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Thread: Testing soaps
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03-27-2009, 06:10 AM #1
Do canned foams like Noxzema or Barbasol irritate as well or is it only "real" shaving soaps?
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01-30-2010, 09:53 PM #2
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01-30-2010, 10:37 PM #3
I had a similar problem to yours for a long time, I even started making my own soap as a way of solving it. While I was developing the formula of The Bomb, my shaving cream, I improved my lathering skills significantly. I realized that part of the problem was that I was leaving the lather too dry causing the concentration of the chemicals in the soap/cream to be much higher that what it was intended. I am now able to shave with most of these products with only minimal problems. I still feel some dryness when I use them, particularly in the winter time, but without much of the redness and other problems. At that point, I tried lathering only small parts of my face and many other suggestions without much success. The bottom line is that your skin would still be more sensitive than other people's.
If you problem is severe, I would strongly recommend consulting with a dermatologist rather than asking people for their suggestions, remember there are marked differences in skin characteristics among people. You may have an allergy to some ingredients or have developed contact dermatitis after frequent use of products containing these chemicals.
I do like Mitchell's a lot, it is one of my favorites. Another thing to consider is that most people have problems shaving the neck area so it is not surprisingly that the problems get compounded there. Finally, I found that removing any trace of lather from your face and neck after you finish shaving improves the situation. It is very common that people rinse their faces very well but forget about their necks... ;-).
If you take a look at the ingredients, you would realize that the ingredients are very similar in both the can and traditional shaving soaps/creams. Other than concentration it is hard to think of other reasons why the latter should be more prone to giving these problems. I think that making good quality lather is the key here but again, a visit to the dermatologist may prove to be beneficial.
Al raz.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Alraz For This Useful Post:
BeBerlin (02-02-2010)
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02-02-2010, 03:35 AM #4
- Join Date
- Jan 2010
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- 38
Thanked: 12I'm no dermatologist, but it seems logical to me that if your skin is going to react something, then your whole face will react.
Best thing to do is try your lather product on your face without shaving; just leave it on a while and see if you get any irritation or burn. If so, don't use that product. If it doesn't, but does after a shave, it's your technique.
Lots of men get irritation with M3/multiblades, and while some really do have sensitive skin - many are surprised to find out they actually don't once they change their regime and tools. Moving to DE or straight can improve or eliminate it. But the learning period of both can still cause the same problems til you've got it down.
During my learning process with DEs I had to take care on my neck, simply because my neck was more sensitive to razoring, than my cheeks.
EDIT - Gents, this is a pretty old post that's been revived, I just noticed...Last edited by Drubbing; 02-02-2010 at 03:38 AM.
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02-02-2010, 03:56 AM #5
You should try Kell's soaps Kell's Original . Its for people with sensitive skin and i love it, and from what i read it came about because the owner due to Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the medication he was on made him have extremely sensitive skin, and so he made his own soap . I have a lot of his soap and its great!!! May i recommend Aloe Blend in Amber,good stuff!
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02-02-2010, 05:12 AM #6
Re: Aftershave Balm causing increased irritation:
I have always had hellacious ingrown hair trouble. We're talking an field of what looks like acne they're so thick. The switch to straights helped a lot, but I still fight off quite a few. The first (and currently only) ASB I bought was the 'Sensitive Skin' kind from Nivea, because a lot of guys say good things about it...
...irritates the *&@% out of my skin. Gives me ingrowns like you wouldn't believe...
I have recently found, however, that a single drop of castor oil, warmed between my rubbing palms, gently patted in to the skin of my face and neck, does wonders to reduce ingrowns and irritation.
YMMV.
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02-02-2010, 08:55 AM #7
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
- Delta, Utah
- Posts
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Thanked: 96Lots of men get irritation with M3/multiblades, and while some really do have sensitive skin - many are surprised to find out they actually don't once they change their regime and tools. Moving to DE or straight can improve or eliminate it. But the learning period of both can still cause the same problems til you've got it down.
During my learning process with DEs I had to take care on my neck, simply because my neck was more sensitive to razoring, than my cheeks.
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02-02-2010, 09:14 AM #8
Proraso works best for me, as do Colleen's soaps or creams. Ask her for one with little perfume/essential oils etc. Apply with a brush and take your time to "massage" the lather into the skin with a brush. I don't bother with hot towels but some swear by them. Showering before shaving does help as well.
IME the sharper the razor the less irritation. If you use Cr2O3 after your polishing hone it smoothens the edge.
This is how I overcame irritated neck areas.Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr.