Vegans avoid exploiting animals for any purpose, with compassion being a key reason many choose the vegan lifestyle. Because of this, they require careful thought over what clothing, makeup and hygiene items they use.
When it comes to shaving creams and soaps, many brands contain lubricating and moisturizing ingredients derived from animal sources. Including animal-based glycerine and stearic acid or lanolin from sheep’s wool
Also be aware that many shaving soaps and cream are tested on animals.
When choosing a cream or soap there are other factors that you also need to consider. As not all vegan ingredients are necessarily good for you. Here are some ingredients you might want to consider avoiding:
Sodium hydroxide.
A chemical that alters fats. It can be used to make soap and a main ingredient in household products such as liquid drain cleaners. It is both an irritant and corrosive and in its natural form can cause severe burns
Phthalates
These are commonly found in toiletries including some body lotions, fragranced lotions and shaving cream.
They have the following health concerns: Endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity as well as links to breast cancer. They have been banned from cosmetics in the European Union, but still remain prevalent in U.S. products
Parabens
These are a class of widely used preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. They are often used in shaving cream as a preservative to help stop the growth of bacteria. Parabens are believed to disrupt hormone function
Vegan Shaving Cream Recommendation
Sweyn Forkbeard shaving cream
Coming in a variety of fragrances, it produces a rich & creamy lather that softens the beard. It gives a close smooth shave while protecting the skin from razor burn and irritation
All the shaving creams by Sweyn Forkbeard are 100% natural & organic, without alcohol, parabens, sulphates, or any chemical which makes it ideal for all skin types including sensitive skin.
Additionally, while shaving creams can be used with your fingers, a proper shaving brush helps develop a thick lather. Traditional shaving brushes are made from badger hair, but there is a recent trend towards synthetic brushes that are close to the badger hair brushes in quality.