As a slight crispness from autumn settles in, you may find yourself caught between two extremes-mornings with a chill in the air and afternoons that are still quite warm, no HOT!

In South Africa, where autumn is still a mixed bag of temperatures, it can be a challenge to find the right skincare routine.

We're tempted to slip into our shorts and tank tops to enjoy the lingering warmth of the day, but our skin may need a bit more nourishment than usual, especially when we shave.

While shaving creams and soaps are familiar to most, shaving oils might not be as widely known. Shaving oils offer a unique twist on traditional, well-known products, providing a deep, nourishing layer of moisture while also transforming into a creamy lather that makes the shaving process both luxurious and effective.

But why does shaving oil work so well?

How does it work on a molecular level to give us the results we crave?

Why Shaving Oils Work: A Deeper Look into Natural Ingredients

While shaving can be harsh on the skin, shaving oils make your shave as smooth as possible. They create a slick, lubricated surface for the razor to glide over, cutting down on friction, irritation, and that dreaded risk of nicks and cuts. But… the magic doesn't stop there.

Not only does shaving oil transform your shave into something that feels like a luxury, but it also pampers your skin while you work your razor. You'll step out with silky-smooth skin and a glowing radiance that says, "I've got this whole self-care thing figured out."

But why does this formula work?

Key Natural Ingredients and Their Roles:

Oils work to not only nourish and protect the skin, but they soften the hair for an effortless shave.

Caprylic/capric triglycerides are medium-chain fatty acids that come from coconut oil. It is lightweight and non-comodegenic, leaving the skin moisturised without a heavy feel. It also acts as a solvent to help blend other oils and ingredients into the formulation, ensuring a smooth consistency.

Neem oil is derived from whole Neem tree nuts and is known for its soothing, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties. Its high content of essential fatty acids and antioxidants helps nourish the skin while preventing razor burn and inflammation. In our shaving oil, neem oil offers moisture but is also a barrier to prevent irritation.

Jojoba oil is a liquid wax ester that closely resembles the skin's natural sebum, making it a great natural ingredient in our shaving oil formulation. It helps to prevent moisture loss, creating a silky surface for shaving. Jojoba oil also promotes healthy, hydrated skin by maintaining the skin's barrier function and provides essential vitamins and minerals.

Prickly pear seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants and contains more natural Vitamin E than any other plant oil - fascinating, right? It helps repair, soothe, regenerate and hydrate the skin. Its lightweight nature ensures our shaving oil formulation doesn't feel greasy while deeply nourishing the skin to prevent dryness and irritation post-shave.

Grapeseed oil is packed with linoleic acid, a fatty acid known for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. It is also high in antioxidants that protect the skin from oxidative stress and help promote a healthy complexion - who wouldn't want that? Grapeseed oil leaves your skin feeling smooth and moisturised, making it a perfect ingredient for our shaving oil.

Bisabolol is a naturally occurring compound derived from the Candeia tree. It is a high-end active ingredient, a wonderful anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and skin protectant. It helps soothe skin post-shave, reducing redness and irritation. This makes it an essential addition to any shaving product, especially for sensitive skin types.

Lavender and tea tree essential oils add a lovely fragrance but also have therapeutic benefits. Lavender oil is well-known for its calming properties, helping to reduce inflammation and irritation, while tea tree oil has anti-microbial effects that prevent infection and promote healthy skin.

Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from environmental damage and promotes skin healing. If you ask me, it's truly a must-have in any skincare formulation, as it helps nourish and rejuvenate the skin. In our shaving oil, Vitamin E ensures that the skin remains protected and hydrated.

As you can imagine, some shaving oils remain too oily, making it hard to achieve a smooth shave, especially if they absorb too quickly into the skin. To overcome this, we have developed this formulation to allow the oil to transition into a creamy lather/ milky emulsion upon contact with water.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a gentle, sulphate-free surfactant. It transforms our shaving oil into a creamy lather when introduced to water. It helps to cleanse the skin, removing dirt and oils while ensuring that the shaving oil transforms into a milky foam, making it easy to apply and rinse off. Let's not forget that the milky foam helps us track the areas we've already shaved.

Olivem 300 is an emulsifier derived from olive oil. It helps combine oils and water-based ingredients to create a stable and smooth product. In our formula, it assists in achieving that beautiful, milky lather when introduced to water, while maintaining the moisturising properties of the oils.

How It All Comes Together: Formulation Tips