Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Cold River Soap Works presents some of our favorite shaving, grooming and bath products that will be sure to please! 

Razors

• ​Asylum Evolution XL (Brass) - Machined out of a solid block of brass in the United States, the Asylum Evolution XL would make a great addition to your collection. The Brass Evolution XL sports a 93mm long handle and weighs in at 95g. Available from Bullgoose Shaving

• Merkur 34C - The Merkur Heavy Duty Safety Razor is a chrome finished 2-piece DE razor. The comfortable handle is approximately 3" long and is designed with a thicker grip with non-slip knurling. Available from West Coast Shaving
• Dovo Classic Straight Razor - The 5/8 full hollowed Best Quality is an ideal no-nonsense straight razor. Slightly sharper than a half-hollow, the blade lends a close shave, and the handles, available in white or black(out of stock), is a simple nod to the fine craftsmanship that has made Dovo of Solingen's razors admired for over a century. Available from Royal Shave

Shaving Brushes

• Semogue 1305 - The Semogue 1305 pure bristle shaving brush features a classic shaped, painted wood handle filled with the finest quality pure bristle available. Bristle brushes are prized among wet shavers who enjoy the stiffer feel and are very popular with users of shaving soaps. Each Semogue brush is hand-made in Portugal to the highest quality standards. Available from Straight Razor Designs
• Thater - The H.L. Thater 4125 Series 2-Band Fan-Shaped Silvertip Badger Shaving Brush with Faux Ivory Handle is the product of fine German craftsmanship. Hand-made in much the same manner as its predecessors, each example of this product boasts a fan-shaped head made up of silvertip hairs. This has resulted in a luxurious implement that is soft and gentle on the skin. Available from Fendrihan LTD
• Simpson Chubby 2 Super - Considered to be one of the finest shaving brushes available today, the Chubby is a shaving classic and one of Simpson's best sellers. The hand tied knot is filled with extra dense Simpson Super badger hair. Available from Maggards Razors
• Muhle 35K Silvertip Fiber - The v2.0 silvertip fiber feels very soft on the face yet has much better backbone than previous generations of synthetic fiber and the hand turned resin handle feels solid in the hand. Available from Bullgoose Shaving

Aftershaves

• Penhaligon's Bayolea - An invigorating splash to cool the skin after shaving, with Witch Hazel extract to tighten pores. Available from Penhaligon's
• Myrsol F/Extra - Myrsol`s refreshing after shaves are highly regarded and leave your skin feeling toned and invigorated. F/Extra After Shave soothes skin irritated by shaving and leaves it feeling cooled and refreshed. Scented with a masculine, musky menthol scent. Availalbe from Gifts & Care
• Proraso Aftershave Splash - Straight from Italy, classic after shave splash is for the shave purists and gents who still prefer a little "bite" at the end. Barbershop favorite provides you with a fresh, addicting, minty "bite" to cap off a perfect shave. Available from Grooming Lounge

Shaving Soaps & Creams

• Taylor of Old Bond Street - An English classic, "TOBS" Shaving Cream in a jar is a high quality British shave cream with a fresh invigorating fragrance. Available from Amazon.com
• Shannons Soaps Fern City - Artisan soaps. Forest City Fern is their take on a traditional Fougere.  Over a dozen fragrance ingredients blend seamlessly, featuring a well-rounded lavender top end that gives way to an earthy, woody base. Available from Shannons Soaps
• Saponificio Varesino Cosmo - Triple milled shaving soap. Special Edition Shaving Soap for Cosmoprof 2016 international fair. Cosmo shaving soap represents their latest evolution in the Beta formulations. Available from Saponificio Varesino
• XPEC Shaving Cream - Luxury shaving cream with a palm and coconut oil base. XPEC easily works up an incredible, lubricating lather for the ultimate smooth, comfortable shave. Available from Smallflower
• Mystic Waters Egyptian Dragon - Excellent artisan shaving soap, Egyptian Dragon  is a blend of dragon's blood and myrrh resins and a touch of clove, with floral notes of rose and jasmine blending into a base of musk, patchouli, vanilla and amber. Available from Mystic Waters For Men
• Proraso Shaving Soap - Classic Italian shaving soap.  Formulated for sensitive skin. Provides a cream lather to soften the skin for a close shave without causing irritation. Available from Amazon.com
• Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Cream - Generates a rich and foamy lather that helps protect the skin from irritation by improving razor glide. It softens the beard for a close and comfortable shave. Available from Art of Shaving
• Cold River Soap Works - Of course no Holiday Gift Guide would be complete without mentioning our very own shaving soaps! Offering three unique soaps (SELECT Tallow - OLIVA Vegan & GLIDE Triple Butter & Tallow Shaving Cream Soap), in a multitude of expertly blended fragrances. Designed for the Ultimate In Performance. Available from Cold River Soap Works

