After shave

Sorry for my ignorance, but I've never been an aftershave kind of person, I just shave, splash of water, dry and off I go, so I simple know nothing about 'em. Can someone tell me the function of all of them? I mean theres splashes, balms, lotions, skin food, creams..... Can you just use a total moisture general skin moisturizer usally used for hand/elbow moisturizing? I really want to get the skin food just because I think it'll function as an aftershave and heal my skin. Does skin food function as an aftershave, because I was looking at Geo F Trumper site and they sell skin food and aftershave, so do you need both? I also really liked the Art of Shaving after-shave skin balm I used when I bought a sampler kit, left my face with a nice shine and o so soothing.

To me any type of skin care product can be very confusing. Like yourself, I never used them and learned everything I know recently. Here is a quick rundown of my perspective on aftershave.
First of all aftershave is anything you put on your face after a shave. These things tend to do one or more of a few things. They moisturize, soothe, tone, tighten, cleanse, and or cool the skin. Many of them contain perfume, or other fragrance. Below is a short list of my own mental categories:

1. "Traditional" aftershaves--contain alcohol and fragrance, cool and "brace" the skin. sometimes moisturise a little.
2. Toners- ie Thayer's astringent---These contain Witch Hazel and are soothing, toning, cleansing/antiseptic. Many toners have moisturizers like aloe. If they contain alcohol they are cooling. Many other toners at the drugstore and I suspect any of them would make a good aftershave.
3. Balms/Lotions-- Can have any of the properties of the above, but have more emolients and moisturizers. Are thicker.
4. Face Lotion--Just sold as lotion. Very nice for moisturizing the face and also may do some of the above. Can have a Sunscreen in it which protects your skin from sun damage.

I have been using Thayer's Lemon these days after shaving. When that dries I throw on some face lotion.

----Michael