What's In My Jar
Stirling Soap Co. Arkadia Shave Soap
Stirling Soap Co.

Stirling Soap Co. Arkadia Shave Soap

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Lanolin, Ricinus communis seed oil + 5 more
Works well
What the product description says
“A natural blend of tallow, glycerin, and lanolin combined with almond oil, shea butter, and coconut milk soothes and nourishes, leaving skin ultra-hydrated and soft.”
Source: SmallFlower

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin, sodium lactate.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: butyrospermum parkii butter, ricinus communis seed oil.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: lanolin

LanolinHero· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighSebum of wool-bearing animals (most commonly sheep). Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce the skin water loss. In rare cases could be an allergen. Not suitable for vegans~0.5–1.2%
Ricinus communis seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency~3.8–5.7%
GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.1–3.1%
Prunus amygdalus dulcis oilKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn emollient that softens the skin~1.5–2.2%
Butyrospermum parkii butterKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals~1.1–1.7%
Sodium lactateKey active· HumectantEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product~0.05–0.3%
Stearic acid· EmollientEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient~7.5–11.2%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 4 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~1.2–1.8%est.
Ricinus communis seed oilA plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistencyMedium~3.8–5.7%est.
Potassium hydroxideUsed to adjust the pH level of productsMedium~2.6–3.8%est.
Sodium lactateHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the productMedium~0.05–0.3%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals3/5~1.1–1.7%est.
Alternatives
The closest match we found
Neon Sun Shave Soap
Noble Otter Neon Sun Shave Soap
Closest match58% match
$20.00
View all alternatives

User reviews

Would you recommend?
No community reviews yet.

Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.

Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Tallow~26–39%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Tallow
Stearic acid~7.5–11.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient

More about Stearic acid
Water~4.6–6.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Ricinus communis seed oil~3.8–5.7%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-inflammatory

A plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency

More about Ricinus communis seed oil
Potassium hydroxide~2.6–3.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Used to adjust the pH level of products

More about Potassium hydroxide
Glycerin~2.1–3.1%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Parfum~1.2–1.8%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil~1.5–2.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

An emollient that softens the skin

More about Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil
Butyrospermum parkii butter~1.1–1.7%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-oxidation

A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals

More about Butyrospermum parkii butter
Coconut milk
Not recognized
Lanolin~0.5–1.2%
Hero · Moisturizing
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Sebum of wool-bearing animals (most commonly sheep). Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce the skin water loss. In rare cases could be an allergen. Not suitable for vegans

More about Lanolin
Sodium hydroxide~0.15–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Essential oil
Not recognized
Sodium lactate~0.05–0.3%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product

More about Sodium lactate
Ingredient list view

Tallow, Stearic acid, Water, Ricinus communis seed oil, Potassium hydroxide, Glycerin, Parfum, Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Unknown, Lanolin, Sodium hydroxide, Unknown, Sodium lactate

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

Find on Amazon
Search
SmallFlower5.8 oz
$13.95
Buy

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Stirling Soap Co.Arkadia Shave SoapYOUR PRODUCTNoble OtterNeon Sun Shave SoapMyrsolShaving CreamLEAShaving Soap Stick
Match—58%43%43%
Price$13.95$20.00+$6.05$16.95+$3.00$5.25−$8.70
Shared key ingredients—4 of 52 of 52 of 5
Key difference—Cocos Nucifera OilCocos Nucifera OilTitanium Dioxide
Irritancy Medium Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
View product Shop Shop Shop
  • matches yours
  • differs
  • cheaper

More alternatives: Dr. Jon's Flowers in the Dark Vegan Shaving SoapTruefitt & Hill Grafton Aftershave Balm

Cheaper alternatives? See how this stacks up against similar formulas.
We compare ingredient profiles across our catalog — pick the closest match for your budget.
Open dupe finder

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 6 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Ricinoleic Acid, Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Ethyl Ricinoleate, Glycol Ricinoleate, Isopropyl Ricinoleate, Methyl Ricinoleate, and Octyldodecyl Ricinoleatencbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Productionncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammationncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. 5
    Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oilsmdpi.com
  6. 6
    The lanolin paradox revisited Matiz, Catalina et al. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 64, Issue 1, 197jaad.org
Stirling Soap Co. Arkadia Shave Soap
Stirling Soap Co.Arkadia Shave Soap
Buy at SmallFlower$13.95Amazon

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy at SmallFlower$13.95Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.