What do you all use for aftershaves and balms. There are so many products on the market that shopping for them is exausting. Any recommedations?:gaah:
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What do you all use for aftershaves and balms. There are so many products on the market that shopping for them is exausting. Any recommedations?:gaah:
This is something where everyone's skin is different and YMMV, but for me, alcohol-based aftershave works a lot better than balms for making my skin feel good after a shave. I use Old Spice or Pinaud Clubman (caution: it stings!), after rubbing on a block of alum (and washing it off again straight away).
When I was using balms, I liked the Nivea Sensitive Aftershave Balm, and Crabtree and Evelyn West Indian Lime balm.
Don't use aftershaves but for balms, these are some of my favourites:
- Roger & Gallet L'Homme
- Castle Forbes (Lavender)
- L'Oreal Men Expert 24 Hr hydrating
- Weleda (most recently discovered)
I think to narrow it down a little you may want to add in what type of skin you have. I think that is part of the reason that there is so many products out there. It has been a rather exhaustive search for me as well. I have somewhat sensitive skin, that is not oily or dry nor is it fair, perhaps slightly on the dark side. I have and like DR Harris balm, as well as the nivea balm. I have tried a couple others but they didn't agree with my skin, mostly just feeling a little tight. As far as aftershaves go I'm still searching for "the one"
I'm a fan of balms, as the alcohol based aftershaves irritate my skin a bit. I like the Nivea sensitive skin balm and the Shaving Co. balm.
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Nivea Arctic Freeze aftershave gel is a decently priced product that compares to the high shelf balms. It is really a balm, not a gel.
Nothing like the sting of Pinaud's Bay Rum AS - WOW!! Its so good you can wait a few minutes and do it again.
+1 on The Real Shaving Company balm.. the "Post Shave Soothing Balm".
rs,
Tack
I use the Proraso Pre shaving cream as a balm....great stuff.And also use Speick balm also great stuff
I use cold water then alum block then cold water rince, alcohol-free witch hazel and Weleda followed by GFT Sandelwood Skin Food. If I had to use only one, which I do quite often for work, I use the Weleda's Aftershave Balm...love it.
Anybody use Captains Choice products?
I have and use a bottle of their regular Bay Rum. It's not bad, but I prefer Ogallala.
Castle Forbes (1442 and Cedar Sandalwood)
Proraso ASL
Pinaud Clubman
Lilac Vegetal
Captain's Choice Bay Rum
That is what I have in my line up right now. I am really using the heck out of the Proraso now that it is summer. But Castle Forbes is great, it is not cheap, but it is great.
+1 on captains choice, I use the Cat O'Nine tails, wow!
I like PGS whiskey for both the scent and affect it has on my skin.
For balms I would suggest Al's, get a matching cream while your at it and enjoy a great shaving experience!
Where do you get alcohol-free witch hazel?
Thayer's toner is alcohol free
fmlondon, I got mine from SRD.
lately i've been into floid Blue. it has a nice powdery scent and a slight menthol kick. I bought a 100 ml decant of it and think thats the perfect size.
Thayers can also be found at Natural Grocers stores and someone mentioned The Vitamin Shoppe
As a bona fide cheap skate (because of limited income, believe me I used to be a "only the best for me" guy) and having sensitive skin I found than an aloe gel works wonders for me after a hot then cold rinse. The aftershave burn rapidly subsides. It is also excellent for sunburn, very soothing.
I'll bet this all been very helpful. :D Me? I am a fan of Proraso products, especially the after-shave balm. I use the Proraso some days, Witch Hazel others.
http://www.thegroomingrooms.com/imag...os_proraso.jpg
I use balm (Burts Bees) sometimes and Pinaud others depending on how my skin feels. I like the original Pinaud so much that I'm getting the Bay Rum next week from Amazon (12 oz. for $7) used balm early for irritation but as shaving skills improve starting to use AS more often.
My old standby is Aqua Velva Ice Blue but I also like some variety. Sometimes Clubman, Master's Bay Rum or Old Spice. They all do a good enough job moisturizing for me that I don't really need a balm most of the time.
I always cold water shave, then I use an Alum Block followed by Thayers witch hazel. If there is no irritation then bring on the aftershave: Proraso, Captains Choice or maybe Aqua Velva. If there is some irritation then I switch to balm: Nivea, Taylor of Old Bond Street or Truefitt & Hill.
I have yet to see anyone else here mention this product. I've tried just about everything under the sun and i can say that this is by far my favorite balm. Its packed with good stuff and really DOES something beyond making your face greasy. I highly recommend it.
Men's After Shave Soother Balm | Em's Place Shaving Products
Just look what's in it.
Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Cocos nucifera (Organic Coconut) Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Palm Stearic Acid, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Mannan, Salix nigra (Black Willowbark) Extract, Azadirachta indica (Neem) Oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Oleoresin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid (natural preservative) and essential oils as applicable.
I have to admit that I have really grown fond of The Gentleman's Refinery's aftershave balm. Its not quite like other balms in that its a liquid versus the cream I have come to expect of balms but... its an incredibly refreshing product that makes my skin look great.
I love my variety but if I could only have one - this would be high on my list. Very high. I think because it's a liquid, it doesn't get bogged down in the summer like some of my other balms and in the winter its just awesome.
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Good luck finding your favorite! :)
They left out the kitchen sink, a shot of Russian Vodka and a tree trimming from one of the trees in the Logan Square Monument area.
OK, here's another entry in the category of balms, etc to further add to everyone's Acquiring Disorder. Gold Bond Ultimate Diabetics Dry Skin Relief. I'm a minimal type 2 diabetic and occasionally have dry skin. It's quite soothing, especially after a rough shave.
God help me! My fingers just won't shut up! I ran an errand for my daughter in law, a beautician, to pick up some items for her from her beauty supply store. Of course I couldn't just go in, get her stuff and leave. I left with her goods and a tube each of Woody's Shave Lather and Woody's Shave Relief Balm. It goes on that wall chart for rotation (if they work out to my liking.) I live next door to my middle child, hence the errand running.
for your consideration..just telling you what works best for me amongst the 20+ balms on my counter:
Proraso Green Tea and Oat
Musgo Real
Speick
DR Harris aftershave milks..any flavor
These are the ones I most often reach for because of the soothing and antiseptic qualities. For me, none of the aftershaves or splashes perform as well as the balms.
Lucky Tiger for when I have a good shave and only need a mild after shave and Dove for men sensitive skin after shave for when I need something a little more nourishing. Sometimes I'll put on some Dove for men face cream and then the Lucky Tiger. I'm also considering getting TOBS Mr. Taylor AS splash because I love the scent!
this is what i use Instant Boost™ Skin Tonic
its awesome in summer when i dont want a greasy balm but find witch hazel too drying.
Agree with all that has been posted: Thayers witch hazel, Ogalla bay rum, Lucky Tiger.
Skin Bracer stays at the top of my rotation.
Lucky Tiger is nice if you want something mild and all natural and organic. It's made with witch hazel as well. I wasn't a fan when I first got it but I really like it now when I just need something mild!
Anyone mention burts bees aftershave? thats what ive been using for a couple years now, its amazing, no alcohol either
Folks mentioned the sting of Clubman AS. I find when I'm on top of my game, I don't get a sting. There is a tingle, but not a sting. I only get that good of a shave with Mitchells Wool Fat.
All Witch Hazel known to is is 14% alcohol, that's what makes it witch hazel....