I enjoy the sting but here is another question. Besides stinging does anyone experience small cuts starting to bleed again from their AS or balm?
When I first began down the slippery slope that is SR shaving I tried making my own AS/balm. Of course, my face was riddled with small ( and large) cuts and razor burn those first few weeks. I think I used to much aloe in the mix and wow, did my face light up and burn.
I returned to the mirror that first time after 5 minutes and it looked like I was doing homemade plastic surgery, blood weeping from all the tiny cuts! It's funny now but a few months back I was thinking I would have to learn to be a masochists to enjoy shaving! My recipe is better now and my balm is very enjoyable, burns but soothes and finishes cool.