Surya Brasil’s Sapien Men Shaving Cream is a certified vegan and organic formula that combines some synthetic ingredients with mostly natural plant extracts.
Our Rating: 2 / 5 (See: How Leaf Score is calculated)
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Product Highlights
- Has EcoCert® organic certification
- Vegan-certified and not tested on animals
- Company claims that the cream helps to renew skin cells and prevent irritation
| Country of Origin: | Brazil |
| Ingredients: | Water, Decyl Glucoside, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sucrose Cocoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Orange Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Bergamot (bergamot Orange), Clove Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Dextrin, Malpighia Glabra (acerola) Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract. |
| Certifications: | EcoCert® Leaping Bunny Certified Vegan Cruelty Free |
Overview
While the list of ingredients in this product is lengthy and looks rather intimidating, it’s not as bad as most of the shaving creams out there. We wouldn’t go as far as saying this is ‘gentle’ or natural, but it’s a decent option if you can’t find a truly non-toxic product that is also vegan-certified and not tested on animals.
It’s not instantly recognizable, but disodium cocoyl glutamate is derived from coconut oil and is a surfactant and cleansing agent. It is considered non-toxic by EWG. Decyl glucoside is also plant-derived and biodegradable, and is a gentle, non-toxic surfactant and cleanser.
The main concerns in this product are cocamidopropyl betaine, benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, and aluminum silicate.
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a surfactant and has been associated with irritation and allergic contact dermatitis. These may be reactions to the ingredient itself but could be reactions to impurities such as 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. It may also be an environmental toxin.
Dehydroacetic acid is mostly a concern for those working with the chemical and anyone who ingests it accidentally. So, while you want to be careful using products containing this chemical around your mouth, it’s unlikely to be toxic with normal use.
Magnesium aluminum silicate is mostly a concern in aerosolized products, although data is lacking for this anticaking, opacifying agent. In general, you’d want to avoid this as a precaution, but it’s pretty far down the list in this product, so there’s likely very little present.
Surya Brasil’s Sapien Men Shaving Cream is the first men’s line in Brazil with EcoCert® organic certification. The company claims that the cream helps to renew skin cells, protect the skin and prevent irritation. Some individuals may find that some of the ingredients cause skin irritation, however.
Surya Brasil vs. Lavera vs. Burt’s Bees
Surya Brasil Sapien Men Shaving Cream has little to differentiate it from Lavera Men Sensitive Shaving Foam and Burt’s Bees Natural Shave Cream, with all three containing potentially problematic ingredients. Surya and Lavera are both cruelty-free and vegan, however, while Burt’s Bees makes no such claims. Surya also contains a number of organic ingredients and has EcoCert® status. Burt’s Bees are, arguably, the more eco-friendly company, with carbon neutral operations and a recycling program, as well as a waste reduction strategy and their own non-profit organization supporting human and bee health.
If you’re looking for the most eco-friendly and healthy shaving creams, though, any one of the following are better options than Surya Brasil and Lavera: Be Green, Pacific Shaving Company, Kiss My Face, Nurture My Body, Badger Shave Soap, and Dr. Bronner’s Organic Shaving Soap. These all carry a 5 Leaf Rating from us for their eco-friendly ingredients, many of which are organic and nourishing to the skin.