Stick With 'Balm, or go to Aftershave?

My bottle (tiny jar?) of Nivea Post Shave Balm: Sensitive is nearly empty. I'm trying to figure out if I should get another, or try an AS I've been eyeing?

Slight tangent: As a youth, I remember getting a bar of British Sterling bar soap with a box of food 'n such that my mom brought home from a food bank (or similar entity). As a teen, I really liked the scent! It was not overpowering, and had more than a single "note" to it. I think the primary note was some sort of sawdust type of thing; and if there was a "musk" note, it was THANKFULLY very subtle.

That was probably 15 years ago. I don't know if they changed their formula. I thought it was discontinued until just this past year, actually. I don't believe I've seen the soap, but I have come across the cologne & AS. Sadly, there haven't been any open samples that I could take a whiff of. So I'm not sure if I'd even like them.

With the balm I've been using, I appreciate the soothing effects, and that it doesn't feel oily afterwards.

The point: Should I just replace the balm or take a leap of faith & get the AS? Or should I "balm & cologne"?

P.S. Does anyone have any experience with British Sterling?

I live in a desert, so I choose to not use aftershave splashes; I use a balm to ensure I keep all the moisture I can. I've been using a 2 oz jar of Sampsons All Natural Aftershave Balm. I got my jar over 2 years ago, and haven't used a quarter yet. It's $22.00 at the Sampsons website or from Jarod at The Superior Shave. The Sampsons All Natural Shave Soap is also my favorite soap. Like MdC, only much less scent and much cheaper.

Do you need the balm?

I think that is the most important question. My face dries out really fast, so some form of moisturizing agent is necessary at least 3 times a week. If you don't need it, then why bother? Unless, if the wife likes your face with the balm, probably will want to continue using it. There is the option of looking at scented balms, but I have found that some lingering soap scents don't mingle well with some balm scents. However, I'm pretty persnickety with my scents.

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Originally Posted by Crawler

My bottle (tiny jar?) of Nivea Post Shave Balm: Sensitive is nearly empty. I'm trying to figure out if I should get another, or try an AS I've been eyeing?

Slight tangent: As a youth, I remember getting a bar of British Sterling bar soap with a box of food 'n such that my mom brought home from a food bank (or similar entity). As a teen, I really liked the scent! It was not overpowering, and had more than a single "note" to it. I think the primary note was some sort of sawdust type of thing; and if there was a "musk" note, it was THANKFULLY very subtle.

That was probably 15 years ago. I don't know if they changed their formula. I thought it was discontinued until just this past year, actually. I don't believe I've seen the soap, but I have come across the cologne & AS. Sadly, there haven't been any open samples that I could take a whiff of. So I'm not sure if I'd even like them.

With the balm I've been using, I appreciate the soothing effects, and that it doesn't feel oily afterwards.

The point: Should I just replace the balm or take a leap of faith & get the AS? Or should I "balm & cologne"?

P.S. Does anyone have any experience with British Sterling?

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I would hit the witch hazel, Thayers , then go for the British Sterling aftershave. I have a bottle & like it a lot.

I remember British Sterling, but haven't seen or looked for it in years. It used to be inexpensive and if it still is you can always try it and toss it if you don't like it.
I seem to remember it having a cedar, sandalwood, and leather scent.

Crawler,

It all depends on your skin's sensitivity and nose for fragrance. I have used British Stirling cologne and aftershave for years. The fragrance has a short life, but it is delightful. My post shave is as follows:

Cold water rinse
Alum block (I leave the alum on rather than wash it off)
Witch hazel
Balm
Aftershave or cologne.

If I use a balm with fragrance, such as Penhaligon's or I Coloniali, and so on, then I forego the aftershave or cologne.

Obie, you can tolerate the alum with your sensitive skin?

I don't have such sensitivities however if I use alum I need to wash it or it bothers me.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Obie, you can tolerate the alum with your sensitive skin?

I don't have such sensitivities however if I use alum I need to wash it or it bothers me.

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Spendur,
It does not seem to bother me, for some reason, I might add. The witch hazel that I apply over it seems to temper what might cause irritation. The important point about alum is its overall help in maintaining a healthy skin. For instance, if by some chance a pimple surfaces on my face, I rub it with the alum after washing my face before bedtime. A couple days of that and the pimple is gone. Alum is good stuff. Combine it with witch and your face is ready for Hollywood.

