Thread: Which order do you apply?

Right now i'm using a few aftershave products and was wondering if anyone has input as to which should get applied first.

Here is my routine:

1. Cold water everything, shave, cold water rinse.

2. Alum block

3. (this one varies) witch hazel or alcohol based splash

4. either the witch hazel or splash (depending on what step 3 was)

5. After shave balm

Does it matter which you apply first? Does applying one before the other (steps 3 and 4) provide any benefit or does it really make no difference at all?

For what it's worth, I tend to keep it pretty simple:

1. cold water rinse post-shave
2. witch hazel or alum
3. AS or balm (I seem to be on a major bay rum AS run these days, so it has been quite a while since I've used a balm...)

And that's pretty much it.

I soap up again and apply a hot towel followed by a cold water rinse and the the alum and then the witch hazel and then the AS.

Well here we go:

Cold Water
Alum
Clean Brush and Scuttle
Cold water
Aftershave Balm

1. Thorough hot water rinse
2. Alum (or astringent of choice)
3. Cold water rinse
4. Aftershave splash
5. Aftershave balm

For the most part I don't double up on the aftershaves, I'll use one or the other (splash or balm), but that's the order when I use both. As well, step 4 would normally be Trumpers Skin Food before the AS, but I ran out quite some time ago and haven't got around to ordering a replacement..

Cold water splash
After Shave Balm

Here's my post-shave routine:

First, a cold water rinse, then I put on either some witch hazel or some Alum, then Some ASB or AS.
If I use Alum, I will naturally rinse that off after a minute or so with another cold water rinse before the balm.

Cold water rinse and apply alum block
Clean sponge and brush, drain sink
Cold water rinse and pat dry followed by Thayers witch hazel
AS before I go out never use AS balm

Bob

Originally Posted by ace

Cold water splash
After Shave Balm

A true minimalist Ace!

Birnardo: +1 on rinsing it off, I do the same thing. Not sure why though, just read it on here.

Bob: why no balm? I find that, especially in winter, I really benefit from the moisturizing effect of it. My skin is fairly oily and recently started using the new l'oreal for men aftershave balm (hydra sensitive) and find I like it MUCH more than the proraso or zirh stuff. It's thick and creamy and just feels incredible.

Here is my post shave routine:

Rinse with warm water and that is it.