Beard & Pre-Shave Oil: Fresh Herbs Scent

How To Use Natural Shaving Soap

Whether you are shaving your face, underarms, or legs, you will experience the most comfortable close shave if the hair is thoroughly softened with water, and hot water works best.

Directions for a Traditional Mug and Brush Wet-Shave

Begin with cleansed skin to help remove dirt and grime from the hair so that it can absorb water and soften.

• Shave during or after a hot shower or rinse your face with hot water to stimulate the skin, open the pores, and soften the hair
• Give your shaving brush a good soaking with hot water
• Shake the brush a bit--you want it wet, not waterlogged
• Take the brush and swirl it over the surface of the soap to generate a rich lather--it will be bubbly at first but as you swirl the lather will become thicker
• Apply brush to your face in quick, circular movements to produce a rich lather and exfoliate the skin
• Apply the rich lather with the brush until it covers all the areas you want to shave
• To generate a fuller lather, simply add a bit more hot water to the brush 
• With a clean, sharp razor, take short, light strokes, shaving with the grain of your beard
• Hold loose skin taut to help prevent cuts
• Rinse the razor often
• For a very close shave, you can re-lather and shave very gently across the grain
• Rinse with cold water
• Apply an After-Shave Balm or a Beard Oil or even a Facial Oil to moisturize your skin

Don't have a mug or brush? Once your skin is cleansed, rinsed, and hair is softened, massage the shaving soap onto the area to be shaved to create a rich, foamy lather. Shave as usual. 

While everyone has their own special shaving routine, we do recommend shaving in the shower.

How To Use Our Shaving Balm and Beard Butter

Whether you are clean shaven, have a mustache, a bit of a scruff, or a beard, the skin on your face needs moisturizing. This skin-soothing cream is great as an after shave balm to gently soothe freshly shaven skin or as a beard butter to conditioner the beard. It is alcohol-free and will not dry out sensitive facial skin.

As an After Shave Balm

Our shave balms are specifically designed to soothe the sore and irritated skin that occurs after shaving. Even if you don't feel the irritation, the uppermost layer of your skin will have lots of tiny abrasions and micro-cuts from the razor blade.

1. Right after shaving, rinse your face with cool water.
2. Gently dry the skin to remove excess water. It does not need to be completely dry--you want it to be a bit damp.
3. Take a small dime-size dollop of balm and rub it over your fingertips.
4. Starting from the bottom up, use your fingertips and gently massage the balm into the freshly shaved skin.
5. Don’t forget your neck.
6. Allow a few minutes for the balm to be fully absorbed.
7. Reapply after each shave.
8. The balm may also be used before shaving to help prevent irritation.

While it might be tempting to slather a thick layer of balm all over your face, especially if it feels irritated, more is not better! The balm should lightly cover all of the freshly shaved skin. If you apply too much, there will be too much to absorb into the skin which can result in a greasy feeling and blocked pores.

If you are unsure how much to use, start small. You can always add more until your learn what your unique face likes.

As a Beard Butter

Our shave blend is a leave-in conditioner that contains a bit of beeswax (not as much as a typical beard balm or wax) which helps tame and smooth flyaways to help style and shape the beard.

The balm ingredients work together to moisturize the skin, soften the beard hair, minimize itchiness, and give your beard a healthy shine.

Our beard butter is also great for mustache hair. Skin under a mustache is often neglected and can easily become dry and flaky.

Whether you are growing a new beard and only have a bit of scruff or your beard is exactly the right length for you, a beard butter does an excellent job keeping both the hair and the skin underneath moisturized.

1. Beard butter is best applied to a dry or barely damp clean beard.
2. Our beard butter is quite concentrated and little goes a long way so start with a small amount (about dime size) of beard butter. Obviously your beard length will determine the amount of balm needed, but you can always add more.
3. Scoop out the dime-size dollop with your finger. 
4. Rub the balm between your hands to warm and soften it.
5. Apply the beard butter directly to your beard using your hands.
6. Work your fingers through your beard to distribute the butter evenly and don't forget the skin underneath.
7. Use a beard comb to distribute butter evenly throughout your beard.
8. Leave the beard butter in place for a few minutes or until it's fully absorbed.
9. You can style your beard as usual after the butter is absorbed.

Quick Tips:

• Apply beard butter only to clean hair. Using the balm on a dirty beard will lead to buildup that can cause skin irritation and a very unhappy beard.
• Be sure to wash your beard to remove the residue from a previous application before applying more beard butter.
• More is NOT better. Too much conditioning balm can weigh your beard down, cause excess buildup, and give the beard a greasy look and feel.
• Do not combine beard butter with other beard grooming products which can also lead to buildup and greasiness.
• We suggest a beard comb since the butter washes out of a beard comb more easily than beard brushes.

