Currently I use Williams Mug Shaving Soap for my lather, and then follow that up by a cold towel on my face.
Any suggestions for an aftershave that would help heal my sensitive skin quicker and relieve the sting?
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Currently I use Williams Mug Shaving Soap for my lather, and then follow that up by a cold towel on my face.
Any suggestions for an aftershave that would help heal my sensitive skin quicker and relieve the sting?
Michael, you might try some Witchhazel. Thayer's makes a number of different scents w/wo Alcohol that a number of folks, myself included, use prior to an AS splash. Some even use the WH as an aftershave as they do have scented versions.
Enjoy,
Joe
Ok, so, Witch Hazel.
Thayers has three products on the site I'm looking at:
Thayers Toners with Aloe Vera (Alcohol-Free)
Thayers Astringents with Aloe Vera
Thayers Medicated Superhazel with Aloe Vera
I feel like alcohol free would do best for me, yet I feel like an astringent would be a good idea. Then again a medicated one seems smart....
Which should I try out?
Some Alocohol-free with hazel would be good. I also like the nivea senstive asb.
Do yourself a favor and spend an extra buck and pick up some VDH instead of williams.
Verderhaggen deluxe or something like that.
There is actually an astringent that is alcohol free if I remember correctly, it has the white label on it. I used that before going to the Superhazel, which is pretty nice as well.
+1 to CarrieM's point. Nivea is a good solid product that can be had easily and has produced good results. You might also ask her about some of the products she's making up and get her thoughts on what might work well for sensative skin.
Joe
Witch Hazel is a natural astringent/antiseptic. I would recommend using the one with Aloe in it as the Aloe is also a natural antiseptic/anti imflammitory as well as a moisturizer . You can always make some yourself using Witch Hazel and add a bit of Aloe Vera Gel to it. Maybe about a Tablespoon of Aloe per cup of witch hazel should do it.
You may want to try switching to a different soap or cream. You may be getting irritation because you need more slickness in your lather.
Ok, so since you know about witch hazel. I find vitamin E oil is very good. It soothes irritation almost instantly & moisturises too. Just put it on very lightly, or you'll end up shiny!
I think any balm would do the trick. It just depends on the scent you like.
Thayer's Witch Hazel/with aloe has no scent and am not sure if it falls under the balm category.
The best stuff I've found for sensitive, razor burned skin is here:
Men's Toiletries and Gifts
Scroll about 3/4's of the way down. You're looking for the aftershave soother and balm. If there is a shaving morphine, this is it.
Don
Step 1, warm water rinse.
Step 2, alum block pass, let it sit one minute.
Step 3, cold water rinse.
Step 4, dry face.
Step 5, thayer's witch hazel, let sit one minute.
Step 6, apply aftershave of your choice.
This is the best way I've found to stifle irritation as much as possible. It will squash a small amount of irritation, and will lessen worse irritation.
The Gentlemen's Refinery Aftershave Balm is the best balm I've tried (and I've tried a lot). It's expensive ($50) and the bottle pump thing it comes in can be a pain, but the product is the most effective one out there, IMHO. Not greasy, made with organic ingredients, and a little goes a long way.
scott.
+1 for the witch hazel (some have small % alcohol, some not; both are great, non-stinging) and Nivea balm for sensitive skin.
After your final rinse, apply the witch hazel liberally; while your face is wet, add some Nivea. It will be slippery wet but absorbs and soothes, smoothes, calms, heals.............. Give it a shot.
+1 on definitely getting a "slicker" soap than Williams! Or just dump some Aloe Gel on top of your Williams when lathering.
Also, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream works wonders for my sensitive skin. Big old "tub" for about $10. A tiny little bit goes a long way! Not greasy at all!
Among the many post shave balms, witch hazel, Alum, etc...You can try Nivea's Post shave balm in a black tube. It's amazingly good. I picked some up the other day in Wal Greens. Now, I'm addicted to Truefitt's and Hills 1805 post shave balm. The fragrance is great, but it's expensive, so I'm frugal with it...So that's where the Nivea comes in...
It's good stuff and about 5 or 6 bucks if I'm not mistaken...A great deal, and it will sooth your skin....+1
nancy boy replenishing aftershave balm. aloe, no alcohol, rose hip seed oil.
I use Nivea For Men aftershave balm. Great product!
I really like the Pre de Provence Aftershave Balm. It contains a generous amount of Shea Butter and really soothes irritated skin.
This discussion reminds me of when I was a dermatology resident, we used to get lectures from one of the great old time dermatologists, Walter Lobitz. He passed away a few years ago, but he will be remembered by many people.
OHSU Department of Dermatology - Voluntary clinical faculty program - Named lectures
He would lecture us about the history of dermatology, how it was introduced from europe in the 1800s, and what it was like to practice dermatology a long time ago. There were a lot less drugs back then, and they were much less refined. There was precipitated sulfa for acne, tar extract for psoriasis, gentian violet for infections. Glycerin in rose water as a mild facial moisturizer. And witch hazel was widely used as the old time dermatology stable for irritated skin. I still remember and recommend it from time to time. Its gone by the wayside nowadays with the new generation of dermatologists, replaced by many new (and sometimes overhyped) topicals, but its good to see it being used still with folks here. Sometimes the older remedies are still the best!
hiya mike,
I like to splash anthony logistics witch hazel and follow up with boots botanical aftershave balm to seal and heal. That should do you just fine.
Cheer!
try The Shave Den aftershave milk unscented.
Michael,my vote would go for Cliniques Post Shave Healer.It's the first thing I reach for if I've had a rough shave.It is an unscented,very light balm that leaves no greasiness behind. It's about 16.00 for a small bottle but a little goes a long way.Most department stores that carry the Clinique line will have it in stock.
I use some lotion I bought at Kroger that is advertised to relieve itches and minor sunburn. I think it is Kroger brand, but there are others. It contains something like benzocaine, and it moisturizes the skin, too. It's not often that I need it, but sometimes a razor will be in need of hone work and will give me a sting. I also use it when my cotton over the calf socks (worn with weestern boots) cause my calves to itch. Same principle.
I usually use sunblock, as I ride a motorcycle every day and need it.
I am suprised no one has mentioned tea tree oil.
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and topical anesthetic that is alot less harsh on my skin than witch hazel. My skin usually gets too dry from witch hazel. For me, witch hazel has fallen out of favor.
My routine is to use the tea tree oil and leave it on the skin for about 10 minutes or so.
I usually follow up the tea tree oil with some Vitamin E oil and I am good to go.
The good news, there actually is some science which documents tea tree oil's anti-inflammatory properties:
Tea tree oil reduces histamine-induced skin inflam...[Br J Dermatol. 2002] - PubMed Result
The bad news, too high a concentration of melaleuca, the active ingredient in tea tree oil can cause skin irritation and very rarely, a skin allergy, similar to poison oak.
A review of the toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia...[Food Chem Toxicol. 2006] - PubMed Result
Cheers,
Pete
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
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.
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.