InThe Baking Soda Companion (Countryman Press, 2018), Suzy Scherr offers her favorite baking soda secrets to make your everyday life a little brighter. With 75 recipes for cooking, beauty, cleaning, and more, Scherr combines the best baking soda tips into one comprehensive household guide. The following excerpt is her baking soda recipe for shaving butter.
What do Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Patrick Stewart, post- ’90s Bruce Willis, and my husband all have in common? They’re debonair gentlemen who have embraced their clean- domed selves and emerged all the better for it. I can’t speak for the majority of that list, but I do know that my husband has some pretty strong opinions when it comes to shaving cream. As well he should! The guy regularly shaves everything above the neck (minus eyebrows) each time he picks up a razor, so he knows a thing or two about how to get the job done. His shaving cream must- have list includes protection from nicks and cuts, moisturizing, and a nice scent. Most canned drugstore shaving creams are loaded with chemicals that can dry out the skin. On the other hand, the “natural” shaving soaps and creams he’s tried and liked tend to come with a hefty price tag. I discovered, however, another option, which is to make a super- moisturizing shaving cream at home. It isn’t difficult and doing so offers the freedom to choose the ingredients you like and avoid those you don’t. This recipe makes a pretty healthy quantity. My husband, who only shaves a few times a week, keeps a few shaves’ worth in a covered container in the bathroom, then refills from the stash in the refrigerator when he runs out.
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup olive, almond, or coconut oil
• 2 to 3 tablespoons shea or cocoa butter
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup liquid castille soap
• 10 to 15 drops essential oil
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
Directions:
1. Place all the ingredients except the essential oils and baking soda in a small saucepan. Melt over low heat, stirring occasionally until it liquefies, then remove the pan from heat.
2. Add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil. Stir well to combine.
3. Pour the mixture into a mixing bowl, cover, and refrigerate for an hour or two, until thoroughly chilled. The mixture will solidify slightly.
4. Remove from refrigerator, add baking soda and, using an electric mixer or a whisk, beat the mixture until it becomes light and fluffy.
5. Transfer shaving cream to a jar or another container with a tight- fitting lid. Store it in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to use it.
Tips: Clove, cedarwood, sage, and bergamot essential oils work nicely to acheive a “masculine” scent, but use any oils you like. If you like a foamier shaving cream, try using an old- school shaving brush to achieve a nice lather.
More from: The Baking Soda Companion
• Easy Baking Soda Home Air Freshener
• Baking Soda Sinus Cleanse
• Cutting Board Baking Soda Cleaner
Reprinted with permission fromThe Baking Soda Companion (2018), by Suzy Scherr and published by Countryman Press.