We always have a bottle of the ubiquitous Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Pure Castile Soap *somewhere* around the house, but that doesn’t qualify me as a faithful user. Not gonna lie…marketing a personal care item as a solution for the face, body, hair, food, dishes, mopping and pets, triggers an intense side eye in yours truly. On a recent trip to Whole Foods, however, the cleverly merchandised newness that is Dr. Bronner’s Organic Shaving Soap inspired a spontaneous purchase. Best move ever. Damn you, checkout aisle.
What is it?
Combining water loving oils, the new Dr. Bronner’s Shaving Soap is a liquid blend of botanicals that cleans and softens the hair and conditions the skin in a single step. Since nothing excites me less than shaving, I am thrilled with this latest find. When applied to damp skin, the emulsion lathers gently and helps achieve a smooth, close shave before melting away in literally seconds. If you’re worried that oils will leave your face feeling sticky, don’t. It rinses off beautifully.
Ugh, y tho? (the packaging issue)
Is the lather thick and rich? No. It’s a soft foam and works great with my Harry’s or Gillette blades. While slightly different from a tradition shaving product, don’t let the thin consistency scare you away. Yes, it’s slightly runny and yes, the packaging is a complete fail but I’m willing to overlook this mess in lieu of its performance. Dispensing a small amount is a skill because of the flip top cap on the upright tube, not a great match for a product with a more watery texture. For this reason, I suggest you only use it in the shower.
What’s in it.
The impressive ingredient deck is pure and straightforward. Fueled by hydrating Sucrose and White Grape Juice, the conditioning properties come from a mixture of Coconut, Olive, Jojoba, Palm Kernel and Hemp Oils as well as Shikakai Powder. Always organic and mostly Fair Trade, the Dr. Bronner’s Shaving Soap comes in five fragrance variations: Lavender, Lemongrass Lime, Peppermint, Tea Tree, and Unscented. My current favorite is Lemongrass Lime and as the weather cools, I’ll be off to pick up a tube of Lavender.
Almost perfect, the Dr. Bronner’s Shaving Soap is $8.99 for a whopping 7 oz. and while the dispensing system could seriously use improvement, I suggest you give it a try. I imagine it would work great on the legs and underarms, too, though I personally, haven’t tried it there.
Available at drbronner.com, vitacost.com.
