Thread: Best stuff to use for sensitive skin after shaving?

Try and get Vergulde Hand after shave balm: great stuff, has the old faschioned shaving soap scent.

After Shave Balsem

I was having a problem with sensitive skin after shaving and found that the Vitamin C in art of shaving aftershave was making the sensitivity worse. I simply cannot understand why Vitamin C needs to be in a topical product, its much better absorbed taking it orally. Its trendy, thats for sure, among cream manufacturers.

Anyway, I found a great substitute as an after shave balm, "Clinique post shave healer". I got it over at Nordstroms. Its not as expensive (around $17) as some of the other after shave balms and does not have much of a scent, but thats fine with me. It really is soothing and also not very greasy either. I might write a review about it in the future.

Witch Hazel does already have a natural scent, it is not very pronounced, like that of Bay Rum (which includes spices). Thanks about the V-E and Aloe tip -- one could break a gel cap of V-E into it along with that tablespoon of Aloe Vera Juice. (It amazes me how so little Aloe does so much -- ditto the Witch Hazel bark & leaves extract.)

I make my own Witch Hazel extract by macerating a half-cup each of dried WH bark & leaves (an English lady owns Mountain Rose Herbs dot com, of Eugene, Oregon, which supplies these and other organic/biological herbs in bulk at reasonable price) in 95% Grain Alcohol (use Vine alcohol if available -- on the West Coast USA, Alchemical Solutions ships theirs, though it is costly yet reasonable, q.v. OrganicAlcohol.com. Then the standard alcohol strength is diluted to 14% -- a standard used since the beginning by the colonists of New England based on the Amerind product they had come to value. (What burns from Alcohol is markedly from Isopropol or Denatured Alcohol -- even Dickinson's Witch Hazel (America's oldest, since the 1830s) has returned to natural Ethyl Alcohol after relaxation of years of Food & Drug Administration prohibition by Jimmy Carter's activist albeit well-meaning consumer protection work, but much commercial WH extract still uses the very unpleasant face-burning stuff designed to force floks to eschew it for drinking -- in America especially, a revenue enforcement issue.) Then I am going to try adding the V-E oil & Aloe Vera prior to dilution to the 14% level, which with pure Ethyl Alcohol is very pleasant to use, and not at all nasty or face-burning. Aloe Vera expelled juice contains fungus inhibitors -- and to make one's own is rather messy, since the sap is viscous (slimy), at least my fruit juicer grator did not succeed -- good luck on making preservative-free Aloe Vera juice. How-be-it, dilution of a Tablespoon of AV juice in a quart of WH extract would seem insignificant regarding preservative harms (perhaps AV preservatives are commonly the Calcium Propionate variety used formerly in mass-produced breads, the which I'd prefer top do without, unless someone can enlighten me contrariwise.)

Witch Hazel extract is also an excellent sanitary sponge bath agent which can be carried easily in the suit case or backpack ! I heartliy recommend WH for that purpose ! Some self-designated "scientists" claim that distillation must remove the Tannins, which they claim responsible for the styptic (astringent) effect -- no, but distilled commercial WH is indeed a wound stauncher for the likes of tiny face cuts & abrasions. I find little difference between making a non-distilled extract of the bark, regardless of whether the tannin containing leaves are infused as well; so empyrically, I'd say that such pseudo-scientists are wrong, though I prefer to macerrate both bark & leaves to make mine (undistilled, a brownish colour which can [temporarily] stain things ...).

GOD Bless!

I have very sensitive skin ans have found that witch hazel followed by Proraso pre-shave cream works miracles.

I have never found any aftershave balm to work for my skin - they just usually inflame it further, which slows down the healing process. Tea tree oil also inflames my skin instead of calming it, despite its anti-inflammatory properties - I suspect this is an allergic reaction, as I have a lot of allergy issues as well.

The only product I have found so far that consistently helps to heal my skin to the point where I can shave every day is a product called "face protector" from the body shop of all places. My wife found it and I was pretty skeptical at first, but the results are what counts.

I just posted this in another post, but I basically;

- apply alum block and leave for 1 minute
- wash and dry face
- apply face protector and wait 10 mins
- apply aftershave/cologne

Originally Posted by RazorPete

I was having a problem with sensitive skin after shaving and found that the Vitamin C in art of shaving aftershave was making the sensitivity worse. I simply cannot understand why Vitamin C needs to be in a topical product, its much better absorbed taking it orally. Its trendy, thats for sure, among cream manufacturers.

Anyway, I found a great substitute as an after shave balm, "Clinique post shave healer". I got it over at Nordstroms. Its not as expensive (around $17) as some of the other after shave balms and does not have much of a scent, but thats fine with me. It really is soothing and also not very greasy either. I might write a review about it in the future.

Vitamin C is actually an acid (not a very strong one, but an acid none the less), so it is not surprising that it will irritate your skin.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

Vitamin C is actually an acid (not a very strong one, but an acid none the less), so it is not surprising that it will irritate your skin.

Yes, thats why, out of the many ingredients in the balm, I realized it was the Vitamin C that was causing the burning. Anyway, there is some data that Vitamin C may be beneficial to the skin, helping with collagen cross linking, and also as an anti-oxidant. Its just that at least for me, its probably best applied during times when it wont further irritate already inflamed skin, such as just after shaving.

The cold towel is a good start!

I dont use aftershave on my face, I find it dries out my skin and can make it look a bit red and sore. I only put it on my forearms and the sides of my neck.

I use Trumpers Sandalwood skin food, which I cant recommend highly enough. It has glycerin in it which helps sooth your skin after shaving. Plus it smells really good..!

I also have very sensitive skin and can get irritated and red. I've tried a lot of things, and still experimenting, but an aftershave I really like is Art of Shaving Aftershave Balm for sensitive skin. It has zero burn (no alcohol) and is very light. They make an aftershave gel which is runnier and more hydrating, but I prefer it less gooey.

At the advice of some others on the forum, I am trying the Body Shop face protector. Not quite sure when to apply it. The lady in Body Shop said very last. I am currently putting it on a bit after the aftershave and also again at night.

Finally, I'm trying Mitchell's Wool Fat shaving soap, also on some advice. See how that goes.

Originally Posted by bromion

At the advice of some others on the forum, I am trying the Body Shop face protector. Not quite sure when to apply it. The lady in Body Shop said very last. I am currently putting it on a bit after the aftershave and also again at night.

I tend to apply alum block and leave on while I pack everything up, then rinse and dry face. Apply face protector to dry face (you dont need much - it goes a long way) and rub in. Wait about 5 mins or so until my skin starts to absorb it properly, then I use a spray on aftershave/cologne.

You can use splash-on's but i tend to find that I end up rubbing/disrupting the face protector from doing its thing. My only comment about putting it on last, is that if you are sensitive to your aftershave, you effectively lock it onto your face by applying face protector last, which might not have the desired effect.

Anyway, in all of these things YMMV and try different combinations until you get one you like.