If you work a beard butter down to the facial skin, you can use beard butter in place of beard oil. Beard butter is designed to keep your beard hairs hydrated and healthy but can also help the skin underneath your beard. But if you choose to use both, apply the beard oil to the skin first before using beard butter.

If you have very sensitive skin or are simply trying a new product for the first time, we always recommend doing a patch test.

For external use only. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Best if used within 6 months of opening.

How to Use a Natural Face Oil

Our skin naturally loses the ability to retain moisture as we age. Our facial skin tends to become thinner and lose its elasticity. Our skin also produces less oil, which means it dries out more easily. This can exaggerate the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Facial oils can help prevent water loss and keep skin plump.

Proper hydration is key to retaining a healthy glow. The most basic function of a facial oil is to hydrate and soften the skin by preventing water loss.  

The Best Way to Apply a Face Oil

Less is More

For those who have tried facial oils but do not like them, often an incorrect application method is the problem. Since facial oils are very concentrated, a little goes a very long way and less is usually better than more.

If your skin feels oily hours after application, you should reconsider your technique.

Can a face oil replace your moisturizer? For some yes, but for others maybe not. If you have very dry or maturing skin a face oil alone may not contain enough of the "heavier" ingredients found in an organic oil-based moisturizing cream. The two products play different moisturizing roles and support each other.

For my 70 year old facial skin, a face oil alone is enough during summer months but not during the drying winters. If you are going to use both, apply the facial oil first and allow a few minutes for it to absorb before apply your face cream.

Is Your Face Ready?

The best way to apply facial moisturizers is on freshly cleaned, warm and damp (not wet) skin. Clean skin allows oils to better penetrate deep layers and stop leftover makeup from clogging pores.

Creams and oils work best with a little damp moisture. Facial oils are better able to lock in moisture when the skin is more pliable after a warm wash and damp skin also ensures that the oils spread evenly and absorb effectively into your skin leading to more hydrated, plumper skin.

Note that your skin should not be wet, just a bit moist, or the skin will be unable to hold the oil. Remember that oil and water do not mix!

How Much to Use

Again, facial oils are very concentrated, so start slowly. The key is to use them sparingly.

The recommended amount for your décolleté, neck, and face is about 4 to 6 drops. If doing your face only, you need about 2 to 3 drops of oil per treatment. If your skin is extra dry a couple more drops may be helpful. Just don’t overdo it. This might appear to be a very small amount but start out small, you can always add more. 

Application Technique

Now that your skin is ready you need to choose an application method.

While many people have their own special technique for applying face oil, here are two favorites. Always be sure that your hands are clean and remember to begin with clean, damp skin. 

Dropper Method

We suggest applying our facial oil directly to your skin with the dropper. Placing the oils on your hands first will probably give you soft hands, but you want to get the most benefit for face!

While it may be called a facial oil, the sensitive skin on your neck is especially prone to signs of aging or dryness.

Begin with only a drop on each cheek, one drop on your neck, one on your décolleté, and one on your forehead, focusing on problem areas (remember you can always add more if needed).

If you choose to do your face only, place one drop on each cheek and one on your forehead. If you have an oily T-zone, but dry flaky cheeks, limit your facial oil application to dry problem areas only.

Patting the oil onto the skin with your fingertips is often thought to be more effective than rubbing the oils into your skin. Patting can aid in oil absorption and nourish deeper skin layers. But using a gentle "rub" in sections will also work, especially if time is a factor.

EYES: Take extra care around the eye area since rubbing or pulling that delicate skin may help encourage those annoying eye wrinkles. My eye technique:

• I place less than pea-sized amount of oil on my left ring finger to use a my "dipping pot".
• Then I use the ring finger from the other hand to dab small amounts of oil gently around the eyes. 
• Using a dabbing motion, I gently smooth the oil into the skin, beginning at the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner of the eye.

When applying moisturizer to your neck or décolleté, massage in an upward soft stroking motion, until completely absorbed.

A face oil is a great product to use with facial massage. Using small circular strokes in an upward, outward motion, massage slowly and gently with your oily fingertips until most of the oil has been absorbed. The gentle massage will also give your skin a nice circulation boost and can help with lymphatic drainage.

TIPS:

• Any oil left on your fingers can be used anywhere that needs some extra TLC, like the ends of your hair or your cuticles.
• If your skin is very dry it may need an additional application during the day.  We suggest taking a tiny spray bottle filled with clean water to give your face a quick mist before reapplying.

