CzechCzar
Use the Fat, Luke!
I have been wetshaving for a little over 10 years now. I have sensitive skin, and a pirate beard that grows in all directions. As a consequence, I generally have to use very aggressive/efficient razors and buff the heck out of my face. This results in redness, irritation, and angry skin.
I have tried a plethora of aftershave products in an effort to combat this angry, inflamed skin. Even the most nourishing splashes left something lacking. I could only shave every other day - I just had to give my skin a chance to settle down. Balms weren’t much better. I coupled high quality aftershave products with the very best soaps and creams. While buying the best quality products may have mitigated my issues, it certainly did not solve them. Shaving multiple days in a row, or chasing BBS, almost always resulted in pain, redness, inflammation,and irritation.
I was thinking that there had to be a better way. I was scouring the aftershave forum when I came upon a product that seemed too good to be true: Sebum Gold. I was skeptical just based on the high price, but the owner’s video convinced me that there was something to it. Why should you put alcohol on your face? Alcohol was introduced into post-shave products to combat infection resulting from less-than-sanitary barber shop environments. Alcohol is not good for your skin. Although the price was steep I was desperate so I coughed up the cash.
The results were stunning. Although I will admin that it felt weird to be putting oil onto my face instead of a typical aftershave, the Sebum worked miles better than anything else I had ever used. Using Sebum, I discovered that I could now shave every day. The angry red irritation that had plagued me vanished. My face was looking healthier and feeling better than it ever had before.
Based upon my experience with Sebum, I transformed my shave as well. Instead of lathering with a brush and soap or cream, I tried ditching the brush altogether. I stopped buying quality soaps (e.g., Grooming Department), and instead purchased a bunch of Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter. I would just rub it on with my hands and shave while taking a shower.
While the results from this were not as revelatory as for Sebum, they were nonetheless noticeable. My skin wasn’t as dry as when I used soaps or creams. The act of rinsing my face off after shaving no longer burned.
I discovered more products. Grooming Department actually had a serum, similar to Sebum. So did Badger Face tonic. I have managed to try these products, and, although different from Sebum, they accomplished the same thing at a much cheaper price point.
Now, a segway, that will tie into the main point eventually. I have had painful eczema on my hands for years now. I think it was the result of switching to Dr. Bronner’s soap years ago. Since the eczema flared up for the first time, whatever body soap I have used - liquid or solid, expensive or cheap - resulted in eczema. Even if I applied moisturizer to my hands, it didn’t really help that much - it only mitigated the symptoms.
One day, I thought to myself - didn’t the ancient Greek’s and Romans clean themselves with olive oil? This sent me down the rabbit hole. It turns out that mass-produced modern soaps are actually detergents. They are not good for your skin. Genuine soaps, like Greek olive oil soaps, are expensive. Would they help? Using Greek soaps definitely helped, but they didn’t cure the eczema. What about oil? Can you clean yourself with just oil?
I searched Amazon and found Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash. The ingredients are first and foremost oils. I purchased it, and, similar to my experience with Sebum, it was weird at first. No lather; I had to spread it everywhere with my hands. But the proof is in the pudding - after a few days of using it, the Eczema on my dry, swollen hands had vanished.
So that is my journey so far. Switching to oil-based cleansers and aftershaves has made a world of difference to me. In the new year, after the annual restraint is over, I am going to buy a bunch of oil-based shave products now that I have nearly exhausted my stash of traditional. If oil works great as an aftershave and body wash, why not as a shave product? I used Shave Secret many years ago, and there have been many products released since then that I am sure are better.
Now the question arises - why make this thread?
Two reasons: I wanted to share the experience on the forum, in the hopes that my years of trial and error may help someone else suffering from similar problems. Post-shave pain just sucks. This has cured it for me.
The main reason I created a thread is that I wanted to make a running review thread, where I offer up my opinions about oil products I have tried! I am going to purchase a bunch come January first, and since they are oil-based body washes, shave lubricant, and aftershave, a thread in General Shaving Discussion was the most appropriate place to put it.
