A good after shave and why?

[gman]

Hello all,

I am new to wetshaving and so far I am enjoying. I am trying to better understand the process so I get better shaves all the time. I've always used after shaves, different kinds and would like to decide on one that is best for me. I have used splash ons, Aqua Velva, Gillette, L'occitane Eau de Bergers, Avon, lotions such as Clinique Post Shave Healer, and Clinique Post Shave Soother, Balms such as Curve, Hugo Boss, Aqua DI Gio and who knows what.

I like the splash on better but they seem to have alcohol and i read somewhere that alcohol is not good. I've tried balms and lotions and supposedly they are good and nourish your skin but they seem heavy and clog my pores.

What i would like to know from the experts is:
What is the purpose of the aftershave? Being able to know this i should know what I should look for in an after shave.

Thanks,

Gent

[Austin]

Aftershaves serve several purposes. One is to close the pores after a shave. Alcohol based AS are good for that. A cold water splash also serves the same purpose.

Balms and lotions are meant to heal the skin from razor burns. The price for balms and lotions run the gamut from inexpensive to expensive. Some balms are heavy and some light. Some absorb well while others do not. I have tried Mama Bears and SaintCharles balms recently and they are both excellent and reasonably price.

My skin is oily so I use balms and lotions sparingly. I apply them with my face wet.

[Edcculus]

I tend to stay away from alcohol aftershaves in the winter, since my face gets dried out easily in the dry cold weather. I've been using witch hazel as a splash when my face is still wet. Let that soak in for a minute, pat my face dry and use a a/s balm. A good and easily available asb is the Proraso aftershave balm. Its lighter than most lotions. You also might want to try the B&B aftershave balm, which is on a stick at the top of this section.

[ratcheer]

I also like the Proraso cream after shave and another favorite is the Nivea fo Men after shave balm for sensitive skin, which can be found for a great price at Wal-Mart or Target.

I also occasionally use regular skin lotion, a favorite being Aveeno. Or cocoa butter or shea butter body creams. There are literally hundreds of options. :eek:

Tim

[mikey]

hello gent,

i can't add much more to what was already said but i have a one-two punch for my aftershave:

ice blue aqua velva as a toner (instead of witch hazel that a lot of guys favor) followed by trumper lime skin food as an aftershave. i get very consistent results with this setup in any kind of weather. both consist of very few ingredients and both have glycerin and menthol.

hope this helps.

thanks,
mike

[italianotigre]

I also like the Proraso cream after shave and another favorite is the Nivea fo Men after shave balm for sensitive skin, which can be found for a great price at Wal-Mart or Target.

I also occasionally use regular skin lotion, a favorite being Aveeno. Or cocoa butter or shea butter body creams. There are literally hundreds of options. :eek:

Tim

Hey I also agree with the Nivea for Men after shave balm for sensitive skin. I really liked how soothing it felt. What I have been using lately, and remeber Im new, is Avon ProSport products. They have an aftershave lotion that I apply after a splash of cold water, it really seems to sooth as well. Then after waiting for a couple mins I add the Active Face Moisturizer. Boy it really "smooths out" my face. They also have a face wash I use before and it seems to clean nicely.

[Mottern Man]

check out the review page

but i love proraso

[TomH]

Hello Gent,

after the shaving I use mostly alcohol based after shaves (Swiss Pitralon, Aqua Velva, Booster and so on), followed by an after shave balm like OLIVIA's or Herban Cowboy, both work great for me, especially the OLIVIA's, because it's an unscented balm and prevents ingrown hairs.

At last, you have to choose and to try something out, which works better for you and your skin...:smile:

Thomas

[moses]

Gent,

I believe the main purposes are to to moisterize the skin and sooth any razor burn. What you need exactly, though, depends on your skin. If you had very dry sky, you would probably want a pretty strongly moisterizing balm. If you had oily skin, these same products might seem to be heavy, and just make your skin more oily.

You have tried several different kinds. At this point, ask yourself what works for you, of the things that you have tried? And what could be better about your favorites? Based on that imformation, then you can hone in on even better stuff. The ultimate test of what you are looking for, is just how your skin feels throughout the day, after using the product, preferably for a week or so.

There is really nothing at all wrong with alcohol. Negative comments usually come from the fact that it can be a little drying. If you have oilier skin, though, this is not a problem. Personally, I like the feel of an alcohol splash. I also find my skin feels better, faster, if I use one. In winter, you can always follow with a balm, if you dry out. Most of the time, I just use Aqua Velva. It has aloe in it, which provides enough moisture for me, without any oilyness.

-Mo

[Shermdog]

Menscience has a sunscreen/moisturizer. I apply a very thin layer after shaving and I think its great. No awesome scent or sexy name or fluff, but does a darn good job on my oily skin post shave!

[ratcheer]

Yes, you have reminded me of another favorite "after shave", especially when I have irritated my skin. It is a sunburn relief thing called Ocean Potion ICE. It is mostly aloe vera gel with menthol, lidocaine, tea tree extract, and other things. It is very soothing and moisturizing.

Tim

[TimmyBoston]

Hello all,

I am new to wetshaving and so far I am enjoying. I am trying to better understand the process so I get better shaves all the time. I've always used after shaves, different kinds and would like to decide on one that is best for me. I have used splash ons, Aqua Velva, Gillette, L'occitane Eau de Bergers, Avon, lotions such as Clinique Post Shave Healer, and Clinique Post Shave Soother, Balms such as Curve, Hugo Boss, Aqua DI Gio and who knows what.

I like the splash on better but they seem to have alcohol and i read somewhere that alcohol is not good. I've tried balms and lotions and supposedly they are good and nourish your skin but they seem heavy and clog my pores.

What i would like to know from the experts is:
What is the purpose of the aftershave? Being able to know this i should know what I should look for in an after shave.

Thanks,

Gent

I'm with you, I personally find alcohol based splashes are better for my skin as well. Musgo Real is my favorite aftershave period and by a huge margin. I find it superior to every aftershave I've tried in every single category except moisturizing and it is only beaten out by the aftershave balms made by L'Occitane.
In the winter I use a splash first and then put on a balm, usually a L'Occitane, I'm not really too fond of other balms.

Definately pick up some Musgo Real Splash - you won't regret it. :thumbup: