Do You Make Your Own Shaving Soaps?

A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a well-known artisan who asked me the question do you make your own shaving soaps. To be honest when I first started Wet The Face I used the model of private label. This is designating a product manufactured or packaged for sale under the name of the retailer rather than that of the manufacturer. it’s very common practice but I really wanted to learn how to do things on my own. I had this idea that I would be better respected in the wet shaving community if I was a true artisan making my own products and by doing this bringing full control back to myself.

So, I set out to learn as much as I could over 2015-16 starting with making shaving soap and bath soap then I learned the process of making aftershaves and now I have a new line of aftershave balms which I make everything right here in Huntington N.Y. My teacher in all of this is a well-known artisan (who shall remain nameless) constantly encouraging me. We would talk about the process of making soaps and what makes for a good shaving soap and how to make it stand out from all the others. We would discuss soaping techniques along with whats the best equipment to use. Finally, after one of our many discussions, I was told to just get off my ass and start doing it already and so I did.

Zu Zu’s Petals - Wet the Face

Company: Wet The Face

Product: Zu Zu’s Petals

Founder: Donald Youngner

Location: Huntington

Website: https://wettheface.com

Our last release for the holidays was again inspired by the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. This 1946 sleeper became the standard for Christmas viewing some time ago. The scene which inspired this shaving soap captures the touching moment when George's youngest daughter Zu Zu's received a flower from her teacher which is falling apart she asks her dad to paste it and George pretends to place the pedals back on the flower but secretly places them in his pocket.

The packaging for this last soap sports a clear plastic tub which allows you to see the rose color and instantly know what you're going to experience. Since it’s release last week I’ve been getting very positive feedback about the soaps and most people really like the clear tubs which I’m so glad I decided to finally do.

It's A Wonderful Shave! - Wet The Face

Company: Wet The Face

Product: It’s a Wonderful Shave!

Founder: Donald Youngner

Location: Huntington

WebSite: https://wettheface.com

We are continuing with our holiday releases next up is It’s a Wonderful Shave! Inspired by the 1946 movie It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Steward playing George Bailey. This movie became my favorite but it took me until I was in my mid-20s to see it for the first time. 

For all three releases, I wanted to have packaging that would reflect the holidays so I opted for clear plastic tubs with a white screw on lids. The graphics for this one is a scene which only lasts about one sec or so he is standing in front of the welcome sign to Bedford Falls throwing up his arms and yelling Merry Christmas because he had just found out that he is alive and he really does have a wonderful life. 

Mr. Warlock - Wet The Face

Company: Wet The Face

Product: Mr. Warlock

Founder: Donald Youngner

Location: Huntington

Website: Https://wettheface.com

This seasons I’m trying something a little different. I started thinking about my holiday offering for Wet the Face in August and had three great product concepts. I knew I couldn’t wait any longer on this since I’m a one-man band. I have to design the labels for Shaving Soap, After Shave, Bar soap and now After Shave Balms. Then send them off to the printers and hope they arrive on time. In the meantime, create the products and then package them. The task can be daunting at times and I was really struggling over what to choose then I decided why not just do them all and so I did.