Our Story

Dr. Pennskin Shave Company began in 2010 with a simple obsession: great beard balm and beard care. That early focus on quality ingredients and craftsmanship set the direction for everything that followed — a full line of men's grooming and wet-shaving products, built the right way.

Dr. Pennskin was founded by Barbara Hochstein and Eric Penn a husband and wife team, bringing together retail, wholesale, and wellness expertise to reimagine men's grooming. Barbara is a retail buyer and product development specialist with a background in wellness and health. Eric brought a background in wholesale sales and manufacturing, along with a genuine love of educating people on the tradition of wet shaving and beard care. Together, they built Dr. Pennskin around a shared belief: grooming products should be simple, natural, and made with quality that works. No parabens, no fillers, no product names you can't pronounce — just quality ingredients that work.

Every product is developed with a buyer's eye for quality and value, and an understanding of ingredients chosen for how they treat the skin. The goal is simple: grooming that feels less like a chore and more like self-care, without sacrificing performance.

In 2018, that passion took root as a permanent brick-and-mortar store in SoHo, NYC, where customers could shop, learn, and experience the products in person. In April 2026, we made the move to focus fully online, closing our physical storefront to bring that same hands-on approach to customers everywhere — through our website and pop-up events in New York and the tri-state area.

Alongside Dr. Pennskin, we also produce Beauty Bee, our sister skincare line for women, and offer a curated selection of handmade goods and favorites like Filthy Farmgirl Soaps.

Today, Dr. Pennskin Shave Company remains an independent apothecary brand built on craftsmanship, quality ingredients, and a belief that taking care of your skin — and your face — is part of taking care of yourself.