If you are not a throwback, then shaving your legs is a must. Shaving your legs is an absolute must, especially during the summer. The slightest bit of leg fuzz can ruin the whole experience when we are all wearing miniskirts and rompers. What’s the shocker? So many of us are still shaving with soap, shower gel, even hair conditioner–whatever’s within reach in the shower! The harsh reality is that soaps with lathers and sulfates will dry out your skin and leave it rough, scaly, and susceptible to irritation, bumps, and nicks. To achieve the smoothest, most supple skin, I use products that are specifically designed for shaving. I have gathered my top three favorite shaving products. Each is full of skin-pampering goodness.
Oil
Making mundane rituals into an experience is my favorite thing to do. This is what it’s like to shave with this Euro-decadent blend of essential oils. This luxurious serum, infused with French lavender, tea tree, and evening primrose oil, lubricates the skin beautifully, preparing it for an ultra-smooth shaving experience (plus it soothes your skin with cooling menthol). A little goes a very long way so that it will last forever.
Cream
Rich, ultra-moisturizing lotion that is a perfect combination of high-tech and natural ingredients. The cream contains soothing botanicals such as ginger and vanilla, plus glycolic acid to reduce bumps and capsicum to inhibit hair growth. It’s great for legs but also works well on the underarms and bikini line.
Gel
A gentle, fragrance-free lotion is perfect for sensitive skin. Aveeno’s version, which is blended with skin-calming colloidal oats, is for skin that gets razor bumps easily. Lightweight but luxurious.
Tia Williams is a beauty editor who has worked for over 15 years at magazines like Elle Glamour Lucky and Essence.com. In 2005, Tia Williams created Shake Your Beauty, where she shared her passion for beauty products with hilarious stories from her Brooklyn-based life as a mom and beauty expert. She has also authored several books, including the best-selling novel The Accidental Diva and supermodel Iman’s The Beauty of Color. Follow Tia on Twitter @shakeyourbeauty.
To ensure proper airflow, I placed the bars in mesh bags for the beauty bar. But I also tried to dry the bars and then store them in their original perforated boxes. I was surprised by how well they dried without leaving any residue.
After using the bar shampoo, I noticed my hair was softer and had a lighter level of moisture. This did not weigh down my curly hair. The shampoo bar’s low lather and sulfate-free formula helped preserve the natural moisture in my hair while also cleaning my scalp thoroughly. I realized that this environmentally friendly shampoo bar actually worked better for my hair.
Although I’m not sure I could completely give up my favorite conditioner, co-washing the bar with it will help me save money and reduce how much I use it. It’s not necessary to shampoo your curly hair every time you get in the shower. In fact, this can strip hair strands of their natural oils and make them more susceptible to breakage. I’ve added more co-washes to my routine as a lightweight hydration for my curls.
The verdict: Try shampoo and conditioner bars if you want to save money and achieve a completely clean result with balanced hydration.
It was also a big difference to start while I was living in Boston. Everyone is so excited about handmade! Boston magazines always share local items, which helped me to let people know that I was in the area and part of the community. After establishing myself in Boston, I knew I’d be fine moving back to my little slice of heaven in northwestern Connecticut. My shop is still associated with New England because I travel there to attend markets. But I am so happy that technology allows me to live wherever I want.
As a small company, you must realize that there is a delicate balance between being an online shop and selling to the public in person. Indie craft markets are a lot to do, but they’re so rewarding. I love to see strangers react to my work. **
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who make handcrafted beauty products?
I believe that handcraft artists need to be hungry for knowledge, regardless of their medium. I read a lot of soap-making and business articles, Etsy forums, and forums on Etsy. Today, starting a business isn’t as expensive as it used to be. You need to have the guts to do so online. When it comes to skincare, makeup, and soap makers, you need to be unique and pay attention to ingredients and quality. It’s important to be knowledgeable and skilled in your craft, as these products will be applied to someone’s face.
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