Thread: Baby oil for pre shave

I was trying the baby oil thing (for about 5 days), and it seemed to do two things for me:
1) helped quite a bit with the irritation on my neck from shaving, and
2) seemed to make shaving a touch easier

HOWEVER.....

I noticed that my skin seemed to be developing a slight red "rash", and was bumpy.... like I was on the verge of breaking out. So I immediatly quite, as the only thing I could attribute this to was the baby oil.
I switch to EVOO as of this morning, so I cannot comment on its effectiveness as of yet. My neck does feel smooth still, and the "rash" seems to have lessened.
I did need to use more than 2 drops. In fact, I used 4 total on my neck, and another 3 on my face.... I know this because my EVOO is in a 30ml glass bottle with a dropper. This seemed like an appropriate amount to cover the area. I put the drops on the middle and index finger of my left hand, rubber together with the middle and index of my right hand, and massaged into the skin. I think I needed one less for the face because I did that area second, and so I already had some oil on my fingers from applying to the neck. Even with 7 drops total, it still seemed like a very small amount once applied, I did not look shiny or feel oily (in fact, I wondered if I should have used a bit more)
I will post again in a few days and let you guys know what I think.
I will tell you this though, I am not a huge fan of the smell of EVOO.

Originally Posted by Cheeks

I will tell you this though, I am not a huge fan of the smell of EVOO.

Try mixing a couple of drops of essential oil with the EVOO. I use a citrus blend which is supposed to be calming and "peaceful," about 1 drop per 2 drops of EVOO. This results in a fairly strong smell, but it is very pleasant. Just be VERY CAREFUL which essential oils you choose, as some can be very harmful. There are some wonderful articles about essential oils, and I think there is even a wiki on essential oils on this website that explain some of the hazards involved and which ones to avoid.

If you want an absolutely neutral smell, try using grapeseed oil instead of the EVOO. Same properties as EVOO without any aroma whatsoever.

Thank you very much for the feedback and keep us posted. I only use EVOO or grapeseed, so getting the play-by-play comparison is educational and informative.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had considered mixing some essential oils with the EVOO to help with the smell, but my skin is so sensitive (just on my neck) that I am trying to eliminate every variable for skin irritation.
For the time being I am content to deal with the EVOO odor and see how things go. I am holding on the hope that one of these days, with just the right setup and routine, I can enjoy a daily shave with total comfort and no more irritation.
I will certainly keep you guys posted.