Chemical Free Shaving

1. Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol & Ethylene Glycol

What they do: Humectant - Retains & absorbs moisture, allows liquids to spread more evenly. Also used to remove barnacles from boats.

Found in: Moisturiser, hair conditioners & cosmetics, toothpaste, cigarettes, chocolate & lollies, perfume, anti-freeze, paint & paint remover.

What it causes: Dry skin, rashes & dermatitis, CNS depression, blood & kidney disorders, respiratory and throat irritation, liver & brain damage, Has Carcinogenic Properties.

2. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Laureth Sulphate & Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate. SLS, SLES.

What it does: Surfactant - Allows liquids to spread more evenly, foaming agent & mixture stabiliser

Found in: Shampoos, shower gel, hand soap, dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, marshmallows, industrial cleaners, engine & oven degreasers, 90% of foaming products.

What it causes: Eye diseases & improper eye development in infants & children, dry skin, rashes & dermatitis, impaired hair growth, Has Carcinogenic Properties.

3. Mineral Oil, Baby oil, Paraffin wax or Paraffin oil

What it does: Emollient - Coats skin to prevent 'dryness'

Found in: cosmetics, moisturiser, sun tan lotion, coating on fruit & vegetables, baby cream & baby oil (100%), furniture polish, lollies, chewing gum

What it causes: Plastic-like barrier that suffocates the skin & traps toxins; dry skin, rashes & dermatitis, cosmetic acne, skin discolouration, premature aging, accumulates in the liver & lymph nodes, Has Carcinogenic Properties.

4. Silicone oils: Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Copolyol

What it does: Emollient - Coats skin & hair to prevent dryness

Found in: Hair & skin conditioners, cosmetics, topical drugs, bitumen (tarmac for roads)

What it causes: Plastic-like barrier that suffocates the skin & hair and traps toxins; dry skin, rashes & dermatitis, dry or itchy scalp, tumours in lungs, thorax & endocrine system, accumulates in the liver & lymph nodes. Has Carcinogenic Properties.

5. Fragrance

What it is: Up to 4,000 different ingredients to provide a scent or pleasant smell.

Found in: Cologne, perfume, after shave, deodorant, car deodorisers, air fresheners, pours purée.

What it causes: Headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discolouration, violent coughing & vomiting, skin irritation, depression, hyperactivity, and irritability. Has Carcinogenic Properties.

6. Paraben Preservatives: Propyl, Methyl, Butyl & Ethyl. (i.e.: Propylparaben)

What it does: Preservative - Stops a product from going off.

Found in: Cosmetics, hair care products, eye lotion, foundation, baby preparations, jams & preserves, food colourings, Has been found in breast cancer tissue.

What it causes: Irritation to eyes, skin and respiratory tract, allergic reactions, dry skin, rashes & dermatitis, itching, redness & pain.

Miessence is the world's first internationally certified organic range of skincare. I use plenty of their products, including shampoo, soap, skin conditioner, balancing moisturiser, hair gel; and, obviously, shave cream and after-shave balm.

The Shave Cream is a light, lubricating gel formulated with organic Aloe Vera for sensitive or irritated skin. Provides good razor-slip for a close, smooth shave with organic safflower and xanthan gel. Organic emollients protect against razor-burn, nicks and cuts whilst softening and soothing the skin.

I should note that Miessence call it a shaving "gel", but in my opinion, it's consistency is more like a cream. And, compared to the gels I used to use, it's nothing like them; it's much better.

Miessence is the world's first internationally certified organic range of skincare. I use plenty of their products, including shampoo, soap, skin conditioner, balancing moisturiser, hair gel; and, obviously, shave cream and after-shave balm.

A hydrating balm to sooth, tone and refresh the skin. Calms razor-burned skin with organic chamomile and marshmallow and soothing organic Aloe Vera. Refines and refreshes with organic witch hazel and St John's wort.

Even though I am against their other products, Gillette do produce an excellent razor with the Fusion. The blades are closer together, there are now FIVE of them (give it a rest!) and a single blade to trim that annoying section under the nostrils. At last!

The razor is pretty chunky but gives a brilliant shave. I can shave first thing in the morning and still not have any stubble by the afternoon or evening.

My only two gripes with this razor is:

1. The price of the blades. They are shockingly expensive. It's even difficult to find a decent price on eBay for a pack of blades.
2. The razor only lasts a couple of shaves before going blunt. This isn't acceptable considering the price in my opinion but it's the price you pay for a decent shave I guess.

For years I used foaming gel shaving products and fell prey to all the advertising crap about the pros of this or that product, yet still my neck was red and sore. I tried switching from blade to electric, using a combination of both, upgrading razors but nothing stopped the irritation.

It was only when I'd had enough and decided to find out more about the ingredients in the products to see what they were. It was then I noticed that pretty much all commercial - mainstream - shaving products have the same ingredients. They have a toxic chemical base that has some unbelievable effects, including dry skin, irritation and acne.
I also found that many of the aftershave balms contained three or more types of alcohol. I'd been told by my dad and my grandfathers not to put alcohol on the skin. They knew it was a foolish thing to do so why did these companies not listen?

The Answer? Money. Well, that and commercial deception. As the saying goes: "you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." Such a true statement.

So, why the hell are they putting them in their products? Well, because they are cheap. That's it. Many of the chemical bases that go into shampoo, conditioner, shower gels, shaving creams and gels, after shave balms and many more, including toothpaste, were created in the 50's and are still used today. They can be produced cheaply and easily and mass marketed to companies to peddle off as some new 'revolutionary new age defying wrinkle cream' or for 'the best and closest shave ever.'

Now that I have stopped using conventional shaving products and, most importantly, detoxified my skin, I enjoy a close and comfortable shave with no irritation and no shaving spots or razor burn.

Unfortunately, I can't escape all the chemicals (even with a filter on our bathroom tap to get rid of chlorine, etc) as the so called "shaving strip" which is supposed to be Aloe Vera and other vitamins is still synthetic. But, unless I'm willing to go the a cut-throat razor (and I'm not, obviously) I will just have to accept it to get that great shave. Compared to what I used to use I can't fault my present routine.