Captain's Choice Bay Rum Problems

Hello everyone!
I've been having a problem with this particular AS lately and I wanted to ask you for your opinions.

I started using this AS a few weeks ago and I liked the scent and light stinging sensation even though I'm not a huge fan of the clover, which after a few minutes fades away leaving a more pleasant scent - at least for me-

I'm comparing it to the Penhaligon's AS Splash which it has a stronger and sharper sting at first, but lately, the Captain's choice is giving me a way more intense burning feeling, to the point that I have to wash it away and put some balm on my face.

I don't get any redness or any thing of the sort, it's just burning. I have no idea why this is as I've applied it after a cold water rinse and also after a cold water + which hazel splash.

Anyone else having the same issues with this AS? Any ideas why it could be happening now and not since day 1?

Cheers.

E.

That is unusual for Captain's Choice. It is the bay rum that I recommend to people with sensitive skin who have trouble with other bay rums since it does not contain clove oil. I would guess that there are three possibile explanations for your irritation.

It could be weather related. I understand that it gets cold there in Canada from time to time. Perhaps you are a little windburned.

You might have simply developed a sensitivity to it over time. It happens; for instance I have no trouble with bay rums except for one particular brand that lights me up.

Finally, it could be technique related. Perhaps you have made a slight change in the angle or direction of that ATG pass or even added a touch up pass. Small changes can have a big impact.

Otherwise, you might just lay off of the CC for a while or change to a different, milder soap for a bit to let the skin recover.

BTW, I'm wearing Captain's Choice Lime right now; you might want to try that as well.



rs,
Tack

I know... and that's why I went with this BR.
I've been paying close attention to my routine, and I tried it with several other soaps and creams with the same result. so I'm guessing it's technique related as I'm doing more touch up passes lately. The problem is that I get the worst sensation on my cheeks but my touch up passes are under the jaw and neck, so I'm not entirely sure what's going on he he he.

Thanks for your answer :-)

E.

Quote:

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The problem is that I get the worst sensation on my cheeks..

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Oh, now that rings a bell! I just remembered, years ago I had a pretty good A/S cheek burn problem.
It turned out that I was going over the same area several times during the ATG pass.. not a real touch up pass, just sort of scrubbing the cheek area. I changed the way I was stretching, made sure I used a single stroke, really concentrated on the pressure and the problem went away. I think that the hardest thing for me to learn was how little pressure is actually needed.

Give it a try, it might help.



rs,
Tack

Hello Tack... So, on the cheeks I should only do WTG pass? or just do less passes and avoid XTG/ATG?
Thank you.
E.

As I recall I was missing some whiskers just under the cheekbone and was going over the area several times on the ATG pass. I just stopped doing that and paid more attention to my technique. It's like the old vaudeville routine:

Patient: "Doc, it hurts when I do this."

Doctor: "Don't do that!"

I guess you could try only WTG on the cheeks for a shave or two. If the burn goes away, you know that you've found the culprit.




rs,
Tack

Great, thanks for the insight ;-)

There are a series of AS bay Rum types like Domenica and Capt Choice and a couple others I've always suspected are made by the same outfit and just have slightly different scents. They all share huge alcohol content and that is first suspect when you have big time burn.

Hello thebigspendur,
I know alcohol is a sign of the burning, but... I've used Penhaligon's AS Splash which as far as I know, it has a higher alcohol content and it doesn't have which hazel. At first the penhaligon's sting is sharper but it fades away rather quickly, as with the Captain's choice the sting starts gradually and than builds up. That's why I'm not sure what's happening.

I think you my have to consider that allergies may be at play. Test it on another part of your body. Inside of your forearm perhaps.

May affect some differently. Sensitive skin might be more prone to irritation, but this is a common warning on Bay Leaf essential oil.

WARNING: Bay Leaf may be a dermal irritant and a sensitizer. If using on the skin, use in very weak dilutions.

Howard :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SirStropalot

WARNING: Bay Leaf may be a dermal irritant and a sensitizer. If using on the skin, use in very weak dilutions.

Howard :)

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I have to say that it's the first time I've heard that about bay leaf...
I'll try in different areas to see if any react to that, but as far as I know I'm not allergic to any thing.

Generally speaking, Bay Rum will tell you in short order if your technique is up to snuff.

I know if I've had a sub par shave Bay Rum will burn like the dickens without any redness or signs of irritation. Many others will attest to this fact too :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eco82

I have to say that it's the first time I've heard that about bay leaf...
I'll try in different areas to see if any react to that, but as far as I know I'm not allergic to any thing.

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Eco,

I really like Bay Rum and use one of the aftershaves everyday. My wife makes soap and I had asked her to make a batch of bay rum for me. When she was sourcing the bay rum essential oil she kept finding the precautions.

I've never had any type of reaction, but when you posted "but lately, the Captain's choice is giving me a way more intense burning feeling, to the point that I have to wash it away and put some balm on my face." I remembered the precautions. It may not be at all what you're experiencing, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

:gl: and I hope it's just a little razor burn and you can get back to enjoying the Bay Rum aftershave.

Howard :)

Heres a couple more I found on essential oil sites.

"Bay Rum essential oil is mucous membrane irritating, and moderately toxic due to high content of eugenol. It is non-irritating on human skin when used at less than 5% concentration; however, it should not be used on very sensitive skin, and for prolonged periods of time. Avoid during pregnancy."


"Bay rum essential oil has a high eugenol content and may cause skin irritation as well as irritation of the mucus membranes. It is considered to be mildly toxic and should be used in small amounts. Avoid use or during pregnancy. If used on the skin, a patch test should always be performed first and it should always be diluted."

Captains Choice advertises the fact that they don't use clove. But I've found cinnamon to irritate my skin. There may be an allergy in play here.

So I tried it yesterday on my forearm after testing one of the blades and although I did feel a little burn is not as bad as the one on my face... so I really think I'll blame this on my technique...

So... I tried the bar rum again and it gave me the same burning feeling, today I used a different AS splash which at first has a sharper sting than what I originally felt with BR but the burn faded a few seconds later.
I'm focusing more on my technique and really stretching the skin as I got a little bit over confident with that.
My concern is that if I can't use the Bay Rum - because of the warning - I'll want to use it more. We all want what we can't have he he he.

I'm not sure if it's possible to develop a reaction over time to certain substances or, if I'm sensitive to bay rum, if it should've apear right from the beginning. Either way I'm kind of sad because I'm starting to enjoy the scent of BR but I'm afraid to use it now. I think I'll just put it once without shaving and see if that triggers the same reaction.

Thank you everyone for the answers.

If not allergies then technique is the next likely cause. Finally, there is the blade. A damaged edge may scrape the skin causing irritation, causing too much burning from an A/S. Also a blade that is not sharp enough may cause you to put too much pressure on the skin which will cause irritation causing burning as well. I know that if my blade is not up to snuff one of the signs is irritation on the cheeks.

Regards,

Ignatius

had the same problem with cc. I switched to ogallala. brand like the feel and scent better. I think spender is correct about the high alcohol content.

Ogallala is a witch hazel base, if I reall correctly. I don't get "the burn" from it like I do other alcohol-based bay rums. Switching brands may be the answer.