Natural Lanolin Shaving Soap Recipe

In my previous post I shared a natural homemade lanolin salve recipe and explained the benefits of using lanolin due to its moisturizing properties. As a natural humectant able to attract and retain water, it’s also valuable in soapmaking when creating natural shaving soaps. (Learn more about lanolin.) This natural lanolin shaving soap recipe combines natural moisturizing ingredients to help prevent skin from drying out even with repeated shavings while at the same time giving you a rich, creamy lather to help prevent nicks and razor burn. The end result of this recipe is a nice, hard bar of soap that is lightly scented with a slightly spicy unisex fragrance created from a combination of natural essential oils perfectly suited for everyday shaving. For this recipe I used lanolin acquired from Nature’s Garden.

Natural Homemade Lanolin Shaving Soap Recipe

© Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen

Ingredients:

.75 oz. kokum butter
2 oz. pure lanolin
2 oz. refined shea butter
10.5 oz. 76° melt point (refined) coconut oil
7 oz. palm kernel flakes
10 oz. rice bran oil
3 oz. cold pressed organic wheat germ oil
1.15 oz. avocado oil
1 oz. cold pressed virgin pumpkin seed oil

5.2 oz. lye (sodium hydroxide)
12 fluid oz. distilled water

At trace:

1 oz. aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon chamomile extract
1 teaspoon marshmallow root powder
5 grams bergamot essential oil
2 grams pine essential oil
4 grams frankincense essential oil
4 grams dark patchouli essential oil
5 grams lavender spike essential oil

Instructions:

For this homemade lanolin shaving soap recipe, you will need to follow my basic cold process soapmaking instructions mixing the lye-water into the soapmaking oils at between 110°  – 115° F. This recipe fits inside one of my wooden loaf soap molds and will yield approximately 10 bars weighing around 4.8 oz. – 5 oz. each.

Start by lining your soap mold. Next prepare your lye water by measuring out 12 fluid ounces of distilled water then stirring in  5.2 oz. of lye weighed out using a digital kitchen scale. Set aside to cool.

Prepare your soapmaking oils, butters, and lanolin next. Weigh out the kokum butter, shea butter, lanolin, coconut oil, palm kernel flakes, rice bran oil, wheat germ oil, avocado oil and pumpkin seed oil and combine in a large non-aluminum pot. Place the post on the stove and heat over medium heat until all of the ingredients have melted, then remove from heat.

While the lye-water and oils are cooling, prepare the ingredients to be added at trace by measuring out a level teaspoon measure each of chamomile extract and marshmallow root powder. Set aside. Next weigh out the aloe and essential oils and set aside.

When the temps of your oils and lye-water reach between 110°  – 115° F stir the chamomile extract and marshmallow root powder into the oils using a stick (or immersion) blender. Then slowly pour the lye-water into the oils and stir with the stick blender until trace is achieved. At trace stir in the aloe and essential oils until well blended then pour into your prepared, lined mold, cover and then insulate for 24 hours.  After the insulation period, unmold your loaf of soap, cut into bars of your desired size, and allow to cure for 3-6 weeks before use. Then wrap, label, gift or enjoy!

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