Natural men's care & shaving

Shaving

A classic wet shave needs three things: a well-lathered soap or cream, a good brush and a sharp blade. European natural shaving soaps rely on saponified olive, coconut and castor oils (look for Sodium Olivate and Sodium Cocoate) plus glycerin for slip. If your skin is dry, look for shea or beeswax as well.

Lather in four steps

1. Soak the brush in warm water while you wash your face.
2. Shake the brush, then load it on the soap for 15–20 seconds.
3. Build lather on your face or in a bowl, adding water a few drops at a time until it looks like soft yoghurt.
4. Shave with the grain first; re-lather before any against-the-grain pass.

After the shave

Alcohol-based splashes sting. Natural aftershave balms use aloe, witch hazel and calendula to calm razor burn. If you have reactive skin, choose an unscented version so you skip the fragrance allergens.

Deodorant

Certified natural deodorants are aluminium-free. They neutralise odour with alcohol, plant extracts (sage, hops) or zinc and baking soda instead of blocking sweat. Expect an adjustment period if you switch from an antiperspirant. If baking-soda formulas irritate, try a soda-free one.

European brands to look at

Logona, Lavera (Lavera Men; directory profile at our sister site Buy From Europe), Weleda (Switzerland), Speick (with its classic men's line from the Stuttgart area) and Dr. Hauschka all publish full INCI lists. Wondering about another brand? Try the European brand checker, or paste its ingredient list into the INCI decoder.