So, without further ado, welcome to the All About Oil thread!
I have tried a plethora of aftershave products in an effort to combat this angry, inflamed skin. Even the most nourishing splashes left something lacking. I could only shave every other day - I just had to give my skin a chance to settle down. Balms weren’t much better. I coupled high quality aftershave products with the very best soaps and creams. While buying the best quality products may have mitigated my issues, it certainly did not solve them. Shaving multiple days in a row, or chasing BBS, almost always resulted in pain, redness, inflammation,and irritation.
I was thinking that there had to be a better way. I was scouring the aftershave forum when I came upon a product that seemed too good to be true: Sebum Gold. I was skeptical just based on the high price, but the owner’s video convinced me that there was something to it. Why should you put alcohol on your face? Alcohol was introduced into post-shave products to combat infection resulting from less-than-sanitary barber shop environments. Alcohol is not good for your skin. Although the price was steep I was desperate so I coughed up the cash.
The results were stunning. Although I will admin that it felt weird to be putting oil onto my face instead of a typical aftershave, the Sebum worked miles better than anything else I had ever used. Using Sebum, I discovered that I could now shave every day. The angry red irritation that had plagued me vanished. My face was looking healthier and feeling better than it ever had before.
Based upon my experience with Sebum, I transformed my shave as well. Instead of lathering with a brush and soap or cream, I tried ditching the brush altogether. I stopped buying quality soaps (e.g., Grooming Department), and instead purchased a bunch of Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter. I would just rub it on with my hands and shave while taking a shower.
While the results from this were not as revelatory as for Sebum, they were nonetheless noticeable. My skin wasn’t as dry as when I used soaps or creams. The act of rinsing my face off after shaving no longer burned.
I discovered more products. Grooming Department actually had a serum, similar to Sebum. So did Badger Face tonic. I have managed to try these products, and, although different from Sebum, they accomplished the same thing at a much cheaper price point.
Now, a segway, that will tie into the main point eventually. I have had painful eczema on my hands for years now. I think it was the result of switching to Dr. Bronner’s soap years ago. Since the eczema flared up for the first time, whatever body soap I have used - liquid or solid, expensive or cheap - resulted in eczema. Even if I applied moisturizer to my hands, it didn’t really help that much - it only mitigated the symptoms.
One day, I thought to myself - didn’t the ancient Greek’s and Romans clean themselves with olive oil? This sent me down the rabbit hole. It turns out that mass-produced modern soaps are actually detergents. They are not good for your skin. Genuine soaps, like Greek olive oil soaps, are expensive. Would they help? Using Greek soaps definitely helped, but they didn’t cure the eczema. What about oil? Can you clean yourself with just oil?
I searched Amazon and found Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash. The ingredients are first and foremost oils. I purchased it, and, similar to my experience with Sebum, it was weird at first. No lather; I had to spread it everywhere with my hands. But the proof is in the pudding - after a few days of using it, the Eczema on my dry, swollen hands had vanished.
So that is my journey so far. Switching to oil-based cleansers and aftershaves has made a world of difference to me. In the new year, after the annual restraint is over, I am going to buy a bunch of oil-based shave products now that I have nearly exhausted my stash of traditional. If oil works great as an aftershave and body wash, why not as a shave product? I used Shave Secret many years ago, and there have been many products released since then that I am sure are better.
Now the question arises - why make this thread?
Two reasons: I wanted to share the experience on the forum, in the hopes that my years of trial and error may help someone else suffering from similar problems. Post-shave pain just sucks. This has cured it for me.
The main reason I created a thread is that I wanted to make a running review thread, where I offer up my opinions about oil products I have tried! I am going to purchase a bunch come January first, and since they are oil-based body washes, shave lubricant, and aftershave, a thread in General Shaving Discussion was the most appropriate place to put it.
So, without further ado, welcome to the All About Oil thread!
