Alcohol based A/S or something else causing problems?

[pezdaddy]

After months of trial and error, I think I've discovered alcohol based A/S is irritating my face..or perhaps it is something else?

My shave prep consists of always shaving after the shower and face lathering. My usual soaps are either Cade, VDH, and cream is Proraso. Aftershave would be witch hazel and/or alum block, followed by either Clubman, Pinaud Bay Rum, or Lilac Vegetal. I get consistently decent shaves, sometimes really good.

However, I have noticed that I would always have slightly raised skin on my cheeks (almost like little bumps) after the shave, which would show up and be noticeable about an hour after the shave. I worked through everything I thought it might be, including changing soaps, angle, pressure, shave direction...never thought it might be the alcohol in the aftershaves.

But, I've backed off using my aftershaves, including witch hazel (only using Nivea at the moment, and the bumps seemed to have gone away post shave).

I'm wondering if I have a problem to the alcohol in the aftershave (which I'm hoping I don't since I really like them!), or I have a technique problem that the alcohol is just revealing.

I think that covers everything..any ideas?

 

[BladeRunner001]

Alcohol, despite it's cooling effect is known to lead to inflammatory response. In some people this is not a problem, but in you...well, your skin is telling you something. It doesn't seem to like it. I do not use alcohol product on my face (even if I haven't shaved). I use NancyBoy's replenishing AS or Trumper's skin food (any of them would do) followed by a natural facial moisturizer (Trumper's and NancyBoy make great ones BTW).

To know for sure, keep your entire routine the same (same razor/blade, creme, etc...) and drop the alcohol AS for a week...see what happens.

PS: Witch hazel does have non-alcohol base toner too...these things are great. Beware of the lavender one since it is known to cause allergies in some. I would stick to the plain, no alcohol Witch Hazel