The Lady Cavendish Glossary
A little language of beauty and care
A friendly guide to the words and expressions used throughout our eight Library chapters.
A
Aftercare
Gentle care after shaving, commonly including rinsing, patting dry, and applying a suitable moisturizer.
Against the grain
Moving a razor opposite to the direction of hair growth; it can increase closeness but also irritation for some skin.
Aloe vera
A plant used in many personal-care formulations; individual skin tolerance varies.
B
Barrier, skin
The outermost protective layers of skin that help retain moisture and limit exposure to irritants.
Botanical fragrance
A scent inspired by plants or made with plant-derived aromatic ingredients; botanical does not automatically mean non-irritating.
C
Cartridge razor
A razor with a replaceable head containing one or more blades.
Creamy lather
A hydrated foam or emulsion worked from shaving soap to help provide glide during shaving.
D
Depilatory
A preparation designed to remove hair chemically; follow its specific instructions and precautions.
Double-edge safety razor
A reusable razor that holds a thin blade with two cutting edges.
Dry shaving
Shaving without added water or lather; suitable tools and methods vary.
E
Emollient
An ingredient that helps skin feel softer and smoother.
Eucalyptus
A group of aromatic trees whose leaves have distinctive fresh, herbal scents.
Exfoliation
Removal of some surface dead skin cells, using gentle physical or chemical methods.
F
Fragrance notes
Descriptive scent characteristics, such as floral, herbal, woody, or citrus.
Fragrance sensitivity
An adverse response to fragrance ingredients; reactions may include irritation or allergy.
G
Grain, hair
The direction in which hair naturally grows on an area of skin.
H
Hair follicle
A structure within the skin from which a hair grows.
Hydration
Water content; in shaving, water also helps soften hair and develop lather.
I
Ingrown hair
A hair that grows back into or becomes trapped beneath the skin, sometimes causing inflammation.
Irritation
Temporary discomfort or inflammation that may follow friction, ingredients, or shaving.
L
Lavender
An aromatic flowering plant known for its floral, herbal scent.
Lather
Foam developed from shaving soap or cream with water, by hand or brush.
Lubrication
Reduction of friction between the razor and skin, often aided by a well-prepared shaving lather.
M
Menthol
An aromatic compound associated with mint that can activate cold-sensitive receptors.
Moisturizer
A product used to help maintain skin comfort and reduce moisture loss.
O
Olfactory system
The sensory system involved in detecting and processing smells.
P
Patch test
Trying a small amount of a product on a limited area as directed to check tolerance; it cannot rule out every reaction.
R
Razor burn
A common term for redness, stinging, or irritation after shaving.
Razor glide
How smoothly a razor travels across prepared skin.
S
Safety razor
A razor designed with a protective guard to reduce direct blade exposure.
Sensitive skin
Skin prone to stinging, redness, or discomfort in response to products or environmental factors.
Shaving brush
A brush used to build and distribute shaving lather.
Shaving soap
Soap formulated for use during shaving, typically to produce lather that supports razor glide.
Skin barrier
See Barrier, skin.
Spearmint
A mint variety with a fresh, often sweeter aromatic character than peppermint.
Straight razor
A folding razor with a long blade that requires careful technique and maintenance.
T
Traditional wet shaving
Shaving with water, a razor, and a lathering product, often prepared using a brush.
W
With the grain
Moving a razor in the direction of hair growth, often recommended as a gentler first pass.
Wet shaving
Shaving with water and a suitable lubricating soap, cream, or gel.
No matching entries. Try a different word.