconut Beard & Facial Tissue Oil
Skintopia’s Beard and Facial Tissue Oil contains wheatgerm, cannabis-infused oil, coconut, collagen powder, sunflower and castor oils. It is fragranced with cedarwood, sandalwood, bay and bergamot. This is a dual-purpose product as it is not only nourishing for moustaches and beards, but it is a facial tissue oil as well.
Wheatgerm is one of my favourite oils – it locks in moisture and protects the skin while promoting overall skin health. Its anti-ageing properties reduce the signs of premature ageing. Wheatgerm can be used on all types of hair and enhances strength and elasticity, reducing damage.
Coconut oil moisturises your hair, absorbs easily and penetrates deeply. As a skin treatment, it reduces inflammation, keeps skin moisturised and helps to heal wounds.
The castor- and cannabis-infused oils hydrate, heal and fight acne.
This little bottle of magic can be used as a facial tissue oil to prevent premature ageing, reduce inflammation, moisturise and strengthen beard, moustache and head hair.
Charcoal Turmeric Neem Scrub
Skintopia’s Charcoal Scrub is for those pesky blackheads, acne and dry skin areas. Most people suffer from these conditions from time to time on the back, chest, buttocks, thighs and arms. This scrub has been formulated to gently exfoliate these areas. It contains a combination of turmeric, tea tree, charcoal and castor sugar.
Charcoal detoxifies and draws out impurities, while turmeric is packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric revives the skin’s natural glow, prevents breakouts, fights eczema and psoriasis and reduces acne scarring. Tea tree oil is an anti-inflammatory and will reduce redness, swelling and acne scars.
While these are the main products in the men’s range, we have also created a body wash and a charcoal soap for men. They both smell wonderful, are skin-friendly and are non-stripping.
Some Interesting Facts About Shaving
Large companies run advertisements promoting the use of compressed shaving foams promising incredible results. Yet so many people still struggle with ingrown hairs, razor bumps and dry skin conditions after using these products.
You can prevent this by using a good, chemical-free shaving soap, a shaving brush and a moisturiser that is packed with wholesome ingredients. Contra to what you have seen in advertisements, it is important to shave in the direction of your hair growth – in other words, never shave against the grain. Furthermore, it is vital that you use products that do not contain damaging chemicals or strong alcohol. Alcohol dries out your skin and can cause irritation, breakouts and razor rash. While commercial shaving foams provide a quick and easy shave, they contain alcohol and chemicals. If you take the time to shave in an old-school way with natural products, you will be amazed by the results.
The Correct Shaving Method
Either wet your skin with lukewarm water or a damp, warm facial towel to soften the hair and open the pores. Lather up your shaving soap and apply it with a shaving brush in circular motions. Shave in the direction of the hair growth with a sharp, clean razor. This is especially important in the neck area where the skin is particularly sensitive and where most of the skin irritation occurs. Razor bumps and ingrown hairs are mostly caused by shaving against the direction of hair growth and when using a shaving foam that strips the skin. Rinse off all extra soap with lukewarm water or wipe your face with a warm face cloth. Pat dry gently and apply aftershave balm. Be kind to your skin, it gets hurt easily!
The Benefits of Using an Old-School Shaving Brush
A shaving brush will thicken the lather to make the shaving process simpler. Used in conjunction with a clean-ingredient shaving product, it will also help to properly moisturise the skin. The bristle exfoliates the skin, and scrubs away dirt, dust and dead skin cells.
This is why our elders had such beautiful, smooth skins. Their method helped their skin to be moisturised and exfoliated with no razor bumps or skin irritations. You too can experience this by using the correct techniques alongside products that are beneficial to your skin.
Cannabis oil