Bath Soaps

• Caswell-Massey - This sophisticated gift set includes three classic soaps; Sandalwood Woodgrain, Newport and Greenbriar. Triple-milled for a generous lather and lasting performance. Available from Caswell-Massey
• L'Occitane Pour Homme - Aromatic, masculine and invigorating.Formulated with an extra-gentle 100% plant-based base, this soap gently cleanses the skin and leaves it lightly perfumed with the aromatic and spicy scent. Available from L'Occitane
• Sudsy Soapery - Sea salt soap is super moisturizing and exfoliating! Sea salt with hints of fresh bergamot, Basil and a touch of peppermint. Available from Sudsy Soapery

Moisturizing Aftershaves & Balms

• Sapone Di Paolo - This aftershave balm will soothe your face even further and keep your skin comfortable and hydrated all day. Formulated to absorb quickly without feeling greasy. Available from Sapone Di Paolo
• Soap Commander - Use Drive Aftershave Balm for the perfect post-shave experience. Available from Soap Commander
• Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm - This rich balm is formulated with moisturizers, vitamins, and chamomile extracts that combine to sooth and calm skin that has become irritated during shaving. Available from Ulta Beauty
• Cold River Soap Works Moisturizing Aftershave - Our advanced Moisturizing Aftershave is designed to moisturize and calm the skin. Formulated with jojoba oil, aloe vera juice plus botanical and plant extracts to re-hydrate, reduce irritation and sooth the skin after shaving.  Available from Cold River Soap Works​​

And once your shopping is done, don’t forget to give to someone in need!

Available in these fine fragrances:

• Citrus Paradisi - Pure zesty scent of pink grapefruit with a mellow black pepper undercurrent.
• Colonia Mediterrania - Aquatic notes of salty air captured on a sea breeze mingle with light citrus and classic herbal notes of thyme and rosemary.
• Honeywood - Fresh honey comb and spicy wood notes of cedar and amyris.
• Summer Rose - Soft delicate rose and lemon verbena combine upon a base of amber and wood to provide a thoroughly modern take on a rose scented soap. 

If you have been searching for a vegan shaving soap that provides excellent performance and wonderful fragrances we suggest trying OLIVA! The extreme gentleness of olive oil in our shave soap provides excellent slickness and a moisturizing finish to your daily shave. Enriched with Kokum and Shea butters ensures a beautifully thick and creamy lather providing a close and comfortable shave!

As many customers will start receiving their Cold River Soap Works GLIDE Shaving Cream Soap beginning today, we thought we would offer up our
​"Recommendation For Best Results".

These instructions can be found at the bottom of every GLIDE product page but some may have missed it and find it helpful. It is only our recommendation and you may achieve better results by modifying or using a complete different technique. 

For best results:

1. ​Using a dryish brush, load directly from the jar for 40-60 seconds​
2. Apply an even coating of the cream soap paste to  face
3. Add a small amount of water to the brush
4. Continue to build the lather on face adding more water as necessary to achieve preferred lather consistency
5. Rinse face well after shaving
6. Pat face dry with a clean towel

For bowl lathering:

1. Using a clean, dry finger, scoop a almond size amount and place in a clean, dry shaving bowl
2. Add a small amount of water to the brush
3. Build lather in bowl following steps 4 through 6 (seen above). 

CHECK BACK HERE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS FOR FURTHER INFO!

Cold River Soap Works is giving away a LIMENTHOL Shaving Set to one lucky winner! Included is a LIMENTHOL SELECT Shaving Soap and matching Moisturizing Aftershave ($37.00 Value).

