Thread: Question about dry/sensitive skin

Thanks, Scott. I may have to try that out.

The last few weeks have been pretty rough. I've tried several soaps since running out of the Harris almond soap I'd been using, and my skin is in bad shape. This morning I tried a puck of inexpensive soap I had in a drawer, and it was so bad I had to wash it off after 1/3 of a pass. That's my fourth soap in the last two weeks. Williams has been safe for me in the past, and this stuff looked like Williams, but I don't think it was.

I finished the shave with plain water, and it actually worked really well. I'm thinking I'll try using water for the next few days to let my skin recover. I got a pretty good shave because I could see what I was doing.

I may end up ordering some more of the Harris almond, as that's one of the very few soaps that doesn't cause me major problems.

It seems like I've recently developed a heightened sensitivity to fragrences. Dang it.

Josh

Finishing with plain water may achieve the same effect I do by rinsing with warm water first. Removing any residue that got worked in.
I started rinsing well with warm water because I found it gets the soap out better, then the cold water rinse to close the pores. For me, that stopped the irritation caused by some soaps.

I'll second the notion for Mitchell's Wool Fat. It's a high end tallow based soap with lanolin content in it, which is pretty unique. It's very protective when shaving, and leaves my skin moisturized enough that most of the time I don't even need an aftershave product, even in the winter. . .

I have sensitive skin too - the MWF works the best for me so far. I've got Institut Karite and Pre de Provence soap on the way, both of which have shea butter content. I've heard these are good for sensitive skin as well.

As far as aftershave products, Skin Food and also just plain aloe vera work the best for me. I've tried a lot of lotions and balms, and my face just hates them. But these two work good for me.

After another flare-up last night, I think that I may have figured out what the problem is here. I think I have an allergy to wenge, which is a species of exotic wood that I've been using for the last few weeks.

A lot of exotic woods have the potential to cause skin irritation, so I've been considering those as the cause. Yesterday the only wood I worked with was the wenge, and I didn't really do anything else that was out of the ordinary.

I really hope that's what's going on. I do like this wood, but not that much.

I'll have to give MWF a shot, too.

Thanks,
Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Where do you get Zirh products?

I've been doing the olive oil thing, and it's actually working very nicely. My skin feels relatively good even though it's irritated--a weird sensation.

I know that Sephora carries Zirh and they usually will have samples of the entire line on hand. Aside from that, I know Amazon usually has pretty low prices on the line.



By olive oil thing are you referring to oil cleansing method?

I'm telling you...check out Em's place as mentioned above. Really a good product.

hhmmm...... If it's the wenge time to startup that fireplace.

Maybe stop shaving for a few days ?

Josh,

it is very surprising that the alum is OK but Nivea and the rest - not. Have you tried JASON 6-in1 or something as lotion? It may or may not work, but at least you can get it relatively easy and it doesn't cost much.

I'd second the allergy idea.

One thing - maybe you can try just once-over (one pass shave) and see if this leads to any improvement?

If we are talking shaving soap products: Honeybee Sue makes a great shea butter soap. As for the MWF, PP, and IK - I have read that they compare to L'Occitane CADE soap, and this last one irritates my skin sometimes. Bummer because I love the juniper scent, and it makes great lather too.

Good luck
Ivo

Does your lotion have lactic acid in it? I have a type that does, and it does this same thing to me, until I got used to it. Some type of acids are good for your face, I forget the type, but lactic is one type.

FWIW - the alum block and certain aftershave balms and lotions irritate my skin more than the shave ever will. I can't use 'em. . .