Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shaving Soap Review

Product Name

Reviewed by

Sue McCarthy

Review date

Summary

Don’t be put-off by the word “deluxe” in the product name – the Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap is a super affordable, accessible and popular shave soap with many redeeming qualities. Budget in price, but excellent in efficacy, this shave soap is great for the novice and seasoned shaver alike.

Rating

4.7 out of 5 Stars

Ingredients

  • Propylene Glycol
  • Sorbitol
  • Water
  • Sodium Stearate
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate
  • Sodium Myristate
  • Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
  • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera)
  • Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)
  • Fragrance
  • Titanium Dioxide
  • Triethanolamine
  • FD&C Yellow #5
  • FD&C Red #40

Product Overview

Van Der Hagen Shave Soap in manufactured in the US, and finds its place among the more “budget” shave soaps on the market, with pricing on par with other favorites such as Williams Shave Soap or Colgate.

You can buy it at any drug store, or in bulk online, and for less than $2 for a 2.5 oz puck it definitely does not break the bank.

The soap isn’t really scented, apart from the smell of lanolin, and lathers up well to provide a nice, clean shave, whether you use a traditional double edge safety razor or a more modern cartridge razor.

It contains aloe vera and shea butter to leave the skin feeling moisturized and washes off the face and razor easily with a splash of cold water. For those who prefer glycerin shave soaps, Van Der Hagen also produce one.​

How it Works

Shave soap works best when it is worked into a lather in a shaving mug with a badger brush. If you haven’t used it before you may need to try a few techniques before you find the one that works for you.

Some people prefer to use two pucks at the same time, others add water little by little until they get the consistency that they prefer, others just swirl the brush around until they feel the consistency is right.

Not all soaps are the same so you may need to change your technique with each one. This soap works better when it is lathered up in a mug rather than on the face.

While they are part of the more traditional shaving routine you can use the soap with a double edge safety razor or a cartridge razor, whatever your preference.

You may need to run the brush over the soap a few times during your shave to recreate a fresh lather, especially if you plan on making more than one or two passes over your skin.

The soap is light enough to be easily rinsed from the razor with a splash of water and does not create any annoying clogging within the blade(s).

Once you have finished your shave, a quick rinse of water will remove any excess soap, and while the soap is moisturizing, depending on your skin type you may need some extra hydration on your skin to get you through the day.​

Here you can see a review video of the Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap and you can see it with your own eyes how the product works:

Is it Effective?

Yes! When you compare the soap to other, more expensive brands, Van Der Hagen stands out.

You are paying only $2 for a puck, but you a getting a much higher quality lather and a close shave.

You may need to spend a little extra time working out how to get the best lather with the soap, but that is often the case with different soaps anyway.

Some people are a little put off by the scent, or by the fact that it just smells like the lanolin in the soap and not much else, but most people actually prefer the lack of scent as it isn’t overpowering or bothersome.

You basically get a lot more than you pay for with this soap, and it’s a pleasant surprise for those who haven’t used it before. There is no need to break the bank just because you prefer a traditional shave.

It’s better to invest more in a badger brush and razor than a soap when there are Van Der Hagen’s excellent offers on the market.​

What Customers Think (Reviews)

Van Der Hagen’s Deluxe Shave Soap comes with a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, with 79% of the 196 reviews being 5 stars.

There is much discussion on the soap on different traditional shaving enthusiast boards and websites, but the main consensus is that the soap is of excellent quality and does the job very well.

While most people appreciate the exceptionally cheap price, a few people do mention that “you get what you pay for”.

The main positives from reviewers are the price, the fact that it lathers up nicely, that it doesn’t dry out the skin, it provides a close shave and it washes off very easily.

Some negatives that are brought up a few times are the scent, or lack of real scent, the fact that it lathers better in a mug than on the face and that not all lathering techniques work, and that it isn’t as moisturizing as it claims to be.

So while it may not work for everyone, it is always worth trying, especially seeing as you can buy it anywhere for next to nothing.​

Some Customer Comments

PERFECT. For the price this is a great shaving soap. Comes in a plastic, resealable tub for storage and travel. Scent isn't strong, more like moisturizer and the lather is plenty slick for shaving glide. Its a hardish soap so it lasts but it lathers easy enough too."

I buy this locally and it's a great shaving soap. I buy this locally and it's a great shaving soap. It thought it was good when I first used it but as time goes by and my technique gets better this soap just keeps performing better and better.”

In Conclusion…

Things we Liked

  • Cheap
  • Easy to find
  • Good lather
  • Moisturizing
  • Provides a clean shave
  • Easy to rinse

Things we didn't Like

  • Not as scented as some would like
  • Dryer or sensitive skin may need additional moisturizers post-shave
Sue
 

For the past 12 months, I have been testing and playing with all sorts of hair removal products for Hair Free Life. My goal is to provide the most accurate and up-to-date hair removal consumer information on the internet. When I'm not photographing, reviewing and researching hair removal products I play the drums in a samba band and am a volunteer for the Swindon Lions! Got any questions? Write to us below:

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