Palm Method

While your skin is still slightly damp, place a few drops of face oil in the palm of one hand and then warm the oil by gently rubbing the palms of your hands together. Then press both your palms onto your face with firm but gentle pressure and hold for a few seconds. Then gently massage until it feels absorbed. Some believe that this warming process helps to better activate all the goodness in your oil and enhance absorption. 

When To Use a Facial Oil

It is usually suggested that a facial oil be used in the morning. If your skin is extra thirsty, apply the face oil and allow a few minutes for it to absorb. Then use your natural cream moisturizer as usual for extra hydration.

There is a debate as to whether you should apply moisturizers at night. You need to pay attention to YOUR skin!

One school of thought is that you should not moisturize at night. While you sleep skin cells are hard at work naturally repairing, regenerating, balancing oil production, and flushing out impurities.

Applying moisturizers may prevent your skin from breathing, interfere with the skin’s natural regenerative activities, and may cause your skin to become dependent on moisturizers.

The other school of thought is that since cell repair and regeneration is higher at night, skin loses more moisture and needs the extra moisture. Also, since the skin’s ability to absorb ingredients peaks at night, your skin may be able to better absorb the nourishing, moisturizing ingredients.

When applying a face oil at night, we recommend applying the oil at least 20 to 30  minutes before going to bed. The oil needs time to soak into your skin, rather than into your pillow.

If you choose to moisturize day and night, a light facial oil may be better than a heavy cream. Just remember that your skin needs time to breathe. Using too much over time can make your skin lazy. Over moisturizing signals your own sebaceous (oil) glands to slow down natural moisture production, which can result in chronic dry skin. 

If you have very sensitive skin or are simply trying a new product for the first time, we always recommend doing a patch test.

For external use only. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Best if used within 6 months of opening.

Please Note: Our Sea Buckthorn Oil is unrefined and has a strong fruity musky scent that is characteristic of Sea Buckthorn. Tamanu Oil has a rich, deep scent with a bold dark color. Both oils may naturally separate or solidify at cold temperatures. If your oil solidifies, simply place the bottle in some warm water.

**The deep orange color of sea buckthorn oil can stain skin, clothing, and surfaces. While staining of the skin washes off easily staining of clothes and linens may be permanent.

For more detailed information about face oils please read our blog, "What are Facial Oils and How to Use Them"

Whether you call them "face oils" or "facial serums," nourishing, unrefined organic oils can moisturize, soothe and help restore natural balance to facial skin.

Our skin naturally loses the ability to retain moisture as we age. Our facial skin tends to become thinner and lose its elasticity. Our skin also produces less oil, which means it dries out more easily. This can exaggerate the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Facial oils can help prevent water loss and keep skin plump.

Application Hint: Apply facial oil right after washing skin and right before any other moisturizer to hold the water on the skin and seal in moisture.

While many people, especially those with oily or acne-prone skin tend to shy away from oil-based moisturizing, it can be a very important step in daily skin care. An organic facial oil helps to increase the moisture content in the skin and prevent further moisture loss.

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, nourishing organic oils can help mimic the natural skin sebum which in turn sends signals to oil-producing cells that say, "Hey my skin is moisturized so stop producing oil."

Using products created to "dry out" oily skin, in an attempt to get rid of oily shine, will actually trigger the oil glands to increase oil production, which only exacerbates the oily skin problem. A wholesome moisturizer helps balance skin oil production.

Dry Skin

If you have dry skin an organic facial oil made from unrefined botanical oils creates a protective but breathable barrier that slows moisture evaporation and thus helps lock in moisture.

Irritated Skin

A natural face oil is ideal for sensitive and irritated skin. Sometimes, adequate hydration alone can help calm inflammation and soothe red irritated skin.

Maturing Skin

It is especially important for those (like me!) with maturing skin to keep your face adequately moisturized to help with fine lines and wrinkles. As we age, the skin's natural oils decreases, the skin dries out more easily and wrinkles appear deeper. A nourishing oil helps prevent water loss and plump the skin.

The main thing is to make sure that you are using the right kind of moisturizer.

The most nourishing face oils are those made with unrefined, certified organic plant-based oils. Unrefined oils are either cold-pressed or expeller-pressed.

They are minimally processed without chemicals under temperature-controlled conditions which ensures a nutrient-rich, high-quality natural oil.

USDA Certified Organic means the botanical oils are free of synthetic additives, pesticides, and preservatives.

Stay away from petroleum-based products that contain mineral oils that clog your pores and cause breakouts.

What are Natural Face Oils?

Creating A Facial Skin Care Routine

What Is A Facial Cleansing Oil? How Do I Use It?