*To enter please type your name and email in the comment section below. To increase your chances of winning, ENTER EVERY DAY! 

Entries must be received before Midnight EST, Saturday 11/25/17. One lucky winner will be drawn at random on Sunday 11/26/17. Winner will be notified by email. 

One lucky person has been chosen at random and that person is...

Chris McCreary! Congratulations Chris, you have won the Cold River Soap Works ARCTICA Shaving Soap and Moisturizing Aftershave Set! We have sent you an email to confirm.

Thank you to everyone that entered! Please keep checking back here at the blog as we will be hosting another Give-Away shortly!

Our most ambitious project to date! A new base for a Cold River Soap Works shaving soap. Keep your eye on our Cold River Soap Works blog as details will be forthcoming soon. 

Cold River Soap Works is giving away a ARCTICA Shaving Set to one lucky winner! Included is a ARCTICA SELECT Shaving Soap and matching Moisturizing Aftershave ($39.00 Value).

*To enter please type your name and email in the comment section below. To increase your chances of winning, ENTER EVERY DAY! Do not worry, only we can see your information.

Entries must be received before Midnight EST, Monday 11/6/17. One lucky winner will be drawn at random on Tuesday 11/7/17. Winner will be notified by email. 

Jojoba Oil is technically a wax harvested from the jojoba shrub found commonly in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. Because of its low saturated fat content, jojoba presents as a liquid oil with many properties that are beneficial for your skin, especially so as an additive in shaving soap.

Here are the Top 3 Benefits of Jojoba Oil in Shaving Soap:

1. Moisturizer. Shaving strips the skin of the sebum that skin glands produce to keep your skin hydrated. Jojoba oil is very close to the sebaceous glands in the skin. The skin recognizes Jojoba oil as its own sebum and allows Jojoba’s active ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin.
2. Skin Vitamins & Minerals. Jojoba oil is rich in antioxidants and provides a barrier to external irritants. Containing high levels of omega 6 and 9 acids, zinc, iodine and selenium, Jojoba oil is a gentle skin cleanser.
3. Regeneration. Jojoba oil is high in vitamin E and B-complex both of which help skin regenerate and normalize. 

The ancient Egyptians called Aloe Vera the ‘Plant of Immortality’ and used it in many skin remedies because of its healing properties. It’s truly considered  a miracle plant due to its various benefits for skincare.
Aloe Vera becomes the best ally for the recovery of skin during and after shaving. Thanks to the combination of a set of natural properties, the extract of the plant becomes a powerful moisturizer, soothing, regenerating and healing the skin.

Here are the Top 5 Benefits of Aloe Vera in Shaving Soap:

1. Moisturize. Aloe vera softens the skin without clogging pores and moisturizes without being greasy. Aloe can also be used as an aftershave treatment as it will both hydrate the skin and help soothe razor burn and small nicks. Aloe vera extract is highly effective in maintaining skin hydration and improving elasticity.
2. Accelerate Wound Healing.  Aloe vera is commonly used as a topical treatment for cuts, burns and other wounds. Aloe penetrates the epidermis and speeds up skin cell reproduction by as much as eight times.
3. Gentle Natural Cleanser. Aloe vera’s gentle cleansing properties are gibberellins and polysaccharides that soothe and moisturize, while glycoproteins reduce the harsh effects of shaving.
4. Skin Food.  Aloe vera is rich in vitamins C and E and beta carotene which improve the natural firmness of the skin. Aloe has anti inflammatory properties and the ability to help your skin look and feel younger and healthier.
5. Soothe Sunburn.  With soothing and cooling properties, Aloe Vera is the perfect remedy for sunburned skin. It provides a protective layer to the skin which helps retain moisture. 

