Thread: What's the difference between an alum block and a styptic pencil?

Yeah I hear just buy the basic alum block since no one seems to be able to tell us why one is more expensive than the other. I find stypics for like a buck at walmart?!

Originally Posted by sbonder

Also a good antiseptic that closes the pores after a shave.

Although many people think that they do, the pores of the skin can neither close nor open.

The Welsh wizard strikes. With the help of the internet I will expand a bit further on the pore issue.

There’s no magical process or product that will cause your pores to "open" and allow impurities to rise to the skin’s surface. By the same token, splashing cold water on your face - or doing anything else for that matter - won’t cause the gates to slam shut on your pores. Simply put, "pores are pretty stationary," says Susan C. Taylor, M.D., a dermatologist in Philadelphia...What you’re doing when you steam your face is causing the blood vessels to dilate and the skin to swell slightly. Similarly, "astringents and toners slightly irritate the walls of the pores and make them swell, causing the pores to look smaller," Baumann explains. But they haven’t actually changed in size.

So I guess that nice smooth feeling I get a few minutes after rubbing the alum block across my moist face is just chemically induced swelling. Either way it feels smooth.

And you definitely only need to buy the cheapest alum blocks and styptic sticks you can find. It is all the same (even if blocks and sticks are different).

Of course the pores of the skin open and close. Just go outside on a hot , humid day and look at your skin with a magnifier and compare that with the way they look when you go outside on a cold day.

Whether these preparations do that I don't know.

Alum doesn't have to cost much money. if it's sold by some fancy outfit they charge alot but you can by from an outfit like Tolumba (spelling) for very little and it's the same stuff.

Are you really meant to rinse your face after using the alum block?
I have been applying it, letting it dry then applying aftershave.
To the opening post, the pen is meant as a spot treatment for large nicks & cuts, the block can help seal cuts if you rub the affected area long enough but is intended to minimise razor burn & irritation around the entire face.

You are supposed to rub the block over your face when the face is still wet (or at least moist) from rinsing off the lather, then let it dry while you are doing something else. Once it has dried I put on some lotion.

Great ? I was wondering the same thing. I bought the styptic and boy does it burn on the cuts. However it closes them perfect. I had a fast morning the other day and a couple accidents. It did the job I guess I need to get the Block to add in the collection.

Hmm. Interesting thread. I've been washing off my alum before putting on aftershave. Perhaps I should be leaving it on?

Steve

Proraso makes a nick healer that works absolute wonders on cuts as well, its comes in a tube in clear gel form. I've also seen people rub the alum block on their fingers to make grabbing the skin easier ( secondary use )

For cuts I use a product called "My Nik is Sealed" it is the size of a septic pencil, but is a liquid with a tiny roll-on ball applicator. It really works great for me. Here is the ingredients:
Methyl Cellulose, Phenyl Salicylate, Begamont Oil,Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Aloe, Aluminum Chloride, Benzocaine,SD38B Alcohol.
You can see it is quite different than other products.