Thanks for all the responses, guys! It has proved at least somewhat enlightening. No small task, considering the rambling manner of my OP.

Lacking fun money at the moment, I just replaced the balm with a fresh bottle. For reference, the AS & cologne are both in the $15 neighborhood at the local stores. Still haven't found the soap :shrug: lol.

Follow-up question: Is the scent virtually the same from cologne to AS to bar soap (those that remember it)??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crawler

Thanks for all the responses, guys! It has proved at least somewhat enlightening. No small task, considering the rambling manner of my OP.

Lacking fun money at the moment, I just replaced the balm with a fresh bottle. For reference, the AS & cologne are both in the $15 neighborhood at the local stores. Still haven't found the soap :shrug: lol.

Follow-up question: Is the scent virtually the same from cologne to AS to bar soap (those that remember it)??

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Crawler,
the strength of the fragrance, from what I recall of the soap, is:
Cologne
Aftershave
Soap

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Originally Posted by Obie

Crawler,
the strength of the fragrance, from what I recall of the soap, is:
Cologne
Aftershave
Soap

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Fair enough. Thanks. But the scent itself is the same across all three?

I bring that up because a product can have wild variations depending on how it is packaged/delivered/what form it is in. Prime example: Mt. Dew: Code Red. Excellent in the can! Quite smooth, balanced flavor, and stops short of being too rich. But try the exact same thing in a bottle. It is an atrocious abomination! A similar example would be the difference between a soda from a bottle, and the same soda from a fast food/convenience store fountain machine. I hope that made sense...

Crawler,
The fragrance, from what I recall of the soap, is the same in the general sense, although the strength various among the three.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Obie

Spendur,
It does not seem to bother me, for some reason, I might add. The witch hazel that I apply over it seems to temper what might cause irritation. The important point about alum is its overall help in maintaining a healthy skin. For instance, if by some chance a pimple surfaces on my face, I rub it with the alum after washing my face before bedtime. A couple days of that and the pimple is gone. Alum is good stuff. Combine it with witch and your face is ready for Hollywood.

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Well, that's the problem right there Obie. I simply can't tolerate having a mere Hollywood face. I need a way higher standard for my Broadway Face.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well, that's the problem right there Obie. I simply can't tolerate having a mere Hollywood face. I need a way higher standard for my Broadway Face.

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Spendur, my friend, movies for me. I love the theater. I love the movies more. Always have. And now that I am turning my novel into a movie script, I must uphold the Hollywood face.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crawler

Fair enough. Thanks. But the scent itself is the same across all three?

I bring that up because a product can have wild variations depending on how it is packaged/delivered/what form it is in. Prime example: Mt. Dew: Code Red. Excellent in the can! Quite smooth, balanced flavor, and stops short of being too rich. But try the exact same thing in a bottle. It is an atrocious abomination! A similar example would be the difference between a soda from a bottle, and the same soda from a fast food/convenience store fountain machine. I hope that made sense...

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Typically the fountain soda is different because the owner can change the mixture. Less concentrate means more profit and some customers prefer it. A few places by me bump up the concentrate of the Schweppes ginger ale and it is delicious. This more backs up your example...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well, that's the problem right there Obie. I simply can't tolerate having a mere Hollywood face. I need a way higher standard for my Broadway Face.

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But you're farther away on the theatre and can be uglier...

In general, aftershave balms and aftershave are two different products: the former is compounded to soothe and moisturize one's face, while the latter's job is to close-up and "tighten" the skin pores of one's face. As a rule-of-thumb, I use a high-quality ASB immediately following my Friday afternoon shaves, but will splash on an aftershave (sans balm) after other during-the-week shaves. I learned to avoid homemade, "cottage-industry" balms -- I found that they're usually thin, often irritating, with an awful taste, and of an overall lower quality than those of top-tier manufacturers. I know... it's a YMMV thing, but I go with my experience.

Examples: Castle Forbes' matching/complementary lines of shaving cream/aftershave balm/EDP; another is Burberry's Brit for Men ASB and EDT; two more are Geoffrey Beane's Grey Flannel and Acqua di Parma's Colonia. There are many more, and yes, they're expensive, but "coordinated" (i.e., formulated to work together) -- you honestly do "get what you pay for" (I'm talking about quality, not whether one likes the aroma).

Smooth shaving!