Goat milk is particularly prized in a quality shaving soap since it helps to soothe, reduce irritation and moisturize the skin after a shave. There are other milks used in soaps, mainly donkey milk but none contain the unique skin nourishing properties of goat milk. 
Shaving soap containing goat milk is perfect for people with sensitive and/or dry skin.
​
Here are the Top 10 Benefits of goat milk in Shaving Soap:

1. Selenium. Goat milk is the ONLY milk that contains this important skin care mineral. 
2. Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Goat milk which is extremely rich in lactic acid is an excellent exfoliator and increases blood flow to the skin and removes dead skin cells from your skin. This results in skin that is smoother and younger looking. 
3. Vitamins. Goat milk contains vitamin A, B1, B6, B12, C and E,  all food for healthy skin. 
4. Minerals. Goat milk is also full of zinc, iron, copper, fatty acids and antioxidants that penetrate through the skin surface and nourishes the skin from within.
5. Caprylic acid. Goat milk soap is alkaline with a low pH close to the pH of human skin. This allows better delivery of moisture and nutrients from the soap and prevents dryness.
6. Lipids & Protein. Fat molecules in goat milk diminish skin inflammation and soothe dry or damaged skin.  The naturally occurring cream found in goat milk increases the hydrating quality of goat milk soaps, helping to keep skin moisturized and healthy.
7. Moisturize. The restorative minerals soothe and leave your skin feeling refreshed and well hydrated.
8. Emollients. Naturally occurring  glycerin and emollients present in goat milk gently clean and deeply moisturize the skin. These natural ingredients eliminate impurities without causing unnecessary dryness. Milk is an ancient beauty and skin treatment and is still as effective today.
9. Absorption. Goat milk is easily absorbed by the skin. Goat milk’s ability for increased absorption allows for intense hydration of the skin and delivery of all the skin nourishing benefits goat milk provides.
10. Safe For All Skin Types.  As mentioned above, goat milk in shave soap has many benefits and is a fantastic soap ingredient for ALL types of skin.

To make room for an exciting new product we are discontinuing our ORIGINAL 100% Vegan Shaving Soap. 

Take a discount of $3.95 per ORIGINAL jar of shaving soap. Combined with our FREE Shipping (USA Only), this is a sweet deal!

Use coupon code   ORIGINAL   at checkout.

​Limited to stock on hand.

Chris Bailey (formerly iLather) and now 'IAMCDB' has a look at the Fine Aluminum Slant Razor while using Cold River Soap Works SELECT tallow shaving soap.

​Enjoy!

SELECT Sandalwood tallow based shaving soap is back in stock. One of our more popular scents and sandalwood aficionados claim it to be easily one of the best.

This time something different, a video from Matt of LatherFace - bowl lathering SELECT Cypress shaving soap from Cold River Soap Works.

I like Matt's unique approach to shaving videos and thought our readers might appreciate it as well.

Enjoy!

Cold River Soap Works Moisturizing Aftershave is a light post shave lotion designed to moisturize and calm the skin. Formulated with jojoba oil and aloe vera juice plus botanicals and plant extracts to rehydrate, reduce irritation and sooth the skin after shaving.

Available in many of our popular shaving soap fragrances!

Our ORIGINAL vegan shaving soap is a traditional Italian style soft soap that quickly builds in volume to a rich and thick lather that coats the face very well and maintains a very enjoyable fragrance.  Once the soap is lathered it is very slick and lubricating with little to no excess bubbles. The lather consistently provides a great layer of cushion and protection for the razor against the skin. After the shave it rinses away cleanly, leaving your skin soft and well moisturized. 

ORIGINAL vegan shaving soap by Cold River Soap Works loads into the brush easily from the container and the soft texture makes the soap very easy to lather with any brush.  The ease of use when creating a good lather makes this a great choice for both beginners and experienced wetshavers.

How to Use Shaving Soap:
The traditional shaving soap is lathered up with a shaving brush in a container – a mug, bowl, deep dish, and jar or directly from a stick. To build up a good lather, follow these steps:

•  Wet your brush under running hot water or fill up your sink with hot water and leave the brush in the water for at least a minute. A badger hair brush is always a good choice. 
•     Make sure the brush bristles have soaked up the hot water. The point is to retain the moisture in the brush so that it gets directly to your face to soften your beard hairs and open pores. So, don‘t tap too much excess water off the brush.
•     Lather up the soap using circular motions directly in the container. At first, the bubbles will appear large, but as you keep going, they will increase in number and become smaller and smaller until you can barely see them at all. After 25 seconds, you should have achieved a thick, warm lather.
•     Apply and massage the warm lather with the soaped brush evenly across your face in circular motions. This will also increase the lather‘s density, soften your whiskers, and allow them to stand up, allowing the razor to sit close to the base of the hair follicle. The longer you whisk, the richer the lather, the smoother the shave and the more your skin will be protected.
•     Adding a touch more hot water will normally provide re-lathering for second or third passes, if required, without using anymore soap.
•      Empty excess water from the soap container and leave it open so it can air-dry.

What is a Wet Shaving Meet-Up you ask? Simple, its a get together of great people with a common interest, shaving, yep shaving! With the growing popularity of traditional shaving, people are approaching it not just as something you HAVE to do, they are making the most of it. More importantly, they are making it FUN! So why not meet up, share your latest purchases, tips and techniques, antique store finds, favorite shaving soap, razors, brushes, aftershaves, etc with other like minded folk?

These meet ups can be small local gatherings of 5-10 people or huge mega events with 100's of attendees. A few of the larger ones, Big Shave West for example is akin to an industry trade show with people coming from around the world, vendors with booths  and demonstrations. Even a panel of industry and knowledgable folks discussing trends and giving their views on the overall state of shaving today. You can usually find raffles and have a chance to win prizes donated by brush and razor makers, shaving soap producers and aftershave vendors. There is even a cruise this year organized by the  NYC Wet Shavers group on a private boat. 

The Wet Shaving Meet-Up Page is a great resource to stay up to date on all upcoming meet-ups. So get ready to be social and plan on attending a meet up near you!

Other Wet Shaving Meet-Up links:

• ​North East Shave Meet Up
• End of Year Bash 2
• Chicago Area Shave Meet Ups 
• Upstate NY Wetshavers Meetup
• Big Shave West

​If you are organizing an event and would like us to list it or if you have a Meet-Up community we should know about, please send us an email and we will be happy to spread the word!

• Soak your brush!

I find that soaking your natural hair shaving brush to be beneficial. Boar hair shaving bridges have a capillary action that allows the bristles to absorb water. Badger hair shaving brushes do not but soaking them does allow water to be trapped between the fine hairs.

Use a shaving mug, coffee cup, lathering bowl or even your sink. Only use warm water not hot! Try not to soak the brush past the bristles or hairs. Time can be anywhere from 2-3 minutes or however long it takes you to shower.  
 

• To Bloom or not to bloom?

That is the question and is really dependent on the type or brand of shave soap you are using. What is blooming you ask? It’s simply placing warm water on the soap and letting it soak to soften the shave puck or soap. If using a hard triple milled soap, it will help, allowing it to be loaded onto the brush easier. If using a softer shave soap blooming is not necessary, it won’t hurt but there is not much of a need for it. Some swear by it and thats fine, do it if you think it helps!

• Load your brush!

You have been soaking your brush right? Shake or gently squeeze the bristles. The trick is to get rid most of the excess water. If you haven’t soaked your brush or are using a synthetic, run the bristles under warm water for about a minute and follow the steps above.

Take your soap in one hand and your brush in another. Swirl the tips of the brush on the soap in a circular motion. Do not use much if any pressure. Just enough for the bristles to splay slightly. Load in this manner for about 30-60 seconds. Check your brush and you should see the tips are fully coated with soap. Don’t be afraid to go back to the soap and load a little longer if you don’t have a nice coating. One tip I’d like to mention and this works extremely for our shaving soaps. Swirl with a dryish brush for about 15 seconds, add a few drops of water to the soap, swirl for another 15 seconds, add more water and repeat for close to a minute. This will help you to build a beautiful photo-lather that is shiny, properly hydrated and has the consistency of a very thick cream.
​

• Make some lather!

My preferred method is to build the lather directly on your face. Apply some water to your face. Start with gentle circular motions, not too much pressure and again just enough to splay the bristles. You are looking to lay down a nice thick layer of soap that is almost like a stucco or cake frosting in appearance. Now you may add a few drops of water to your brush and continue to build the lather. Once you have a nice thick layer of shaving soap with a noticeable sheen, you can begin to use paint strokes to smooth the lather out. Take your time and notice the changes the lather is going through as you add water and switch from circular to painting motions. This same technique can be used for making your shaving lather in a bowl. With a good soap, proper load and good technique you should have enough lather for at least two passes.