newbie question - no alcohol as that leaves face hard and smooth?

**BuckeyeMark** · 08-05-2009, 07:52 AM

have used a Mary Kay aftershave product - can't think of the name - that has alcohol in it but boy does it leave my face feeling like marble. love that feeling of bbs!

but everyone says "NO ALCOHOL - IT DRIES YOUR FACE!!!!" so I bought some Nivea aftershave balm from Wally World last night. tried it this morning.

okay - face still kinda burning (some razor irritation I guess) but even worse - I'm not getting that hard and clean and smooth as marble feeling. my face is kinda tacky almost. soft but not bbs.

is there a balm or aftershave product that doesn't have alky in it that will give me the bbs feeling or is it the alky that is doing that?

**MikeLip** · 08-05-2009, 08:22 AM

Not everyone says no alcohol. If alcohol is not a problem for you, it's not a problem. Go ahead and use your alcohol based splash. Yes, it is likely that the balm you are using is leaving something on your skin that the alcohol based a/s did not. That is not just because the a/s is alcohol based - some alcohol based aftershaves also leave stuff behind that make you sticky.

HOWEVER :) there are some balms that feel better than others, and it is very possible you are using too much of whatever you chose. But in your place I'd go back to the alcohol based stuff if you liked it.

**luvmysuper** · 08-05-2009, 08:37 AM

To each their own. I cannot use the "balm" type aftershaves, it just feels like I'm not done yet.
I use alcohol based AS with witch hazel and my face NEVER feels dried out.

**MikeLip** · 08-05-2009, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by luvmysuper

I cannot use the "balm" type aftershaves, it just feels like I'm not done yet.

That's EXACTLY how it feels to me!

**Obsessed** · 08-05-2009, 09:26 AM

Sounds like Speick might be a good choice for you. It has alcohol in it, but it also has a lot of skin care ingredients. (I'm referring to the Spieck "lotion," i.e., the splash, although I think the Speick balm may have some alcohol in it as well.) D.R. Harris Pink aftershave might be another one to consider. It has alcohol but not nearly as much as some other splashes.

Also, although I've never used it myself, Tabac makes a balm that sounds like it might fit the bill:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...?ltr=T&t=62252

With balms, I agree that using too much might be a big source of the problem.

**BuckeyeMark** · 08-05-2009, 10:01 AM

where can I find Tabac? is that commonly available at CVS etc?

what about Speick? and how do you say that - "SPIKE"?

**Bertilak** · 08-05-2009, 10:11 AM

re: No alcohol.

I was wary of alcohol-containing products because of the drying properties and because of that, when going for a witch hazel, chose Thayers alcohol-free. I eventually decided I didn't like that very much (loved it at first, but finally got unhappy with the sticky feeling it left behind).

So I went for a witch hazel with 14% alcohol (T.N.Dickenson) and found that at that level the alcohol was not a problem at all.

Point being, you may be able to widen your horizons and get a product with alcohol as long as it is at a reasonably low percentage.

**40boy** · 08-05-2009, 10:11 AM

In the States, both Tabac and Speick are usually not available in your local drugstore, unfortunately. There are a number of high quality online vendors that carry one or both of these outstanding products.
I have used WestCoastShaving.com and Smallflower.com with great satisfaction.

I dont know how it is pronounced, but I say "speak" for Speick. YMMV

**MikeLip** · 08-05-2009, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMark

where can I find Tabac? is that commonly available at CVS etc?

what about Speick? and how do you say that - "SPIKE"?

Speick and Tabac are both available online. ShavingEssentials.com is a good starting place.

**Lucius** · 08-05-2009, 10:38 AM

For an alcohol splash that leaves your face feeling like that you may want to try a Taylor's splash.

**Obsessed** · 08-05-2009, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by MikeLip

Speick and Tabac are both available online. ShavingEssentials.com is a good starting place.

I should point out that it's generally easier to find the Tabac splash rather than the balm I mentioned previosuly. A lot of guys like the splash, but I'd assume it has more of a tendency to be drying than the balm.

**mdunn** · 08-05-2009, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Obsessed

I should point out that it's generally easier to find the Tabac splash rather than the balm I mentioned previosuly. A lot of guys like the splash, but I'd assume it has more of a tendency to be drying than the balm.

slightly moreso, yes. but the splash is awesome, leaves face nice and protected

**pmast** · 08-05-2009, 09:30 PM

I find balms don't work for me. I have oily skin and alcohol splashes are just fine. Anything else tends to feel like it leaves a residue. If you had no discomfort from alcohol splashes before then have fun and go for it. Also, a lot of aftershaves have menthol in varying amounts which I feel tends to tighten and tone as well as cool. I believe there are some aftershave milks with menthol, but I don't know which ones. Perhaps a more knowledgeable person can chime in?

**MPruett** · 08-11-2009, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMark

have used a Mary Kay aftershave product - can't think of the name - that has alcohol in it but boy does it leave my face feeling like marble. love that feeling of bbs!

It could only be one thing... the MK Men Aftershave gel (the only AS product they sell). Was it in a sort of gunmetal colored tube?

It's this sort of gel aftershave with alcohol in it. Good stuff- you get a mild version of the alcohol burn, along with a decently moisturizing product that's not greasy. And finally, it doesn't smell bad at all- it's a sort of "Cool Water" / "Hugo Boss" / "Dunhill X-Centric" style scent that's not overly strong.

(yes, my wife sells Mary Kay, so I get as much of it as I like. PM me if you're interested and I'll hook you up with her contact info)

**ClubmanRob** · 08-11-2009, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by luvmysuper

To each their own. I cannot use the "balm" type aftershaves, it just feels like I'm not done yet.
I use alcohol based AS with witch hazel and my face NEVER feels dried out.

Originally Posted by MikeLip

That's EXACTLY how it feels to me!

Well said, gents. Using an alcohol-free aftershave balm is like a stand-up comedian having a heart attack in the middle of telling a joke- I'm left waiting for the punchline that never comes.

Originally Posted by MPruett

It could only be one thing... the MK Men Aftershave gel (the only AS product they sell). Was it in a sort of gunmetal colored tube?

It's this sort of gel aftershave with alcohol in it. Good stuff- you get a mild version of the alcohol burn, along with a decently moisturizing product that's not greasy. And finally, it doesn't smell bad at all- it's a sort of "Cool Water" / "Hugo Boss" / "Dunhill X-Centric" style scent that's not overly strong.

(yes, my wife sells Mary Kay, so I get as much of it as I like. PM me if you're interested and I'll hook you up with her contact info)

That has to be it. I have some of this along with the MK For Men face wash bar. I'm not impressed with either.

**MPruett** · 08-11-2009, 11:58 AM

I don't bother with the face wash bar; I just use Dial or whatever I have in the shower.

All I have is the aftershave gel and some sort of face moisturizer/sunscreen. I'm not partial to it, but the gel is ok stuff, although I'm not sure where it fits between a splash and a balm, to be honest.

I do like the smell though.